Click on photos to enlargePenetang Jaycees installed new officers at ceremonies June 25 in the K of C Hall. Left to right, seated, Ted Light, retiring president, Gordon Patterson, Barrie district president; Rene Lesperance, president-elect; standing; Doug Piitz, director; Martial Dupuis, treasurer; Glen Smith, 2nd, vice-president; Alvin Gravelle, director. 

Trailer fans appear to be taking life easy at Midland’s Little Lake Park. This summer home on wheels is one of several who have registered at the tourist camp for the entire season. 

Tiny colt born at Little Lake Park last Thursday is admired by Margaret Jackson, 13. The colt weighed less than 20 pounds and was 22 inches high. The owner is Edgar Lawson.  Lawson operated pony rides in the park. 

Motorboat races and log rolling contests were among the main attractions at Waubaushene’s annual regatta on the holiday.  Mike Basic, Toronto, was a big winner in the motorboat races.  Bare feet and a slippery log posed quite a problem for these youthful log rollers. 

The annual regatta at Waubaushene attracted a good turn-out of both spectators and competitors on the holiday. Winners of the boys’ swims, seen above left to right, are Ralph Barron, Wayne Jickells, and Roger Wood. Wayne is a Niagara Falls visitor. 

Bubbling over with good health and good spirits, these girls were prize winners in the swims held in connection with the Waubaushene regatta Tuesday. Left to right are Jackie Moreau, Laurie Wilson and Audrey Somers, all of Waubaushene, Helen Richardson, Toronto, Gail and Sharlene Bell, Thistletown. A few minutes after this picture was taken, Audrey stepped on a fish hook. 

Wind and rain failed to dampen the ardor of these teenaged lads who battled it out in the finals of the Inter-County section of Midland’s Little Baseball League June 26. Seen above are, left to right, Sgt. Ernest Bates, coach of the winning police team, Gary Carr, Bill Offord, Doug McGibbon and Phil Hamelin, coach of the losing Canadian Legion squad. 

Kitchikewana Chapter, lODE, awarded social studies awards to David Simmonds and Bonnie Green of Parkview Public School during graduation ceremonies last week, when 95 Midland pupils graduated to Grade 9. 

Chris Gardner, Midland magician, whose feats of legerdemain at the recent convention of the International Brotherhood of Magicians in Buffalo won him entry into “The Ancient Mystic Order of the Silken Dragon”, admires his trophy. His tricks also won him $40 worth of magic equipment. 

Despite the loss of their sight, these guests at the CNIB picnic in Midland last week still had fun in games specially designed for them. This one is a simple pass-the-ball contest, with the person holding the ball being eliminated when a whistle blew. Rain drove the picnickers indoors from their usual spot at Little Lake Park. More than 140 blind persons from various Simcoe County points attended the event. 

This machine saves a lot of backbreaking labour in laying the natural gas pipeline along Hugel Ave. west into Midland. Big stones, used to build up the roadway when it was laid only a couple of years ago, make it hard going even for a machine. 

My memory of the gas pipeline installation along our street, Russell Street, was being stuck in the house watching out the window, recovering from an appendectomy. This is Bay Street E. with the Canadian Tire store on the right. 

Brigitta Duwe of Parkview Public School receives her Grade 8 graduation diploma during ceremonies held last week. Frank Whiteman of the Public Schools Board makes the presentation, while principal James Robinson, right, assists. 

Winners of the Inter-County division title of Midland’s Inter-county Little Baseball League this year was the police-sponsored Barrie team, seen above. Left to right are, front row John Hawke, Lloyd Kaus, Bob Jackson, Larry Cripps, Dave Squire; back row Sgt. Ernest Bates (coach), Gary Carr, Bob Cripps, Bill Swann, Doug McGibbon, John Dubeau and Murray McComb, league director. 

4-H Homemaking Club girls, ranging from 15 to 20 years of age, spent four days at the OAC, Guelph, last week. They were taken on conducted tours of the campus, MacDonald Institute, and the newly completed physical education building. Here, Helen Marie Langman of the Rugby Club, Orillia, left, Joyce Reynolds of Wyevale, center, and Joanne Hodgson, Craighurst, right, interrupt their busy schedule and stop for a chat. —Photo by Ross J. Anderson 

Among the 200 4-H Homemaking Clubs from 55 Ontario counties who visited the OAC, Guelph, last week was the Busy Misses Club of Wyevale. Diane Hall, left, and Marion Webb of the Wyevale club demonstrate and explain the correct way to dry and take care of nylon stockings, to club members attending the four-day conference. —Photo by Ross J. Anderson 

Happiest woman in town as the cooking school sponsored by Dominion Stores Ltd., and Barber and Haskill in St. Margaret’s parish hall ended last week, undoubtedly was Mrs. Frank Bath, Charles Street. Ticket bearing Mrs. Bath’s name was picked from the box by Gail Scott, the 5-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Scott, and now Mrs. Bath is the proud owner of the brand new electric-stove pictured above. With Mrs. Bath and Gail is Adele Hunt home economist for Dominion Stores. 

• The Free Press Herald headline of July 2^nd, 1958; Warns Bay Water Level May Hit Record Lows in ’59.  K. McKean, district marine agent, Department of Transport, Parry Sound, said this week that it is expected next year will find even lower lake levels on the Great Lakes than those which exist at present. A study of rain and snow precipitation on the Great Lakes Basin, carried out by the U.S. Army Engineer District Lake Survey, indicates that precipitation for the first five months of 1958 is from a half to a quarter less than average for this area, he stated. Cottagers along Georgian Bay, who were plagued by high water levels a few years ago when boat houses were partly submerged and docks under water, find this year in many instances that the docks and boathouses are high and dry. (Sound familiar!)
• The County Herald headline of July 4^th, 1958; Call Special Conference on New Dresswear Edict; Manufacturers in the ladies’ dress and sportswear industry, who objected strongly to the introduction of the Ontario Zone schedule made under the Industrial Standards Act, are being offered the opportunity to discuss further the controversial issues involved. Last month chamber of commerce officials submitted a protest to Prime Minister Frost. Objecting chiefly to the one percent levy on the entire payrolls of the dress and sportswear industry. Chamber officials felt the levy was, in effect, a tax on the Industry which was levied by the Ontario Department of Labor, without specific sanction of the legislature.
• Harried Harold McAllen, parks superintendent, estimated there were 1,200 visitors in the park’s tourist camp Saturday and Sunday. They filled nearly 80 cabins, 17 trailers, and more than 20O tents. Several families, he said, had registered for the entire season, until Labour Day. The 300 families registered in the tourist: camp were half again as many as there were for the same weekend last year and more than there were for the past four years.
• Author Ken Wells of Medonte revealed this week he and his wife Lucille have made a switch in plans and will go to the Bahamas and the Gulf of Mexico as soon as their new craft the ea Owl is fitted out.
• New fluorescent streetlights have been erected on King Street North, between Bay and Dominion Ave. The new lights, while more expensive than incandescent, are said to be less costly in the long run because their greater lumination permits a reduction in the number of lights without adversely affecting lighting conditions.
• Sudden onset of hot weather brought what may have been a record number of visitors to the Coldwater area last weekend. A steady stream of autos, many hauling boats on trailers, passed through Main Street which connects with Highway 12 and roads to the Honey Harbour and Port Severn, resort areas, Bass Lake, Orillia, Midland, Martyrs’ Shrine and other points of interest. (The completion of the 400 extension to Coldwater added to these numbers as the Coldwater by-pass had not been built and all traffic went down the main street.)
• The great wealth of Ontario is indicated by the fact that one-half of the entire country’s income tax comes from that province.
• Wilf LaRose, 45, a man whose forefathers can be traced back to one of five families which settled on St. Pierre and Miquelon in 1620, is the new manager of the Roxy Theatre, Midland. Wilf, a native of Orillia, is no stranger to Midland having played against Midland high school football teams during his younger years.
• (Promotion lists were published in this paper for all area schools including rural schools in Tiny and Tay and Sacred Heart in Midland, but many of the pages are damaged. This is my kindergarten class at Regent.) Kindergarten A to 1 Morning Class—Jane Adams, Susan Andrews, Edward Bath, Barbara Benson, Sharon Brooks, David Clark, Joy Cudmore, Terry Diver, Judy Duncan, Stewart Duncan, Dona Galivan, Henry Gallong (I believe it should be Gollong), Susan Hallyburton, Steven Hassell, Jimmie Holden, Edwin Hornsby, Barbara Jean Hudson, John Levack, Brian Mcllravey, Ruth Moore, Harvey Moreau, Stephen Schleihauf, Deborah Smith, Barbara Spence, Billie Spiker, Diane Valliear, Mary Anne Wilson. Afternoon class — Tommy Barber, Gary Brabant, Barbara Campbell, Sheila Child, Katherine Cornell, Danny Edwards, Joseph Harpell, Debbie Heels, Patricia Henry, Marilene Hentzelt, Linda Hopkins, Steven Irvine, Timothy Irvine, Sheila Johnston, Mary Jane Jory, Olile Lacey, Dennis Langridge, Laurel LePage, George Ligowski, Patricia Moreau, Alan Puddicombe, Beatrix Schaefer, Judy Smith, Donnie Stacey, Terry Taylor, Mark Wilcox. Kindergarten B to 1 Patsy Beatty, Sharon Biggar, Bobby Brodeur, Connie Butson, Stuart Cardwell, Jimmy Caston, Stephen Condren, Anne Cummings, Linda Dempsey, Bobby Frame, Freddy Franz, Virginia Fuller, Hugh Gair, Lynn Gray, Stephen Leclair, Randy Lediard, Jane McLean, Donna Mclntaggart, Randy Monckton, Andrew Puddicombe, Susan Rodgers, Bori Shushan, Janice Smith, Patsy Smith, Jimmy Stacey, Leslie White.
• 25 Years Ago This Week – A 26-foot launch, owned by Western Islands lighthouse keeper J. G. Dickson, which had been missing for nine years, was found by Oscar Ellery of Midland and two companions while they were netting carp near the mouth of the Wye River. The hull of the submerged craft was raised, loaded aboard the St. Heliers and transported to Parry Sound, where Mr. Dickson was residing. * * * The semi-annual meeting of the County Lodge of East Simcoe was held in Coldwater Orange Hall. About 150 members attended. * * * A goose owned by Edward Coombs of Midland apparently had adopted mass production methods. It laid two eggs, one completely contained within the shell of the other. * * * A newspaper campaign, protesting against “indecent and immoral pictures which appear on the covers of magazines of a certain class” had been launched in several communities. * * * Two graduates of Midland YMCA Junior Leaders’ Corps, Walling Ruby, and Clarke Edwards were appointed summer playground instructors at Midland and Port McNicoll, respectively. * * * Professional wrestling bouts were to be held in Midland Arena Gardens during the months of July and August. It was the first time the sport had been presented on this scale. * * * Midland’s tax rate for 1933 was set at 46 mills. The total assessment for all purposes was $285,695. * * * The M.S. Midland City set a record for passenger traffic on the Dominion Day holiday weekend. It was her first run of the season.
• Port McNicoll has a new resident doctor in the community, the first since Dr. J. D. McPhee, former Simcoe East MPP, died in December 1953. The new medico is Dr. C. A. Talbot, a native of Toronto. The Talbots took up residence in Port July 1. Educated at Toronto public and high schools. Dr. Talbot is a graduate of the University of Toronto, and of its School of Medicine. He interned at Toronto East General and Orthopedic Hospital. For the past year he has been associated with a doctor in the Niagara Peninsula. A veteran of World War II, serving with the Royal Canadian Navy, he is married and the father of three children. Keenly interested in Little League Baseball, he played junior hockey in Toronto, softball and senior baseball as well. 

A couple of items from 100 years ago in Midland, during the war years.

Click on photos to enlargeThe congregation of St. Paul’s United Church was “at home” to citizens of Midland and district Sunday afternoon, at a reception to honor its retiring minister, Rev. W. R.  Auld. Receiving guests, left to right, Rev. Auld, clerk of session J. W. Smith and Mrs. Smith, recording secretary of the board Clarke Edwards, Mrs. McCullough and T. M. McCullough, chairman of the committee of stewards and Mrs. Edwards. 

Surprise party for Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Isaac (Ethel May Hamilton) of 3rd Conc. Tay, marked their 40th wedding anniversary at the Midtown Motel, Saturday. Married at Hillsdale in 1918, they had just returned from a trip out west. 

All dressed up in new uniforms, Midland Indians still have plenty of places to go despite their first defeat of the Bruce Baseball League season Monday night. Left to right are, front row – Ab Stainton, Bob Hendrickson, “Buck” Rodgers, coach “Bun” Deschamp, Paul Creighton, Larry Greene, Bill Kettle; back row-Harold Jackson, Murray Yorke, Vic Valentine, Jack Hendrickson, Jim Wilcox, Joe Faragher, Jim Lemieux. In front is bat boy Fred Jackson. Catcher “Buzz” Deschamp was missing when the picture was taken. 

Rosary pilgrimage took 40 residents of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 680 miles to Martyr’s Shrine near Midland. Among those on the 16-day tour of religious shrines were, left to right, Irene Strong, Anna Strong, Laura Meyer and Emma Drost, on a shopping tour in Midland. They left here Tuesday morning for Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec.  

There was a large turnout at Waubaushene, June 18, as Simcoe County fire brigades demonstrated their ability to render mutual aid in emergency actions. Chiefs from a number of municipalities are seen above. Left to right are; front row – Dick Columbus, Elmvale; Ed Gapp, Bradford; L. Edwards, Orillia; R.H. Irwin, Barrie, county-coordinator; back row – Lloyd Cameron, Port McNicoll; Herb Stevens, Coldwater; Joe Moreau, Waubaushene; Arnold Tippin, Midland; George Alexander, of the Fire Marshal’s Office, Toronto; A. E. Culham, Stayner; “Sib” Brodeur, Victoria Harbour; Bob Stewart, Penetang; Roy Ferguson, Stroud. 

Co-ordinator for Simcoe County’s mutual aid fire program, Barrie Fire Chief R. H. Irwin, is seen chatting with a member of the Waubaushene brigade during a demonstration in that village last Wednesday night. Chief Irwin said the mutual aid program is “working out splendidly,” with more than 300 volunteer and 25 permanent firemen available to combat major emergencies that might arise within the county. 

No, these people aren’t looking at some giant eel pulled from the waters of Waubaushene Bay. The picture was taken during a mutual aid demonstration held by a number of Simcoe County fire departments, Wednesday, June 18. 

Recession or no recession, there seems to be little letup in the building of new houses in Midland. Among the most active builders is Henry Bernick of Barrie, former Midland industrialist. The top picture shows two new houses under construction on John Street. The lower photo shows two more in a nearly finished state on Donalda Street. 

A typical scene at graduation exercises for Grade 8 pupils of Midland public schools Tuesday night includes Wm. Barnett, left, and schools board representative Frank Whiteman, right, handing out diplomas.

Merit award winners for Midland public schools were announced at graduation exercises Tuesday night. From left to right are Dietmar Wagner and Birgit Brinkman of Regent School, Charles Hamilton of Sixth Street School, Elizabeth Holden and Kirk Weldon of Parkview School. Sixth Street winner June Caston was absent. 

Production line techniques were implemented by Mid-Canada Contractors Ltd. crews as they commenced the installation of gas mains in Midland and Penetang Tuesday. The picture shows some of the crew at work on Bay Street W., Midland. About 25 local men are employed at present. It is expected this will be increased to 40. 

Big smiles above are in anticipation of the successful conclusion of another season of Little League baseball in Midland Friday night. Lads are Brian Berriault, left, and Jerry Beteau, captains of two of the league’s many teams. Center is league director Len Self, who is hoping for good weather for Friday’s big “final night”. All games will be played at Parkview Public School, starting at 6:30 p.m. 

Wet, gray skies attended the launching of the “Sea Owl” in Midland harbour Wednesday. Completed by Midland Boat Works the Sea Owl is the craft in which Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Wells will soon begin a tour or the Trent Valley waterway system. The launch coincides with the release of Mr. Wells’ latest book, “Cruising on Georgian Bay”.  The book was the result of a 1,000-mile journey through the Georgian Bay and along the eastern shore of Lake Huron last summer. (The museum would appreciate the names of the pipers in these photos.) 

Champagne flew high and wide as Mrs. Ken Wells (Lucille Oille) christened the “Sea Owl” at launching ceremonies in Midland Wednesday afternoon. Onlookers in the background are Len Cowdrey of Midland Boat Works and Ken Wells, journalist and author. 

• Free Press Herald headline of June 25^th, 1958; Loot Midland Dock Area, Take Three Boat Motors. Police have estimated the value of the three motors at a total of $650.00, along with a five-gallon gasoline tank valued at $50. Loot from a break-in at Campbell’s Auto Parts nearby was placed at $69.00.
• County Herald headline of June 27^th, 1958; Bell Makes Second Bid For Phone Rate Boosts. The effect on Midland residents was to be; one party line, present rate $3.65, proposed $3.85; two-party line, present rate $2.95, proposed $3.05; multi-party rural, present $2.85, proposed $2.95; business one-party, present $6.50, proposed $6.95.
• St. Andrew’s Hospital had a cash surplus of $4,337 for the first five months of 1958, board members were told at their meeting Monday night. It was seen as a definite improvement in the financial situation, considering that during May $2,900 was collected in old accounts owing prior to the first of the year. Added to this was the news of the receipt of a $1,000 bequest from the estate of Miss Emma Baker.
• HILLSDALE- Misfortune seems to be dogging the fortunes of the Gerrad Jolie family here. A few weeks ago their house was destroyed by fire. Then one of the children swallowed an overdose of aspirin. This was followed by a broken arm suffered by young John Jolie in a fall. With his arm still in a cast, Johnny suffered an attack of appendicitis. He came home last weekend minus his arm cast and his appendix.
• Blair Construction and Supplies Ltd., Midland, has been awarded the contract for the erection of a new store in Midland for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Being erected at Bay and Queen Streets, the new store will consist of the main floor and a full basement, with a total floor space of about 8,000 square The building will be of brick and concrete construction. A number of Midland firms have successfully bid on the subcontracting jobs. Excavation for the building has already been completed by Thomas Wilcox and Sons Ltd. H. J. Thompson and Sons Ltd. will do the plumbing, heating and air conditioning work. Bowman and Crippin decorating firm will do the painting. Midland Planning Mills Ltd. will do the millwork and supply the lumber. Concrete and masonry materials will be supplied by J. M. Wallace and Sons Ltd.
• Ten Years Ago This Week – The village of Lafontaine opened its new continuation school. It was completed at a cost of $75,000. • • • The strawberry crop in North Simcoe was seriously hit by a prolonged drought. It was estimated that the bumper crop would be a total Ioss unless rain came within a day or so. • • Archaeologist Wilfrid Jury had uncovered a building at Fort Ste. Marie I of which there are no known records in existence. It was west of the old fort between the fort and the Wye River. • • • Mrs. James Bell of R.R. 3, Coldwater, was re-elected president of East Simcoe Women’s lnstitute at the annual convention at Crown Hill. • • • Midland‘s Police Chief A. D. McDonald issued summonses to two motorists for serenading a wedding party by blowing their horns. It was the first such incident since the town had put a ban on the practice a year previously. • • • Rev. J. L. Burgess of Elmvale was elected moderator of Barrie Presbytery of the ·Presbyterian Church in Canada, at a meeting in Ottawa. • • • More than 3,000 Medonte old timers and visitors from all over the continent attended a Medonte reunion and the tercentenary of the martyrdom of Anthony Daniel. A special religious service was held on the hilltop near Mount St. Louis. • • • A twister which swept in across Georgian Bay caused extensive property damage at Port Severn and left a trail of toppled trees, smashed buildings and damaged boats from there to North River.
• The Ontario government Hospital Care Insurance program provides unlimited standard ward care coverage as long as it is medically necessary for the insured to remain in hospital supervisor for the Ontario Hospital Services Commission told a meeting of North Simcoe employers at the Midland Municipal Building Tuesday afternoon. When the –plan becomes effective Jan. 1. 1959, there will be no limitation in the payment for hospital extras nor in the number of days of confinement, he said. (The beginning of OHIP)

For our look beyond 60 years, we have clipped a series of newspaper ads published by Midland’s famous photographer (before Budd) J. W. Bald.

Bald Ads PDF