Visit our gift shop for local, handmade gifts as well as a great selection of Canadian Made Moccasins!
Our lovely footwear Model, Emily, has been trying on a few pair and showing them off for your pleasure! Of course these are the Women’s only. We do have some very handsome Men’s Mocs too

Come in and get your Christmas gifts today!

 

 

Click on Photos to Enlarge   Mrs. John Hare, left, who celebrated her 93rd birthday November 25th, looks at pictures of her two great-great grandchildren with her daughter Mrs. R. J. Wilson of Waubaushene. Born four years before Confederation, Mrs. Hare had lived in Midland for almost 50 years before moving to Coldwater to live with her daughter. Married at 16 to John Hare, 19,  the couple moved to Midland where John managed a brick yard, helped build the Aberdeen Elevator and continued to  work there for several years, he also served on the Midland Police Force before his death in 1928. Of the thirteen children born to the Hares only three daughters and one son are still living.

  Over 200 years of service to the CPR and its steamship service is represented in this picture taken aboard the S.S. Assinaboia at a dinner marking the retirement of Capt. Joseph Stewart Friday night. Front, Capt. Frank Davis, 83 and retired 18 years from Toronto; Capt. Stewart; S. H. Binns retired locomotive foreman for the Ontario Division, Toronto; back row, Tom Morgan, Port McNicoll, retired chief clerk; Louis Belanger, retired first mate; W. S. Struthers of Midland, who retired recently after 36 years, many as a chief engineer; W. A. Piitz, Penetang, retired first mate with 35 years of service. 

  Five day trip from Toronto to Port McNicoll turns into a twenty-one day adventure as these two tugs encountered bad weather. The tug “Sipat” under the command of Capt. C. Courtemarche of Midland left Toronto Nov 16th with the much larger tug David Richard in tow. The 130 foot “David Richard”, was once used to maintain navigational aids in the area and was called the “Murray Stewart”. The big tug is owned by the Waubaushene Navigation Co. and was manned by two employees, Leo Montgomery and Joe Brousseau. At one point on Lake St. Clair sixty mile per hour winds broke both tow cables. On Lake Huron more high winds caused a 12 ton winch to break loose on the David Richard. On Monday the big tug was moved to the Midland Shipyards where cranes removed equipment to make room for a new diesel engine to be installed at Waubaushene over the winter months.

  Three members of the Midland Lion’s Club are seen in Gord Boyd’s basement refurbishing and sorting toys for distribution throughout the area at Christmas. Gordon Boyd, Cec Launder and Gordon Paice.

  More Midland Lions repairing toys for Christmas. Jack Frame, Harold McAllen and Charlie Rutherford.

  Dec 24th 1956, the Midland Penetang Advisory Committee of the CNIB Christmas party was held at the Midland YMCA,  Mel Lavigne with the fiddle and Bill Jivcoff. Pianist Ab Clarke is hidden. They all donated their time.

  Appropriately dressed, Glen Nicholls reads from the works of Robert Service at a special assembly at MPDHS Thursday morning. Students of 12B acted out the Shooting of Dan McGrew.

  Cecil Parker, deputy Reeve of Tay Township, was instantly killed Friday night when his car slammed broadside into a tree on Highway 27. The accident happened on the first curve north of Waverly and a blown right front tire is suspected. The picture taken at Carruthers Garage in Wyebridge.

  Industrial Safety in Ontario was the subject under discussion at an oratorical contest held Thursday morning at MPDHS. In the top photo the judges are Gordon Moss of Canadian Nameplate, Jan Ulrichson and Bryce Moffatt of Penetang. In the bottom photo are the judged, Hartmut Bezner, Sylvia Silvie the winner and Glen Mount.

  Children of St. Paul’s United Church, Midland, on Sunday combined with the adult congregation for the annual white gift service. Here Brian Gazley, son of Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Gazley, deposits his white gift while Peggy Bray, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Frank Bray, and Gudrun Mandler, daughter of Dr. & Mrs. Walter Mandler, await their turn. Manger scene was erected by Florence Broad, Gladys Robinson, and R. W. Irwin. Lambs were made about two years ago by the late Mrs. Walter Auld. Yuletide decorations at the King Street entrance were installed by Len Martin, Alex Ayers, Don Edwards, Watson Battrick and Woodrow McConnell.

  Five hundred Midland and Penetang youth wait eagerly every year for the Little Hockey League to open for the season. Typical age and size of the three groups are; John Argue, Toronto Leafs; Jerry Beteau, AHL Hershey Bears and Earl Scott, a whirlwind on skates for the Junior OHA Marlboros.

  Woodcarving has proven an entertaining hobby for Frank Shulman of Midland, owner of Shulman’s Furniture. Here he is seen with three statues he created.

  Coldwater Santa Claus parade December 1956. Jovial Lloyd Letherby, MPP for Simcoe East takes a back seat to Santa. 

• Seventy-one year old town employee Joseph Chapman killed by fall from sanding truck. (we older Midlanders will remember when two men stood in the back of a dump truck and shovelled sand into a spreader towed behind the truck) Mr. Chapman and Sam Butineau had just finished sanding Bay Street, the truck, driven by Herman Latanville,  had turned around in the Nameplate parking lot and was crossing the double tracks when Mr. Chapman fell. The men had finished sanding and were standing against the back of the truck cab. Several witnesses at the inquest confirmed that the truck was moving very slowly over the tracks. The only recommendation made was for the provision of hand rails in the truck box.
• Monsignor Castex lays the corner stone for the new Knights of Columbus Hall in Penetang Sunday afternoon.
• District Knights of Columbus donate a life-sized nativity scene to the Victoria Harbour Knights to be erected in the village.
• Many Penetang stores to remain open until 9 p.m. Christmas Eve.
• The United States paid Russia $7,200.00 for Alaska in 1867, the equivalent of two cents an acre.
• Cumming and Nicholson are selling the “Desert Boots”, $7.95 to $12.95 per pair.
• Port McNicoll council ends the year with a $6,000.00 current surplus, consider purchasing a new fire truck for the village. Also recommended by the Reeve was a small loader, “no one likes loading gravel by hand anymore” he said. Reeve Calvert pointed out that only $16,000.00 of local taxes are available to council, the rest goes to the County, education and other costs.
• Former Midlander Bob Vanstone is playing bit parts in a million dollar movie being made on a 120 acre estate 25 miles from Toronto. The TV serial movie is “The Last of the Mohicans”.
• The PUC’s plan to test Little Lakes ability to supply a million gallons of water a day to cost over $100,000.00.
• Waubaushene father of three, George Allan Fallowfield, was killed in a tree felling accident Wednesday morning. The tree he cut struck a smaller one that was rotten part way up, the top fell striking him on the head.
• Four young men, one local, are sentenced to four years in prison for indecently assaulting a 16 year old girl at a house party. The judge also ordered that each should be given three lashes three times during their imprisonment.
• S.S. Assiniboia and S.S. Keewatin tie up after another season. S. F. Malin, steamship superintendent, said the two boats carried 10,563 passengers this year, an increase of 141 over the previous year. The ships also carried 125,000 tons of cargo, up more than 2,500 tons over 1955.
• Victoria Harbour councillor Edmund Walker died in Penetanguishene General Hospital Wednesday morning, he was 66. Mr. Walker, who was retired, was formerly the owner of the Victoria Harbour Dairy.
• Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario is celebrating 50 years of supplying power to Ontario. The first hydro power was turned on at Berlin on October 11, 1910. Niagara power was delivered in 1911 to Midland and Penetang who were 25th and 26th to receive hydro in Ontario. The hydro commissions first new build was opened at Wasdell Falls on the Severn River in October of 1914. The Big Chute station, also on the Severn, was built in 1909 by the Simcoe Railway & Power Company and purchased by the HEPCO in 1914. (Renamed “Ontario Hydro” in 1974)
• Arrangements have been made for a 40 member choir from Regent and Parkview schools to sing carols at the hospital. The public school board expressed their gratitude to Laval Dubeau for offering free bus transportation for the choir.
• Major fire in Wasaga Beach destroys part of the municipal building, including the fire hall and police station. (Midland would follow in a few years when their municipal building and fire hall burnt)
• Sixteen freighters are wintering, eleven in Midland, five in Port McNicoll, as the navigation season closes. This represents over five million bushels of wheat to be unloaded over the winter months. Last winter there were twenty two vessels but some were barges and tugs.
• Meredith Wilson announces that Wilson’s Taxi has been purchased by Joe Lavechia.
• Christmas turkeys are selling for 38 cents per pound.
• Mr. & Mrs. Wally Hook wish to announce the birth of their daughter Wendy on November 29th.
• Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Shaw announce the engagement of their daughter Shirley Elizabeth to William Gordon Wallace, only son of Mr. & Mrs. J. W. Wallace.
• Second annual ski school will be conducted at the Midland Ski Club by Budd Watson December 26th to 29th.
• Milk customers of Armstrong’s Dairy, Dubbin’s Dairy and Jone’s Farm Dairy are reminded there is no milk delivery December 25th or 26th and January 1st and 2nd.
• John Diefenbaker to lead the Conservative Party.
• “Twirp Season” is in full swing at MPDHS according to the Hi-Sterics column and Kay and Elaine. TWIRP stands for “The woman is requested to pay”.
• In 1955 the annual average Canadian income went up 8% to $4,460.00.
• Land swap, the town of Midland has received a triangular parcel of land east of Olive Street and five acres of property on the northeast corner of Vinden & Fifth Street. The CNR in exchange is getting a strip of land lying south of their right of way near Manley Street. (In 1956 Manley Street is still being spelled in honour of its namesake, Manley Chew)
• At The Roxy –  Walt Disney’s “Song of the South”
• Do you remember? McGuire’s Furniture, Simcoe St., Penetang –  Zoschke Footwear, Simcoe St., Penetang  –  Singer Sewing Center, King St.  –  Morrison’s Rexall Drugs, Main St., Penetang  –  Sushan Custom Furs, King St.  –  MacNeil Motors, Vinden St.  –  Harrison Iron Works, 180 Manley St.  –  Blondin Sales & Service, 102 Robert St. W.  –  Onley & Haig Barristers, 217 King St.  –  Household Finance, 222 King St.  –  The Wool Shop, 307 King St.  –  The Grigg Co., King St.  –  Flos Hatland, 217 Hugel Ave. W.  –  Del Hastings Men’s Wear, 276 King St.  –  Gignac’s Children’s Wear, Penetang  –  Economy Stores, Main St., Penetang  –  Walter Woods Shoe Store, 277 King St.  –  Roebucks, King St.  –  Peoples Store, King St.  –  Dunlops of Moonstone  –  Meads, Penetang  –  Sally Shops, 265 King St.  –  Marchildon Hardware, Lafontaine  –  Hollister Sporting Goods, Penetang  –  Maher Shoe Store, Penetang  –  Struther’s Drugs, King St.  –  Graham Swales Men’s Wear, Midland  –  O’Leary’s Fashions, Main St., Penetang  –  Hartman’s Hardware, 258 King St.  –  Central Shoe Repair, Jack Martin, Midland  –  McNamara Food Market, Penetang  –  Harvey Ellison Limited, 259 King St.  –  Ted Lounsbery Men’s Wear, 285 King St.  –  Fenton’s Welding, Midland  –  Eleithia Shoppe, King St.  –  Jim Crawford Men’s Wear, King St.  –  Eisenberg’s Radio & TV, Main St., Penetang  –  Livingston Men’s Wear, 201 King St.  –  To Name A Few.

 Click on photos to enlarge

 Burned out of house and home just about a year ago these pupils of Crossland Public School now have a brand new building, opened officially by George G. Johnston, MPP, Friday night. About 30 children attend the one room school where Miss Marlene Strath is the teacher. Classes have continued in the nearby community hall, the former Methodist Church.

  New one room Crossland Public School in Flos Twp. southwest of Elmvale, officially opened November 30th, 1956. The old school burnt on January 11, 1956 and construction began on August 1.  The building is now a private residence and no longer looks like it did in 1956.

  Mr. & Mrs. Joe Strath served as caretakers of the old Crossland Public School for 18 years before it burned down on January 11th of this year. They will continue to look after the new school which has cost $26,000.00 to build and equip, including air conditioning.

  President of the Midland YMCA, James Playfair, (son of Norman Playfair the stepbrother of Midland industrialist James Playfair), is seen addressing nearly 100 new and youthful members of that organization at induction ceremonies in the “Y” last Wednesday night. Demonstrations on the floor followed the more solemn part of the program.

  Group of first year members of the Midland YMCA demonstrate tumbling during a parents night at the “Y”.

  Open house night at the Midland YMCA last Wednesday night gave new youth a chance to demonstrate some of the abilities learned at the “Y”.

 

 Twenty-five officers and men of “C” squadron, Grey & Simcoe Foresters staged a wood cutting bee at R. J. Gilmore’s farm on the 3rd of Tay (Midland Point) on Sunday to aid their comrade who is seriously ill in St. Andrew’s Hospital. Two buzz saws were used to cut 18 bush cords of wood into furnace size. Ten cords were piled in the basement, the rest close to the house.

  Captain Joseph Stewart and his wife in the wheelhouse of the Assinaboia on the occasion of his last trip of the season and of his 36 year career with CPR steamships and 50 years of sailing.

  Harold Gibson, CNR freight agent at Penetang, said yesterday that the last carload of Christmas trees left Penetang for the United States Monday afternoon. Mr. Gibson said that the 57 cars shipped this year was about average. All trees shipped by rail from Penetang are exported, with the majority going to mid-U.S. centers. One carload went to Corpus Christi, Texas. (Photo of Penetang station is undated)

  Not too many years ago, when Anthony Blouin was learning the trade, contact to ships from shore was by Morse key or primitive wireless transmission. Now Mr. Blouin can pick up the phone and talk to almost any ship on Georgian Bay, as far away as the Soo. Telephone connection between the ship and its headquarters in Toronto, Montreal or elsewhere is also made through the Midland Marconi station.

 

 For the past five years, Anthony Blouin has taken great pride in keeping the grounds and buildings of the Canadian Marconi station in Midland in trim shape. Mr. Blouin watches his son Emile, a teacher at MPDHS, apply white paint to the trim of the radio building.

 For those who do not remember the wireless tower, myself included, it can be seen in the background of this photo taken at the corner of Donalda and Irwin Streets. Other stations in Tobermory and Port Burwell had two towers, does anyone remember if there were two here as well?

 Estimate loss at $75,000.00 in stubborn fire in the Grise block. Chief Tippin said the blaze was the worst King Street fire since the Dudley block burned in 40 below zero weather in 1949. There were no soaring flames but the fire burned in the ceiling of the first floor in the middle of the building and took five hours to bring under control. Thick smoke kept firefighters from getting at the source of the blaze.

  Huge mess in the Cross Country Cut Rate store about 3:00 a.m. Thursday morning after Midland firefighters poured thousands of gallons of water on a stubborn fire in the Grise block. This store, Martin’s Shoe Repair, Onley & Haig Barristers, The Royal Bank and the office of Dr. Ed Grise were all badly damaged by smoke and water.

  Veterans of politics in Port McNicoll are pictured during nominations last Wednesday night. Clerk Treasurer B. J. Brownell, seated, clerk for 23 years, was able to name Reeve Albert Calvert to his uncontested position for 1957, his ninth term in that office.

 Seven men have qualified for four council seats in Port McNicoll ensuring a lively election on December 17th. Cyril Larkin, George H. Burns, T. E. Lewis, Steve Thoms, Jack Fisher and seated Alec McCullagh. Absent was Jack Zummach.

  Signing up all the youngsters in Midland and Penetang who wish to join Little League Hockey is a big job, as is finding equipment, ice time and coaches. Front, David Scott, Bobby Ruston, coach Freddie Scott of Penetang and Jim McKinnon. Rear, Rev. Len Self, director of Midland LHL and Bob Morgan, a director of the Penetang league. 

• Mayor Charles Parker acclaimed for his seventh term as Midland’s mayor. Elections were held annually in December at this time.
• Well known Midland accountant Frederick “Freddie” French died suddenly at St. Andrew’s Hospital Sunday in his 61st year. Mr. French had recently purchased the home of the late Dr. J. D. McPhee of Port McNicoll. For many years Mr. French was the bookkeeper for the D. S. Pratt Co. and prior to that worked for the old Manley Chew Lumber Co.
• Flos Reeve, Walter Middleton, acclaimed for his 15th term. He has served Flos council for 24 consecutive years.
• Seventeen students receive certificates at commencement exercises at Port McNicoll Continuation School.
• The regular court room in the band hall on Dominion Ave. was tied up with four polling booths, Magistrate K. A. Cameron found himself presiding over court from behind a table in Fire Chief Arnold Tippin’s office in its temporary quarters on Bay Street.
• 25 YEARS AGO 1931 – Capt. W. A. Lavigne, skipper of the Gleneagles, was instantly killed when the car in which he was riding struck a freight train between Fort William and Port Arthur. — The first snowfall of the winter hit Midland on December 1st — Midland’s new arena, under construction, was said to be “the best looking arena north of Toronto”. It was to feature “gleaming white walls and a roof of slate-coloured three-ply asphalt.” —Dr. J. M. Nettleton reported to Penetang council that the town had the second highest infant death rate in the province. Of 87 local births, 10 died before the end of the first year. — One of the most modern barns in the district, owned by Howard Smith on Penetang Road, was destroyed by fire. Although most of the stock was saved, 12 pigs and 3 calves were lost.  — The new Ritz restaurant was destroyed in a fire that also damaged surrounding stores. Damaged by smoke and water from the blaze was McKillen Bros. Men’s Wear.
• Three people had run into the new glass walls in the entrance to Regent School in one day. Red placards have been put up as a warning.
• Penetang solicitor A. B. Thompson, (“Great escape” veteran) wins the only ballot facing voters, the mayoralty. Mr. Thompson received 612 votes against 277 for his opponent George Kerr. Penetang’s first mayor, when it was incorporated in 1882, was Alfred A. Thompson, grandfather of the mayor elect. Father of the new mayor, also A. B. Thompson, served this area for many years in the provincial legislature. Another member of the Thompson family who entered civic life was Wm. A. Thompson who served as mayor before receiving an appointment as Crown Attorney for Simcoe County.
• Onley and Haig, barristers, wish to announce that their office is now located at 217 King Street, formerly Strathearn’s Jewellers.
• Coldwater sees 80% turnout of voters due to efforts of the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
• $25.00 reward offered for information on the theft of a boat and motor from the dock behind the Boat Works, signed Howard Dragoman, Cities Service Station, Bay & First Sts.
• The tree that wasn’t there last year on top of the Midland Simcoe Elevator isn’t there again this year. The tree is made up of strings of coloured lights festooned from the flag mast. The tree illusion is created at night only, in the daytime it disappears.
• Odeon Theatres Canada appealed the assessment on the Capitol Theatre they own on King Street as it has not been used for several years as a theatre. Midland Foundry and Machine appealed the assessment on their Manton Foundry building on Manly Street that is being assessed by the cubic foot. C. E. Onley on behalf of Midland Foundry argued that the 40 foot high roof had been designed to fit the needs of the previous owners and that present operations only required a 15 to 20 foot ceiling. They were awarded a $1,500.00 reduction on their $23,040.00 assessment. The Jesuit Fathers of Upper Canada were also awarded a reduction on the 30 acres they own between the Wye River and the CNR tracks which they were renting out for $25.00 per year as pasture.
• Two Toronto men will spend two years in jail for stealing the cash register containing $91.00 from Wilford’s Service Station on October 22nd.
• Midland election results, Reeve, W. H. Keller; Alderman, Clinton Smith, Bill Orr and Doug Haig; PUC, Bill Logan and Charles Stevenson; Public School Board, Frank Bray, Mrs. McIntyre and Jack Thompson. Turnout of voters was 42.6% compared to 38% in 1955.