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 Monsignor Castex celebrates his 60th anniversary in the priesthood. Over 100 clergy of the Roman Catholic Church attended. Most Rev. B. I. Webster, D.D. Bishop of Peterborough, Rt. Rev. J. M. Castex, James Cardinal McGuigan of Toronto and Rt. Rev. E. Brennan Toronto, toastmaster.

  85 year old Monsignor Castex at a reception for his 60th Anniversary in the priesthood. Chatting with Crown Attorney Wm. Thompson, QC. (Monsignor Castex died in 1971 at age 99.)

Mr. A. L. Fitzgerald’s retirement as superintendent of Beatty Bros. Foundry. Mr. Fitzgerald is speaking to Alf Atkins, on left, one of three men who were working at Beatty Bros. when Mr. Fitzgerald started 32 years ago. The other two were Jack Russell and Archie Cote.

 Girl Guide Cookies. Doreen Moreau, 2nd Midland Guides, Mrs. Thomas Shaughnessy district commissioner and Ann Davidson 3rd Midland Brownie Pack get ready for the annual event which takes place in Midland this Saturday.

  Looking deserted because of the unseasonable weather is John Deako’s (Johnny fries) new park store at Little Lake. All cement block construction is a big improvement over the wooden booth that occupied the site for many years. Band shell in the background.

  Seventy year old Mrs. Midas King was found by her son Clifford at Basswood Point on Gloucester Pool Channel early Sunday afternoon. Wet from the rain and wearing only her underclothes and no shoes she was found some eight air miles from her home, she had been missing for over 48 hours.

  Searchers helping to locate Mrs. Midas King, nee Simons, near Honey Harbour over the weekend. Soldiers from Base Borden, local police, neighbours and relatives all tromped the wet bush between Honey Harbour and Gloucester Pool. Mrs. King had been spotted twice over the three days in the area of the new Trans Canada Highway and was finally found by her son Clifford near Gloucester Pool Channel. Andy Simons Mrs. Kings brother, Adam King, Mrs. Dave Tobey (a sister), Mrs. Violet Simons and Larry Simons.

  Sixty-six members of the RCASC  (Royal Canadian Army Service Corps) School at Camp Borden regroup to resume the search for Mrs. Midas King along the route of the new Trans Canada Highway north of Port Severn.

 Excavator owned by contractor Thomas G. Wilcox & Sons loads waiting dump trucks as they prepare the site of the new municipal building on Dominion Ave.

  Top athletes at MPDHS honoured at an awards banquet in the new cafeteria Thursday night. Marlene Gouett was the top girls athlete and Mel Windover the most valuable player on the senior boys basketball team.

  Five MPDHS athletes receive their letter at the athletic dinner Thursday night. Letter awards are based on an accumulation of points over your high school career. Carol Cowan, Judy McIntyre, Frank Holmes, Bob Marshall and Bruce Calvert. Not present, Angela Cronin.

  Donna Kinnear (Mrs. Jim Nicholson) receives the J. J. Robins trophy for competition between Georgian Bay Schools junior basketball teams from Mr. Robins the former MDHS principal. Donna is the captain of the Midland team which won this past season. Since first awarded in 1935-36 Midland has won it all but six times.

  Result of a crash on Bay Street early Saturday morning, two identical model cars with near identical damage. Total cost was estimated at $1,400.00 by Midland police. 

• Midland council OK’s $27,000.00 contract to repave Kings Street from the town limits to the CNR tracks; from King west on Yonge to Fifth; from King west on Bay to Fourth and thence north to the junction of Vinden Street and the county road. Brennan Paving Co. will begin immediately as they are now completing the paving of Highway 27 from Wyebridge to Elmvale.
• Three seaman’s unions sign new wage agreement with the Lake Carriers Association after a nine day strike. 5,000 men are affected by the new agreement that sees the monthly rate for a deckhand go from $190 to $284.
• Tourist promotion fizzles, 21 Midland merchants met a week ago and enthusiastically called for a promotion planning meeting Thursday morning but only four members showed up.
• Georgian Bay Hunters and Anglers members plant five thousand Scots Pine and one thousand permanent trees including Larch and White Pine on their new club site below the Martyr’s Shrine.
• Tomato plants and a good selection of annuals for sale at Vivian Gardens, 365 Hugel Ave. W.
• Waitresses wanted, both full time and summer help, Totem Pole, Penetang.
• Last of a series of narratives written by Rev. James Evans, a Methodist missionary, 120 years ago. “Called to Council, the Ottawa’s and Chippewa’s , each of whom claimed the Munnedoolin Island, relinquished the same on condition that the Governor should secure it to both and their heirs forever. It was likewise proposed that the Chippewa’s from Saugeeng should relinquish all title to their extensive territory on Lake Huron, retaining only the peninsula between the said lake and the Georgian Bay, the line to commence at the bottom of Owen’s Sound and to extend directly across the peninsula. Thus the Indians again were removed from the spot to them dearest on earth and constrained to give place to those who, receiving greater encouragement, make consequently greater improvement.” Rev. James Evans took exception to a great many statements in Sir Francis Head’s official reports regarding these transactions and published a series of articles in the April 11 and May 9, 1838 issues of the Christian Guardian.
• For the first time in the history of organized ski competitions in Canada, one club has been granted the Canadian Championship two years running. Midland Ski Resorts Limited will again host the Canadian ski jumping contests February 23 and 24, 1957.
• Ten Years Ago – 1946- A Tiger Moth plane, en route from Oshawa to the Muskoka Airport, made a forced landing in the field back of Regent School; The Small Holdings Branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the purchase of the 43 acre M. J. McCullough farm on Highway 12 (Yonge Street) west of Midland. The land was to sub-divided into 2 acre lots for a veteran’s housing development; Midland High School track star Doug Kettle captured three firsts in an Ontario Athletic Commission meet at Geneva Park, Orillia. With entry limited to three events, Doug chose high jump, running broad and hop step and jump, easily winning all three; The SS Capt. George Hindman ran aground on a sand bar at the entrance to Midland harbour; Henry Gauthier, 34 year old Penetang veteran, was appointed Indian agent at the Christian Island Reserve.
• Cartoon section of this weeks paper includes Blondie, Muggs and Skeeter, Elsworth and POGO.
• Over 400 attend the unveiling Sunday afternoon in Bradford the plaque honouring Prof. W. H. Day. originator of the Holland Marsh.
• Midland Council orders dog catcher Jos. Proulx to crack down on dogs running loose. Any dog unclaimed within 24 hours will be destroyed.
• Deaths on Simcoe County roads totalled 45 in 1955 and 1,111 provincially. (In 2015 there were 299 deaths on OPP patrolled roads in Ontario. There were 1.5 million vehicles registered in Ontario in 1955, in 2015 there were 11.5 million.)
• Penetang Bottling Co. Ltd. announces the new “King-Size” bottle. King-Size, 6 bottles for 41 cents and Standard-Size, 6 bottles for 36 cents (plus deposit). Actual volume of the bottles is not given in the ad.
• Boyce Garage at 190 Dominion Ave E. is advertising the new Studebaker models.
• 87% of Ontario farms are served by electricity in 1956
• Anthony Van Steedon, 41, captain of Toronto furrier Jack Creed’s luxury yacht drowns in the Haystack Rapids on the Musquosh River, local Capt. T. O. Light survives as their small boat capsizes.
  

Join us for an event here at the Huronia Museum, June 17th, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.

THE RENOWNED FLEET OF PASSENGER SHIPS BETWEEN 1913 AND 1965 John Henry, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., is a journalist and author based in New York City whose articles on travel and transportation have appeared in major newspapers in the United States and Canada. He has also been published in the quarterly journals of the Steamship Historical Society of America and Great Lakes Historical Society.

Come and partake on a journey that offers a visual into an intriguing lost way of life.
FRIDAY, JUNE 17 TH 2016 at 6:30 PM
Location: Huronia Museum 549 Little Lake Park, Midland ON
Tickets $15/seat with wine & cheese provided

A Talk by John Henry Featuring a talk with Steven Duff; author of “The Rime of the Moderne Mariner”

Please find posters for this event, and purchase your tickets here at the Huronia Museum, we are open 7 days a week 9-5.

Click on photos to enlarge

 Peaceful union action in Midland during current seaman’s strike occurred as men walked off the barge Portadoc and the freighter Quedoc of the Paterson Line which were moored at the Simcoe Elevator.

  Sponsor of the HMCS Cormorant, Mrs. Murray Wagg, left, is seen in the act of launching the new 92 foot vessel at the Midland Boat Works Tuesday morning. Mr. Tom M. McCullough president of the firm is seen on the lower right. In the background, Mr. & Mrs. H. J. Thompson, George Ross and Murray Wagg. Mrs. Wagg missed on the first attempt.

  Launching of the HMCS Cormorant from the Midland Boat Works yard went smoothly until the last when the stern became stuck in the mud and the ship had to be towed the last few yards by the CSL tug Tiffin. 

 
 Nearly 3000 members of eight Roman Catholic parishes in North Simcoe took part in a rosary rally at Midland Sunday afternoon. Bandsman of the De La Salle Oaklands Band, Toronto, provided music for the procession from St. Margaret’s Church to the Midland Town Park. A section of the 1,500 men, women and children in the parade is seen moving up King Street. Msgr. J. A. McDonagh, guest speaker is seen before the alter as he addresses the crowd.

Captains of four winning teams in Midland`s Little Hockey League this past season are seen with the trophies presented at a hockey banquet sponsored by the Midland Lion’s Club at the Georgian Hotel Thursday night. Brian Dubeau whose Providence Reds won the American League title; Sheldon Hanes of the Windsor Bulldogs winners in the senior “A” section; Sandy Campbell of the National League winners, Boston Bruins and John Blake whose Kitchener Canucks won the junior “A” honours. Coaches Art Richards and Wray Faint in the background.

  Top scorers in their divisions of Midland`s Little Hockey League are seen above. Bernie Montgomery and Jim Lethbridge who shared the honours in the American League; Buzz Deschamps who scored 45 goals in Senior “A” play and Mike Dubeau who topped the scorers in the junior “A” section.

 Four members of the winning team of the Junior “A” Little Hockey League championship in Parry Sound last month in their new jackets presented by the town at a banquet held for them. More than 300 boys played hockey this winter sponsored by Branch 80 RCL and the Midland Lions Club. Paul DeVillers, Wayne Holden, Dennis Abbott and team captain John Swan.

 Two canoes lashed to the pontoons of the Georgian Bay Airways Norseman will be used for fishing in Algonquin Park by these Midlanders. Doug Haig, Frank Hartman, Toots Wallace all seated on the dock and David Haig back to the camera on the right. Down to see them off are Clark Edwards standing left, Win Smith, Mrs. Hartman, Mrs. David Haig and Mrs. (Ruth) Doug Haig. Heavy ice on the lakes of Algonquin Park has long delayed this trip.

  Speckled and Rainbow Trout in the Sturgeon River will not be attacked by the Lamprey Eels tacked on the boards pictured. Nearly 200 have been trapped by Robert Thompson whose farm is on the 8th Concession of Tay, adjoining the river. Nearly 1500 suckers have also been removed to the delight of local fishermen. The eels range from 9.5 to 22 inches in length.

 Fireworks planning by the Midland Jaycee’s with help from the Lion’s Club for the fourth year. Ray Smith, Dan Webb, Charlie Scott, Lee McIntyre and J. B. Reynolds. Mr. McIntyre represents the Lions Club.

 Shriner’s gift a life saver for the community, a $600.00 piece of equipment they hope will never be used. The new resuscitator inhalator replaces one provided by the Midland Shriners several years ago that has been responsible for saving several lives. The new unit is totally automatic. Erwin Jackman, firefighter John Small,  mayor Charles Parker, Fire Chief Arnold Tippin, Shriner’s George Ross and the present head of Shriners, Thomas Wilcox.

  Midland Planing Mills Limited have remodeled their showroom with many new displays and products. A multiple page article was included in the paper with many more pictures that were not taken by the Free Press. 

• Midland Council is close to enacting a comprehensive building standard to replace the outdated 1927 by-law. The Property Committee chaired by Charles Onley and another committee chaired by local construction engineer Ed Lawlor have created the new by-law. Draft calls for minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet, 50 x 100 foot lots and homes would not be permitted to cover more than one third of the lot. Approval of an 18 by 28 foot cottage in a new residential area of Eighth Street sparked the call for changes to the building by-law.
• A large power outage was experienced by all of North Simcoe for half an hour Sunday night except Honey Harbour where a direct line was able to be maintained to the Big Chute power plant.
• 1956 winners of the Midland Industrial Bowling League championship includes many still familiar names from Port McNicoll. Mike Ianosch, L. DiFranceso, Marino Saccutelli, Enzo De Cola, Victor De Cola, Frank Bottigoni, and Art Bell. Photo was by Rolfoto and is not in the museum collection.
• Tadenac Club is posting its property North of Go Home Bay as trespassing on the 14 square miles of islands, main land and adjoining waters has been increasing. 
• Playing at the Pen Theatre is “Gorilla at Large” with Ann Bancroft. [Sounds pretty silly but more believable than the Zombie movies of today.]
• Midland Jaycees and Lions Club indicate that four years of losses on May 24th fireworks display cannot continue and this may be the last year for the popular event.
• MPDHS Glee Club to present their spring concert at the new school Tuesday night directed by Alex Docherty. Piano duo of Catherine Richardson and John Arpin will present several selections. John is to audition for the Ed Sullivan Show June 5.
• Midland Planing Mills Ltd. completes recent improvements to their showrooms. Still going strong the firm goes back to 1907 when Milton J. Bray and James A. Benson formed the firm of Benson & Bray located at the present site of the company. As business grew a new company was formed, Midland Wood Products, which built the large building along 4th Street that would later become the Fine Silk Mills, Bay Mills, TRW and now First for Safety and Home Design Center. In 1935 Milton Bray joined with Norman Playfair at the original site and son Frank Bray joined the firm, later Playfair’s interest was bought out. Hundreds of local people have been employed here in the last 110 years and business continues under the 4th generation of the Bray family.