Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years in North Simcoe – December 8th to 15th 1959

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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. 

Click on photos to enlarge.Touch of Winter 

December 9th, 1959 Midland Free Press headline; HEAVIEST  VOTE  IN  YEARS 49.1  PERCENT  TURNOUT 

    Defeated in the 1958 election by 49 votes, Charles N. Parker, eight times mayor of Midland, Monday night made a successful comeback at the polls, obtaining a majority of 461 over the combined votes of his two opponents. The three-way mayoralty contest saw Mr. Parker rack up a final vote of 1,330, compared with Charles Stevenson’s 552 and W. H. Keller’s 317. Mr. Parker obtained a clear-cut majority in all but one ward. In his home ward, Ward 2, he had a plurality of 84 votes over 1959 mayor Charles Stevenson. GREATEST GAIN  – Mr. Parker made his greatest gain of the day in Ward 1 where electors accorded him a 254 vote lead over the other two contenders for the top municipal office. Both Mr. Keller and Mr. Stevenson received their strongest support from Ward 4 electors. In the contest for the deputy-reeve-ship, Mr. Smith made a clean sweep of all four Wards, to defeat ex-alderman Wm. Wilcox by 407 Votes. In the final tally, Mr. Smith obtained 1,305 votes to Mr. Wilcox’s 898. 

    Battered around from pillar to post, from one government department to another, for the past five or six years, the proposal to turn Tiny marsh into a conservation area for waterfowl appears doomed to failure following a recently reported decision of the Department of Lands and Forests. The parks integration board, in whose lap the project finally had been dumped, is reported in a daily newspaper to have returned the file to Premier Frost’s office with the final notation “that a marsh would not meet the requirements of a provincial park since understandably it could not be used for picnic or campsites. The daily went on to state: “The parks integration board, in effect, said there was apparently no legislation under which the province could operate a marshland.” Among the many persons and groups showing concern over the apparent demise of the project, started originally by the Humber Gun Club, is Tiny Township council. At a meeting Saturday, one person asked, “Would you be satisfied to have a local club take over the project?” The consensus of council was that it would sooner have it sponsored by the government, as the government has the facilities as well as the personnel for maintaining control. In the eyes of Frank Ridley, well known in this area as an amateur archaeologist, the park integration board’s decision, in the face of a more recent announcement, is enough to make “one blow his top”. The latest item, quoted a Lands and Forests official as decrying the great shortage of public marshlands in the province — wetlands where water birds can take refuge from the increasing fury of the shot-raked Ontario autumn skies. The idea of turning Tiny marsh into a conservation area is actually the brainchild of Frank Ridley. He enlisted the assistance of the Humber Gun Club in an attempt to give Ontario a 1,2O0-acre marsh as a game refuge. Obstacle after obstacle has been placed in the way of this gift during a six-year runaround by government departments, it was stated. Tiny marsh, situated in the 1st and 2nd Con. of the township, is about 11 miles south of Penetang. It was first charted on the 1650 map produced by Jesuit Father DuCreux as “Lacus Naouites”.  During that 300 years, it has stoutly resisted the efforts of man to reclaim it and turn it into arable land. Drains and ditches have been dug, and some areas around the outer rim have been converted, but never has the greater portion given up its marshy characteristics. Deer and bear, ducks and geese are drawn to it by the very nature of the protective grasses and sheltered ponds. (Public access is off the 1st concession.) 

   “Tiny land-sub-dividers in future will find it a great deal more expensive to open a new sub-division than it has been in the past. Passing of a bylaw by Tiny council, Saturday, setting forth minimum standards for building roads, and providing “that the sub-divider must carry out this work, will account for the increased expenditure. Under the new set-up, it will be necessary for the sub-divider to completely finish road construction in his plan before the township assumes responsibility for the road. Earlier regulations in this respect have been tightened. The- bylaw also provides a means to ensure that sub-dividers carry out the road-building through agreements, which must be signed before their plans are approved. 

    Tall, slim, dark-haired, Mrs. Hamelin was non-plussed when a representative of this newspaper visited her Broad Street home and asked to take a picture including her six oldest children. Completely at ease, as though it were an everyday request, she herded her brood into a bedroom where, with a minimum of fuss, she changed them into “presentable” clothing. Anyone who, on a moment’s notice, has been given the task of changing and dressing six children can realize readily what a job it is. But this office seeker soon had the half dozen ready for the camera, still looking as fresh herself as she had before commencing the task. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Basinet, Mrs. Hamelin was born in Penetang and attended school there. When she was ready for the workaday world, she went to Toronto where she became a stenographer. Later she returned home to marry Mark Hamelin of Midland. Asked where her interest in school board matters arose, she said, “Well, with seven growing children, I have a natural interest in the education they will be receiving.” In addition to that, Mrs. Hamelin has gained further interest in school matters through her association with the PTA, on which she has served as a regional councillor. 

    A Penetang store manager was chuckling when he came into the office of this paper yesterday. “I’ll bet that woman won’t leave her phone off the hook again after she made a call,” he said in a way of greeting. Realizing that the phone in his otherwise busy store hadn’t rung for a considerable period, the manager had picked it up and could hear voices. After some futile attempts to get the attention of the party at the other end of the line, the manager finally let go a shrill whistle into the mouthpiece. The effect was electrifying, according to the merchant. There was a dog in the house, and the animal immediately set up “a terrible fuss.” Realizing this might bring an end to his problem, the manager continued whistling, and the dog kept on barking. Finally, the householder apparently realized where the sound was coming from and hung up the phone. 

    Six senior student nurses from this district, training at Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie, were presented with pins and badges Dec. 2 for their successful completion of a first aid instructors course as laid down by the Canadian Red Cross Society. The successful district nurses were Anne Bertram, Elmvale; Lynne Crippin, Penetang; Judith Quesnelle, Port McNicoll; Sandra Robinson, Vasey; Deanna Slessor, Hawkestone, and Ruby Wood, Elmvale. 

    Largest enrolment of new members in the church’s 85-year history took place at a special service in Knox Presbyterian Church Sunday night. The outcome of an every house visitation Nov. 22, 118 persons indicated their desire to become members of the church. Included in the group were a number joining by certificates. The majority were new members and adherents joining by profession of faith. Several older members of the congregation remarked that they could not remember when such a large number joined Knox congregation at one time. 

Returned by acclamation to seats on the 1960 Tay Township council were Deputy-reeve Ray Atkinson (left) and Reeve Fred Kinnear. It will be Mr. Kinnear’s 12th term as reeve. Ratepayers will have to choose three councillors from a field of five in elections to be held Monday. 

Only two persons not already connected with village affairs or to be nominated, turned out for nominations at Port McNicoll last Wednesday night. Left to right, Alex McCullagh, a veteran councillor who was acclaimed to the school board this year; Lloyd Cameron, returned as PUC commissioner; Ernest Quesnelle, returned to the board of school trustees; and David Duncan, who resigned from the latter board. 

All positions on various municipal bodies at Port McNicoll were filled by acclamation last Wednesday night. This year’s council is seen above as Clerk B. J. Brownell, seated left, watches Albert G. Calvert “sign on” for his 12th term as reeve. Councillors in back row are Arthur Worth, Jack Fisher and George Burns, returning members, and Robert Smith, a former school trustee making his first appearances as councillor. 

The first lady to run for council in Midland, Mrs. Hector Adams lost out in her bid to become alderman for Ward 2. With her are Leslie Barber, left, who led the voting for the two positions open on the PUC, and Clinton Smith, newly elected deputy-reeve. 

Despite slippery road conditions, even the older Midland citizens were turning out in near-record numbers for Monday’s municipal election. One of this group of citizens was Mrs. Rita Currie, waiting to get her ballots at a Ward 4 poll in Regent Public School. 

Scenes like this were common in many Ontario communities Monday night as officials awaited election returns. Gathered in the CKMP newsroom to tabulate results in Midland were, left to right, R. B. Moffatt, secretary-manager of the chamber of commerce, Grant Forsyth and Bruce Armstrong of CKMP, editor Wils Harrison and Mrs. C. McGrattan of the Free Press Herald, and John McCullough, CKMP. 

It was good news for some of the candidates and not so good for others as the results poured in on election night in Midland. Three aldermanic candidates in Ward 1 are seen above checking with John McCullough, CKMP news announcer. Left to right are John Burke, Tom Downer, Mr. McCullough, and “the winnah”, Percy Crawford. 

Returned for his ninth term as mayor of Midland, Charles N. Parker is shown with his wife after his victory at the polls had been confirmed by a substantial majority. The mayor-elect spoke to citizens from CKMP radio studios, where election returns, compiled by the staffs of the radio station and this newspaper, were broadcast. 

Returned for another term on Midland PUC in Monday’s election, Alex Macintosh, left studies the returns with Grant Forsyth (centre) and Bruce Armstrong in the CKMP studios. Midland electors turned out in force for Monday’s balloting. 

Manager Larry Curran and Robert Cuthe try out a new precision welder. Nearly completed Bausch and Lomb’s modern addition adds 10,000 square feet to the factory.        
    Although it doesn’t always get the headlines which greet new industries in most communities, of equal importance is the expansion of existing industries in a community. Municipal officials and citizens are agreed, Midland’s Bausch and Lomb Optical Company Ltd. falls in the latter category, with a large new addition just about ready to go into production. Nearly 10,000 square feet in size, the new wing will give B and L a total floor space of around 25,000 square feet. It is primarily intended for frame manufacturing and assembly. However, its effects will be more far-reaching than that. Completion of the new wing will make possible a number of changes in the original plant. When the present offices and employees’ lunchroom are ready in the new section, more space will be provided for storage and other needs in the older part of the plant. At present Bausch and Lomb has between 50 and 60 employees on the payroll, and another dozen will be added when the new plant goes into production. 

More than $15,000 worth of new machinery is being set up in Bausch and bomb’s addition to fits Midland plant. Above, Bill Taylor (seated) tries out a slotting machine while R. S. Ingram, secretary of Bausch and Lomb of Canada, looks on. The new addition is expected to be ready for production later this month. 

Wasaga Beach and Elmvale-Flos fire brigades battled a stubborn blaze which broke out in Phelpston early Saturday, Nov. 28. The fire completely levelled a store and restaurant and gutted this nearby home. The fire in the store was first noticed at about 1.45 a.m. 

Now ready for operation, Midland PUC’s new Scott Street sub-station is seen above. The 3,000 K.V. station, designed primarily to relieve some of the load on hydro services to Midland’s fast-developing Wireless Hill area, will also take care of any future expansion for some time to come, PUC officials state. Roadway with houses on is actually Hillcrest Lane. 

Taking part in the official opening of Midland PUC’s new Scott Street substation last week were left to right, Commissioner William Beaton, Mayor Charles Stevenson, and Commissioner Alex Macintosh. 

December 12th, 1959 County Herald headline;  START  WINTER  WORK  PLAN  TO  ASSIST  TOWN  JOBLESS. 

    At a meeting called by Deputy-reeve H. J. Beauchamp Wednesday, Midland council approved a motion to start at least a portion of its winter work program at once. A gang started on Hugel Ave yesterday. “It will be a big help to a number of our unemployed if they can get in a week or 10 days on the job just before the Christmas season.  Otherwise, things might be pretty bleak for some families,” said Mr.  Beauchamp, chairman of the public works committee. Installation of new curbing likely will form the bulk of the work to be undertaken in the immediate future. Also on the proposed program are a number of new sidewalks. Much of the latter work, particularly as it affects King Street, will be left until early spring, it was stated. If the council proceeds with the full program discussed Wednesday, the total cost could be in the neighbourhood of $84,792 of which it was estimated $21,235 and $31,010 would be returned in subsidies by the provincial and federal governments respectively, providing the program is approved by government authorities. 

   New medic chooses Midland – After travelling far and wide throughout Canada I was attracted by the beauty of this area and my general impression of the town and the people living here. These were the words of Dr. H. Kiefer, who recently came to Midland to take over the practice of Dr. T. J. Johnston. Dr. Kiefer explained, Wednesday afternoon, that negotiations had been underway for two months prior to Dr. Johnston’s illness which had precipitated his arrival in Midland. Dr. Kiefer, a native of Germany and a graduate of Hamburg University in 1953, came to Canada in 1954. The following year he received his LMCC, Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada. He will carry on the general practice of physician and surgeon in Dr. Johnston’s King Street office. Miss M. McMurtry will continue in her duties, the doctor stated. The 35-year-old doctor has just completed four years practice at Prelate, Sask. Dr. Kiefer’s wife was born near Brighton, England, and came to Canada in 1946. The Kiefers have two daughters, Pauline and Carmen. Languages are Dr. Kiefer’s hobby and he speaks French, English, German and Italian.  

   Gordon Yearsley, Midland artist, told Midland Y’s Men’s Tuesday night that Canada’s present administrative policy with respect to the country’s Eskimo population is too inclined towards treating the Eskimos as so many statistics in a welfare report rather than as people. Mr. Yearsley has spent about a year in Canada’s northland where he got to know the Eskimo well. He felt Canadian tax funds being spent on Eskimo welfare work are out of line. He said the Department of Northern Affairs budget amounts to $45,000,000. The speaker held that, if the government was solely interested in the Eskimos’ welfare, it should not need to spend nearly so much money. An Eskimo family can live quite easily on $2,000 per year and since there are only 10,500 Eskimos and roughly 3,000 families, he inferred that cost for this type of welfare would be roughly $6,000,000. Yearsley submitted that another body other than the civil service might better serve the needs of the Eskimo. The civil service is competitive, he said, and the Eskimo needs more downright understanding than red tape and organization. They need people who are dedicated to the service of other people. He contended that the Northern Affairs Department’s policy is to force a wage economy on the Eskimo. “Our dynamic western culture is being rammed down the Eskimo’s throat,” he said, by an arbitrary authority that is answerable to the Canadian taxpayers only.     

Dredging operations which have been underway in the slip at Port McNicoll for the past three weeks are slated to wind up this week. “At zero water level, we hope this dredging will give us 25.5 feet of water the entire length of our dock (2,200-feet) and for 250 feet out,” Bert Armstrong, manager of the CPR elevator at Port, told this paper. Mr. Armstrong said the dredging would make it possible for any three of even the largest bulk carriers to be berthed side by side along the elevator, with plenty of water under them. “We will have at least three big ships this winter — the McLagan, Sir James Dunn, and the Coverdale — and quite possibly others with winter storage this year,” said Mr. Armstrong. Ontario Dredging and Marine Ltd., Toronto, is carrying out the dredging operations. Already a number of large boulders which have caused trouble to ships attempting to dock at the elevator have been removed. One clam, one dumping scow and two ordinary scows are being used on the job. Earth and rocks dredged from the slip are being dumped around the corner in Hog Bay.

New officers of Caledonian Lodge, AF and AM, Midland, were installed Monday night. Left to right are, front row, Bro. John Dalrymple; Wor. Bro. J. A. Lennox, new master; Bro. Lloyd Wilcox; second row—Rt. Wor. Bro. George S. Dudley; Bro. Frank Powell; Wor. Bro. Lorne Watson; IPM; Very Wor. Bro. C. Flowers, installing master; Bro. W. W. Struthers; Rt. Wor. Bro. J. J. Robins; back row —Bro. H. Humphries; Bro. Ken S. Lewis; Wor. Bro. M. McCullough; Bro. Stan Burton; Bro. Ken Hawkes. 

TEN YEARS AGO THIS WEEK – A cast-iron cross, found by Penetang duck hunter Arthur S. Gendron along the shore between Pinery Point and Champlain Cross, was posing a mystery for Huronia historians. Mr. Gendron recovered the 16 by 12-inch cross off the sandy bottom of the bay. * * * V. S. Struthers, chief engineer on the S.S. Assiniboia, ended 38 seasons of sailing on the Great Lakes when the CPR passenger ship tied up at Port McNicoll for the winter. He was feted by a group of friends at the lakehead before the vessel left on her last run of the season. * * * Immunization teams of Simcoe County Health Unit were at work in Midland’s public and separate schools inoculating pupils with diphtheria toxoid. The clinics, headed by Dr. Robert King, MOH for North Simcoe, were the result of an outbreak of diphtheria in the town. Three of the four cases reported involved school children. * * * Twelve men, only four of whom were on the 1949 council, were contesting the six vacant seats in Penetang council. Mayor W. D. Hunter, elected by acclamation, said the number of candidates set a record for the community. * * * A record was also set by the Free Press Herald, then being published once a week. The Wednesday issue of the second week of December contained 36 pages in five sections, the largest in the paper’s 66 years of publication. Seven and one-half miles of newsprint were used. * * * Following 13 years of service in the municipal field, Reeve George Widdes of Tay Township announced at the annual nomination meeting that he planned to retire at the end of the year. 

Members of Midland PUC got down in this hole last Wednesday afternoon to witness the laying of the last sections of the new 10-inch water main which will service the huge new Greening Wire Co. plant. Left to right are; Thomas Wilcox, contractor; Commissioner William Beaton; Mayor Charles Stevenson; and Commissioner Alex Macintosh. It is hoped to have the job completed and water running in the plant this week. 

     Early days of Midland with “the saw-mills and smelter” were recalled in an item sent to this newspaper by Jane LaVigne, now living in Galt, Ont. In her stroll, in memory, down the main street, she recalls the store of J. B. Horrell and Peters Hardware and Tin Shop, then next door was Morrow’s Furniture store. The general store of Dave McCoy with its dry goods, groceries and coal oil came next to Ray Burns’ harness shop and then the Timmins Furniture store, with its hanging rocking chairs. The writer then recalled Duncan’s store and the Salvation Army hall next to a vacant lot where the Post Office now stands and finally the bakeshop before the vacant lot called “Ackerman’s Green,” where the young and young of heart used to play after school. View from “The Lookout” at Martyrs’ Shrine is even more spectacular in winter than during the summer months. The “Gateway to Huronia”, marked by the historical plaque in the foreground, is laid out geographically by Midland Point and Beausoleil Island in the background. It was the route of Champlain and the Huron Indians of 300 and more years ago. 

Something new has been added to the view from the Lookout atop the hill back of Martyrs’ Shrine. In the middle distance is the huge new plant of the B. Greening Wire Company, now rapidly nearing completion. The Wye River, flowing quietly in the foreground, was frozen recently.

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years in North Simcoe – December 1st to 7th, 1959

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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. 

Click on photos to enlarge.

    Free Press Herald headline of December 2, 1959; GUNMAN  NABS  $2500  IN ELMVALE  BANK  ROBBERY. Elmvale’s Toronto-Dominion Bank has been the scene of much extra-mural activity in the last week, climaxed by a $2,500 robbery Monday afternoon. Friday afternoon, the Elmvale bank had been coupled with Midland post office in an alleged “bomb scare”. A man had walked into the bank and told assistant manager John Rumble, “If you don’t give me some money, a bomb will explode in the Midland post office at 2.30 p.m.” Nothing came of the Friday episode on either count, but Monday’s affair was “for real”. Waiting until all the customers had left around 3 p.m. the armed bandit escaped with $2,500. Approaching the teller, Mrs. Pauline Miller, he shoved a shopping bag through the wicket, with a note reading: “This is a holdup, fill this bag”. Mrs. Miller said she looked up, saw a gun pointed at her, and complied with the order. As the bandit left, she ran to Mr. Rumble and told him what had happened. Mr. Rumble went to the door to see if he could see the robber. Two other employees, John Bell and Marian Graham, went to a window and were able to get the licence number of a car pulling away from the bank. It headed west on Highway 92 in the direction of Wasaga Beach. No arrests had been made by mid-morning yesterday. 

    Thirteen people are homeless and an estimated S40,000 in damage was caused when flames ripped through a combined grocery store and lunch bar and two-storey frame home in the village of Phelpston early Saturday morning. The blaze, which taxed the facilities and men of Wasaga Beach and Elmvale-Flos fire departments, broke out in the lunch counter about 1.30 a.m. Saturday. When it was finally subdued, the two-storey business establishment owned by Reno Chaput and the frame home of Joe O’Neil were in ruins. Both buildings have been Phelpston landmarks for more than half a century. When he discovered it, Mr. Chaput, 37, made several unsuccessful attempts to extinguish the fire with bomb-type wall extinguishers.  When he was unable to control the flames he and his wife, 36, bundled up their three children. Collette, 8, Gerald 7, and an infant, Jacques, and got them out of the building. Assisted by Bernard O’Neil and Joe Fair, Mr. Chaput returned to the burning structure and led Mrs. Bernard Toner 73, and her sister, Mrs. Frank Loftus, in her seventies, out of the smoke-filled second storey apartments. At times they had to crawl on the floor to keep from being suffocated. Mrs. Chaput suffered minor burns.

Edwin Toner examines some of the wreckage of the combined restaurant and grocery store, owned by Irene Chaput, which burned in Phelpston early Saturday morning. Mr. and Mrs. Chaput, their small children and two elderly women escaped from the apartment upstairs.

    Penetang Fire Department was called to a boat fire late Thursday night when flames were discovered on the “Nadine”, a converted Fairmile tied at Penetang dock. A young couple in a car at the dock noticed the flames and reported it to Sgt. L. Robillard, who turned in the alarm. Firemen experienced some difficulty in bringing the flames under control, although the damage was mainly confined to the engine room where the blaze apparently broke out. The “Nadine” is owned by Rev. L. Brechin of Newmarket. 

    Tragedy struck a Midland family of six persons Friday morning, leaving them homeless after fire gutted the interior of their small frame home at 374 William Street. Forced to seek temporary shelter with relatives were Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Smith and their four children, Barbara, 8, Terry, 6, Susan, 2, and Cindy, a baby, only a few weeks old. The Smiths have another son, Brian, in hospital in Orillia. More trouble hit the Smiths Sunday when Cindy had to be sent back to the hospital. Mrs. Smith said the baby had not been well even prior to the fire. 

 Seemingly “miles” of fluorescent lighting have to be strung high up under the roof to provide illumination for the huge (75,000 square foot) Greening Wire Co. plant in Midland. Here, some 30 feet from the floor, two employees off Bumstead Electric, Wyevale, are connecting wiring in one of the long strings, prior to placing the lights in place.

 

Two employees of Bumstead Electric, Wyevale, are connecting wiring in one of the long strings, prior to placing the lights in place.

Smiling happily for the cameraman, these five youngsters were having a great time learning to skate at the family session in Midland Community Centre Sunday afternoon. Held weekly, the event is sponsored by Midland Figure Skating Association. Conduct on the ice, by both grown-ups and youngsters, is strictly regulated to prevent accidents to the young beginners. A section in the middle of the ice is roped off to provide a safe area for beginners.  (No names were taken)

25 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK – 1934

A letter from Ontario Hydro Electric Power Commission read to a meeting of Midland PUC, announced that free hydro power would be provided to rural consumers to operate washing machines, licensed radios and electric pumps for water pressure systems. The object of the offer is to extend the benefits of cheap electric energy to farmers, who have not in the past taken advantage of the benefits offered by hydro, the letter stated. * * * Noting that both systems were undergoing constant modification, Hon. Wm. Finlayson, K.C., predicted that Communism and Capitalism would “continue to walk parallel roads”. Mr. Finlayson was the principal speaker at the ninth birthday party of the Midland Y’s Men’s Club.  * * * Customs collections at the Port of Midland up to the end of November 1934, amounted to $104,072.98, or $56,886.63 more than was collected in the same period in 1933. Capt. Humphrey Colquhoun, the consul for Costa Rica in Toronto, deeded 15 acres of his estate on the Sturgeon River to the Toronto Black Watch Association, and the Canadian Scottish (16th Battalion) Association. The land was to be used as a summer camp for the wives and children of men who served with the Black Watch. * * *  The chemistry department of the Ontario Agricultural College at Guelph conducted experiments with oats, barley and potatoes on the farms of Eric Simpson and Mr. Griffin, near Elmvale. Substantial increases in the yields in all three crops were obtained through relatively minor outlays for commercial fertilizers, it was noted. 

   Singer Motors celebrated their first anniversary in business with an ad in the Free Press, this is the message from Marsh Singer along with photos of the staff and building. It had previously been Leitch Motors, then MacNeil Motors, now Singer Motors and followed by Roger Hunter Motors. The location is currently operated as Adco Tire and Auto Inc.

This is the anniversary of our first year in Midland. We want to say Thank You to all those who have done business with us during the year. We would like to thank the friends who helped us to get settled in Midland. We do appreciate it. We hope you feel, as we do, that we have honestly done our best to please our customers and we hope you will continue to have confidence in us.

Pictured here is a car which has just come out of our shop. After being repainted and thoroughly reconditioned mechanically, this 1956 Chevrolet Deluxe Sedan is now ready for resale. 

Illustrated above are a few of the many modem testing machines we have in our shop. The distributor calibrating machine shown on the right has become almost a necessity to perform a proper tune-up on modern day cars. 

Don Moreau and Gord Jones, salesmen. 

Frank Gendron, bookkeeper and Don Dahmer, service manager. 

Alex Widmeyer, shop foreman and Ken Ward, parts manager. 

Marsh Singer, owner of Singer Motors, corner of Fifth & Vinden Streets. 

    County Herald headline of December 4, 1959; MAY  GET  NEW  ICE BREAKER  IF OUTLAY  JUSTIFIED;   A letter from Transport Minister George Hees was in reply to a request from Georgian Bay Development Association officials for further information on the winter berthing of the department’s new ice-breaker “Alexander Henry.” The transport minister said the “Henry” would be berthed at a lakehead port. He said surveys showed that, while there are some ship movements in the bay area at a date earlier than that on which navigation opens in Lake Superior, the heaviest traffic at the beginning of the season is at the lakehead. “In fact,” he said, “we have been doing ice-breaking there for quite a number of years with a rented vessel.” He explained that, as the Alexander Henry was fitted with ice-breaking capacities, specifically to take over the icebreaking task at the lakehead, and as no money has been authorized to continue to hire a vessel for the lakehead work, the treasury board had advised him it will not approve funds for the continuation of this rental arrangement when the “Henry” was provided for that purpose. Transport Minister Hees stated that the Georgian Bay request for ice-breaking facilities was a “new request” whereas the lakehead operation is a “longstanding commitment, upon which shippers have come to rely.” He added, however, he was willing to “look into the need” in the Georgian Bay area. 

    First Yuletide decorations were erected this week on Midland’s King Street by members of the public works department. Scots pines, obtained on the weekend by Midland Junior Chamber of Commerce members under the direction of Jim Clark, were mounted on parking meter standards. About 15 Jaycees made the trek to Orr Lake where trees were obtained from the Department of Lands and Forests. Large pines at the post office were obtained at Lafontaine. All trees were hauled to Midland on trucks loaned by Beaver Lumber and the town. Jaycees will erect candy canes on street light standards Tuesday night. Another added Yule decoration this year will be Santa-Clauses purchased by the merchant’s committee of the chamber of commerce. 

Bob Bates, manager of the Agnew Surpass shoe store, found this dead jack-rabbit behind his store when he came to work. (Fur lined slippers maybe?) 

Midland assessor, Ian McLung kept the “scoreboard” up to date at Midland nomination meeting Thursday night. This year’s session in the municipal building saw seven more nominations submitted than last year. Attendance was more than double the 1958 mark.

One of the largest crowds in many years turned out for Midland’s nomination meeting in the municipal building last Thursday night. They nominated a total of 32 candidates (seven more than last year). Five achieved seats by acclamation and 15 more are contesting seats in Monday’s election. 

Lining up to sign on the dotted line, these candidates were snapped at Midland’s nomination meeting last week. Left to right are Bev Keefe, Neville Keefe, Herb. J. Beauchamp, Alex Macintosh, W. H. Keller and Clerk W. A. (Bill) Hack. Bev Keefe was acclaimed to the public school board when his brother, Neville, withdrew. Mr. Beauchamp became reeve by acclamation. Both Mr. Macintosh and Mr. Keller face elections, the former seeking to return to the PUC and Mr. Keller in a three-way fight for the mayoralty. 

If all of Mrs. Hector Adams’ grandchildren were old enough to vote in the municipal elections Monday, Dec. 7, she would have a fair amount of support. She has twenty of them. The first Midland woman ever to run for municipal office, aside from the school board, Mrs. Adams will oppose Wm. Orr in the aldermanic race in Ward 2. 

    FM radio reception — the most popular new development in high fidelity programming is now available in Midland. Midland, indeed, is the first community north of Toronto to have access to FM radio programming. FM — it means frequency modulation — was the brainchild of Major Armstrong, the holder of many of the key patents for standard radio broadcasting, and started its tidal wave of popularity after World War II. Now, in Europe, over 75 per cent of all radio broadcasting is on FM frequencies and an increasing number of FM stations are being licensed in the United States and Canada. 

Family skating Sunday afternoons at Community Arena has become a very popular innovation in Midland this season. Above, Mr. and Mrs. Morland Mount help daughter Sonya, 4, in her debut on the silver blades. A special roped-off area in the center of the ice surface has greatly increased the safety of the younger tots just learning to skate.

    Oldest businessman on Midland’s King Street, where he operated an express service for more than half a century, Angus C. McNabb died at his home, 310 Hugel Ave., early Monday evening. In his 76th year, Mr. McNabb was born on a farm near Orillia on May 14, 1884. One of a family of five boys and three girls, Mr. McNabb is survived by only one brother, I. P. McNabb of Toronto. Before he had reached his 16th birthday, Mr. McNabb started out as a messenger for the Canadian Express Co. in Orillia. For three years he drove an express wagon around that town. Then he joined the old Grand Trunk Railway as an express messenger out of Toronto. Many of his runs took him to Toronto and North Bay. On July 1, 1908, Mr. McNabb took over the old Canadian Express Company agency from the late Mr. McCallum. The firm is now a part of the Canadian National Express system. Horses provided the motive power for the express wagons when Mr. McNabb took over in Midland and he kept three of them on the go. He purchased his first truck in 1928 and later acquired a small fleet of them. Mrs. McNabb, the former Ada Smith, predeceased her husband in October 1954. One of Simcoe County’s most ardent curlers, Mr. McNabb also served for many years as a director of Midland’s Arena Gardens. Rev. L. Self of Knox Presbyterian Church will officiate at the funeral services, to be held Thursday afternoon. 

BIRTHS 
CADEAU — To Mr. and Mrs. Donald Cadeau, Port Severn, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Wednesday, November 25, 1959, a son.  
FRASER — To Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Fraser, 187 George St. Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Thursday, November 26, 1959, a daughter.  
HARDY — To Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Hardy, 275 Eighth St., Midland, at the Penetanguishene General Hospital, on Thursday, November 26, 1959, a son (William Douglas).
Jessome — To Mr. and Mrs. Jessome, 307 Queen St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Tuesday, November 24, a daughter.
LARMAND — To Mr. and Mrs. Edmond Larmand, Victoria Harbour, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Thursday, November 26, 1959, a daughter.
LATOUR — To Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Latour, 318 William St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Tuesday, November 24, 1959, Twin daughters.
SHIELS — To Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Shiels at the Toronto Western Hospital, Tuesday, October 27, 1959, a son, (Stephen Patrick).
 WILKINS — To Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Wilkins, 285 Queen St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Friday, November 27, 1959, a son.
 

Penetang police moved into new quarters last week, transferring from the fire-damaged town hall to the library basement. Almost a month was required to renovate the-new quarters. Besides an office for police and a two-cell lock-up, the new police headquarters provide space for holding the weekly magistrate’s court sessions. Spectator accommodation for court sessions will be at a premium because of the smaller quarters. It is expected Penetang council will use the court facilities for council meetings until the town is able to erect a new municipal building. The double lock-up has been built of steel and has steel barred doors. Doors in the old cell-block in the town hall were partly made of wood. A washroom, convenient to both the cells and office, has been installed. 

A quick look at the front page, December 6, 1939. 

    VASEY 1939 — The worst fire in many years occurred last Wednesday afternoon when flames consumed Alvin Drennan’s store and the adjoining dwelling house, his sixty-foot barn, garage and stable, and the dwelling house belonging to Hilton Steer. For a while it looked as if Cleve Long’s general store across the road might go too, but fortunately, the combined efforts of a bucket brigade of 200 farmers, who swarmed in from all over the country, were successful in confining the conflagration to the one side of the road. The loss was estimated at $7,000 and was partially covered by insurance. The fire started when Norman Brown, an employee, was adjusting a gasoline lamp generator. Some gasoline, which spilt from the lamp on to his hands, became ignited and the lamp dropped to the floor and exploded. The store immediately filled with black, suffocating smoke which in a few minutes gave place to flames. Brown hastily spread the alarm and soon villagers and farm folks from miles around were busy fighting the fire, water being thrown on the flames with buckets. Fire extinguishers were also used. It was soon evident that the Drennan store could not be saved. The furniture was lifted out of the building occupied by Mr. Brown and his family at the rear of the store, just in time to save it from destruction. The Hilton Steer home was the next to take fire. It was a frame house seventy years old, and being partly of cement construction, it burned more slowly. The volunteer firemen with their buckets of water managed to save the Steer blacksmith shop. The gasoline in the Drennan pumps exploded and a drum of oil added to the conflagration. 

    The Bell Telephone Company has just completed a changeover to its rural lines running out of Midland to the common battery system. In the future, the subscribers will get a connection with central by the simple process of lifting the receiver off the hook as is done in town phones. It will no longer be necessary to ring the bell. Altogether there are five rural lines running out of Midland, all to the south through Wyebridge and there are altogether some 32 subscribers. At present, the maximum number of subscribers on any one line is eight.