Looking back 60 years in North Simcoe takes a look at archived photographs and newspapers from the local area to give a glimpse of what life was like 60 years ago.

Believe it or not, these women are preparing for “Sliding Down a Moonbeam”. It’s the name of a two-act operetta being put on soon by the 32-member junior choir of Knox Presbyterian Church, Midland. The women are some of the 15 volunteer workers who gathered at the home of Mrs. Wm. Manson last week to prepare costumes for the choir, which is led by Mrs. Art McElroy. Left to right are Mrs. Ray Trew, Mrs. Morley Kinnear, Mrs. Len Webster, Mrs. Stan Hacker, Mrs. David Major and Mrs. Lorne Wood.

“Liberal times are good times,” proclaimed Paul Martin, center when he visited Midland Saturday afternoon for the Simcoe East Liberal nomination convention. John R. MacIsaac of Orillia, left, was the unanimous choice of the convention. At right is E. B. Kendall of Midland, who was convention chairman.

Dr. P. B. Rynard of Orillia, center, was the unanimous choice of East Simcoe Progressive Conservatives to contest the riding for them in the forthcoming federal election. Also pictured at the nomination convention in Orillia Tuesday night are Hon. Waldo Monteith, left, Minister of Health and Welfare, and provincial member Lloyd Letherby, MPP, of Coldwater.

It was so near and yet so far as the ball just wouldn’t drop through the hoop for Ron Blair on this occasion. The action took place at MPDHS gym Friday as the Purple and Gold seniors dropped, a 40 – 37 decision to Richmond Hill. The second game of the total point COSSA playoff series will be played in Richmond Hill Friday afternoon.

Were you there? Part of the large crowd that watched the MPDHS boys senior squad lose its first game in nine starts to Richmond Hill Friday in the MPDHS gym.

Shortly after this picture was taken firemen fighting the recent fire at the Canada House hotel, Penetang, had to abandon their lofty perch as flames threatened to engulf them and their ladder. Following the fire Thursday night, owner James Dillon is reported to have told friends he intends to rebuild the hotel in the same location. It is understood the building is more than 100 years old, was covered by a large amount of insurance, although not sufficient for replacement purposes.

Canada House fire. Fire photos never turn out well and are even worse at night.

Weather-wise at least, Midland and Port McNicoll provided a chilly reception for a group of government officials who made a tour of dock and other installations in the two ports early last week. Seen in 10-below weather at Midland Shipyard are, left to right, H. F. White, chairman of Midland harbor committee; Mayor Charles Parker; Gerald Clark, department of public works official; Charles Stocking, an engineer with the same department and a native of Waubaushene and Alderman Clint Smith, who conducted the tour of the yard.

Chicago captain Larry French receives trophy and handshake from league director Len Self after Hawks scored a 4-2 win over Toronto to win NHL “B” honours. Little lad is David Lamb, Leaf captain, and that’s Frank Graham the Hawks coach at right.

These three photos were featured on the front page without captions and refer to the Little NHL awards night. “Two overtime ties featured the big, “Final Night” of Midland Little League hockey at Arena Gardens Wednesday night, witnessed by the largest turnout of fans to enter the Gardens this year for any occasion.”

New officers of Simcoe East County LOL are seen above at their annual meeting in Midland Wednesday night, left to right are, front, Rt. Wor. Bro. John Moore, Toronto, PGM, Ontario West; Wor. Bro. Peter Clause, Midland, new county master; Rt. Wor. Bro. J. E. Wood, Orillia, DGM, Ontario West; Wor. Bro. Albert Black, Midland, financial secretary; second row, Wor. Bro. Bill Elliott, Penetang, recording secretary; Wor. Bro. W. S. Manning, Elmvale, chaplain; Wor. Bro. Harvey Rowley, Elmvale, deputy county master; back row, Wo. Bro. Howard Rowley, Elmvale, deputy lecturer; Wor. Bro. W. H. Archer, Elmvale, association lecturer; Wor. Bro. George Thorburn, Orillia, treasurer; Wor. Bro. Russell McElwain, Allenwood, Marshall.

New co-operation may be in the offing between the Children’s Aid Society and Simcoe County council. Here, Warden Arthur Evans, left, shakes hands with retiring CAS president Ernest Cumberland, at the CAS annual meeting in Guthrie Friday night. “We will not let down the less fortunate children of the county”, Mr. Evans promised.

Mariners’ services were held annually in most Bay ports, including Midland, as the men and women were preparing to go back to the Lakes for another season.

Members of the Chatham Maroons, sponsored by Midland Police Athletic Association, are shown as they planned strategy for Little League finals Wednesday night. The team lost a hard-fought game 7-5. Around the table are, left to right, Gary Rourke, Bob Logan, Const. Ernest Bates, Wayne Marchand, and Ron McConnell. At rear are Const. Ross Willett and Chief R. J. Cameron.

A huge replica of Penetang Winterama’s admission button proves interesting to these five girls who will be gracing floats in the winter carnival parade March 8. Left to right; Barbara Labatte, Anita Fournier, MaryLou O’Leary, Marguerite Gervais, and Karen Robinson.

Headline from the Free Press Herald, February 26, 1958; Pair Killed in Crack-Up as Fog Shrouds Highway. Two men from the Orangeville area met violent deaths early Monday morning when the small German model car in which they were travelling to work at Port McNicoll collided with a heavily-laden truck about three miles south of Midland. Burnett, a foreman, and Crolley, a cook, were engaged in winter work on the CPR trestle at Port McNicoll. They were travelling in a Iate model Volkswagen, that had only 5,000 miles on the speedometer.
Headline from the County Herald, February 28, 1958. Hears 13 Liquor Charges, Raps Drinking by Youth. Charges arising out of incidents during Saturday night dances in Elmvale’s community hall in recent weeks was the cause of considerable concern to Magistrate K. A. Cameron in Penetang police court Thursday. Trouble following the dances apparently reached a peak Feb. 8, judging by the evidence presented by Const. Wilkinson and Chief Ellwell at a recent court. The officers said several fights broke out and that some 300 persons milling around in the center of the road brought traffic on Queen Street to a complete standstill. As a result of the fracas, two men were charged with creating disturbances by fighting, one with assaulting a police officer, and another with escaping the custody of Const. Wilkinson.
Three Midland representatives on Midland-Penetang District High School Board who, a little over a week ago, submitted their resignations, agreed late Saturday afternoon to return to the board. The agreement was reached at a joint session of six members of council and the three board members, held in the boardroom of the new municipal offices. Outcome of the session was that, if the three Midland board members had a major problem pertaining to high school matters which they wished to discuss with council they would do so, and if council had a major problem which it wished to discuss with the Midland representatives, they agreed to meet with council and discuss it.
William Winchester, active in farm organizations in this district, has been nominated CCF candidate for Simcoe East in the forthcoming federal election. Mr. Winchester was CCF standard bearer in the June 1957 federal vote. He was nominated at a convention in Orillia Feb. 20.
News from the local Protestant Churches is printed each week in the Free Press under the banner “Midland Church News”. Local church services are also listed under a separate heading. There were ten churches listed in February, including the Midland Gospel Hall, the Emmaus Baptist Chapel, and the Pentecostal Holiness Church.
To help offset increased costs of materials and production, single copy, mail subscription, and carrier delivery- prices of this newspaper and the Free Press Herald will be increased effective March 5. The new price schedule will be as follows: 10c per single copy, 25 cents every two weeks by carrier; $4 per year by mail in Canada.
Funeral service was held Feb. 7 for Mrs. Charles Gratrix who died Feb. 5 at St. Andrews Hospital Midland, following pneumonia and a stroke. Burial was at Waubaushene Cemetery. Pallbearers were Steve Gratrix, Walter Gratrix, Reg Potter, Donald Potter, Charles Cross and Russell Brandon. Mrs. Gratrix was born May 11, 1882, at Vasey and was educated there. On June 20, 1906, she married Charles Gratrix who was warden of Simcoe County in 1929. He predeceased her in November 1941. Gratrix had been a resident of this community for the past 52 years. She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Lorne Quantrell of, Huntsville; three sons, Harold off Oro Station, Joe and Elmer of Rosemount; three sisters, Mrs. Nixon of Eady, Mrs. Alf Hawke of Eady, Mrs. Nicholson of Midland, and 12 grandchildren.
A resident of this community for the past 40 years, Mrs. Clifford Laughlin died Feb. 12 at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland. She was 59. Mrs. Laughlin, the former Isobel Meek, was born Oct. 4. 1898; at Dorchester Mass., and was educated at Midland, Ont. In August of 1937, she married Clifford Laughlin at Allandale. She had been a school teacher in this district before she married, and was a member of the Anglican Church. Pallbearers were Norman Chew, Lenwood McGhee, James Lennox, D. R. Campbell, James Mackie and Joseph McKinley. Besides her husband, Clifford Laughlin, she is survived by a daughter, Mary of Midland: brother, Charles Meek of Toronto; and a sister, Ethel Brown of St. Catharines.
A resident of North Simcoe for the entire 84 years of his life, Ferdinand (Fred) St. Amand died at Penetang General Hospital Feb. 16, where he had been confined with a heart ailment. Born and educated in Perkinsfield, Mr. St. Amand moved later to Victoria Harbour, and for the past 40 years had resided in Penetang. He married Leonie Bazinet in Waubaushene, April 25, 1899. A teamster during his working years, Mr. St. Amand was a devout Roman Catholic and a member of the Holy Name Society and the Sacred Heart Society, in sports he was chiefly interested in horse racing and hockey. Surviving, besides his wife, are four sons, Herman, Emery, Zephirin, and Gilbert; one daughter, Mrs. Wilfred Ladouceur (Eugenie); and one sister, Mrs. Sam Moreau, all of Penetang. Pallbearers were Gerard Hamelin, Bernard Ladouceur, Ted Robillard, Stanley Arbour, Morland Mount, and Reg Garraway.
A resident of Port McNicoll for the past 38 years, John McMann died Feb. 9 at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, from a heart condition. McMann was born in Tecumseth Township August 14, 1894. He was educated at Barrie, Tottenham, Schömberg and Lambton Mills. On Dec. 20, 1920, he married Elizabeth Latanville at Midland. After residing at Owen Sound for 26 years, he had resided the past 38 years at Port McNicoll. A sailor with the Great Lakes Steamship Lines CPR for 32 years, he had retired only a year and a half ago. Mr. McMann was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Thomas of Elmvale and Lorne of Port McNicoll. Also, surviving are brothers Wesley of Shelburne, Thomas of Owen Sound and sister Marie (Mrs. Jack McChestney) of Owen Sound.
Charles W. Gervais, a lifelong resident of Waubaushene and a highly respected citizen, died in St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Feb. 19. Honourary pallbearers were Mrs. Minnie Mayhew, Fred Wood, Walter Montgomery, Fred Kinnear, Fisher Ganton, Ralph Dalton, Lawrence Barker, Walter Lumsden, Fred Hunter and Ernie Miller. Active pallbearers were Alvin Tucker, Elmer Tucker, John Wilson, Joseph Gratrix, Thomas Stewart and John Rosborough. A special Oddfellow’s service was held the evening of Feb. 20 at the funeral home, with Oddfellows from Orillia, Midland and Waubaushene participating. Mr. Gervais was born in Northumberland County July 7, 1879, and was educated in Waubaushene. He was married to Edith Rissah Breech Oct. 14, 1903, in Toronto. [Sister of Ella Breech, secretary to Wm. Sheppard of GBL fame and related to Jacob Gill builder of many of the original grist mills in North Simcoe.]They took up residence in Waubaushene, where they have since resided. He was a lumber inspector with the Georgian Bay Lumber Company for a number of years, then clerk and treasurer of the Township of Tay for 27 years. He was a faithful member of the United Church, being an elder for 50 years, but in an honorary position recently. He was also a member of Georgian Bay Lodge, No. 219, since 1901 and of Margaret Rebekah Lodge since 1911, being Past Noble Grand of I.O.O. F. Lodge and Secretary for many years. He was for many years manager and secretary of Waubaushene Public Utilities until forced to retire because of ill health.
That problem appearing in the Feb. 19 issue and taken from an old arithmetic examination paper of 1898 apparently has aroused considerable interest from readers. And it can be solved without the use of the X-factor. James Robinson, the principal of Parkview Public School, was quick to provide one method. You’ll remember the problem was: “A man divided his farm among three sons. The first received 40 acres, the second one-half of the whole farm; and the third three-quarters as much as the two others. How many acres were on the farm?” OK, says Mr. Robinson, the first son got forty acres and the second half the farm. The third got three-quarters as much as the other two, which would be 30 acres plus three-quarters of one-half, or 3/8. Thus 30 plus 3/8 equals 40 plus 4/8, or 1/8 equals 70 acres and the whole farm is 560 acres.
The Midland Parks Commission approved an increase in tourist accommodation rates, ranging from, $1.50 weekly for trailers to $5 weekly on cottages and cabins. A flat rate of $7 per week is to be charged for tents.
25 Years Ago This Week, 1933 – C. E. Stevens was elected reeve of Coldwater after Reeve A. C. Robins resigned. Mr. Stevens was elected to the office by acclamation when four other nominees withdrew. * * * Barrie’s skating rink, first erected in 1897, was totally destroyed by fire. Two other buildings a quarter of a mile away, owned by a coal and wood firm, caught fire from flying sparks but the Barrie brigade was successful in saving the structures. * * * Premier Henry reported in the provincial legislature that a total of $61,500,000 had been spent for relief by the federal, provincial and municipal governments in a three-year period. The province had contributed $19,050,000 of this amount and the municipalities $24,400,000. * * * Midland council was informed that if suggestions put forward by the bank were adopted the rate for 1933 would be 77 mills. The mill rate was made up as follows: the 1932 rate of 43 mills, a reserve against bad taxes, three mills; a further reserve against slow taxes, 10 mills; to operate on a cash basis, 14 mills; town’s share of relief, 7 mills. * * * Officials presiding at high school departmental and entrance examinations were to receive less money for their services. Presiding officers at departmental examinations were to receive $8 a day and their assistants $6.50. Previously they had received $9 and $7 respectively. * * * Midland curling club members were informed at their annual meeting that the club had an excess revenue of $300 over the expenditures for the year. Total expenses amounted to $1,400. W. E. Haggart was re-elected the president.
Pleading guilty to a charge of assault causing bodily harm, with intent to endanger the life of his wife, a Midland man was sentenced to four years in Portsmouth Penitentiary by Magistrate K. A. Cameron in Midland police court.
As we continue to process our collection of local newspapers a wealth of interesting local history comes to light, as time permits we will add items such as this one from January 8^th, 1931 Midland Argus.Ernie Swan (1906 – 1990) was born in Vasey, Ontario, and later moved to nearby Midland, where he became interested in this new fad “radio”, which eventually produced the town’s first radio station, CKPR, which he managed for several years. Ernie was 14 when he got his first radio license. When the shipyard closed in Midland, the station moved in 1931 to Port Arthur with studio and offices in Fort William, across the river, and Ernie’s dream of owning his own radio station never came to pass. He moved to Toronto where he became a legendary figure in Canadian broadcast engineering during his tenure as chief engineer of CKCL (later CKEY) Toronto from 1930 to 1944. He then went on to trail-blaze new techniques in radio transmission that benefited existing stations and opened up opportunities for increasing the efficiency and number of stations that could occupy the AM dial.

[From the History of Canadian Broadcasting] http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/personalities/swan-ernie

Blog Review (John Walford’s Blog)

FEBRUARY 28, 2018 / VERONICABLANCHETTE / LEAVE A COMMENT / EDIT

Recently I came across a review of our Museum out on the web. Give it a read. I was quite pleased with the review. You can find the post on the link below!

Veronica

An Old Fashioned museum – Huronia Museum, Midland, Ontario

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – February 16th to 23rd 1958

Click on photos to enlarge Just a few months more and summer will return; will scenes like the one above from Little Lake Park in 1954 ever do the same. Most local people are too young to remember when it was hard to find a place for your towel on the grass.

But for now, this is what we can expect! In February 1958 heavy snowfall in North Simcoe closes many roads for days with drifts ten to fifteen feet deep. Winterama postponed for two weeks, too much snow.

Big event of the year, “Final Night” for hundreds of youngsters in Midland’s Little NHL has been set for February 26. Among the prizes to be given out are three hockey sticks autographed by stars of the pro NHL Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. Trying out the sticks are, left to right, Bruce Wilcox, Lennie Roach and Vince Ellery.

Big event of the year, “Final Night” for hundreds of youngsters in Midland’s Little NHL has been set for Feb. 26. Among the prizes to be given out are three hockey sticks autographed by stars of the pro-NHL Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Leafs. Rev. Len Self shows one of the sticks to Rusty Marsell, Larry Hebner, Bill Black, Ian Dalrymple, Ken Edgar, Mike Dion, Fred Cousineau and Ralph Battrick.

Despite zero temperatures Saturday night’s fire in Victoria Harbour attracted a large number of spectators. Some young lads are seen above seeking shelter behind one of the fire trucks as they watched the home of Earl Asselin go up in flames. Waubaushene and Port McNicoll brigades came to the assistance of the Harbour brigade in limiting the fire to the residence.

Rudy Kvasnak, right, and another member of the Port McNicoll fire brigade are seen above as they worked on the blaze which destroyed the home of Earl Asselin in Victoria Harbour Saturday night. Firemen were able to save the home of Ted Walker, less than 50 feet south of the Asselin residence.

Thought to have been under control in the early stages, the fire destroyed the home of Earl Asselin in Victoria Harbour Saturday night. Failure of water supplies due to a frozen hydrant eventually resulted in the two-storey building burning to the ground.

Representing urban centers in Thursday night’s “Queen of Hearts” finals at the Roxy Theatre are Judy Bellaire, left, and Judy McIntyre. Miss Bellaire is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Bellaire, Penetang, and Miss McIntyre is the daughter of Mrs. Hugh McIntyre, Midland. The pair of Judys, plan to embark on teaching careers when they leave high school, which should be good news for the department, hard put to find enough teachers to meet requirements these days.

It shouldn’t be hard to “keep them down on the farm” when there are gals around like these three entrants in the “Queen of Hearts” finals at Roxy Theatre Thursday night. They are Shirley King, Mount St. Louis; Rosemary Shiels, RR 1 Waubaushene and Jackie Edwards, Vasey.

Hard to imagine how beautiful this part of King Street must have been under the canopy of those beautiful trees.

The apron table was a popular spot during the open house at Sacred Heart School in Midland last week. Grade 10 girls were selling handiwork made in their home economics class to raise money for the new separate high school. Left to right are Vicki Noquet, Marilyn Wilson, Mrs. Edward (Marg) Mechan and Mrs. Stan (Marg) McLaughlin.

Scientific progress, from rockets’ to faucets, was the subject of this blackboard display prepared in Room 8 at Sacred Heart School for the open house held last week. The colorful display was made by Grade 7 and 8 pupils under Sister St. Barbara.

Mr. and Mrs. John Hamelin didn’t expect to have their photos taken when they attended the open house at Sacred Heart School in Midland Wednesday night. Miss Veronica Lindale, right, teaches their son, Brian John Hamelin.

Trying to keep Ron Blair from potting baskets has been a big headache for other teams in the Georgian Bay COSSA group this season. Ron has potted 101 points in five games for a 20 point per game average. Guarding the MPDHS sniper in this practice session is team captain Lloyd Farqhuar. Looking on are Marty Reynolds, left and Ed Trudeau.

Mrs. Charles Laughlin came to live with her daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. John G. McArthur of 313 Manley Street, only a year ago. But neighbors surprised and delighted her on her 90th birthday last Tuesday, with visits, gifts, notes, and flowers. Born at Sparrow Lake and educated in Waubaushene, she was married in 1885. Here, Mr. and Mrs. McArthur admire Mrs. Laughlin’s corsage.

A thousand dollar cheque brought a delighted grin from Gordon Moss, left, chairman of the St. Andrews Hospital Board. President Cecil English of the Midland Lions Club, right, made the presentation of the donation from his club at Monday night’s meeting of the hospital board.

Judges Friday night will choose a queen and two ladies in waiting from this sextette of entrants in the Penetang Winterama Queen contest at the Pen Theatre. Left to right, front, Mary Lou O’Leary, Karen Robinson, Barbara Labatte; back row. Marguerite Gervais, Anita Fournier, Marita Lalonde.

Mayor Charles Parker of Midland, right, on behalf of the Canadian Weekly Editor, a weekly newspaper trade publication, presents the CWE editorial competition trophy won by the Free Press Herald to Wils Harrison, the managing editor. The competition, an annual one, was held in November 1957 and the results were announced in the latter part of January.

The Free Press headline from February 19^th, 1958 – “Storm Blocks Area Roads, Curbs School Attendance”. Schools throughout the area seemed to be the hardest hit by the severe cold and high winds that swept across North Simcoe Monday and Tuesday. It was one of the worst storms in some years.
The County Herald headline from February 21, 1958 – “See Break-Even Stage in Hospital Operations”. St. Andrew’s Hospital could be breaking even on its operating expenses by the end of March, and have its overall accounts balanced in 1960, board members predicted Monday night. Consensus of the board meeting was, however, that much co-operation would be needed to wipe out the indebtedness which totalled nearly $141,000 as of Feb. 1
Three veteran members of Midland – Penetanguishene District High School Board, one of whom has served for more than a quarter of a century (six as chairman) have resigned. The three, Tom McCullough, this year’s board chairman, Clarke Edwards, chairman of the management committee, and Dr. J . R. Parrott, chairman of the building committee, submitted their resignations Saturday. They asked that the resignations take effect immediately. The resignations followed on the heels of their receipt of letters, sent out by the town clerk on the instructions of council, requesting the three board appointees to prepare a report on the “activities, progress, problems, etc., that confront the members” and submit it to the March 10 meeting of Midland council. The report was to cover the year 1957. The letter further requested that quarterly reports on the activities of the board be submitted to the council. All three indicated in the letter of resignation, they felt council’s letter was an expression of non-confidence in their work on the board.
Reports on Sunday night’s cold snap ranged up to 30 below zero. The gauge in James Lazonby’s backyard, which is somewhat protected from north and west winds gave an official reading of 12 below zero. Mrs. Lazonby stated it was still 10 below zero at 11:30 a.m. Monday. Orillia’s Main Street reported an unofficial reading of 14 below zero at 11 a.m. Some Coldwater residents who delayed bringing in their milk, found bottles split with the frost.
Eleven music pupils from Midland and Penetang achieved first class honors in music theory exams conducted recently in Midland by the Royal Conservatory of Music. First class honors were attained in Grade 2 theory by Bill Bates, Peter Bramah, Marion Miller, Sharon Armstrong, John Richardson; Sheila Armstrong, Danny Richardson, and Frank Okenka. Carol McConnell obtained honors and Catherine McAllister, pass, in Grade 2 theory. First class honors in Grade 1 theory were obtained by Barbara Gropp, James Cleaver, and Mary DesChenes. All three are pupils’ of Miss Dorothy Swallow, and Peter Bramah.
Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at Logan’s funeral home, Parry Sound, for Charles Myers, veteran Moon River district resident who died in Parry Sound General Hospital Friday morning. Mr. Myers is the father of Free Press Herald columnist Juanita Rourke. He is survived by his wife and one daughter, Mrs. Frank Rourke of Midland.
Ten (70) Years Ago This Week 1948 — Midland Public Schools Board, deferred its decision on a proposal to establish kindergarten classes in two of the town’s public schools until it could determine what effect such a move would have on the annual budget. * * * District citizens were being notified by the Hydro-Electric Power Commission that unless electric power consumption was cut ten percent from the October 1947 level, that it would be necessary to discontinue the electric power supply for certain periods each day. * * * Keith Robinson of Coldwater reported he had attained speeds up to 65 miles per hour in a snowmobile he had built in his workshop. He felt the machine was capable of hitting the 100-mile-per-hour mark. * * * Penetanguishene Chamber of Commerce was completing plans for its first winter carnival. Secretary of the carnival committee was Marcel Bellehumeur. * * * George Grise of Honey Harbour drove his scoot at an estimated 115 miles per hour in a race held on a three-mile course between Honey Harbour and Beausoleil Points * * * The highway between Midland and Barrie was drifted so badly that a Midland motorist spent eight hours making the 32-mile trip. His car consumed nine gallons of gasoline. * * * Two leap year babies were born to residents of Elmvale. The children were born at Royal Victoria Hospital.
A native of Lafontaine, Dr. Pierre Marchildon died in Penetang, Jan. 11, at the age of 75 years, following a heart seizure. Born in Lafontaine in 1863, Pierre Marchildon received his elementary education there and continued his schooling in Quebec, and Burlington, Vermont, where he obtained his medical diploma. He had practiced medicine for (edge of the page cut off)? years in Montreal and 20 years in the Abitibi area before going to live with his daughter in France, in 1938. He intended returning to Canada, but when World War II broke out he was forced to remain in France, and it wasn’t until 1946 that he was able to return to his homeland. On his return, he again went to the Abitibi and took up his medical practice, for a short time before retiring to his home village of Lafontaine. He spent his remaining years there and in Penetang. He was extremely interested in music, and for many years was the tenor soloist in Notre Dame Church, Montreal. In 1885 he married Emma Tessier in Montreal, and the only remaining member of his family is his daughter Clorinde (Mrs. Eugene Oulmon) of Suresnes, France. His wife predeceased him in 1938. The Funeral was held Jan. 14 from Beausoleil’s Funeral Home to Holy Cross Church at Lafontaine, where Rev. Thomas Marchildon was in charge of the service. Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery. Pallbearers were Theophile, Etienne and Gabriel Marchildon, Severe, Jean and Leo LeBlanc.
Funeral service was held Jan. 30 from St. Ann’s Memorial Church, Penetang, for Telesphore Gauthier who died Jan. 27 at Penetang after a lingering illness. Rev. J. Kelly officiated at the service and interment was in St. Ann’s Cemetery. Twelve brothers of the Christian schools were present in the sanctuary. Pallbearers were Gerard Gauthier, Edmund Kyte, Alan Johnson, Eugene Lalonde, Léo Gauthier and Marins Guimet. Born in Penetang in 1896, Mr. Gauthier was also educated there. In 1907 be married Alice D’Ault and lived in Penetang for the remainder of his life. Predeceased by his wife in 1913 and a son, Edgar, in 1948, he is survived by three sons, Bro. Romuald, Raymond of Penetang, and Wallace of Toronto. Also surviving are two brothers; Henry of Penetang and Arthur of British Columbia, and one sister, Eliza (Mrs. Doucette) of Hamilton.
Recent discontinuance of the CPR noon passenger train from Medonte station to Toronto and the limiting of service at some stations in the area on both railways is reported in line with a curtailment program because of reduced patronage.
A year of steady progress in all departments was reported by Arthur Bell, president, at the annual meeting of Port McNicoll Community Credit Union Ltd. last Monday night. Held in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the banquet and dinner meeting was attended by more than 100 members and guests. President Bell said membership in the credit union had increased by 40 in 1957, bringing the total to 365. Profit on the year’s operation was $6,504, compared with $4,074 in 1956. Dividends in 1957, $3,160, were up $1,439 over the previous year.
Tiny Township road crews are battling almost around the clock in an effort to clear storm-clogged roads particularly in the north end of the municipality, road superintendent Les Spring told this newspaper yesterday. “However, the concession roads are so badly drifted in places our plowing equipment is powerless to punch a hole through some of them,” he said. Officials are arranging to bring in a bulldozer to battle the drifts, which at some places are said to be 10 to 15 feet high.
Strange as it may seem, “too much snow” was the main reason Penetang’s Winterama committee decided to postpone the event for two weeks at a meeting held Tuesday. “There is too much snow for the parade, too much for the parking, and too much for the 1,000 persons we expect to take part in the fish derby,” explained Marcel Bellehumeur, chairman of the Winterama committee.
Letter to the editor; The wooden tug “D. S. Pratt”, official No. 126,655, was built in 1911 at Midland for the Canadian Dredging Co. Ltd. of Midland. Her dimensions: length, 81.3 feet; breadth, 20 feet; depth, 10.5 feet; weight, 161 gross tons; engine, 42 h.p. Her engine was transferred from the steam barge Reliever, owned by the late Manly Chew, which had burned in 1910 at a point 300 yards west of Methodist Point. Weathered and black after 47 years, the remaining oak timbers are used by cottagers and visitors to make coffee tables, lamp stands, and ashtrays. Signed W. R. WILLIAMS
From the MPDHS “Hi-Sterics” column; Congratulations to Red Nicolls who this year has been chosen the winner of the Roxy Theatre Trophy which is presented annually to the member of the senior football team who excels in scholarship, leadership, and sportsmanship. * * * The Latin Club has been far from idle. If they don’t have anything to do they busy themselves at playing Latin bingo using Latin numbers and Latin words.

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – February 8th to 15th 1958

FEBRUARY 15, 2018 / TOM / EDIT

Click on photos to enlarge

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)

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – February 1st to 7th 1958

FEBRUARY 9, 2018 / TOM / EDIT

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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.)
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.

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – January 1st to 8th 1958

JANUARY 9, 2018 / TOM / EDIT

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This tiny fellow won a host of prizes for Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd Day, 146 Eighth Street, Midland, by being the first baby born at St. Andrew’s Hospital in 1958. Weighing in at 7 lbs 3 ozs., he is a brother for Lloyd, 16, Larry, 12 and Linda 6.

This little girl, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Harold Bumstead, Wyevale, will have no problem remembering her birthday. She arrived on the scene in St. Andrew’s Hospital, Midland, Christmas Day. Christine is the third daughter of the Bumsteads, who so far have no sons. ( one more daughter and two sons followed)

Mr. & Mrs. John Houden of Elmvale study an old scrapbook kept by their daughter Mrs. Howard Grier of Wyevale (standing) that tells of the day 50 years ago when the couple boarded the train in Elmvale to travel to Barrie to be wed. It was January 1st, 1908 and just past Colwell on the line to Barrie the train derailed and the coach rolled down a forty foot embankment. No one was seriously injured, even though the coach caught fire and was completely destroyed. The Houdens went on to Barrie and were married.

There is a wonderful story of determination, hard work, local support and family behind this event.

This monster moose was shot by C. F. Townes of Wyebridge who works as an electrician at a mine at Spanish Ont. The animal had a 57-inch antler spread and weighed about 1,600 pounds. Mr. Townes son Jim is at the right.

St. Andrew’s Hospital caretaker Oscar Jean…(paper ripped, the last name missing) can be seen with the lawnmower out Friday morning on the hospital lawn. (Just before Christmas)

Near collision with the tree at right failed to dampen these two Midland lads’ enthusiasm for tobogganing. Paul Tremblay left, and Ken Cleary were only two of the many children that “rediscovered” Little Lake Park as a winter playground during the last few days of the Christmas holidays.

It was a case of “look out below” when these four enthusiastic but “green” skiers tried out the long boards in Little Lake Park recently. It was a belated chance to try out Christmas skis and toboggans after weeks of bare ground. Skiers are Keith Cleary, Bob Gray, Tom Davis and John Adamson.

The Free Press Herald headline of January 1^st, 1958; Midland Teacher Shot in Rabbit Hunt Mishap. A Christmas week rabbit hunt north of Honey Harbour had serious consequences for Guy Johnstone son of Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Johnstone, Midland. A teacher at Sacred Heart Separate School, Midland, the young man suffered serious injuries to his back when a shot-gun carried by his brother, George, 16, accidentally discharged Friday afternoon. Rushed as speedily as possible some 40 miles to St. Andrew’s Hospital, Midland, Mr. Johnstone was attended by Dr. E. A. Grise and Dr. Peter Brasher. Blood transfusions were given and a lengthy operation carried out to save the young man’s life. Dr. Grise, said Tuesday that, while still critically ill, Guy has been “improving a bit each day”.
The County Herald headline of January 3^rd, 1958; Small Tractor Explodes Driver Escapes Unhurt. Ovila Cascagnette, the Penetang town foreman, considers himself lucky to have escaped with his life this week when a tractor he was attempting to start in the town shed, exploded and set the building ablaze. Considerable damage was caused to the roof trusses of the building as well as the underside of the roof sheathing when the gasoline-fed flames leaped into the air. The tractor, which caused the fire, was badly damaged by the explosion and subsequent blaze.
The Free Press Herald headline of January 8^th, 1958; Say Policies Under Fire, Hospital Board Resigns. Elected members and two appointed members of St. Andrew’s Hospital Board served notice Friday night that they were resigning, effective Jan. 20. The resignation followed a discussion of existing conditions at the hospital after the resignation of board chairman R. J. Pinchin had been tabled at the meeting attended by representatives of the Lions Club, the Y’s Men’s Club, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Business and Professional Women’s Club, the lODE and the Nurses Alumnae. A public meeting is to be held in the auditorium of Midland’s new municipal building Monday, January 20, to elect a new board. Chamber of Commerce officials and service clubs were requested to urge their members and the public to attend.
Apparently, Floridians are not the only ones who can boast of balmy Christmases. Mrs. Robert Carson of 365 Hugel Ave. W., Midland, picked a large bowlful of beautiful pansies and white alyssum in her garden Christmas Day.
New Brewer’s Retail store to open January 9^th at the corner of Bay St. and Midland Ave.
It begins to look more and more certain that Midland’s famed ski jump will sit idle, for this year at least. Earlier, Ross Irwin, an official of Midland Resorts. Ltd., and prominent in various ski activities here for several years, had hoped to have a meet Jan. 10, 11 and 12. Mr. Irwin said yesterday there will be no action on the Jump till the weekend. “Things look pretty grim,” Ross Irwin admitted. “However there is another date open in March and if things take a turn for the better we may still have a meet this winter.” Numerous obstacles, mostly financial, have blocked operation of both the ski jump and the regular ski hill this season.
Midland police had a busy day Friday, with four accidents on the books, one of which involved injuries to an 8-year-old boy hit by a car while playing hockey on Manley Street. The latter accident occurred shortly after 4 p.m., when David Anderson, 8, slipped and fell into a car driven by Dr. T. J. Johnston. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Anderson, David was one of a group of several lads engaged in a game of street “shinny” at that point.
Ten Years Ago This Week – 1948 – Fire damage, estimated at nearly $50,000, was caused to a three-roomed brick school at Perkinsfield. The fire broke out shortly after midnight. * * * Flos Township celebrated a century of municipal government. The first council meeting was held in 1847 at the old Hamilton Inn at Orr Lake. * * * Car license plates for 1948 were blue and white. Midland marker numbers began at 610-N-l, and Penetang 666-N-l. Motorists were again being provided with front and rear plates. During World War II and for two years afterward only rear markers were supplied. * * * Public works employees in Penetang were given a two and one-half cents per hour wage increase at the inaugural meeting of Penetang council. The council also decided to install its own gasoline pumps. * * * A group of Simcoe County citizens, which included Dr. J. Small, Midland, and Rev. R. L. MacLaren, Penetang, planned to ask county council to establish a juvenile and family court for the county. * * * Indians at Christian Island were to have a registered nurse stationed on the reserve. * * * J. R. Parrott was elected chairman of the newly-formed Midland District High School Board. Vice Chairman was C. M. Vent, mayor of Midland in 1947. Other members of the board were J. Wells Hartman, T. M. McCullough, Rev. L. E. Gosselin, John Skelton, John C. Rumble, Dr. E. A. Grise and James Poppleton.

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – January 9th to 15th 1958

JANUARY 17, 2018 / TOM / EDIT

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Note that nearly every negative this week shows severe damage due to their age and years of storage where temperature and humidity were not controlled.

Erected at a cost of $17,500.00 by Rei Construction Co. of Midland, this new one-room school serves pupils in school section No. 3, Baxter Township. It is located on the Trans-Canada Highway about six miles north of Port Severn. (The building still exists as a private home on the old South Bay Road just off of White’s Falls Road.)

Brand new school house for S.S. #3, Baxter Township, has only eleven students, but it can seat around thirty when the area expands. Front row, Martin King, Earl White, Teddy King, Billy White, center, Linda King, Johnny White, Beverly King, back row, Paul White (son of the teacher Mrs. Herb White), Kenneth King and teacher, Mrs. Herb (Ada) White. Not present when the photo was taken were Peter and Bobby King.

When the Free Press photographer was visiting the new Baxter school in the previous photos he turned his camera east for this view of Little Go Home Bay looking from the new #103 Trans Canada Highway across to King’s Farm Rd.

Another in the Safety Photo series.

Suzie Sutton and Freddie Hacker are handling the shovels at Little Lake Park, clearing a spot for skating.

A look even further back to some interesting spring 1936 ads from Penetang.

Mrs. Flora Brown, nee McKinnon, who was 93 years old on January 2nd, has lived in Victoria Harbour for 66 years. Miss Brown was born in Manilla, Ont. January 2^nd, 1885, two years before confederation. Her father, the late Angus MacKinnon, was a hotel keeper by vocation. This must-have come in handy for he had to provide room and board for eleven children in addition to himself and Mrs. MacKinnon. At one time Flora lived in Beaverton where her teacher was Alexander Muir, the composer of the “Maple Leaf For Ever”. [The newspaper always cropped these photos down, often just to head and shoulders, it is interesting to see the furnishings, wall and floor coverings of 60 years ago.]

Two impressive additions to Midland’s winter fleet are the Paterson and the Senator of Canada, docked at the Midland Simcoe Elevator. The “Senator”, brand new this year, has a capacity of around 500,000 bushels. The “Paterson” launched in 1955 holds 425,000 bushels. Both are members of the Paterson Steamship Lines. [Great Lakes bulk carriers, such as Algoma Marine’s MV John B. Aird, can now carry a million bushels of wheat.]

Nancy Murday, space traveling on her flying saucer in Little Lake Park recently. Space traveling Nancy Murday may not have contributed much to Western science but she did have a good time on her flying saucer in Midland’s Little Lake Park recently. It was the kind of cold, sunny day that paints red apples on young Canadian cheeks.

Two rinks from the Midland Ladies Curling Club will represent District 4 in Ontario Ladies Tankard competition in Collingwood Thursday when they meet Owen Sound. Skipped by Mrs. Del Hastings and Mrs. Ray Trew, the two rinks had eliminated Barrie and Orillia in games played here last Wednesday. Front, Mrs. Bert Megaw (Fran), Mrs. Del (Marjorie) Hasting, Dorothy Trew and Mrs. Ernie Nicholson. Back row; (unknown?), Val Green, Mrs. Karl Bertrand, Mrs. Keith (Leah) Bertrand.

The Unsatisfied Judgement Fund was set up in Ontario under the Highway Traffic Act to provide financial relief to innocent victims of motor vehicle accidents. The Fund provided up to 300,000.00 in compensation and the government often sued the Unsatisfied Judgement driver for amounts it paid beyond that. The driver’s licence was also revoked until the judgment was satisfied. The Fund allowed those that could not afford insurance the ability to drive a car in Ontario. When you purchased your vehicle plates you either provided proof of insurance or purchased the Fund which as you can see in 1958 cost $5.00. It has been replaced by the Motor Vehicle Accident Claim Fund.

The County Herald headline for January 10^th, 1958; Experts from Ottawa to Inspect Harbour and Yards. Efforts of the District Employment Committee toward the reopening of the Midland Shipyard and the development of Midland harbour paused this week awaiting an inspection visit by two representatives of the federal Department of Transport. The visit was promised as a result of the Midland delegation’s trip to Ottawa Dec. 19, where the advantages of Midland’s harbour and shipbuilding potential were outlined to department officials.
The Free Press Herald headline of January 15^th, 1958; Board Ups Phone Rates, Hikes Average 33 Cents. An increase in telephone rates for Midland, Penetanguishene, Port McNicoll, Honey Harbour and Waubaushene citizens has been authorized by the Board of Transport Commissioners. H. A. Kilroy, manager of the Bell Telephone Co. for this area, said the new rates would become effective Jan. 31. For Midland subscribers, the increases will amount to 10 cents a month for a two-party residence telephone; 20 cents for one-party residence lines; 40 cents monthly for one-party flat rate business service; and 25 cents monthly for two-party business service, he said. In Penetanguishene, the hikes are as follows: 10 cents per month for two-party lines; 20 cents monthly for one-party residence service; 35 cents monthly for one-party business service; and 20 cents monthly for two-party business service.
The condition of Guy Johnstone, critically wounded in a hunting accident near Honey Harbour Dec. 27, is reported to be considerably improved. Dr. E. A. Grise said yesterday that he was very encouraged with the progress the young Midland teacher was making. He said Guy had to undergo further surgery earlier this week when he started to haemorrhage
There were quiet celebrations during the holiday when the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Hopkins, Bay Street, was observed. Christmas Day in 1907, the Hopkins was married by Rev. J. Elliott at the home of the bride’s parents. Mr. Hopkins has been confined to bed for almost two years and Mrs. Hopkins has had several coronary attacks, so entertaining was kept as informal and quiet as possible. Attendants for Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins were his sister, Lavina Hopkins and her brother, the late William Ney. Mrs. Hopkins was born Maud Ney in Medonte Township July 1, 1887, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Ney. At an early age, she moved with her family to a farm on the outskirts of Port McNicoll, now owned by Maxwells.
On Jan. 4 Tony Quigley and his brother-in-law Bill Henderson, an employee of Canadian Tire Association, were playing cribbage. Bill scored a perfect hand of 29. He had three fives and the jack of clubs in his hand and the five of clubs was turned up.
Natural gas will be distributed in Midland in the spring of 1959, a representative of Consumers’ Gas Company told Midland council Monday. The gas will be at system-wide rates, he said, selling for the same price as in Toronto, Barrie, Orillia and other centers.
25 Years Ago This Week 1933 – Clarence Kemp of Wyebridge was elected worshipful master of Midland District LOL at the annual meeting in Wyebridge. George Hurl of Midland was elected deputy district master. * * * Penetang council was informed that during 1932 a total of $24,000 had been spent on relief. The federal and provincial governments contributed $16,000 of this amount. * * * Coldwater defeated Collingwood 3 to 2 in an intermediate hockey game, played at Coldwater. The Villagers scored the winning goal after six minutes of overtime and while the team was one man short. * * * Two Penetang women killed an 18-inch garter snake which they spotted crawling along Church Street. * * * United Farmers of Ontario planned to submit a protest to the federal government over the government’s failure to complete a barter deal with Soviet Russia. Russia wanted to exchange oil for livestock. * * * Rev. John Davidson, 95-year old Presbyterian, and United Church minister, died at the Coldwater home of his daughter, Mrs. T. D. Park, following a brief illness. * * * Simcoe County ended 1932 with a current deficit of $77,406. * * * Sir Malcolm Campbell was on his way to Daytona Beach, Florida, with his reconditioned racing car, Bluebird. He hoped to break his existing speed record of 250-miles per hour.

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – January 16th to 22nd 1958

JANUARY 24, 2018 / TOM / LEAVE A COMMENT / EDIT

Click on photos to enlargeThere is good news for skiers this week in the announcement that Midland Ski Club will operate for the rest of the season. The 600-foot tow is expected to be back in operation this weekend. Club members were busy Wednesday getting the new chalet in shape to handle both local and visiting skiers’ needs.

We have posted this picture in the past but it needs another look. The view is to the NE from the slope of the Midland Ski Resort west of Midland. At the foot of the hill are the old and new ski chalets. Hidden in the tree line can be seen highway 27 to Penetang and beyond the Simcoe Elevator on the left and the Dominion Ave. water tower to the right. The property along the tree line will become the site of the Mountainview Mall.

Bell buoy from Georgian Bay, sitting out the winter on the Midland dock, frames the busy tug Bayport as it clears a channel in the bay for movement of grain-laden ships. The Bayport’s activities extend around the bay to Tiffin and Aberdeen elevators and as far as Port McNicoll, some five miles away. Movement of grain from the elevators has been brisk in recent weeks after many idle months.[Perhaps some knowledgeable sailor can tell us the meaning of the word or words “JAW LOG” on the buoy’s anchor.]

With three boy’s and two girl’s basketball teams in action this season the MPDHS cheerleaders get lots of opportunities to display their talents in the new gym. Judy Bellaire, Gail Richardson, Marion Lavigne, Jean Brown, Carol VanLuven, Mary Lou Brissette and Lucille Duquette.

A crowd of 350 turned out on Monday night to elect a new board of directors for St. Andrew’s Hospital and discuss problems facing the hospital. The meeting was held in the auditorium of the new municipal building. The previous board had resigned.

Nearly every organization in Midland was represented at the emergency meeting which discussed St. Andrew’s Hospital problems and choose a new board. Members of the Phiat Club, a YMCA group, get a close-up view of the statistics surrounding the emergency. Lorna Edwards, Marion Lemieux (Deeton) , Donna Bertrand and Marjorie (Hornsby) Wiles.

The new board of St. Andrew’s Hospital is seen following its election at a special meeting in Midland’s new municipal auditorium Monday night. Seated, John Burke, Dr. E. A. (Ed) Grise, Frank Spence, Mrs. Bruce Holt. Standing, Ed Mechan, Gordon Moss, Bill Cranston, Walter Kluck, Douglas Haig and R. B. Moffatt.

This highway was completed in 1959 and was known as the Highway 400 Extension. As you can see the plan was to build from Coldwater to Gravenhurst, the route to Gravenhurst was surveyed but never constructed.

Inaugural meeting of the 1958 Midland Public Schools Board. Front, W. A. (Bill) Hack secretary, Chairman Frank Bray and Mrs. H. McIntyre chairman of the management committee. Back row, Jack Thompson chairman of property, Harold Wilcox, John Burke and Frank Whiteman. Mr. Burke and Mr. Whiteman are new to the board and replace Tim Nesbit and Dr. J. S. Corcoran.

Another in the safety photo series that ran in the newspaper. This is King Street South just in front of the cenotaph, what a beautiful street it was!

The County Herald headline from January 17^th, 1958; Ontario’s Chief Coroner Probes J. Clark’s Death. Provincial Chief Coroner Dr. Smirle Lawson was called in yesterday morning to conduct a post-mortem on Midlander John Clark, who died in a Toronto hospital about 9:30 p.m Wednesday. Chief Cameron said at 11.15 a.m. today that Eric Rankin would be charged with manslaughter, as a result of Clark’s death, on the advice of the Crown Attorney. Clark’s injuries were received in a tussle between him and Eric Rankin at the Rankin taxi office about 1 a.m. Tuesday, after the two had allegedly had an argument over a wristwatch which Clark had pawned, Sgt. Wainman said. Police said they had received signed statements from Eric Rankin and two eyewitnesses, Stewart Bath, jr., and Clarence Chapman. The last two named accompanied Clark to the taxi office.
The Free Press Herald headline from January 22^nd, 1958; New Board Puts Hospital on Pay-as-you-Go Basis Drastic action to strengthen the financial position of St. Andrew’s Hospital, Midland, and ensure its future operation was taken Monday night by the newly-elected board. St. Andrews is to be put on a pay-as-you-go basis, effective immediately, on a plan adopted by many other hospitals in Ontario. Bills will hereafter be rendered weekly. Cash payments will be required for all services not covered by approved insurance plans. Persons not covered by hospital insurance will be required to pay a $40 deposit on entry to the hospital, to be applied against future bills. Should the $40 be in excess of the expense incurred, the difference will be refunded on discharge. This is to remain in effect until the provincial hospital insurance plan is implemented. Unmet campaign pledges, amounting to some $25,000 toward the cost, of the $825,000 building, will be reviewed.
Midland Ski Club has made arrangements to resume operation of the regular ski hill and expects to have a 600-foot tow in operation this weekend. For the time being at least, the big jump, owned by Midland Ski Resorts Ltd., will remain idle. President of the ski club, Ray Smith said yesterday the new chalet will also be made ready and a snack bar put in operation for this weekend. The chalet, an excellent building, was the former community hall in Little Lake Park. It was dismantled and moved to the ski club site last spring.
Indications gained from a survey of hotel operators in the area are that more people than ever plan to visit Penetang winter carnival, which this year has been named “Penetang Winterama”. All available accommodation in the town itself has been booked by reservation for the duration of the three-day event which is scheduled for Feb- 21, 22, and 23rd. Phil Robitaille, the manager of Hotel Brule, said he is at present looking farther afield in search of accommodation to which he may send reservations which keep pouring into his office with each mail.
Obituaries; Funeral service was held for Irwin Cook who died unexpectedly while working at Midland Flour and Feed Store, King Street, Midland, Jan. 8. The service was held Jan. 10 at A. Barrie and Son’s funeral home and Envoy Thompson of the Salvation Army officiated at the service. Interment was in Lakeview Cemetery Chapel. Pallbearers were Gordon Gillespie, Jack Gillespie, Ken Cook, Gordon Cook, Fred French and Richard French. Mr. Cook was born in 1903 at Jarratt Corners and was educated at Craighurst. In 1943 he married Ann Stewart at Elmvale. He had worked in the milling business. * * * * Mrs. John Kissock, 53, died Jan. 8 at her home 395 Russell Street, Midland. She had been in failing health for the past three years. Rev. J. L. Self conducted the funeral service held Jan. 11 at Nicholls’ funeral home. Pallbearers were Logan Cruise, Claytus Cruise of Midland; Gordon Perry, Kenneth Astridge, Douglas Astridge of Barrie, all nephews; and Joseph Ball of Midland. Mrs. Kissock was born April 29, 1904, at Oro Township and educated at Mitchell Square. The former Kathleen Margaret Earnhardt, she married John J. Kissock at Oro Township Nov. 11, 1922. Mrs. Kissock is survived by her husband; daughter Ethel (Mrs. Thomas Bates) of Midland; and sons Arnold of Penetang, Newton of Oshawa and Ross of Midland. Another son, Lloyd, was killed in a car accident in Midland in 1953. * * * * Following a long illness Mrs. William Borrow of Severn Park died at Penetanguishene General Hospital Dec. 31. The funeral was held at the Waubaushene Catholic Church. Pallbearers’ were Etley Lovering, Frank Wellman, Claude Bolyea, Cecil Robinson, Charles Doyle, and Peter Gouett. Mrs. Borrow was the former Elizabeth Mary Gouett and was born at Waubaushene Sept. 13, 1899. She attended school in Waubaushene and resided in St. Catharine’s for a number of years. She was married to William Borrow at Midland, Nov. 21, 1918, and had been a resident of Matchedash Township for 37 years. Surviving is her husband and a son, Stephen Borrow of Coldwater. * * * * Funeral service was held Dec. 27 for John Bellisle who died in Penetang General Hospital Dec. 23 following a long illness. The service was held from St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church in Penetang and, temporary entombment was in St. Ann’s Cemetery Vault. Rev. C. Robitaille, assisted by Rev. J. Marchand and Rev. Norbert Gignac, celebrated the high mass. Pallbearers were Gerald Bellisle, Larry Bellisle, Gerard Bellisle, Wallace Lacroix, A. Ladouceur and Patrick Marcelle. Mr. Bellisle was born June 18, 1907, at Penetang, where he was educated there. On Sept. 23, 1941, he married Gladys Moreau at Penetang. He had always resided in Penetang and was a butcher by trade. He is survived by his wife, two sons and one daughter, Roy, Neil and Ruth. Also surviving are four brothers and two sisters.
With the advent of natural ice in Penetang Arena, a number of teams which have been travelling to Midland for games are now playing on their home ice.
These are the people who have been voted to the Student Council for the season of January 1958, to January 1959. President, Anne Hamilton; secretary, Sue Quinlan; treasurer, Tom Marr. Doug McMillan, Glen Bell, Ed Trudeau, Ken Ball, Girard Marchand, Carol Cowan, Carol Van Luven, Bev Scott, Rodney Rankin, Betty Ann McCullough, Dale Smitham, Rosemary Shields and Elizabeth Cook.
Help Wanted Applications are invited for the position of Truant Officer, for the Midland Public Schools, part-time basis, salary $2.50 per call, minimum $250.00 per annum. Further particulars may be obtained from the undersigned. WM. A. HACK, Secretary-Treasurer, Midland Public School Board.
Midland’s “new-look” Little NHL, with the number of teams, cut to four in all but the junior “B” section, proved pretty evenly matched last week, with one exception. Possibly they should have put Bobby Clayton in a section by himself. In any event, he scored five goals for Guelph in a junior “A” game as the Biltmores thumped Kitchener 6-1. Dion got the other Guelph goal, matched by Kitchener’s Larmand.

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – January 23rd to 31st 1958

FEBRUARY 1, 2018 / TOM / LEAVE A COMMENT / EDIT

Click on photos to enlarge

Week of Jan. 28 – Feb. 5 has been proclaimed “Cross Canada Hockey Week” at the request of the CAHA, OHA, and OMHA. One of Midland’s OMHA teams, the juveniles, is seen above with Coach Frank Swales. They meet Hamilton here Tuesday night. The OHA intermediate Red Wings play host to Orillia Merchants Thursday night as part of the same hockey week. The motto chosen for the week is “Bring your boy to see a game”.

Despite the advent of radar and other recent inventions, sending messages by the signal lamp is still an important part of the training of all sailors. Men above are studying for first or second mate’s tickets at Midland Marine School. Left to right are Al Desjardins, Port McNicoll; J. Jones and Al Hansford, Midland; Don Heidman, Parry Sound; G. Glover, Midland, assistant instructor; Fred Bingham, M. MacIntaggart and T. Courtemanche, Midland, operating both navigation and engineering divisions, the school is sponsored by the vocational guidance committee of the MPDHS board.

Avoiding collisions at sea is uppermost in the minds of all mariners. Four budding great lake’s masters are seen discussing a typical problem with Capt. Malcolm Kennedy, left, chief instructor at the Midland Marine School. Others are, left to right, Ken Guthrie, Elmvale; Allan Hurlbut, Midland; Albert Purvis, Gore Bay; and Carl Yeo, Port McNicoll. Mr. Hurlbut is studying for his mate’s (home trade) ticket and others for master’s (inland waters) papers.

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. An MPDHS entry won the best play award two years in succession.

“Hurry up with that tape”, said Peter Steele, left, and Ralph Ironside, right, as Jim Wilcox gets his stick ready for the recent game. The boys are members of Midland’s juvenile Canadiens who meet a Hamilton team here Tuesday night as a feature of “Cross Canada Hockey Week”. There will also be bantam and juvenile games to round out the big evening.

Goalie Bill Gray gets some help from Bob Hendrickson, left, and Ron Marchildon as he dons the heavy armor of his trade. The boys are members of Midland’s juvenile Canadiens who meet a Hamilton team here Tuesday night as a feature of “Cross Canada Hockey Week”. There will also be bantam and juvenile games to round out the big evening.

The new chief of Midland’s People’s Store is Andre Norris, right, who succeeds Jean-Paul Fecteau. Married and with one son, Richard, aged five months, Mr. Norris worked for the company at Kitchener and St. Hyacinthe, Que., prior to coming to Midland. Mr. Fecteau, who has been in Midland for 3 1/2 of his five years with the firm, takes over as manager of a store in Grandmere, Que. He moves there with his wife and two children early in February.

Outstanding progress in 4-H Homemaking Club work won the Women’s Institute County Scholarship for Barbara Strath of Saurin. Mrs. James Bell of RR #3 Coldwater, who made the presentation at Achievement Day in Elmvale Community Hall Saturday, is chairman of the W. I. scholarship committee. Clara Amos of Mount St. Louis won the scholarship last year.

Unbeaten this season in five games, MPDHS’ senior basketball team is reviving hopes for at least a Georgian Bay group title this season. Talking things over with coach Bill Setterington are, left to right, front row, “Red” Nicholls, John Maher, Mr. Setterington, Bob Megaw, Martin Reynolds; back row — Ed Trudeau, Lloyd Farquhar (captain), Ron Blair, Ralph LaRue, Henry Gouett, Guenther Raibach and Jim Farmer, team manager.

“Cheese”, said this happy group at the 4-H Homemaking Club Achievement day held Saturday in Elmvale Community Hall. Mrs. G. R. Lane right, area president of the Women’s Institute, presented county honour certificates for completing six homemaking club projects to, left to right, Janet Stewart of Vasey, Joyce Ingleton of Saurin and Anne Phillips of Allenwood.

This public service announcement is from March 1937.

Can not resist adding a couple of oldies, again from 1937.

The County Herald headline January 24^th, 1958; Say County CAS Revenue Could Hit $331,000.00 Mark If its hoped-for revenue comes through, the Simcoe County Children’s Aid Society will receive $331,000 in 1958. After wiping out its 1957 deficit of $20,030.00 (which includes a deficit of $11,314 1 built up in the accounts payable to other societies) the CAS will have $311,000 to spend during the coming year.
The Free Press Herald headline January 29, 1958; Say P.M. to Announce House Dissolution Today A reliable source informed this newspaper yesterday that Prime Minister John Diefenbaker would call for the dissolution of Parliament sometime today. The prime minister has indicated in recent addresses, both inside and out of the House, that the date was not too far off when he would ask Governor-General Vincent Massey to dissolve Parliament and call for a general election. Present representation in the house is as follows: Progressive Conservatives, 113; Liberals, 104; CCF, 25; Social Credit, 17; others, 4. Returning Officer J. P. McNamara told this newspaper yesterday that lists of enumerators for the preparation of voters lists have been prepared, and those listed have consented to act.
County Herald Headline January 31^st, 1958; Commission Backs Hikes in Hospital Ward Rates. Increases in ward rates at St. Andrew’s Hospital, recommended by the board in November 1957, have been approved by the Ontario Hospital Commission, St. Andrews Hospital Board was informed at its meeting Monday night. The ward rate increases range from 50 cents daily for standard wards of more than four beds to $1 per day for two-bed semi-private wards. They become effective Feb. 1. The four-hour session was the second the newly-elected board has held since the crisis meeting of Jan. 20.
“It would take a new world war to open the Midland Shipyard again.” This is the conclusion of industrial committee chairman Harvey White, as stated in the annual report of the Midland Chamber of Commerce. “There appears to be no intention whatsoever on the part of the company to operate the yard here,” he said. He said the chamber’s industrial committee had attended numerous meetings with respect to the deliberations and negotiations for re-opening the yards and made two trips to the company’s office at Collingwood on the matter.
These students will be the Year Book Staff for I958. Editor, Marie Gignac; assistant editor, Sheila Armstrong; French editor, Annette Ducaire; business manager, Red Nicholls; assistant business manager, Romeo Lalonde; photographer, Bob Scott, (Camera Club committee); special event, Joan and Nancy Somers; chronicles, Janice Edwards, Helen Parker; girls’ sports, Ann Maher; boys’ sports, Bob Popple. Feb. 15 is the last date for material.
Last Friday the Hironae Hi-Y held a club party chaperoned by Pat Perrin; club advisor, and Ernie Cowden. (I wonder who was supervising those two)
Midland council is making specific application to the Canadian National Railways for a lease of the property on the west side of Midland Bay where Midland yachtsmen have indicated they want to establish a yacht basin and mooring facilities.
Twenty Five Years Ago This Week, 1933— A. B. Thompson, M.P., officially opened Midland’s new government warehouse at the town’s waterfront. The new warehouse and a dock completed some months previously were part of a program to improve harbor facilities. * * * The town of Midland was offering a six percent discount on taxes paid prior to Feb. 15, 1933. The discount decreased by one-half percent, per month up to August 15. * * * A new member of Penetang’s 1933 council, in a one-man economy wave, suggested that the town’s police force be reduced to one constable. He estimated that by such a move the town would save $1300 annually. * * * One-time house painter and street sweeper Adolph Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany. Chancellor Paul von Hindenburg, then in his eighties, acceded to the pressure of the Nazi movement to end his nation’s political impasse. * * * District barbers announced they were reducing the price of haircuts from 35 to 25 cents. Other indicators of the price levels of the time were advertisements offering men’s two trouser suits at $15, men’s broadcloth shirts at 49 cents, women’s cotton housedresses, 79 cents. * * * Two Lafontaine residents, Walter Chevrette and his son, Alcime, left Cedar Point about 4 a.m. one morning and headed across the open water for Collingwood in a rowboat. Bucking a storm; the craft started to leak and finally sank in six feet of water. The two were able to make their way to shore by clinging to some boxes which were in the boat. They landed at Collingwood lighthouse where they were given shelter.
A shortage of pocket money on a harvest excursion to Western Canada in 1898 was the starting point of an adventure which blossomed into a romance, culminating in a 50th wedding anniversary celebration in Penetang earlier this month. The golden wedding celebration was that of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Fitzgerald who were married Jan. 8, 1908, in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. When Mr. Fitzgerald admitted he was a native of Guelph, Ontario, and that his wife had been born in Portage la Prairie, he was asked how the couple happened to get together. It was then he told the tale of having embarked on a harvest excursion to western Canada in 1898. Price for the trip to Moose Jaw and return was $10, and young A. L. Fitzgerald started out with hopes high, and very little money in his pocket. By the time the train reached the Manitoba town he had run out of money and decided he would have to stop and get a job. Looking around Portage la Prairie, he obtained work in a hardware store at the munificent wage of S35 per month. But “Fitz,” as he is affectionately known now in Penetang, was destined for higher things, and it wasn’t long until the opposition hardware across the road offered him $75 a month. During his stay in Portage, he met the girl who, five years later, was to become his wife. However, in the meantime, Fitz was not too satisfied with his lot in the hardware store, and he struck out with a partner to Grandview, about 150 miles north, where the pair went into the hardware business on their own in 1903. Grandview, at that time, was at the end of steel. During five years in business there, things did not go too well for the partners. Wheat grew tall and beautiful on the prairies, but in every one of those years, frost ruined the crop before it could be harvested. In the meantime, Fitz decided to get married and the young couple found it impossible to carry on with the $65 monthly he was drawing from the store. When the arrival of a youngster became imminent, Fitz decided he would have to do something to increase his financial position, and he sold his hardware interest after securing a position with a Winnipeg wholesale firm at $100 monthly. He was travelling for this firm, maintaining headquarters in Portage la Prairie, when four years later he was made sales manager. Later he became a director of the company as well as a stockholder. The firm was eventually purchased by Marshal Wells, an American company, in the early twenties. Then Marshal Wells bought out the stove foundry in Penetang in 1922, they persuaded Fitz to go there as manager on a five-year trial basis. “And I’ve been here ever since” he concluded his Asked how she, a western girl, has liked Ontario, Mrs. Fitzgerald said, “I have never regretted coming to Ontario. I love it here.”
Value of building permits issued in Midland in 1957 was the second highest since 1950, according to figures released by F. W. Turnbull, the building inspector. The total value of permits last year, $748,650.00 was exceeded only by 1954, when the figure reached $1,334,725.00. The new St. Andrews Hospital accounted for much of the latter figure.
At year’s end, 82 business firms were listed under the group insurance plan of the Midland Chamber of Commerce, states committee chairman W. H. Pinchin in the chamber’s annual report. He said that for handling about $20,000 in annual premiums, claims, correspondence, and payment of benefits, the chamber office receives a commission from the Great-West Life Assurance Company which, in 1957, amounted to more than $1,800.
International and national problems may hold the spotlight for most people, but there is a segment of the population with their own particular crisis, old-timers who find they cannot buy chewing tobacco which has been their standby for generations. Popular brands of plug tobacco have been almost non-existent in this area since last fall. There are some scores of men in this area who have made a habit of chewing tobacco instead of smoking, dating back to the era of the lumber mills when smoking was banned on the premises.

Huronia Museum

Central Ontario's history, heritage, and culture.

Looking Back to 1958

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – February 24th to 28th, 1958

Blog Review (John Walford’s Blog)

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – February 16th to 23rd 1958

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – February 8th to 15th 1958

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – February 1st to 7th 1958

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – January 1st to 8th 1958

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – January 9th to 15th 1958

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – January 16th to 22nd 1958

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – January 23rd to 31st 1958

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