Click on photos to enlarge

 Michael Bernard Jessome, nine pounds one ounce,  third son to Mr. & Mrs. Jerome Jessome of 307 Queen St. (now 349) was born Christmas morning in St. Andrew’s Hospital.

 First baby of 1957 in Midland is this 10 pound, 6 ounce baby girl, the 11th child of Mrs. Alcime Dorion of 57 Elizabeth Street East (now 181), Midland. Dr. Churchill Swan delivered the baby at 12:04 a.m., January 4th.

  Canadian Pacific #3722, a class N2bs, 2-8-0 steam locomotive built in 1912 by the Montreal Locomotive Works. The #3722 is shown inside the roundhouse at Port McNicoll. This engine would later become the last CPR steamer to leave Port McNicoll on April 30th 1960, the final day of regular freight steam service on the CPR in Ontario. #3722 was scrapped a few months later in September of 1960. Sister engine #3632 was also operating from Port McNicoll at this time.

 A large turnout at the Legion Hall in Victoria Harbour for municipal nominations. Florence Belcher, with purse on her knee at right, is running for Reeve and Vernon Morris, in the fur collared jacket on the left is running for school board.

  Walter Young Machinery and Equipment Company of Waubaushene is doing work for many area firms and large companies as well, Ernest Rambler is operating a German made lathe that is used to produce the many bushings and shafts needed in repair work. Fred Lawson of Sturgeon Bay and Clinton Burley of Waubaushene overhaul the engine from the Tay Township grader.

 Also at Walter Young Machine Max Garland does a welding repair on a “two yard” bucket from a Lima shovel. Not stated, but likely a piece of equipment from the construction of Highway 103, the Trans Canada, happening at that time near Waubaushene.

We have often lamented that the negatives from the Penetang office of the Free Press are not available, we assume they were discarded long ago. Although the quality will not be as good, by scanning we hope to show you some of the people and events from Penetanguishene and Tiny.  The same will be done for photos that were contributed by others such as Watson’s Studio, Rolfoto and the regional correspondents.

• Motor vehicle licences and driver’s permits will go on sale in Midland January 2nd. Serial numbers for the plates issued from the Midland office will run from C-44551 to C-47550. Highways Minister James Allen announced that the deadline for new licences would be January 31st, 1957.
• Simcoe County Health Unit reports that 16 percent of rural school wells are providing unsatisfactory drinking water for students. This is down from 60 percent in 1948. In some cases the water was good but the dispensing methods were poor. Multiple students drinking from the same container and poor cleaning and storage of containers.
• Obituaries  —- Hubert J. Ellis – Veteran CNR express agent at Meaford and father of Public School Inspector Ken J. Ellis of Midland, Hubert J. Ellis died in Meaford Dec. 26 after a brief illness. He was 74. Born at Meaford, he was the son of pioneer residents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ellis.    —-   Agnes Beauchamp –  Mrs. Napoleon Beauchamp died Dec. 14 at 237 Yonge Street, W. following a lengthy illness. She was 57. The funeral was held Dec. 17 from A. Barrie and Sons funeral home to St. Margaret’s Church, where Rev. M. A. Beriault. Rev. R. J. Egan and Rev. F. Voorwerk officiated. Burial was at St. Margaret’s Cemetery. Pallbearers were Doug Wilson, Isadore Arbour, Hec Kilroy. Len O’Leary, William Bourrie and Herb Beauchamp. Mrs. Beauchamp, the former Agnes Arbour, was born Aug. 24, 1899, at Waubaushene. She is survived by her husband, daughter Betty and son Donald, all of Midland.   —-   Miss Alberta Hook, Funeral service was held Dec. 28 for Miss Alberta E. Hook who died Dec. 26 at her home on Lot 105, Con. 1, Tiny, in her 72nd year. Service was held at the A. Barrie and Sons funeral home with temporary interment in Lakeview Cemetery vault. Pallbearers were six nephews, Fredrick Hook, Wallace Hook, Bruce Hook, Gordon Hook, Ernest Wright and Herbert Hornsby. Miss Hook was born in Midland in 1885 and spent her lifetime in this district. She is survived by four sisters, Mrs. J. T. Hornsby (Ettie) Penetang, Miss Amelia Hook, Midland, Mrs. E. E. Wright (Lena), Cane, Ont; and two brothers, Theodore, Midland and Gordon, Penetanguishene.   —-   Captain A.B. Smith, only son of pioneer parents Capt. Richard Smith and Annie Sybella Burke, died Dec. 24 in St. Andrew’s Hospital. Funeral service was held Dec. 27 from his home to St. Mark’s Anglican Church where Rev. G. R. Stanley officiated. Burial will be in the family plot at St. Jame’s Cemetery, Penetang. Pallbearers were Capt. S. C. Bell. Capt. K. C. Clark, James Clarkson, Orville Kitching, James Mackie and Capt. R. Simpell. Capt. Smith was born in Tay Township (Midland Point) Aug. 16, 1889, and lived his lifetime in this community. He was educated at S.S. No. 5 Tay, Midland schools and the Midland Business College. In 1918 he married the former Jane Lahey in Sydney, N.S. He began his sailing career at the age of 18 on tug’s towing saw logs for J. T. Charlton Lumber Co. He attended marine schools at Collingwood, Midland and Toronto and received his master’s inland and mates coastal licence. At the outbreak of World War I he worked in a munitions plant in Midland. He was commissioned in the RCNVR in the fall of 1916 and served as an executive officer on naval craft and minesweepers. Following the war he sailed on the Great Lakes until 1937, and served as captain on several ships, including the Valley Camp. In 1937 he purchased a wholesale gasoline business and operated gasoline supply boats in the district resort area. During World War II he went to the Midland Shipyards where he worked as a rigger and a pilot, and while there piloted many naval craft from the shipyards to Toronto and Kingston. When the shipyard closed he continued to pilot boats and for the past two seasons had been master of the City of Dover. His last trip was to take the “Dover” to Sault Ste. Marie in the fall. Capt. Smith was a member of St. Mark’s Anglican Church, where he served as rector’s warden and people’s warden, the latter when the late Rev. A. W. Ingram was rector. At the time of his death, Capt. Smith was on the parish council. A  Conservative in politics, he was a life member of the Caledonian Lodge, A.F. and A.M. He was fond of carpentry and gardening. Besides his wife, Capt. Smith is survived by three daughters, Donalda (Mrs. Clifford Arnold), Elizabeth (Mrs. J. L. Miller), Nora (Mrs. R. W. Miller); and two sons Douglas and Richard.
• McGill’s Ladies Wear, King Street Midland are holding a January clearance sale.
• 25 Years Ago – Many citizens were skating on Little Lake both day and night as it had been swept clear by the wind. (First week of January 1957 sees the same conditions on the lake) –  Breakfast bacon was 12 cents per pound and roast of beef was 13 cents in 1932.  –   80 percent of the eligible voters attended the polls in Penetang to elect   J. J. McIntaggart mayor over incumbent J. B. Jennings.   –   The Midland hockey executive ordered new green and white uniforms for the town’s hockey teams. The sweaters featured large “M’s” on the front.
• Strike by the CPR members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fireman puts 75,000 Canadians out of work. Wm. Biggar, terminal agent at Port McNicoll, estimates that 95% of the village population depends upon the CPR for their livelihood and that 140 heads of families are off the job. The company is attempting to re-position firemen who are now redundant on diesel locomotives to other jobs.
• Rumours are still rife that sometime soon development plans may be announced for a residential sub-division on the south side of Little Lake.  All of which makes long term  planning by the township of Tay and the town of Midland that much more desirable. (2017 and it still hasn’t happened) .

Dec 24th, 1956, the Midland Penetang Advisory Committee of the CNIB held their annual Christmas party at the Midland YMCA, the young man is Doug MacMillan.

  Sorting it out at the Midland Post Office are, C. R. (Chuck) Stelter, A. Marion and R. Mitchell. Ten extra staff were hired bringing the Christmas rush total to 27.

  Amid a sea of cards, staff at the Midland Post Office had a busy time this week. Al Hennin, Clarence Dingman, R. White and postmaster W. F. Bourrie. (The employee on the right was cropped out of the photo in the newspaper.)

  Waiting for Santa Claus, at the Y’s Men’s Christmas party for member’s children Tuesday night, Mary Jane Walton, 4, and Wendy Walton, 7, can hardly wait.

  Waiting for Santa Claus, at the Y’s Men’s Christmas party for member’s children Tuesday night, Jimmy Courtemarche looks a little apprehensive. He is two and a half.

Dec 24th, 1956, at the Y’s Men’s Christmas party held at the Midland YMCA, Mrs. Cy “Sadie” Ney and daughter Geraldine, 2,  and brother Ricky, 6.

  Half century of membership in Midland’s Caledonian Lodge, A. F. and A. M. was the reason for this happy gathering at St. Andrew’s Hospital last Sunday. J. J. Robins presented a veteran’s jubilee metal (50 year jewel) to R. G. Nesbitt, who at 94 is still able to smile his appreciation. Left to right, Gilmour Nesbitt, J. W. Bald, Capt. Ed Burke, Charles Flowers, Sidney Thompson and R. S. King.

  Chris Brasher of London England is showing local doctor and twin brother Peter Brasher the gold medal he received in the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the Melbourne Olympics last month.

  Mr. & Mrs. Eldon Brown and son Johnny, 3, are part of the many people who took advantage of the lack of snow on Boxing Day to enjoy the ice on Little Lake. Note the lack of snow in the background.

• Ad: The best New Year’s Party is Always at the Parkside –  Music by Harold NcNamara and his band.
• Notice: Canadian Steamship Lines –  Warning the C.S.L. tug “Tiffen” will be breaking ice in Midland, Port McNicoll and the Tiffen and Aberdeen wharfs.
• There are two “First Baby” contests, one in Midland and one in Penetang. Penetang contestants will come from Penetang and Tiny Township, Midlands’ from Tay, Medonte, Matchedash and Baxter.
• Ontario Department of Health suggests that Midland PUC seek financial and technical help from the newly formed Ontario Water Resources Commission regarding its municipal water supply. The Department feels that Georgian Bay is the long term answer to Midland’s water supply but not until a sewage treatment plant is installed. [Ultimately deep artesian wells would supply our drinking water]
• A special Christmas edition of the County Herald is filled with Christmas and New Years greetings from nearly every local merchant, politician, professional and industry.
• Did You Hear? The Midland Social Week. – Captain Dick Simpell of the S. S. Soreldoc is home for the winter. Captain Mel Buckland is also with his family for the winter months from his ship the S. S. Penetang. Captain Norman Donaldson from the S. S. Elgin and Captain G. Kirk of the Star Ship Enterprise S. S. Gleneagles. Jack Simpell is home from the S. S. Goderich.
• W. H. “Bill” Cranston, executive vice-president of the Shoe Corporation of Canada Ltd., told more than 350 employees of the firm at a Christmas dinner held at the Parkside Inn Wednesday, that their “family of employees” may increase by 100 persons next year.
• New vehicle licence plates for 1957 will feature white numerals on a black background. The plates are made at the Ontario Reformatory in Guelph.
• We published this Christmas menu from the Hotel Brulé previously, but it sounds too good not to do it again; –  Fruit Cocktail, Shrimp Cocktail, Royal Consommé, Celery Hearts with Stuffed Olives, Sweet Crunchy Pickles, Roast Young Turkey (sage dressing and cranberry sauce), Roast Domestic Goose (thyme dressing), Roast Long Island Duckling (with apple fritters), Baked Sugar Cured Ham (with fried pineapple ring), Creamed, Mashed or French Fried Potatoes, Mashed Turnips or Asparagus Tips, Steamed Christmas Plum Pudding (with caramel brandy sauce), Hot Mince Pie, Deep Apple Pie with Whipped Cream, Christmas Cake and Mixed Nuts, Vanilla Ice Cream, Tea Coffee or Milk.  $3.00
• A blast furnace moved from Midland’s smelter in 1918 to Algoma Steel’s plant at Sault Ste. Marie is to undergo a major remodelling job after 38 years of service. The No. 4 blast furnace will get a $700,000.00 upgrade. In 38 years No. 4 has produced more than 4 million tons of pig iron.
• For 42 years, beginning in 1913, sisters Mrs. M. P. Worden of Melville Sask. and Mrs. E. H. Piggott of Midland have been exchanging the same Christmas card. The little card only measures 1 1/2 inches by 3 inches and simply says “One of the happiest things about Christmas is you”. Each year they inscribe the date on it.
• Edwards Specialty Shop announces that they will be closing all day Wednesday during January, February and March. [At this time many stores closed half days on Wednesdays]

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE COLLECTIONS DEPARMENT AT HURONIA MUSEUM