Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe December 24th to 31st 1954

/ Tom / Leave a comment

(Double Click Photos to Enlarge)
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Joseph and Maude Belfry celebrate 60th anniversary. Married December 26th 1894 and earning $12/mth for the first three years Joseph supplemented his income by shovelling gravel or other road work at 10 cents per hour. The Belfry’s were a pioneer family in the Vasey area, Joseph’s dad Jacob and uncle George were the first white settlers and Joseph and his 8 siblings attended Russell’s school in Vasey. When he was 10 the family moved to a farm on the 6th concession of Tay where not one tree had ever been cut. The couple lived on the homestead before moving to Midland  thirty years ago. Twenty two of those years he has worked for the Midland Park Commission and retired eight years ago. The Belfry’s had three children, one son Everton died in 1947, Eldon with whom they reside at 233 Dominion Ave and Hazel, Mrs. Sterling MacDonald of Vasey. 2006 0020 1608
No whiskers or red suits but these members of the Midland Lions Club did manage to brighten Christmas for thirty local families who needed some support. Pictured loading a truck with boxes of food are Jack Frame, Bob Stanway, Jim Moss, Bill Hack and Harold McAllen.  
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The most popular fellow in the country last week, Santa found time to pay a pre-Christmas visit to the Midland YMCA at a party sponsored by the Midland Y’s Mens Club. On Santa’s knee is John Thompson while waiting  from left to right are Karl McAllen, Ken Trew, Tommie Attridge and Betty Ann McCullough. News Items

  • Only one paper this week due to Boxing Day holiday on the 27th
  • Host of gifts await first babies in Penetang and Midland
  • Wm E. Root 81 dies of a heart attack in Mackie’s Tobacco shop
  • Long time friend of Mr. Root, Edmond Brodeur dies on the same evening
  • Candidates for local council place ads and photos in paper
  • Capt Mike Chretien catches 75 lb Sturgeon at Thunder Bay
  • 10 years ago Dr. Garnet Tanner sells the 19 yr old Georgian Hotel to manager William McArthur.
  • Vehicle licences go on sale Jan 3rd at 321 King opposite Boyd’s service station, Alex MacIntosh issuer.

Heart of Georgian Bay Kick Off celebration

/ veronicablanchette / Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

New Regional Tourism Brand Launches in January
The ‘Heart of Georgian Bay’ will serve to promote tourism in North Simcoe.

Tourism stakeholders from Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny and Tay have been busy during the past few months, creating a new regional tourism identity.
Working under the auspices of the Economic Development Corporation of North Simcoe, the Tourism Action Plan committee (TAP) has developed a tourism brand centered around the region’s greatest asset: Georgian Bay.
Chaired by Tay mayor Scott Warnock, the Tourism Action Plan committee is a collaboration between municipal government personnel and individuals representing various tourist-reliant businesses in the region, including stores, restaurants, hotels, attractions, and events.
“The ‘Heart of Georgian Bay / Au Coeur de la baie Georgienne’ distinguishes the region and its people.” says TAP branding committee chairman Eric Conroy of the S.S. Keewatin. “By pooling our efforts and operating under a unified banner, we’ll be able to make the region more visible.”
“Our region has so much to offer tourists.” says branding co-chair Ken MacDonald of Bay Port Marina. “Together we can we can help visitors discover the wealth of resources available here, not only events, attractions and natural assets, but also the shops and services that make travel rewarding.”
A kick-off celebration introducing the region’s new tourism identity is planned for Thursday January 22nd, 2015, at 10 a.m. at the Midland Cultural Centre. All are invited to attend and learn more about plans for the ‘Heart of Georgian Bay’ in 2015. For more information visit GOgbay.ca  join in the conversation on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/heartofgbay.

Inaugural Members Include:

The SS Keewatin
Huronia Museum
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
Discovery Harbour

The Canadian Martyrs’ Shrine
The Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre
The Midland Cultural Centre
Midland Tours

Brooklea Golf & Country Club
Parkbridge Marinas
The Boathouse Eatery
Midland Inn & Suites

Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe December 18th to the 24th 1954

/ Tom / Leave a comment

In The News 

  • Tay man shoots 23 year old wife, out on bail
  • Christian Islanders get hydro, 20 homes already wired
  • Possibly extend mail delivery to new Donalda St. housing
  • Howard Elliot lifelong Coldwater grocery store owner dies
  • Flora Kenny, 73, dies one half hour after her husband Michael also 73 both of Phelpston, buried in a double ceremony
  • Mr. & Mrs. Fred Peacock, Penetang, celebrate sixty years
  • No milk delivery Dec 25-26 Jan 1-2 Armstrong’s and Dubbin`s
  • Alex Truax 83 dies, pallbearers six past Legion presidents
  • Expensive & unsightly TV antennas may soon disappear with the advent of cable TV
  • 27 year old Allan Hume appointed leader of the Midland Citizens Band

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Mr. & Mrs. Frank Fenton at their home at 208 Elizabeth Street. Frank is holding the skates he wore while playing on many championship teams in Midland and Waubaushene and still likes to put them on for some laps around the rink. Born in Brighton Ontario on Christmas Day 1875 and moving to the end of the track at Waubaushene in 1878 he began working there in a box factory at 10 years of age for 50 cents per 12 hour day. At that time a good labourer could earn $28/mth and a professional such as a lake captain could earn $50- 60/mth. Moving to Midland Frank obtained work as a wheelsman on a lumber tug and on September 5th, 1900 he married Bertha King at Midland. Soon he was employed by the Madawaska Club at Go Home Bay as a caretaker, a position he held for the next 45 years. Held in high esteem by the club the couple were twice sent by them to winter in Florida and California. They had many adventures “Up The Shore” including apprehending an armed burglar and surviving their horse and cutter going through the ice at Whalens.

2006 0020 1679

Schooners Towed Into Penetang Harbour 1890

Winter layup reminds old timers of the day back in 1890 when led by the tug John Martin the schooners Groton, C.A. King, Nassau and Charger were towed into Penetang Harbour.

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Midland Junior Chamber of Commerce hold house decorating contest and award Christmas turkeys to the top four entries. First place above is Dave & Eleanor Hudson of 374 Manly Street, second was L.R. Diver 339 William Street, third Mrs. E.L. Metherell of 385 Bay Street and fourth Mrs. William Henderson of 88 Bay Street. The bungalow shown above belongs to Mr. & Mrs. Bill Howard of Yonge Street W.

Hotel Brule advertising Christmas Dinner;

Fruit Cocktail, Tomato Juice, Royal Consommé, Celery Hearts & Sweet Crunchy Pickles

Roast Young Turkey, Cranberry Sauce and Sage Stuffing, Roast Domestic Goose with Thyme Dressing,

Baked Sugar Cured Ham with Fried Pineapple Rings

Creamed, Mashed or French Fried Potatoes

Mashed Turnips or Asparagus Tips

Steamed Christmas Plum Pudding with Caramel Brandy Sauce

Hot Apple Pie with Whipped Cream

Christmas Cake and Mixed Nuts

Vanilla Ice Cream

Tea Coffee Milk

$3.00

Entertainment

Holiday Dances at the Parkside –  Christmas Night, New Years Eve and New Year’s Night; Teenage Dancing nightly during Christmas Week

Pen Theatre  –  The Son of Monte Cristo   –   Junction City  –  Great Guns with Laurel and Hardy

Bowling at the Midland Bowling Academy Christmas Day and New Years Day

Roxy Theatre   –  Phantom of the Rue Morgue  –  The Walking Dead  –  Duel in the Jungle

The Embassy in Coldwater  –  Tanganyika

Riverside Port Severn – Holiday Dancing

Pen Bowling Alleys

Midland Minor Hockey December 23rd Barrie Bantams & Midgets vs. Midland at the Arena Gardens

Circle B Dance Pavilion Holiday Dances tickets at Johnstone`s  & Beauchamp Electric

Comic Strips in the Free Press

Blondie, Muggs and Skeeter, Elsworth, Pogo