The photos found in this blog post are the property of Huronia Museum, Midland, Ontario. Any reproduction for commercial use without permission is prohibited.  Any other distribution must credit Huronia Museum.  Please contact the museum with any questions you may have.  

CLERK BATTLES TINY COUNCIL, TO STAVE OFF SALARY SLASH
Headline County Herald March 9, 1962. 

It was a sharply divided Tiny Township council that finally settled the controversial question of 1962 wages at a special session in Perkinsfield Wednesday afternoon. Tempers flared and accusations and charges were hurled between members during most of the marathon session. Reeve Montcalm Maurice expressed dissatis­faction with the way council acted, particularly in the matted of setting the salary of Clerk-treasurer G. Marchand. The reeve was forced to cast the deciding vote on three motions. In one case he declared the motion lost and carried the other two. First motion tabled set the salary of the clerk at $4,100 for the year. It also dictated that he should provide caretak­ing for the office: for the first four months of this year, and in return would receive free rent, fuel and electricity for the same period. It was this motion that start­ed the biggest flare-up of the session. Councillor Normand Marchand opened the discus­sion, saying: “I don’t think we should cut the clerk $350 below the assessor. In a previous dis­cussion Mr. D. Holt said he felt the clerk and assessor should be paid the same.” He suggested that possibly the assessor should also be cut for 1962. Councillor Marchand: ‘’You made the first motion this year setting the clerk’s salary at higher figure than that. Then later you changed your mind after we had agreed on a salary schedule. Deputy-Reeve ‘ Holt: “We’re starting out fresh now, and deal­ing with everybody.” Councillor Mike Asselin: “His salary is more than it was last year. He’s getting a raise.” Councillor Marchand: “You are considering his car allow­ance as part of the salary. The car allowance is not supposed to be for making money.” Councillor Marchand: “Why not set his salary at the same level as the assessor?” Councillor Asselin: “When I was clerk, I was always paid less than the assessor. 

    Tiny Township would require a road budget of nearly double its 1962 approved total if the year’s expenditures continue at the level of the first two months. Nearly $30,000 has been required to carry on for this period according to figures presented at last week’s council meeting.  February’s costs totalled $11,000, with $18,000 having been spent in January. Greatest portion of this was for snow plowing which have been higher than usual this year. 

    With an estimated increase of 50 percent in the number of entries, the Midland Music Festival Committee for the first time in 16 years has found it necessary to move outside the YMCA for accommodation. Monday and Tuesday is booked solid at the Y with piano classes. This necessitates the use of the auditorium of St. Paul’s United Church for the first day of vocals, March 20. The second and third day of vocal competitions will then take over the Y halls. All instrumental classes this year were held at the Midland-Penetang District High School auditorium prior to the big week at the Y. Preparations have moved into high gear this week to prepare for the competitions to be held from March 19 through March 23. An ever growing project of the Midland Y’s Men’s Club and the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association of Midland, this year’s festival has a record-breaking number of entries. The total of 431 entries in the vocal section alone involve solos, duets, trios, double duets, two full choirs, and 59 choruses totalling more than 2500 individual voices. There are two full days of piano with 26 entries, as well as an  afternoon of recorder classes for 46 entries. Instrumental entries were heard at Midland-Penetang District High School March 2 for the woodwind and brass sections. String classes are being heard today. 

    Midland will have a new mar­ina when the boating season opens this spring. Alden N. French is the pro­prietor of the new firm, to be known as Sunnyside Marina Ltd. Letters Patent have already been granted under the Cor­poration Act, dated Dec. 11, 1961. Miss Helen French is sec­retary for the firm, which has an authorized capital of 350 pre­ference shares at $100 each and 5,000 common shares without par value. “We don’t intend to spring up into a big thing over night. It will be a gradual development.  Mr. French told this paper Thursday. The marina will be located south and east of the present property of Great Lakes Boat and Machine Company Ltd. Mr. French said some work had been done on a breakwater and retaining walls late last fall. Considerable dredging is to be done this spring to pro­vide parking space for approx­imately 50 craft of various sizes. Sunnyside Marina will be set up to handle gas, oil and re­pairs to boats. Although Great Lakes already has a large num­ber of boats in storage, addi­tional- spaces will be provided as required by the new firm. 

    It’s do or die tonight at Arena Gardens for Midland Flyers as they tackle Collingwood Shipbuilders in the sixth game of their best-of-seven semi-final series. Tuesday night’s 5-3 win in Collingwood gave Builders a 3-1 margin in games, with one tie each. They can win their way into the group finals with either a win or a tie tonight. 

And – ROBILLARD — To Mr. and Mrs. Lionel Robillard, Jr., 21 Yeo Street, Penetang, at Penetang General Hospital, Feb. 19, 1962 a son.
TURNER – To Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Turner, Elmvale, at Penetang General Hospital, February 28, a daughter. 

 

These lads brought home the first GBSSA juvenile basketball championship to MPDHS Saturday, following a 33-32 win over Thornhill in a sudden-death final at Thornhill. Left to right are, seated: Bob Clayton, Axel Duwe, Wayne Holden (captain), Gary Allsopp, Ron Church.  Standing; Alan Mostyn, Max Morden, coach Martin Bestor, Bob Weckman, Al McElroy, manager Bob Swales, Chester Graham and Fred Hacker. 

Happy smile usually go with the winners and these Midlanders had good reason to be happy after winning the annual two-day Ladies Curling Club bonspiel here this week. Holding the trophy is Mrs. Lloyd Wilcox, surrounded by team-mates Mrs. Ross Thompson, Mrs. Stan Burton and Mrs. Mac Perrin, left to right. 

‘FOLLOWED ACT TO THE LETTER’ EX-CLERK DENIES CHARGES
Free Press headline of March 14, 1962 

Former Penetang clerk-treasurer Arthur Argue claimed in a letter to Penetang council Monday night that charges levelled against him at a previous meet­ing were unfounded. Mr. Argue is now reeve of Mid­land. At a Feb. 26 meeting Mayor Jerome Gignac stated that Mr. Argue did not employ proper procedures in seizing machinery from Payette Foundry after it had ceased operations. Mayor Gignac said seizure proceedings had not been completed. He told council the machinery had been purchased by G. J. Robillard following a fire in the plant about a year ago. In his letter, Mr. Argue out-lined all steps he had taken, and gave reasons for taking them, including a conference with the town solicitor. He also pointed out that he had advised the mayor of his actions. Mr. Argue stated he had followed instructions from the mayor. Following reading of the let­ter, Mayor Gignac asked clerk­treasurer A. Doucette to explain what procedure should have been taken. The clerk produced several ‘’warrants” and other forms to be used in obtaining lands and chattels for nonpayment of taxes. He explained how each should be used. He concluded by saying: “Sometimes it’s a very com­plicated thing.” At this point Mayor Gignac asked the clerk. “When it was made known things were being sold from the factory, didn’t we go to the plant? Did you find this procedure had been carried out? Didn’t you advise me we’d better keep our noses out of it?”  The clerk answered that he had visited the plant with the mayor and said. “I didn’t look for posted notices. I couldn’t find anything in the office to prove it had been done.” Councillor Lionel Dion: “Does anyone know who authorized the sale?” 

    Kindred Industries Limited announces that it has completed  negotiations for the purchase of land in Midland on Highway 12, across from Greening Industries Ltd. As soon as weather permits, construction of the factory will begin. Kindred Industries Limited is showing the Ductless Range Hoods, which will be manufactured in this plant, at the National Home Show in Toronto from March 30 – April 7. It is expected that the Midland plant will be in operation this summer. The company has been extremely pleased with the kind reception accorded by Midland officials, local Industries, and the Midland Chamber of Commerce. 

    After an absence of almost five months, parking meters will again be in operation on Midland streets starting April 2. Town council Monday night authorized Police Chief George Wainman to proceed with the installation of heads March 28 and upon completion to start enforcing the parking meter bylaw. Midland has 325 meters on downtown streets. Of these, 200 use nickels only, the others operate with both pennies and nickels. Alderman Fred Horton told council the parking situation was acute on King Street. He urged that the meters be put into operation as soon as possible. Deputy-reeve Bill Orr con­curred with Mr. Horton’s re­marks, stating that it was al­most impossible to find park­ing space in the business area since the meters bad been re­moved last November. 

     The advantage of home ice looms larger and larger as a major factor in deciding whether Penetang Hurons or Orangeville Dufferins will triumph as their current playoff series progresses. Up to the past weekend four games have been played in this best-of-seven set for the district OHA intermediate “C” group title. On each occasion it was the home team that came up with a win. This Huron’s 3-2 victory over Dufferins at Penetang Sunday afternoon knotted the series up at two wins apiece. 

TEN YEARS AGO
James Lennox, Midland, chairman of the South Georgian Bay District Boy Scouts Association, announced a decision had been made to increase the number of Boy Scout and Wolf Cub groups in Midland and the association was seeking some organization to sponsor a new group. * * * Tenders were being called for the new Ernst Leitz (Canada) Limited plant in Midland. The plant, with 15,000 square feet of floor space, was said to represent an investment of $200,000. * * * Huronia and Georgian Bay Development Commission emerged as a full fledged organization following a meeting at Elmvale Community Hall. Officers elected were: Reeve Anthony Beck, Wasaga Beach, chairman; Mayor Charles Parker, Midland, vice-chairman and Major A. C. McCaul, Midland, secretary treasurer. * * * Port McNicoll fire brigade, was sponsoring a skating carnival with many residents taking part in the costume parade. * * * Penetang’s Huronia Credit Union, which had started 14 years previously had assets totaling $83,169.98. * * * The appointment of Captain Alex MacLennan, Midland, as commodore of the CSL fleet was announced in Montreal by T. R. McLagan, president of the line. * * * Armed with axes and saws, 40 volunteers from the Coldwater district invaded the forest near Severn Falls and cut logs, later to be made into lumber for a new grandstand at the village’s fair grounds. * * * It was announced that archaeological excavations of the old naval and military barracks’ site at Penetang were scheduled to start in May. * * * Owing to increases in salaries and upkeep costs, Penetang Separate School Board was asking council that year for $13,500, an increase of 32,100 over the previous year. 

Potatoes are one of the main attractions at the annual North Simcoe seed fair held in Elmvale, and this year was no exception.  NSSCIA president Mervyn Parker looks over some of the types on display  with R. A. Gooden of the field crops branch, department of agriculture. Grand champion potato grower for this year was Telesphore Forget, R.R. 2, Penetang, seen in photo 8253. Flanking him are reserve champions Armand Genier (left) and Ida Maurice, also from the Lafontaine area. 

Start Shovelling. Heavy melting snows pose a new threat to many thousands of cottages in the North Simcoe area, particularly those which have not been tended to earlier. This cottage at Grandview Beach, Port McNicoll, came a cropper Sunday afternoon when the roof collapsed, pushing out the rear wall, as seen in the picture. 

There’s one parade in the army nobody wants to miss, and that’s pay parade. Friday saw the first pay parade for the 100 men of the National Survival Course being held at Midland Armory. Trooper George Denis gets his $40 from Capt. W. D. Bean of the Royal Canadian Army Pay Corps. Capt. Bean is a brother of Rev. G. Bean of St. Margaret’s Catholic Church, Midland.

 

The photos found in this blog post are the property of Huronia Museum, Midland, Ontario. Any reproduction for commercial use without permission is prohibited.  Any other distribution must credit Huronia Museum.  Please contact the museum with any questions you may have.  

   In last week’s posting we missed the February 23^rd County Herald. The headline read, “Reverses Stand on Pay, Tiny to Amend Schedule”. Two bylaws, one setting up a wage schedule the other providing for payments for car allowances for employees, were defeated at a special meeting of Tiny Township council held at Perkinsfield last night. Discussion arose following second reading of the salary schedule bylaw. Deputy-Reeve Doug Holt started it with: “I thought we had agreed at the last meeting the clerk and assessor were to be equal, but the figures in the bylaw are not.” Last week’s resolution had called for a 1962 salary of $4,600 for the clerk and $4,450 for the assessor with a $5,000 maximum set for both. {The debate went on, the bylaw was voted down and ended with this comment} Reeve Montcalm Maurice shook his head: “I can’t understand it, the men who voted for this last week voted against it tonight. It makes us look as though we don’t know what we want.” 

    Penetang’s weekend of winter hoop-de-do will get off to a flying start tonight with a huge bonfire followed by a torch-light parade. The bonfire will be next to the K of C Hall on Poyntz Street. Members of St. Ann’s Young People’s Club will use it to light the torches they will carry in the parade. The parade will finish at the parking lot next to the post office where an outdoor moccasin dance will be staged. Along with the moccasin dance, scheduled for both Friday and Saturday  nights, townspeople and visitors will have the opportunity of eating “beefburgers” from a whole beef carcass barbecued over charcoal. Another Friday night feature will be a get-acquainted night in the lounge of the Community Centre. Officials feel that a lot of Winterama friends will want to get together before the main events get under way. There will also be several indoor dances Friday night. Although Winterama competitions are not scheduled to get under way until Saturday, one competition familiarly known as the game of “where do I get a room”, has been underway all week. The only prize offered in this game is accommodation for the weekend.

    As early as Wednesday afternoon, weekend accommodation was at a distinct premium. One man was finally able to secure a room at Elmvale, after trying unsuccessfully in both Penetang and Midland. 

    Police say a five month rampage of thefts and vandalism came to an end Wednesday with the arrest of two district youths by OPP at Victoria Harbour. The worst and most recent incident occurred at MPDHS. Entry was gained through a window on the west side of the school sometime between 11:20 and 12 o’clock Sunday night. A quantity of candy bars and other articles were stolen, and widespread vandalism occurred. The cafeteria, teacher’s room and one classroom bore the brunt of the damage, said school principal Raymond Gauthier. Food was scattered, bottles broken and cutlery dumped in the cafeteria. Art powder was heaved on the rugs and chesterfield in the teacher’s room and broken bottles were thrown in toilets. 

Watching smoke pour from the upper storey of this house on Fourth Street Tuesday, many spectators felt the frame building was doomed to destruction. Firemen were able to contain the blaze to an upstairs bedroom. The fire is believed to have started in a clothes closet. Damage was estimated at about $800. 

The  Guide “trefoil” and the Scout “fleur-de-lis” decorate the cake shared by the leaders and officials of both movements, to mark the birthday of the founders, Lord and Lady Baden Powell. Photo shows some of the guiders and scouters from Wendake district enjoying the party at Mrs. Lawlor’s home Monday night. Left to right in lower photo, Area Commissioner Mrs. Ed Lawlor, District Commissioner Harvey Boyd, District Commissioners, Mrs. Jim Lemieux (Gail) and Mrs. Paul Quilty, and District Cubmaster Art Richards. 

Editorial page photo entitled; “Winter at Martinsville Mill”. [This is now one entrance to the Provincial Nature Preserve called the Copeland Forest, across from the ski resort at Mount St. Louis Moonstone. The road in the foreground would be the Ingram Road.] 

Many hands made lighter work for the Midland branch of the Canadian Cancer Society when they staged a “dressing blitz” at Midland YMCA Friday. Packing the dressings in the top picture are, left to right, Mrs. Alex Campbell, Mrs. Dave Hutchison, Miss Margaret Johnston and Mrs. Alex Craig. Another group of ladies is seen assembling the bandages in the lower photo. 

Below are pictured many of the 100 contestants who entered the Free Press International Cookbook contest. Kitchens and appliances have changed a lot in sixty years! 

Third place winner in the cook-book contest was Mrs. F. Savage, Victoria Harbour. 

A tasty cookie recipe won Mrs. Bernadette Frawley of Mount St. Louis a fourth place prize in the County Herald cook-book contest. Mrs. Frawley, above, is active in Women’s Institute affairs in North Simcoe. 

Third prize winner in the cooking contest was Emmy Neumann, Midland. 

A consistent winner of prizes at the Tiny and Tay Agricultural Society fall fair, Mrs. Isabel Jones, R.R. 1, Midland, won a $5 fourth prize in the International Cook-book contest sponsored by this newspaper. Mrs. Jones’ prize recipe was, “Canadian Apple Pie”. 

First prize of $25 was the award won by Mrs. W. H. Burbidge of Woodland Beach, shown at the bake table in her home on Nottawasaga Bay. Mrs. Burbidge’s winning recipe, “Cantonese Chicken Wings” has an Oriental flavour. 

Busy in her kitchen is Mrs. H. E. Miller, 285 Fourth Street, who won a fourth prize in the cook-book recipe contest. “Refrigerator Pineapple Cheese Cake” was the tasty bit that won her the award. 

A cook of the ‘old school’, Mrs. Garfield Cotton of Penetanguishene prefers a wood or coal burning range to today’s gleaming cooking appliances. She is pictured in the kitchen of her home. Mrs. Cotton won a fourth prize for her “Cranberry Loaf” recipe, which appears below. 

Mrs. John Mackie is busy whipping up something new after winning one of nine five dollar fourth prizes in the cook-book contest sponsored by this newspaper. Mrs. Mackie was awarded a prize for her recipe “Spicy Apple Twists”, which appears on this page. More than 100 recipes were submitted. 

Mrs. Violet Rudyk of 50 Fifth Street, Midland, who was a fourth prize winner in the cook book recipe contest. Mrs. Rudyk’s winning recipe was “Beef Biscuit Roll”. 

Mrs. Agnes Evans, 43 Fox Street Penetanguishene, is in the dough in more ways than one. Her recipe, “Mother Cakes”, won her a $10 third prize in the County Herald International cook-book contest. 

In operation just over a month, Midland’s new school crossing patrol system is working out satisfactorily. Members of the Parkview School patrol, with newly-elected captain John Wilcox are seen above. Girls are, left to right, Judy Fitzgerald, Betty MacKay, Glenda Stewart, John Wilcox, Sharon Park, Ann Webster. Boys in photo 8137 are Ron Henderson, Gary McCaughen, Brian Morden, John Wilcox, Kennedy Self, Leonard Johnston, Stewart McElroy, Bob Powell. In back of both pictures are Norman Crane, Ontario Motor League representative, Chief George Wainman and Sgt. Ernest Bates. 

Midland’s “Buzz” Deschamp ought to be a confused young man as he surveys the sports gear in his closet. A star with Midland baseball and hockey teams, “Buzz” now has taken up ski jumping and was in action in the Ontario championships Sunday. Helping him to select the right gear for the occasion are Lynn McAllen, left and Margaret Spicer. 

Hike School Grants $10 in Record High Budget
County Herald headline of March 2, 1962. 

Midland – Penetang taxpayers will benefit by about $34,000 from increased school grants in 1962. This was made known yesterday when Provincial Treasurer James Allan presented his budget statement to the legislature at Queen’s Park. The record shattering estimates, highest in the province’s history, amounted to $1,126,000,000. Other highlights included no new taxes or increases in existing taxes, wider exemptions in retail sales tax and increased benefits to religious and educational establishments.

    A petition containing 1,723 names was presented to Midland council this week requesting it hold a plebiscite for the sale of liquor in dining rooms and lounges. The number signing was well above the required 25 percent needed of the slightly more than 4,600 eligible to vote in the last provincial elections. A similar petition asking for the establishment of men’s and women’s beer parlours was soundly defeated with only 478 signatures. 

    All three of Midland Home and School Associations were in accord at meetings held at each school this week. Parents passed a motion to submit a resolution requesting the Midland Public Schools Board to provide school supplies without cost. This refers to the work materials the parents now provide at the beginning of each term and for replacements throughout the year. Midland is one of the few communities which still issues lists of supplies which have to be bought by the parents.

    Long dormant in this area, dog poisoning is back in the news, this time at Waubaushene. Residents there are up in arms over the poisoning of 15 dogs in recent months. Fears are expressed that children may also become innocent victims. Strychnine is believed to be the poison used. 

    Midland Flyers took a big step towards a berth in the Georgian Bay intermediate “A” finals with a 6-1 win over the Collingwood Shipbuilders before a jam-packed Arena Gardens throng Wednesday night. Flyers now have a win and a tie in the two games played in the best of seven series.

 Most of the newspaper photos from the first week of March were about the Winterama and as stated before most of the Penetanguishene negatives are either destroyed or lost. Some were grouped on this page. 

Call Fifth Session Today as Tiny Pay Hassle Continues
Free Press Herald headline from March 7, 1962. 

Tiny council, in its fourth attempt, failed to settle wages of employees at their regular monthly meeting Saturday afternoon. A special meeting is scheduled for today in a last ditch effort to settle the issue. Deputy-reeve Doug Holt introduced a motion pegging all salaries with the exception of Clerk G. Marchand at the 1961 level. It failed to get approval. 

    Thirty four fans attending the Collingwood – Midland playoff game in the Arena Gardens Saturday night got mildly unpleasant surprises when they went to their cars following the game. Each of the thirty four found a $1 parking ticket on his vehicle. Police issued the tags for blocking the main road into the gardens and private driveways along adjacent streets. “You could hardly have driven a bicycle into the Garden’s parking lot the way the cars were blocking the entrance alongside the curling rink. If there had been a fire at the arena, firemen would never have been able to get in with their trucks.” said Sgt. Ernest Bates.

25 Years Ago
Supplementary estimates passed by the federal government included $13,400 for public works in Midland. T. M. McCullough, chairman of the Midland chamber of commerce, said he expected the amount was intended to cover cost of dredging in Midland harbor. * * * Mrs. Walter VanLuven, Sunnyside, reported seeing two brown and black butterflies basking in the sun on her kitchen window. * * *  Flt. Lieut. E. E. Moore, Camp Borden, spoke on the construction of planes at an aeronautical night at the Midland YMCA. Twenty boys with model planes, entered their craft in the Y’s Men’s competition. * * * Midland Boat Works were starting the construction of a 45 foot cabin cruiser for the Game and Fisheries Department of the Ontario government. * * * G E. Hawke, Department of Public Works, completed a survey of Penetang Bay preparatory to dredging operations which were planned for the summer. * * * Midland s fire bell, which was badly cracked, was to be replaced by a fire siren at a cost of $255. * * * With the purchase of a police car, Midland council authorized the patrolling by police of the side streets as well as the main street. * * * Ontario’s Premier Mitchell Hepburn, announced in the provincial budget speech that all municipalities in the province would receive a subsidy amounting to one mill on the dollar of their rateable assessments. It was estimated the subsidy would mean $5,000 and $1,270 to Midland and Penetang respectively. 

“No camping” sign at Paradise Point is perhaps a bit superfluous at the moment, with the popular Port McNicoll park covered with several feet of snow. But the sun is getting stronger and the days longer and in a few weeks this winter’s heavy snows will be but a memory. 

“Parasol Drill” is the title of this number, featuring a half-dozen pretty St. Theresa’s High School co-eds, which formed part of the school’s variety show held recently. Left to right girls are; front, Maureen McAvoy and Lorraine Contois; back, Sharon Rivet, Gisela Schuecke, Geraldine Borsa and Louella Contois. 

Camera fans had a field day in Penetang and Midland during the Winterama and ski jumping weekend. Down at Midland harbor the government ice-breaker Alexander Henry attracted a lot of shutter bugs as it moved the freighter Lemoyne through heavy ice from CSL elevator to the winter berth.

The photos found in this blog post are the property of Huronia Museum, Midland, Ontario. Any reproduction for commercial use without permission is prohibited.  Any other distribution must credit Huronia Museum.  Please contact the museum with any questions you may have. 

GIGNAC REQUESTS COUNCIL SIGN WORK AFFIDAVITS
County Herald headline from February 16, 1962. 

”Like a bolt out of the blue,” was the way one Penetang councillor termed Mayor Jerome Gignac’s request at this week’s council meeting asking members to sign an affidavit concerning their employment. The mayor proposed to keep the affidavits in his personal file. His request came after a letter had been read from the Department of Municipal Affairs dealing with conflict of interest on the part of elected members. Mr. Gignac asked councillors whether they would be in favour of signing affidavits setting out their terms of employment. “For instance, I don’t know whether Reeve Cage is a partner in Penetang Motors, or an employee,” said the mayor. “And should any question arise concerning conflict of interest of a member of council, I would be able to answer it,” he said. Four members of council when contacted by this paper were pretty well in agreement that the mayor’s request was unnecessary in view of the oath taken when members were sworn in. 

   Although it appears no one in town is interested in the job of dog catcher, Penetang council is preparing to pass a bylaw which would require dogs to be tied up throughout the entire year. Applications for the job were to be in the hands of council by February 12^th, clerk A. Doucette reported no one had applied. 

    Officials of Grew Boats, Penetang, this week expressed satisfaction with the response to their new line of boats shown at the recent Boat Show in Toronto. “Manufacturers in general seemed to be pleased at the public’s reaction in a return to wooden boats,” Bob Munro said. “The big move today, is quite definitely a return to wood for boat building .” Speaking of their new line of boats now being manufactured, Grew representatives who attended the show felt the public is definitely interested in the appearance of these craft. While the company did not take orders from the public for these boats, Mr. Munro said appointed distributors were quite successful in selling the craft. “We confined ourselves to lining up a group of distributors who will handle the retail end of the business.” Good progress is being made in the local plant in setting up the new production line for manufacturing the lapstake boats which are expected to become the major part of the plant’s output. Company officials say wrinkles are being ironed out and one completed craft has already come off the line. Several key employees of Grew Boats are in the U.S. at the present time viewing techniques employed in the plant of the originators of this type of construction. One of the main features of the craft is that while they are of lapstrake construction, the material used is plywood. This entirely eliminates all vertical butt joints in the planking and adds to faster construction. 

Bryson McQuirter REAL ESTATE 206 Elizabeth Street -2 doors West of Post Office. 
Manly St. — $13,500. Terms. 3 bedroom brick. wall-to-wall broadloom. Glassed-in sunroom. Oil hot water. A lovely home in a choice district.
Fifth St. — An ultra modern 3 bedroom brick bungalow. New. Some minor finishing to be done, nice lot hear Yonge. This is something special.
Penetang Road —$6,000. Terms. A solid block 2 bedroom home. Good foundation and basement. 12 x 16 kitchen. 12 x 23 living room. 100 ft. lot.
Dominion St. W — $13.500 Terms. A lovely modem 3 bedroom bungalow in an ideal location. Living room 16 x 27. fireplace. Lot 100 x 150.
Hanly St. — $12.500. Terms A practically new modem 3 bedroom brick bungalow in perfect condition. One N.H.A 6% mortgage. Dominion Ave. West — $6.000.  Terms. A clean 4 bedroom home Closed-in Sunroom. Insulated Gas furnace 50 ft lot. Low taxes.
Dominion Ave. East — $6,800 Terms. Solid brick. 3 bedrooms, dining room and living room. 2  bathrooms. Oil furnace. Near Queen St. 

    Most encouraging news in this area to date was the announcement last week of the location in Midland of a new industry which will employ 70 male workers. This newspaper welcomes Kindred Industries Limited, a subsidiary of Kitchen Installations Limited of Ajax. That the negotiations with the company, conducted since last March, arrived at a satisfactory conclusion for all parties, is due in no small way to Chairman Frank Bray and members of his chamber of commerce industrial committee. This latest member of the Midland industrial family is nursed by the chamber officials all the way. 

Dark-haired, blue-eyed Bonnie Rourke was chosen “Queen of Hearts” at MPDHS for 1962 at Midland’s Roxy Theatre last night. A grade 12 student with plans for a teaching career, Bonnie is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Frank Rourke, Sunnyside. 

Charles McIlravey Jr., son of Mr. & Mrs. Charles McIlravey, Hugel Ave. who sails on the SS Ivernia for England where he will be working for Loblaws. Aged 18, Mr. McIlravey attended Regent Public School and Midland-Penetang District High School. He worked at the store in Midland for two years and is one of a number of young men recruited by the company for British service. 

FIRST DAY RECRUITS TOP SURVIVAL COURSE QUOTA
Free Press Herald headline of February 21^st, 1962. 

An enthusiastic response greeted the call to take the first of two, six week National Survival Courses to be held the Midland Armory Feb. 26 to April 6. The second class is slated to start Apr 1 16. To date 133 have registered, 33 more than the 100 maximum set by the Department of National Defence, sponsors of the training program. A former World War II veteran, Major Les Taylor of Midland, has been named local administration officer by the Central Ontario Area Army Command. About 40-men were put through their medical examinations and given aptitude tests. Major A. Searel, personnel selection officer for the Army, praised highly the calibre of recruits and said that only three had been rejected of those tested so far. 

The three day Georgian Bay Drama Festival held last week in the auditorium of the Midland-Penetang District High School played to near capacity crowds all three nights. This picture left to right, Chris Thomson, MPDHS, best Canadian play; G. H. McPherson, managing editor of the Barrie Examiner; Mrs. Eileen Peters, Orillia, who captured three awards, and Peter McGarvey, CFOR, Orillia. Mr. McGarvey and Mr. McPherson presented the awards to the winners. 

Starting out on the first phase of the six week national survival training course at the armory is Cyril Large of Midland as he begins his Select A aptitude test, while Sgt. Bruce Fleming, Toronto, Army training instructor looks on. Over 130 men have registered for the first of two courses to be held in Midland. 

Top athlete. Named senior football player of the year at Midland-Penetang District High School, Bill Binkley is seen receiving his trophy during the “Queen of Hearts” finals at the Roxy Theatre last week. Rev. Len Self made the presentation. 

Near zero temperatures the weekend didn’t stop these boys from getting in their regular practice sessions for the Ontario Ski Jumping Championships in Midland Sunday. Left to right are Unto Virolainan, instructor Pete Pettersen, Marjan Senk, Frank Arko, Ray Kaija, Gernot Dick and (in front) 11-year-old Mark Kaija who will open the jump with former Midland favorite Hans Eder. Mark’s dad, Ray Kaija, will rate as one of the favorites after winning the Southern Ontario title in Owen Sound recently. 

These five “lovelies” from MPDHS competed in the finals of this year’s Queen of Hearts contest at the Roxy Theatre last Thursday. Seated are Pat Bate and Bonnie Rourke (right) crowned “Queen” for 1962. Standing left to right are Margaret Spicer, Sharon Dubeau and Betty Trace. 

Hard at work cutting bandages during “dressing blitz” staged at Midland YMCA Friday are, left to right, Mrs. Norman Shill, Mrs. N. E. Shaubel and Mrs. Earl Cumming. “Blitz” was sponsored by Midland branch of the Canadian Cancer Society. 

Editorial page photo entitled, “Winter Haven in Midland Harbour”. [This is actually Port McNicoll.] 

[We have been corrected by Viktor Kaczkowski, a member of the website group, Midland Ontario Canada – Our Hometown -Then and Now. The above photo was taken at the Tiffin Elevator in Midland as Victor has noted, not Port McNicoll as we stated. We will leave it posted because we love our marine heritage and photos of it and will add a photo of the actual Port McNicoll winter fleet below.]

ORDER MAYOR WITHDRAW SECRET MEETING CHARGE  
Free Press Herald headline of February 28, 1962. 

Members of Midland council were thwarted in their efforts to have a motion of censure against Mayor Charles Parker read into the records at Monday night’s council meeting. The motion was made by Reeve Arthur Argue and Alderman William Thompson. The mayor refused to accept the motion criticizing him for charges he made against council members at a meeting February 12. He had accused members of holding secret meetings and conniving behind his back. 

    A 10-man OPP anti-gambling squad last night closed a bingo game in Parkside Pavillion, Yonge Street, West, Midland. About 120 person were in the hall when 10 members of the OPP force entered, headed by Staff Sgt. J. M. Anderson. The players were allowed to leave. Staff Sgt. Anderson told this newspaper he was conferring today with the Crown Attorney in Barrie concerning possible charges to be laid in connection with the raid. The bingo was operated for the Minor Hockey Association and games were held every Tuesday night in Parkside, Staff Sgt. Anderson stated. 

     Although the weatherman co-operated in providing beautiful sunny weather in North Simcoe for Penetang’s annual Winterama, he was somewhat less co-operative in dumping large quantities of snow on Toronto and other southerly areas. In the opinion of Winterama officials, this quirk of fate was responsible for considerably reducing the crowd which usually attends. 

   Pete Pettersen’s luck, which has often soured on him in the past at big ski meets, certainly was favoured by the gods on Sunday. Near-perfect weather and a crowd of around 2,500 witnessed the Ontario ski-jumping championship held on Pete’s hill, first big meet here since 1957. Just one day later and competitors and fans would have been greeted with a heavy rainstorm that undoubtedly would have washed out the meet completely. 

   Veteran of North Simcoe’s barbering business is Dick Lethbridge. Dick, since 1937 or so, has been barbering at Balm Beach with occasional fill-in visits to Midland shops to help out friends who are off through illness or on vacation. His summer time work at the beach calls for a very long day, Dick says, but not nearly such a long one as used to prevail in Midland tonsorial palaces on Saturdays. From 8 a.m. till early Sunday morning was the rule. Nearly all the customers were in for a pre-Sunday shave and the man who merely wanted a hair cut got a dirty look from other customers. Now even the barbers themselves use electric razors. Dick had ambitions to be a railroader but in the early years of this century a man with glasses was barred, from operating jobs. 

    The expansion of telephone facilities in Midland during 1961 was typical of the situation across the territory served by the Bell Telephone Company of Canada. On the local scene, some 150 telephones were added, H. A. Kilroy, Bell manager for this region, said, bringing the total to 4,000 as of Dec. 31. 

 

Busy in her kitchen is Mrs. H. E. Miller, 285 Fourth Street, who won a fourth prize in the cook-book recipe contest. “Refrigerator Pineapple Cheese Cake” was the tasty bit that won her the award.