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Huge cakes of ice are broken off by the USCG cutter Mackinaw as she plows her way down the harbour at Port McNicoll Monday morning. The Mackinaw made the 220 mile trip from Cheboygan Michigan to facilitate the movement of the winter fleet in Midland and Port McNicoll.  She encountered 36″ thick ice in the Giant’s Tomb area. The job of keeping the harbours fluid is normally done by the CSL tug “Tiffin” which is out of service awaiting repairs. This photo shows the size of the two CPR freight sheds at Port McNicoll. I may be corrected, but I believe this shed was known as the westbound shed.

Six proud scholarship winners photographed after the final concert of the Midland Music Festival. Back row, Patricia Morrison, Jim Cleaver, Eleanor Paice and Mary Lou (Louise) Parker. Front row, Andrew Zgudziak and Jay Ellis.

 Midland merchants, Walter Woods and Web Struthers, take time from their business to create sets for the Midland Figure Skating Club’s annual carnival, sponsored by the  Midland Lion’s Club.

 Midland Y’s Men transported these Bantam basketball players to an invitational meet in Orillia on March 17th. Though they didn’t win, a good time was reported. The photo taken on the front steps of the YMCA on Hugel Avenue.  Front row, Gerry Hamilton, John Scott, Ron McConnell, Tom McCullough, Ron Hyatt; Center row, John Carpenter, Doug Setterington, Roger Leclair, John Cowie.  Back row, Wally Brock, Ross Clute, Boy Wilson and Bob Grey.

  Four of the five trophy winners at the spring invitation jump meet at the Midland Ski Club Sunday are seen in this photo. Bob Staubhaar, Midland, winner of the class “C” division; Eric Kurrie, Midland, third in the main event;  Rheal Seguin, Ottawa, runner up and Frank Elsigan, Buffalo, the big winner. Hubert Shaunig, Midland, runner up in the “C” class was absent.

  Midland ladies preparing costumes for the Midland Lion’s Club annual skating carnival on April 6 and 7. Mrs. H. G. W. Paice, Mrs. Francis Lowes, Mrs. Lloyd Wilcox, Mrs. Ed Walker and Mrs. Harold (Marg) McAllen.

  Six of eighteen scholarship winners in the Midland Music Festival are seen in front of the fireplace at the YMCA on Hugel Ave. Back row, Betty French, Bob Popple, John Marshall. Front row, Robert Morrison, Ann Webster and Diane Vivian.

 The center of activity around Nottawaga Beach for many years, Patchell’s Store burnt to the ground on the morning of March 20th. Walter Patchell received burns about his face, head and arms while attempting to rescue a few belongings. Mrs. Patchell recently released from the hospital after a serious back injury had to escape in her night attire. 

• Penetang to build town sheds at the west end of Robert Street. Fred Laurin has been retained to superintend the job
• Junior Chambers of Commerce from Midland & Penetang bring forward a plan to re-open the 140 year old military road from the Angels to Hugel Ave as a walking trail. Future plan would be to continue south to Wyebridge
• Fern Shoes and Midland Footwear to receive new production machinery that will increase output by 40%
• Weddings – Shirley Fournier and Edwin Simmonds, St. Margaret’s Rectory – Shirley Henderson and Gerry Gammon – Frances Duquay and Rolland St. Onge, St. Margaret’s Church – Ann Dickie and Russell Vaillancourt, St. Margaret’s Church –
• County Council committee accepts bid by Wilfred G. How Construction to build the 50 bed home for the aged in Penetang. How Construction was also the general contractor for the Penetang General Hospital. Work will start in April and it is expected to take eight months to complete
• Penetang General Hospital receives chest x-ray machine
• F Turnbull hired as new Public Works Superintendent in Midland
• & Mrs. Cecil Woods of Wyevale had not heard from their son George in eight months until they read in a Toronto newspaper that he had become a hero of northern British Columbia, snow shoeing 125 miles in six days to get help for his injured trapping partner
• Under a policy laid down by His Holiness Pope Pius XII, Roman Catholic Easter liturgical ceremonies used by the church in the Middle Ages will be adopted this week. Holy communion will be received Good Friday afternoon, churches will be closed at Midnight Thursday and there will be an Easter midnight mass
• Andrew’s hospital to save $600.00 per year by using disposable paper plates and cups, savings in labour, dish washing cost, breakage costs. Board member Mrs. L. Attridge suggested that some of the elderly women patients may not appreciate their tea in a paper cup
• The Hon. Bryan Cathcart, Ontario Minister of Travel and publicity, speaking in the provincial legislature, praised the Midland Y’s Men’s Club’s reconstruction of a Huron Village as an outstanding example of community tourist promotion, ranking it with the Stratford Festival and the Fergus Highland Games
• Penetang Barbering service charges as of April 2, 1956. Adult haircut .75, brushcut 1.00, shaves .50, children’s haircut .50, children’s haircut Saturday .75
• 25 Years Ago This Week – A proposal had been made to build a hotel on the eastern bank of the Wye River, adjacent to the Shrine – A new service station was being erected on the site of the Midland Steam Laundry, destroyed by fire several months previously – W. E. Preston and Co. opened a new branch in the McMurtry Block known as Preston’s Uptown grocery. It was located next to A. W. Ruby’s “High Class” pastry shop – New styles for the spring of 1932 called for skirts to be worn about 10 inches from the floor, dresses were straight cut and hats featured floppy brims worn away from the face – Stanley Dobson of Midland broke the Ontario shot put record at a YMCA track meet in Toronto
• Thirty four new citizens were born in St. Andrew’s Hospital in the month of February, eight more than last February
• MPDHS entered two teams in the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association competition
• Kenneth Wells releases his newest book “By Jumping Cat Bridge”, paperback $1.99, cloth covered $4.00

 Public school pupils in Coldwater may be attending this new school next fall, construction has been stalled until a new contractor can be appointed. 

 “Johnny Van”, one of the two year old pacers in Mrs. R. S. Shepherd’s Burnbrae stables, Coldwater. Johnny’s mother died when he was only a few weeks old and Mrs. Shepherd had to bottle feed him for some time. Trainer Ed Hawke has high hopes for the frisky youngster. 

 North Simcoe farms that depend on cisterns have had to rely on Earl Rowntree of Elmvale and his water truck as the long cold winter with no thaws has affected water supplies. With this 1,100 gallon tank Mr. Rowntree ranges from Midland to Stayner serving over fifty customers. Copeland flour mill Elmvale in the background. 

 Winners of the boy’s vocal solo class for Grade 3 in this year’s Midland Music Festival are Barry Schissler, Victoria Harbour first place; Ken Trew, Midland, third place and Doug French Midland, second place.  (Ken Trew “Kenny” passed away February 22, 2016 at the age of 68) 

Kitchener Canuck team, winners of the Junior OHA title in Midland’s Little Hockey League. Front, Arnie Blake, captain Tom Burgie, Paul DeVillers, J. Cathabine; middle row, Thomas Wilcox, Doug Faint, Tom Gray, Jim Murday, Tom Gordanier, Bill Mackie, Michael Dorion and Rev. Len Self; back row, Randy Small, Nelson Cote, Morley Bath, Jim Cleaver, Cecil Merkley, John Cranston and coach Wray Faint. 

 Midland’s new police chief, Robert J. Cameron, aged 49, Aberdeen Scotland born and living in Canada since 1920, will begin his duties on March 26th. Recently a lieutenant at the Ontario Reformatory in Mimico, Robert served with an artillery unit during the war. His annual salary will be $3,700.00. 

New record set for the opening of navigation in Midland when the American ice breaker USCG Mackinaw arrived on March 18. This beat the previous record set in 1953 by ten days. The traditional “topper’ party included Alderman Clint Smith, Capt. Clifford MacLean, Major A. C. McCaul of the Chamber of Commerce and William Ball chief engineer of the Mackinaw. The powerful icebreaker made quick work of the two foot thick ice in Midland and Port McNicoll harbours. 

 Imported direct from Hawaii, Hula girls entertain at the annual Midland Garrison Badminton Club party Friday night. A closer inspection revealed them to be Lorne Scammel, Bill Baker, Jim Wright; back row, Doug White, Tom Marion and Bob Hodges. 

 Principal of Sixth Street Public School, Ken Cowan shows Mrs. Fred Hoy and Mrs. Bert Kaus their sons school work. Open house is observed in all Midland public and separate schools as part of education week. 

 Auxiliary class work for girls at Sixth Street School attracted a lot of attention at the annual open house on March 8th. Second from left is teacher Miss Frances Kerr who shows samples of dish towels, dresses and cloth toys the students have made. 

 Parent teacher night at Sacred Heart Separate School on March 8th. Looking over papers in the Grade 1 room are parents Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Montgrain, 108 Gloucester Street (now 300 Gloucester Street) and daughters Mary Lou, 6, and Carol a grade 3 pupil. 

 Midland Public Schools final hockey matches, including games between the girls of the west side representing Parkview and Sixth Street schools and Regent School representing the east. Don Wilcox is seen giving some of the west side girls some pointers; Carolyn Blythe, Betty Jean Watkinson, June Elliot, Joy Lowes, Patsy O’Hara and Shannon Bazinet. 

 Six of eighteen scholarship winners in the Midland Music Festival are pictured  in front of the fireplace at the YMCA on Hugel Ave. Back row, Ellen Barber, Arlene Armstrong, Sharon Robillard. Front row, Lois Cowan, Wendy Feltham,  Penny Lapere.

  Dr. J. W. Windrem, an Elmvale veterinary surgeon, administers rabies vaccine to Bo-Bo the pet of Miss Joanne Wadge of Midland. A rabies inoculation clinic was held at the Midland police department Saturday afternoon. Everyone looks happy except Bo-Bo. 

 First Elmvale team to ever win a provincial title. They won the OMAHA juvenile “D” crown in three straight games, beating Ayr 5-3 Saturday night. Pete Steele, Joe Marley, Dennis Turner, captain Gary Crowe, John Cole; back row Tom Copeland, Jack Fleming, Grant Ritchie, Dave Stephens, Daryl Beteau and Ron Frankcom. 

 Safe at home again after being found two miles from her home is Susanne Brown, 4, of Vasey, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Newton Brown, and her dog which accompanied her. She was found by neighbour Mervin Edwards, on Concession 4, Tay. 

• Fire Chief Peter Grigg tenders his resignation to Midland council after 37 years with the department, citing health reasons.
• 250 attend Spring Fashion Show put on by the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Midland.
• Writer to the editor, when complaining about all the potholes on King Street, also mentioned the danger of cars backing out of the angle parking
• Only one paper next week as the publication date for the County Herald falls on Good Friday, a combined Free Press and County Herald will be distributed on Wednesday March 28th
• Inaugurate gun club in Penetang, outcome of trap shooting competitions held at the Winter Carnival
• Midland Public Schools Board to buy fire extinguishers for three town schools on fire departments recommendation, Regent School to remove flammable and combustible materials from basement storage
• Daniell’s Welding delivers third steel scow, this one to the Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources, to be used between Kingston and Brockville
• RCAF recruiter will be at the Midland Armouries on March 23
• Miss Edna Breithaupt, on behalf of the company proposing to develop Giant’s Tomb, showed Tiny Twp. Council a partial plan of the proposed work
• Town Council meetings are always interesting in Midland, last Monday’s meeting addressed a 34 point agenda, with two deputations. The meeting lasted for four hours without a break
• At the Roxy; “Artists and Models” with Gerry Lewis and Dean Martin
• At the Pen; “Ma & Pa Kettle at Waikiki”
• Bad luck for Mr. & Mrs. Walter Patchell, several weeks ago Mrs. Patchell received serious back injuries in a car accident, Tuesday morning the Nottawaga Beach store, where the Patchell’s also make their home, was completely destroyed by fire
• Powerful American ice breaker clears local harbours to release the winter fleet. CSL Captain Reg Belcher of Victoria Harbour flew from Malton to Sault Ste. Marie where he was picked up by helicopter and taken aboard the 320 foot U.S. Coast Guard ship Mackinaw to act as pilot
• Mr. & Mrs. Cecil Butson observe their golden wedding anniversary. Residents of Midland and Penetang for over 40 years, Mr. Butson, a certified shipwright, has been a boat builder all his life and is considered to be one of the finest in Ontario
• St. Andrew’s Hospital Midland was one of three Ontario hospitals to receive a federal Health Department grant, Midland got $106,650.00
• Charles Onley, a Midland barrister, wins a one thousand dollar prize in a Penetang Legion fundraiser. Legion is erecting a decorative metal fence around the cenotaph
• Johnstone’s are advertising “Western Records” by top artist, Elvis Presley, Webb Pierce, Carl Smith, Hank Snow, Jean Sheperd, Kitty Wells. Basement Store –  Phone 434
• Webster’s in Penetang are advertising records also, “We’ve Got What It Takes to Suit Every Taste” “Whether you crave the classics or dote on Dixieland”  – 24 Robert St. W.  Phone KI-9-7477 (Penetang has direct dial system before Midland)
• 400 Midland street lights destroyed within 10 days by BB guns
• MPDHS board accept lowest bid for 150 tons of coal for heating the high school, J. M. Wallace and Sons Ltd had the lowest bid at $13.30 per ton
• Three former Midland hockey players are “doing all right for themselves” in the pulp and paper town of Marathon, population 2,000. Ed Bolan, now assistant recreational director at Marathon, Jack Henderson and Gerry Gerow. Their team the Marathoners won their league title
• Ten Years Ago This Week – More than $66,000.00 was to be spent by Midland Public Utilities for the erection of a new water storage tank in the south part of town (Hanly St.) –   Morris Shushan, his son Dave and brother Joseph purchased the Georgian Bay Cannery from Dr. G. Tanner and intend to operate the building as a fur processing plant