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Queen of Hearts contestants at Midland – Penetang District High School, sponsored by the Roxy Theatre, Midland, include, back row, left to right, Carol Cowan of Midland; Rosemary Shiels of Waubaushene, Nancy Somers of Penetang. In front are Anne Hamilton, left, of Midland, and Janice Edwards, right, of Vasey. 

More than 100 fellow employees and friends of Ralph Howard attended a dinner at Parkside Pavilion last Thursday, marking the retirement of the Midland CNR car department foreman after 40 years with the company. Mr. and Mrs. Howard, left, were presented with a portable radio and other gifts. Also pictured are Frank Whiteman, right, CNR agent in Midland, and Len Galloway, a district superintendent, who made the presentation.

 

Ten girls still in the running for Penetang Winterama Queen title will appear on Pen Theatre stage Friday night in third elimination. Left to right, front, Lucille Duquette, Barbara Labatte, Joan Somers, Mary Lou O’Leary, Betty Ann Mayer, Standing, Karen Robinson, Marguerite Gervais, Marita Lalonde, Anita Fournier, Carol Cummer. 

In a few months now, traffic will be speeding over this new bridge that crosses the CNR tracks at Waubaushene. The bridge is part of the construction being carried on in connection with the opening of the new leg of the Trans-Canada Highway that will eventually be linked with Highway 400 near Crown Hill. 

One of the best years in their history was reported at the annual meeting of Port McNicoll Community Credit Union this week. Some of the union’s officers and two guest speakers are seen above. Left to right are, front row Lloyd Cameron, Mrs. M. Lawrence, Arthur Bell, president, Miss Helen Duncan; back row, Jack Fisher, Norman Alexander, Credit Union League’ field representative, Joseph Wallner, from Cuna Mutual Insurance head office, and John Clarke.

 

• The Free Press Herald headline of February 12^th, 1958; Estimate Loss at $150,000.00 in Blaze at Fern Shoes The biggest fire to hit Penetang in many years did an estimated $150,000 damage to plant and stock of Fern Shoe Co. yesterday morning. Believed to have started in a corner of the shipping room, the blaze spread quickly sending dense billowing smoke throughout the building. Although outwardly it appeared the entire structure was ablaze, efforts of firemen, coupled with the plant’s sprinkler system, confined the actual fire to the shipping room.  The first indication of trouble came a few minutes after 10 o’clock when Wm. Axton, working at his desk next to the shipping room, looked up and noticed smoke in the southwest corner. As he looked, flames burst out and started up the wall. Firemen battled the blaze for more than two hours before they were successful in bringing it to an end. Difficulty was encountered when the thousands of pairs of spring shoes still continued to smolder, despite streams of water being poured on them. The loss is completely covered by insurance.
• The County Herald headline of February 14, 1958. Five Men to Investigate Development of Harbour  Harbour Commission Chairman Harvey White told this newspaper yesterday that five top federal government officials will be in Midland Monday to survey the possibilities of developing Midland harbour for deep-sea shipping. The federal government officials will meet with the newly-appointed harbour commission. Representatives of Midland council, the town of Penetang, the Local Employment Committee and Midland Chamber of Commerce have been asked to attend the meeting.
• Members of Midland YMCA’s Tironae Hi-Y Club, a girls’ organization, now has a little “brother” — in far-off Korea. Recently, as part of their participation in “Save the Children Federation, Incorporated”, the Tironaes “adopted” little Sung Ho Yang, year-old son of Kyung Suk Yang and Mrs. Yang. Little Sung Ho, his parents, a grandmother and an aunt live in the village of Songpo Myun.
• 25 Years Ago This Week —  At its February meeting, Midland council heard that its relief account for January amounted to $22,709. Mayor Roebuck termed it a staggering figure. He said if it continued for the remainder of the year it would mean a 10 to 12-mill increase in the tax rate. *  *  * A report tabled in the House of Commons at Ottawa revealed there was $1,800,196.00 lying unclaimed in the banks of Canada. * * * Sir Malcolm  Campbell drove his racing car Bluebird over the mile course at Daytona Beach at a fraction over 273 miles per hour. His previous record for the same course was 253 miles per hour. *  *  * Under the watchful eye of 18 guards, 100 criminally insane inmates of the Guelph Industrial Farm were transferred to the new Ontario Hospital at Penetang. Provincial police officers blocked off roads in Penetang while the transfer from the train, on which they travelled from Guelph to Penetang was being made. * * * Tempers flared and a fist fight almost developed at a meeting of Penetang council when one councillor accused another of making false statements with respect to qualifying for a seat on the council. Police intervened before any blows were exchanged. * * * The Ontario Employment Bureau reported that the employment picture had improved considerably. * * * Midland -Kiwanis Club had completed plans for a dog derby. The race for mutts and sleigh dogs was to start at Firth’s Corner and end at the Georgian Hotel. * * *  The Coldwater Intermediates trounced Midland 7-3 to take the two-game round for the series championship.
• Midland Chamber of Commerce had an all-time record for membership revenue in 1957, Finance Committee Chairman Gordon Moss states in the chamber’s annual report. The 26 percent increase over the previous year (about $1,000) brought the total to $4,632.15. Of the total budget of nearly $11,900 the chamber spent $2584 on industrial promotion, about $3,000 was spent on tourism promotion and $1,800 on general business promotion.  “Mention should be made of the generous financial assistance given by the town of Midland to the chamber,” said Mr. Moss.
• Hundreds of Penetang people had the opportunity last week to see themselves on the screen at Pen Theatre, in one of the short subjects on the program. The film, produced by the National Film Board as one of its “Eyewitness” series, centers around the Georgian Bay scoots, and the races at the Winterama. It was made at the time of last year’s carnival and covers several other carnival sights as well as the scoots.
• Midland police collected nearly $3,500 more in 1957 through meter collections and violation fines and recoveries than in 1956. The total of $12,049 included meter collection of $7,453., violations amounting to $520 and fine and recoveries of $4,075. Police made 673 charges and registered 585 convictions. There were 68 convictions under the Criminal Code, 428 under the Highway Traffic Act, 55 under the Liquor Control Act and 34 under local bylaws. Chief Cameron’s report was read at Monday night’s meeting of Midland council. Also read was a letter from Chief Cameron recommending staff changes for his men. The Chief suggested that probationary constable Ross Willett, now on the force nearly eight months, be promoted to a second class constable at $3,000; that Const. Ed Armstrong be superannuated; that Const. Tom Curry be promoted to first-class constable at $3,3OO; that Sgt. George Wainman be promoted to staff sergeant at $3,600; that acting Sergeant Ernest Bates be promoted to sergeant at $3,400.
• Winning two games last week, MPDHS senior cagers set a new record by winning eight straight games to become district champions. Last Wednesday’s important game for the league leadership saw the Purple and Gold come through with another great effort in upsetting Barrie Central 38-32 in Barrie. They wound up the season with an easy 56-39 win over Collingwood at MPDHS gym on Friday.
• As we have mentioned before there are weekly reports submitted by area correspondents to the Free Press. To convey the down-home nature of these reports this is the Lafontaine report of February 14^th. LAFONTAINE — Miss Evelyn Clement of Montreal is in this vicinity. She is a full-time worker for the Union of Electors. – Mr. and Mrs. Ovide Laurin spent a week in Ottawa visiting their daughter, Mrs. Cusson. – Mr. and Mrs. Anatol Charlebois returned from Montreal just before the storm. – The last frost caught several water pipes around here. – Skiing is good at present. The Thunder Bay Ski Club is out every day on the new private hill rented from Tel. Forget. – The young son of Tel. Forget broke a leg during his first attempt at learning to ski. – Gabriel Brunell, the young son of Hubert Brunell is in Penetang hospital, suffering from an ulcer. – The snow plow went up and down four times Sunday to keep the roads open. – Laurin school was temporarily closed Monday so the furnace could be repaired. – Miss Evelyn Clement was a recent guest of Mrs. Armidos Laurin. – The Parent Teachers Association meeting will take place today in the parish hall. – Mrs. Mark Genier is teaching the pupils of Sister Joseph Victor of Penetang during her absence visiting her sister who is dangerously ill. – Mrs. Art Beauchamp doesn’t mind being snow-bound now: her son has secured a TV set and they are enjoying themselves very much. – Pat Robitaille’s German Shepherd dog had ten pups.
• Slated to open about April 1, the first branch of the Toronto-Dominion Bank in Midland should provide a pleasing bit of face-lifting for King Street, as well as additional banking facilities for residents of both the town and surrounding areas. Bank officials say the renovation of the two-storey property is about one-third finished. The building accommodated the exchange of the Bell Telephone Co. for many years and was also the temporary quarters of another bank for several months following a fire. (This building is currently vacant and is for rent)

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Telegraph operator in Midland for the CNR for the past 12 years, John Scharbach takes over a new post in Toronto next week. Mr. Scharbach is seen in the center, upper picture, with CNR agent Frank Whiteman, left, and Charles Vent, following the presentation of a desk set by fellow employees and representatives of several Midland firms. Below, Mr. Scharbach checks over some messages with “Bill” Mitchell, left, his successor in Midland.

A familiar part of every Free Press for years.

Mrs. Eileen Peters, left, holding the Justice Carl Stewart Trophy for best director, and Ken MacEachern, with the best supporting actor award and last year’s festival trophy for the best play, will defend their laurels at the third inter-school drama festival in Barrie next weekend. MPDHS entry won the best play award two years in succession. 

The devil bids goodbye to Miss Appleby, after failing in all his temptations. Wayne Parker and Judy Campbell were the stars of ‘The Devil and Miss Appleby’, entry of Midland-Penetang District High School in the third annual Georgian Bay Drama Festival. Midland won the best play award at the festival, held at Barrie District North Collegiate last Friday and Saturday. 

A cross-section of the crowd which filled Cumming-Nicholson shoe store in Midland Thursday is shown above. The photo was taken soon after the store opened for its annual shoe sale. The sale was announced in a quarter-page advertisement which was published in the Wednesday, Jan. 29, Free Press Herald. 

These five girls were among the prize winners in the temperance poster contest sponsored by the WCTU in Ontario schools as part of its scientific temperance instruction. Left to right are Marilyn Nicholson, whose poster was the best in the county as well as locally in Grade 6; June Brownlee, Grade 5; Gaile Wright, Grade 8; Barbara Caston, Grade 6; and Janet Setterington, Grade 5. 

 

Made by his father in Dartmouth, England, some 64 years ago, this miniature set of blacksmith’s tools is being donated to Midland’s Huronia Museum by William Waldron of Waubaushene. Exact replicas of the real thing, the tiny tools are made of iron. 

Having the rope tow in operation again has been a boon to both members of Midland Ski Club and visitors who have been out in large numbers on recent weekends. Snow conditions were almost perfect last weekend. (Sorry mom, it wasn’t me that ruined my new coat, it was the rope tow!)

 

• The County Herald headline February 7, 1958; Falls Into Septic Tank Harbour Lad Suffocates    —-  Falling through a small hole into an ancient septic tank in the village of Victoria Harbour Wednesday afternoon, Daniel Fannin, aged three, died of suffocation before his plight was noticed. OPP Const. H . R. Banting, of the Victoria Harbour detachment of the OPP, said the boy was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Fannin, who are separated. The father is reported to be living at R.R. 3, Pickering, and the mother in Toronto. Daniel and a 10-year-old brother David were living in Victoria Harbour with an aunt, Mrs. Margaret Hall. Const. Banting said Daniel had been playing with his brother and a 12-year-old son of Mrs. Hall earlier in the afternoon. The two older boys had taken him back to his own yard and had then gone out to a fishing shack on the ice of Georgian Bay nearby. When Mrs. Hall saw the two older boys returning without Daniel, a search was immediately started for the Uttle lad. The two boys were able to follow Daniel’s tracks to an old septic tank, believed to have been installed some years ago by one of the old lumber companies that flourished in the Harbour. It still serves the village office and a number of other buildings in the area, police said.
• Free Press Herald headline of February 5, 1958; Faces High Court Trial on Manslaughter Charge.  — Magistrate K. A. Cameron ruled a prima facie case had been established in Midland police court  Monday morning against a 19-year-old Midland taxi driver, charged with manslaughter following the death of John Clark, 31, also of Midland. He was committed for trial in the next highest court having criminal jurisdiction, probably at the spring assizes in Barrie. Bail was renewed.
• Well known resident of Midland, where he had been employed by the former T. J. Campbell plumbing and heating firm for many years, William Evart Thompson died suddenly Tuesday morning. He was in his 71st year. Mr. Thompson, accompanied by Rev. W. R. Auld, had Just entered Mr. Campbell’s home on Yonge Street West when he was stricken by a heart attack. He is survived by Mrs. Thompson, the former Jean Ross.
• W. R. Auld, minister of St. Paul’s United Church, Midland, for the past 26 years, announced Sunday that he was retiring from the ministry. He told his congregation he had felt for some time that the work at St. Paul’s should be carried on by a younger man. He said he planned to seek lighter church work and would not be remaining In Midland. Mr. Auld is now serving his 41st year in the ministry. At Prince of Wales College, Charlottetown, he was a fellow student of James McGuigan, now James Cardinal McGuigan.
• Midland’s “Mr. Hockey”, who has been named a member of the selection committee of the new “Hockey Hall of Fame” to be established at the CNE in Toronto. Mr. Dudley was also guest of honor at the recent sportswriters’ dinner in aid of crippled children.
• “Oh, Mom, it was so wonderful can hardly find words to describe it.” Lorraine Lacroix, returning from five days spent at the St. Paul, Minn., Winter Carnival, repeated these words several times as she rode in the back seat of a car with her mother, from Malton to Penetang, last Wednesday night. Miss Lacroix,  Penetang’s 1957 Winterama Queen, had been invited to attend the St. Paul event as one of 19 visiting “Snow Princesses”.  “Everyone was wonderful to us there, and we couldn’t possibly have been treated better,” she said, as she explained the elaborate plans carried out to ensure the comfort of the visiting guests. “I was so glad when they played and sang Alouette, I felt right at home then, and I had to sing it in French,”  she said.
• Ten Years Ago This Week — Penetang was without railway service for two days when strong westerly winds blocked a cut half way between Elmvale and Wyevale with drifting snow. Three engines and a snowplow became stuck in the cut trying to clear the track right-of-way. * * * Annual meeting of St. Andrews Hospital was told that the operating deficit for 1947 amounted to $13,263, despite an increase of $9,053 in operating revenue. * * * A proposal to raise telephone operators’ wages from $10 to $15 a week and the chief operator’s wages to $20 weekly touched off a storm of protest at the annual meeting of Coldwater Telephone Commission. The proposal was eventually adopted without a dissenting voice. * * * The Department of Municipal Affairs had notified Penetang council it would not approve a $75,000 expenditure on a new wing to the town’s hospital or a $60,000 expenditure for a new ice arena. The reason given was that the town was already carrying a bank loan of $51,875 for expenditures which would have to be debentured.  * * * Midland-Penetang Coach Lines had announced that its crosstown bus service would commence in Midland. Buses were to run every half hour, commencing at 6.30 a.m. Sunday service was to operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. * * * Simcoe County Council approved a resolution requesting the Ontario government to pay 50 percent of the cost of maintaining children’s aid societies. * * * Fifty people, representing several rural communities in Simcoe County, endorsed plans for Bass Lake Co-operative Park at a special meeting in Barrie. Twenty-five of those in attendance subscribed for membership.
• Pete Addison, now regional forester for the South-Western region of Ontario, including the Simcoe, Huron, and Erie districts, is the son of Dr. W. L. T. Addison, Penetang doctor around the turn of the century. Forester Addison spends many a summer at his family cottage on the 13^th Concession of Tiny and among his many broader responsibilities are the overseeing of lands and forests and parks developments in this part of Huronia. (This cottage was considered the first to be built along the Tiny Twp beaches and would be destroyed by fire within a year.)
• Mrs. Robert Mosley, Sr., died unexpectedly Jan. 19 at her late residence, RR 1, Wyebridge; she was 55. Funeral service was held Jan. 21 at A. Barrie and Sons funeral home. Rev. N. B. McLeod of Victoria Harbour and Rev. W. R. Auld officiated. Pallbearers were Bill Jones, Bert Jones, Douglas Mosley, Ross Irwin, Douglas Curry and Erie Curry. Mrs. Mosley, the former Ethel E. Stewart, was born Jan. 10, 1903, on a farm on Old Fort Road, and was educated at Ebenezer School. On March 21, 1921, she and Robert Mosley were married in Midland. She had lived in this district all her life. Mrs. Mosley was a member of the Ebenezer United Church and had been an active member of the Waverley LOBA for more than 25 years. She was also a member of the Ideal Rebecca Lodge No. 199 Midland, and the Wyebridge W. I. Besides her husband she is survived by two sons, Robert Jr., of Wyebridge and Donald of Midland; seven grandsons and three brothers, Thomas Stewart of Victoria Harbour, Fred Stewart of Española and Albert of Montreal.
• A resident of Coldwater district for 56 years, Mrs. Margaret Louise Davidson died in Toronto Jan. 20 of coronary thrombosis. Mrs. Davidson was one of the most faithful members of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Coldwater. Mrs. Davidson was the former Margaret McNally and was born at Waverley, June 6, 1881. Educated at Waverley and Fesserton, she was married June 3, 1914, at Fesserton, to William John Davidson. She was predeceased by her husband in 1949. Mrs. Davidson resided at Waverley for 10 years, at Fesserton for 20 years, was for a year each at Fergus and Toronto, spent 18 years in Dundas, 13 years at North River, and was a resident of Coldwater for the past seven years. Pallbearers were Mervyn Walker, Edward Fell, Albert Locking, Oliver Blake, William Gilchrist and Cecil Dunlop. Immediately surviving are two sons, William David Davidson of Guelph; Harold Albert Davidson of Scarborough; and one daughter Ferne Elizabeth Carnes of Toronto.
• A former resident of Christian Island Indian Reserve, Percy Marsden, 54, died at Roseneath Reserve, in the Rice Lake area, Jan. 29. Along with his father and former chief at Christian Island Robert Marsden, Percy had operated a store and post office at Christian. Surviving are his wife, daughter Delia of Toronto, and his father.
• Said to have been the first shot ever fired out of a brand new rifle, a .22 caliber bullet caused severe facial and mouth injuries to a 15-year-old Midland girl in an accident early Wednesday afternoon. In St. Andrews Hospital is Phyllis Crawford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Crawford, 83 Olive Street. The accident occurred shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday when her boyfriend, Ernest Dorion, 17, of 112 Olive St., was showing her the new rifle.
• Mr. and Mrs. Philias Toutant, Lafontaine, were chosen to cut the wedding cake, last Thursday night, when 118 couples renewed their marriage vows at a ceremony in St. Ann’s Church, Penetang. The date coincided with the Toutaut’s 60th wedding anniversary. The large group held a wedding breakfast in the church basement, followed by a reception in the Knights of Columbus Hall.

Are you looking for a unique and amazing Valentines Day date?

Look no further.

Get your tickets to Murder Mystery- an Evening at the museum and participate in the murder mystery ” It Came From Little Lake”. Nothing says romance like nautical humour, solving a case together and eating a delicious meal catered by ELM catering. Get your tickets online at http://www.shopmidland.com/HuroniaMuseum or come see us at the museum Monday to Friday 9am -5pm or Sundays for the farmers market 9am-1pm.

Call us at 705-526-2844, or email huroniamuseum@gmail.com for more details.