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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.  

Large limb blown from a tree in Wednesday afternoon’s rain and wind storm caused some $200 damage to the electrical wiring in the James Clarkson residence, 230 Elizabeth Street, Midland (Just west of First Street.). When the limb fell it narrowly missed hitting a new car in the foreground. 

There’s plenty of eating in this cucumber held by Peter Muirhead, grown by C. Moreau, 96 Donalda Street, it was 30 inches long, and there were some even longer in the Moreau garden, Mr. Muirhead reported.

Fellow members of Midland Golf and Country Club turned out Friday night to welcome Mrs. Cecil (Maddy) English after she won the Simcoe County women’s golf title in Barrie that afternoon. It was the ninth time Midland ladies have taken the top county honour since competitions began in 1922. 

Tuesday was a proud day for Lloyd Dunlop and family as they opened their new furniture wing of their Moonstone store; son Douglas, a vice-president of the firm at 18 years of age, was given the honour of cutting the ribbon. Watching are his father, brother Jim, and Mrs. Dunlop. 

Opening of the new wing of Dunlop’s Furniture and Appliance store drew large crowds to Moonstone Tuesday. Lloyd Dunlop is seen greeting old friends as they filed into the new wing, a general view of which is seen. 

Some breathtaking views can be had from the top of the CPR elevator in Port McNicoll. This is how Port McNicoll looks from more than 100 feet up, with the CPR steamship Assiniboia nestling in the foreground, in front of the freight sheds. 

Both natives of Lafontaine, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Contois marked their 57th wedding anniversary at their Midland home August 30. The first 21 years of their wedded life was spent in Britt, the rest in Midland. 
There aren’t too many couples in this area who can count 57 years of married life, or 57 grandchildren and, 12 great-grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Contois of 20 Olive Street, Midland, could do all these things as they marked their 57th wedding anniversary August 30. Forced to take things easy for the past two years because of ill health, Mr. Contois, now 76, was born in Lafontaine. So was his wife, the former Rose Hanna Bottineau, two years his junior. Following their marriage in Lafontaine in 1902, the young couple (she was just 16) went to Britt, near Parry Sound. They remained there 21 years, with Mr. Contois being employed as a labourer in various lumber mills. Then they came to Midland and have lived here ever since—36 years in all. Mr. Contois continued to find employment in the lumber mills and later at the shipyard. Fishing and gardening took up most of his spare time. Mr. and Mrs. Contois had Í4 children of their own, equally divided between boys and girls, and later raised two of their grandchildren. Nine of their own children are still living. Included are their sons Peter Jr., Frank, Tommy, Wilfred and Clement, all of Midland and daughters Rose (Mrs. Phil Delorme), Midland, Marie (Mrs. Robert Merkley), Midland, Vina (Mrs. Gordon Nelson), Niagara Falls, and Yvonne (Mrs. C. Cruise), Midland. 

Only 12 years of age, pretty blonde Kathleen Beatty of Midland, already shows great promise as an artist and dress designer. In fact, Kathleen already has had a number of her articles, about a dozen of them, accepted by the teenage magazine “Katy Keene”, printed in Santa Barbara, California. 

This old wooden pestle was found by Teddy, 12, and Tommy Parkes, 14 of Toronto on the south shore of Midland’s Little Lake last week. Dr. Wilfrid Jury, University of Western Ontario archaeologist, has identified the pestle as of the type used by the Huron Indians of this area to pound grain into flour some 300 years ago.

Sweeping view of Hog Bay and Victoria Harbour can be had from the roof of the CPR elevator in Port McNicoll. Trees in the foreground are part of Maple Island, which contains the elevator and grain door divisions of the company’s vast operations in Port McNicoll. 

Just before the battle between Midland Indians and Campbellville Merchants Saturday, the umpires went over the ground rules with representatives of the two clubs. The game was “called after 13 innings with the score tied, 1-1. Left to right are Murray Yorke, the plate umpire, Andy McLean, manager “Bun” Deschamp, umpire Jim Cauthers, manager Len Andrews and Bill Elliott of Campbellville. Same teams meet here again Saturday at 5 p.m.

Employees of Penetang Bottling Co. have discovered that a front-end loader makes an ideal adjustable picnic table. When lunchtime comes round they roll a loader into position in the spacious storage area and enjoy their meal at a table set to their desired height.

One of the items on the agenda of the summer meeting of the directors of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association in Midland this week was a visit to Pillsbury Canada Limited cake mix plant. Of particular interest to the women was a visit to the laboratory, where home economist Mrs. Don Robertson is explaining the good points of a pineapple cake. Allan James, analytical chemist, is seen at left. Delegates examine another phase of production in the modern plant. 

• Free Press Herald headline of September 2, 1959; Vandals Damage Tug Sinks at Shipyard Dock.

• County Herald headline of September 4, 1959; 23 Percent Drop Noted in Area Unemployment. National Employment Service officials in Midland reported, yesterday there had been a drop of 23 per cent in the number of unemployed persons registered at their office on August 31, compared with the same period last year. Harold Humphries, NES office manager, said unemployment conditions in the district were considerably improved over last year. On August 31 this year, there were 199 unplaced males and 92 unemployed females registered at the Midland office. On the same date last year there were 267 men and 111 women registered as unemployed.
• A fire of undetermined origin levelled a landmark at Tiny Township beaches Tuesday afternoon when the cottage of Miss Charlotte Addison was found blazing shortly after the noon hour. Penetang fire brigade was not called until about an hour after the blaze broke out. The cottage was leveled by the time they arrived. However, as it was surrounded by thick woods, adjacent cottagers were fearful of the fire spreading to their properties. Built in 1913, the Addison cottage is believed to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest, in Tiny Township. It was the first one north of the Balm Beach Cottagers in the surrounding 13th Concession have nostalgic memories of the Addison cottage. A large rambling structure, it was used throughout the prolonged summer months for church services each week. Miss Addison had an organ brought in to provide music for the services.
• A tiny tot from Toronto had a prolonged stay in Midland Sunday. The two-year-old boy was left in the Indian village but police and firemen came to his rescue. The lad’s parents from Dundas Street W. Toronto, and 10 other relatives and friends had come to Midland for the Travelling in two cars, the group got back home Sunday night· and found Ray was missing. Everyone thought that he was “in the other car.” A call to the Midland police calmed the mother for the boy had been found unharmed at the Indian Village. The family made a return trip to Midland and found Ray munching on a sandwich and watching television at the fire hall.
• Two North Simcoe girls were among those involved in the collision of two roller coaster cars at the Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Saturday. The girls were Isabel Borrow and Anne Lovering, 15, of the North River area. Isabel had her glasses broken and Anne was taken to St. Michael’s Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Sixteen persons, one seriously, were injured in the crash. The accident was attributed to an error in judgement by a brakeman. Officials said he failed to realize his carload of midway visitors was too close to the car ahead. His vehicle struck the car ahead.
• One of the products of a Penetang plant is now being marketed on a national basis through Canada’s largest supply house for the printing and allied trade. The product is “interlock shelving” manufactured by Grew Boats Ltd. and it is being distributed by Sears Ltd. Whose head office is in Toronto and has branches from coast to coast.
• BIRTHS – CALDWELL – To Mr. and Mrs. Austin Caldwell, 1381 Chrisiden Dr., Port Credit, at St. Andrew’s Hospital, Midland, Sunday, August 30, 1959, a daughter. COWDEN – To Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Cowden, 278 Midland Ave. Midland, at St. Andrew’s Hospital, Monday, August 31, 1959, a daughter. CUNNINGHAM – To Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cunningham, R.R. 1, Honey Harbour, a St. Andrew’s Hospital, Midland, Friday, August 28, 1959, a daughter. DION – To Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dion, 352 Russell St., Midland, at Andrew’s Hospital, Saturday, August 29, 1959, a daughter. DORION – To Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Dorion, Victoria Harbour, at St. Andrew’s Hospital, Midland, Saturday, August 29, 1959, a daughter. GILBERT – To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gilbert, 143 Sixth St., Midland, at St. Andrew’s Hospital, Sunday, August 30, 1959, a son. LALONDE – To Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Lalonde, Yonge St., Midland, at St. Andrew’s Hospital, Wednesday, August 26, 1959, a daughter. LATONDBESS – To Mr. and Mrs. Donald Latondress, King St. Midland, at St. Andrew’s Hospital, Thursday, August 27, 1959, a daughter. McINTAGGART-To Mr. and Mrs. Michael Mclntaggart, 178 Lindsay St., Midland, at St. Andrew’s Hospital, Saturday, August 29, 1959, a son.
• TEN YEARS AGO THIS WEEK – Two inches of rain which fell throughout North Simcoe brought a temporary respite from a prolonged drought that seared pasture fields and dried up many wells in the district. * * * Midland shipyard officials announced that the new bulk carrier, S. Coverdale, would not be launched in September as scheduled. No reason was given for the change in plans. * * * Dr. Wilfrid Jury of the University of Western Ontario and his staff uncovered a major find in their excavations at Fort Ste. Marie. They had unearthed the northwest bastion of the fort on the edge of the Wye River. Biggest discovery of the week, however, was made at the home of John S. Drinkwater, Orillia, R. R. 2, where a series of maps of Fort Ste. Marie, made by Rev. George Hallen, rector of St. James on the Lines were found. * * * Nine hundred and twenty pupils, 67 more than in September 1948, registered for classes at opening day in Midland Public Schools. There was an increase of 18 pupils noted at the town’s two separate schools. Total registration at Penetang Public School was 742, about the same as the previous year. There were eight fewer at the Protestant Separate School. Midland District High School registrations were 347 or 11 more than in 1948. Penetang had 126 students, the same as the previous year. * * * A Grimsby man had leased the Colwaboard factory in Coldwater and planned to start a canning factory in the building Sept. 15. He expected to employ six or seven persons.
• BP Canada Limited has announced it is making arrangements to purchase a service station on Hugel Ave., W. operated for some years by Doug Swann. BP officials said that prior to the opening in late September the premises will be completely renovated and modernized. A two-bay fully-equipped station will be the result of these proposed changes, it was stated.
• The old Cooper-Weeks building has been sold and will blossom out as a modern marina. Operated by Ken McDonald, the new venture will be called Victoria Harbour Marina. Mr. McDonald said last week he hopes to employ 12 men in the new firm. A native of Sarnia, Mr. McDonald more recently served as a machine shop foreman for a Toronto firm. He has been in the business for 15 years. “There is still a lot of work to be down around the building, replacing the glass and making other repairs necessary to a building which has not been in use for some time”, said Mr. McDonald. The new marina will offer complete outboard and inboard service; guided fishing tours, motorboat rentals, chartered boat service, launching facilities for large and small craft, gasoline and motor oil sales.
• Midland Citizens’ Band has added to their string of successes by winning, yesterday, the class II, CNE brass band championship. Under bandmaster AI Hume the band repeated their success of last year when they also came first in the CNE competition. Success in competition is not new for the Midland Citizens’ Band for since 1955 when Mr. Hume took over as leader it has won eight firsts, four seconds and one third in various band competitions.
• Believed to have been struck by a train while he was crossing a double railway track in fog near Cartier, Francis Edward Cadieux, 21, died August 28. Requiem mass was said at St. Margaret’s Church, Midland, August 31 by Rev. L. Petitpas. Pallbearers were Leo Cadieux, Larry Cadieux, Louis Cadieux, John Cadieux, Francis Contois and Jack Horsfall. Born in Midland, Oct. 6, 1937, and educated at Sacred Heart School, Mr. Cadieux had sailed for some time, and three weeks ago took employment as an underground miner, at a LeVack mine. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cadieux, Olive Street, Midland, a brother John Cadieux and seven sisters, Mrs. D. Chapman (Patricia); Mrs. Robert Hilton (Veronica); Mrs. Emery Ducaire (Géraldine); Mrs. Ossie Frandsen (Stella); Mrs. Jack Horsfall (Mildred); Mrs. E. Quesnelle (Eleanor) and Marie at home. Burial was in St. Margaret’s Cemetery. 

80 Years ago, on September 3^rd, 1939, Britain declared war on Germany and Canada immediately committed her support. 

• BRITAIN AND FRANCE GO TO POLAND’S AID WHEN HITLER BEGINS NEW WORLD CONFLICT Ultimatum Ignored by Nazi Fuehrer—German Submarine Sinks Canada-Bound Liner “Athenia”      
• When Chancellor Adolph Hitler ignored the pleas of the British and French governments that he negotiate the differences peacefully with Poland and instead ordered the German army to attack Poland early on the morning of Friday, September 1st, the long-dreaded world war began. There was just a faint hope for nearly two days that the dogs of war might be called back. Britain and France did not immediately implement their pledge to come to the aid of Poland if attacked by Germany. Instead, they called the attention of the Nazi government to the fact that it had ignored Poland’s willingness to negotiate, and had instead marched on Poland and bombed its cities from the air. The two democracies said they were willing to take part in a five power conference proposed at the last moment by Premier Mussolini of Italy, but only on the condition that Hitler immediately cease hostilities and recall his troops from Poland. If he was willing to do that they were willing to overlook his attack on Poland and begin conversations with the hope of reaching a peaceful settlement.
• In a radio address to the Canadian people, Prime Minister Mackenzie King on Sunday announced the intention of Canada to stand by Britain in the war against Germany. He declared that Canada as a member of the British Commonwealth was bringing her co-operation voluntarily. He appealed to his fellow countrymen “to unite in a national effort to save from destruction all that makes life itself worth living, and to preserve for future generations, those liberties and institutions which others have bequeathed to us.
• “D” Company of the Grey-Simcoe Foresters stationed in Midland-Penetang is now up to skeleton strength. It is possible that the present number of 84, in case of Dominion orders, would be doubled, making one company from each town. Other companies of the Foresters are stationed in Meaford, Owen Sound, Barrie and Orillia. There is none at Collingwood at present.
• PENETANG — An organization meeting of Penetanguishene women in response to a request received by Mrs. J. M. Nettleton from the National Council of Canadian Women was held in the Public Library on Tuesday evening. The purpose of the meeting was to elect a chairman and a committee that would be capable of inaugurating a voluntary registration of Canadian women, desirous of assisting in a National emergency. The idea, started by the National Council of Women, is to have a volunteer organization of women in every community, capable of assisting their country if and when needed. The questionnaire answered by those registering contains questions regarding every type of work the answerer has done or is capable of doing, including questions on ability as camp organizers, mechanics, dietitians, stenographic, airplane pilots, farmworkers, knitters. The officers of the local organizations as set up on Tuesday evening were not available at press time, and it is expected that actual registration will not be commenced for a few days. The plan formulated a few weeks ago before the declaration of war is now being rushed to completion. Registrations will be accepted by Mrs. J. M. Nettleton, after Saturday.
• “Canada must not repeat the mistakes it made in the last war,” said Col. William Finlayson during a round table discussion at the Midland Kiwanis Club luncheon on Tuesday. “There was a tremendous waste in the 1914 system of recruiting. Men were rushed into the army who had no business being there, while others who could have gone stayed at home. Some form of conscription is undoubtedly the fairest method of getting men, but that will be difficult to introduce because of the fact that one province is so strongly opposed. “There should be a tribunal in every municipality which should have the power to say which men can best be spared for war service. There are some in every community who are key men in the business and industrial life, and much as we admire their patriotism they can give better service to their country by staying at home than by going to the front. There are ample young men without family responsibilities, who should go before those who have wives and children to take care of. It costs the country a great deal more to send old men than it does young men. In the last war, we carried on the strength of the Canadian Expeditionary force thousands of men who should never have been accepted at all.
• Midland began her preparations for war last week. Starting Saturday afternoon the Public Utilities Commission placed a guard on the town reservoir. At a meeting of elevator executives with the Mayor on Saturday morning, the heads of the buildings in which is stored a large percentage of Canada’s wheat supply decided to place their own guards on duty to prevent sabotage until provincial or dominion authorities took further action. Mayor James Mackie reported that by Friday a large number of young men and old had come to ask about volunteering. “I referred them to Capt. C. Nettleton,” his Worship stated.
• While war beclouds the world, Port McNicoll is busily engaged in erecting their war memorial for those of the Village who lost their lives in 1914-18. Under the direction of a stonemason, William McKenzie, of Midland, the cenotaph is being quarried from Port McNicoll stone, will be ten feet square at the base and carry an eight square column, two feet and a half through. On the imposing structure which will stand near the Corporation buildings, will be set a bronze plaque. The unveiling is set for November 11.
• Midland’s veterans of the Great War turned out in such large numbers for the emergency meeting last night that the Legion rooms were inadequate and the hundred-odd men who had assembled moved to the Town Hall in order to secure sufficient accommodation. Albert Smith, zone commander, was in the chair and addressed the meeting. He said that once more the time had arrived when the veterans would be asked to serve again, even though it might not be in any active capacity. He asked that any veterans who had not already registered do so at once. Discussion of guarding vital zones was discussed. It was pointed out that the first men to be called for guard duty and the like will be men who are married and unemployed. The last will be those who are at the present time receiving war veteran’s allowance. Mr. Smith alluded to the time when he was on duty at the wireless station during the last war and made comical reference to the time when one of the guards—not himself—shot a marauding cow in September 1914.
• The people of Canada have been asked by the British government to send clothing, boots and shoes, blankets and other covering for the children who have been evacuated from London and other cities of England and Scotland. It is explained that many of the little ones come from poor homes where clothing and covering is always scarce, and many thousands of them have been billeted in homes as poor as those they come from. With the approach of the winter, it is necessary to provide that they shall be warm and comfortable. Until some local organization is ready to take care of donations for this purpose the Midland Free Press will be glad to receive them at its office on King Street. Be sure that all bundles are well boxed or papered and securely tied. 

Other items from the Midland Free Press of September 6^th, 1939. 

• PENETANG — Henry Arthur Columbus, Penetanguishene, believed to be a direct descendant of Christopher Columbus, discoverer of America, was buried in Penetang this morning, following a double funeral service for him and his brother-in-law, James Quigley, both men died on Monday in the Quigley family residence, here. Columbus was the grandson of Louis Columbus who came to Penetanguishene as a gunsmith for the local garrison during the war of 1812-14. Louis Columbus, in turn, was the son of a well known early Toronto gunsmith, Isaac Columbus, who conducted a shop on Caroline St., in Toronto. Isaac Columbus Lived to be one hundred and four years old. Isaac came to Toronto from Montreal where he was born. Isaac’s parents, according to family history came from France. Isaac’s father was supposed to be one of two sons of Christopher Columbus who went to France from Genoa, the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. The other son of Christopher Columbus reportedly went to Morocco and the local branch of the family has no trace of his descendants. Henry Columbus, who died early Sunday morning is survived by four sons, Frank, Christopher, Cletus and Leo, and one daughter Ethel. Mrs. Columbus and a daughter Edna are predeceased. During his lifetime, the recently deceased Mr. Columbus was a lumber camp foreman for the McGibbon Lumber Co., Penetang. James Quigley, who died a few hours after Mr. Columbus in the same house, had been ill for seventeen months. He was in his 83rd year. A lifelong resident of Penetanguishene, Mr. Quigley was the son of Irish immigrants who settled in this district. He is survived by his wife, the former Susan Columbus, whom he married in 1888, and three sons, James and Arthur in Calgary and Howard in the United States. The funeral cortege of Mr. Quigley met that of Henry Columbus which started from his brother’s home at the outskirts of Penetanguishene, and the combined cortege proceeded to Ste. Anne’s Jesuit Memorial Church, where Requiem High Mass was sung by Rev. Father Walsh, interment of both men was in Ste. Ann’s cemetery.
• PENETANG — Well over nine hundred public and separate school children in Penetanguishene answered the nine o’clock bell signifying the opening of school for the fall on Tuesday morning. Over one hundred were attending school for the first time. Little was done on opening day, beyond giving the pupils, a list of the books they will need during the school term. Actual school work did not commence until this morning (Wednesday). At the separate school, under principal W. J. Armstrong 175 students were present, on opening day, 18 of them in Grade I. Mr. Armstrong stated that he expected additional registrations in the course of the next few days. In the public school, 747 students were present in the eighteen classrooms. Eighty-four of the total are primary pupils. First work of the public school pupils will be to harvest the crops from their gardens that were planted as a school project in the spring. The gardens are located between Robert and Poyntz Streets, next to the cemetery. The pupils planted many types of vegetables and flowers in their garden.
• PENETANG—At a very pretty double wedding Tuesday morning, September the fifth at Ste. Anne’s Memorial Church, Genevieve Quesnelle, of Penetanguishene, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Quesnelle, was united in marriage to Francois Andre Charlebois of Penetanguishene, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leger Charlebois. The bridesmaid was Adele Marchildon and the best man was Lawrence Charlebois. The second couple at the double wedding was Electa Maurice of Penetanguishene, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Maurice, who was united in marriage to Hilaire Tessier of Penetanguishene, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Tessier. Bridesmaid was Miss Beatrice Tessier and the best man was Omer Quesnelle. Rev. Father Castex officiated at the double wedding. Both couples will reside in Penetang on their return from the honeymoons.
• Ability to buy woollen goods at better prices was proved to be one of Canada’s big drawing cards for American tourists as the Western States docked in Midland Labor Day morning with 350 passengers from Detroit. (This was a huge drawing card for the American tour boats, woollen goods and British china.) An immediate beeline was made for the stores carrying blankets, woollen sweaters, woollen coats. When it was found that these were all closed due to the America-wide holiday, the passengers stormed the newspaper office in an endeavour to have the press use its influence to open the shop doors.
• PENETANG — Well over two hundred Penetanguishene baseball fans attended the Marchildon night at the Maple Leaf Stadium in Toronto, Friday. They comprised over one third of the total attendance. The two special buses chartered for the occasion were filled to capacity and dozens of private cars were heavily burdened. Despite the fact that “Babe” Marchildon was pulled from the game, fans as a whole are pretty well satisfied. “Babe” pitched good ball and seemed to appreciate sincerely the efforts of the Penetang Board of Trade in arranging the night in his honor. The presentation of the club bag and the purse, which had been subscribed to by many local residents, was made by Mayor Joseph Hatton and ex-Mayor Clair Gendron. The Penetang Spencer Rangers appeared on the field in their regular uniforms for the presentation. Further evidence to the fact that the evening was enjoyed by the local people came from the time at which many arrived back in Penetang. The first busload pulled in at 3.30 a.m. on Saturday and the second was just an hour later. Even those who went down by car did not return until long after midnight.

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There’s always a lot to do around an elevator in the way of maintenance and repairs during slack periods. Here Lloyd Cameron, covered with cement dust, guides an air hammer on a repair job at the top of the CPR elevator in Port McNicoll. Mr. Cameron also serves as chief of Port’s efficient fire brigade. 

Nine lives? “Frosty”, the cat held by Ernie Dupuis, distributing foreman of the CPR elevator at Port McNicoll, must have a thousand lives. Last winter it fell 85 feet from the top of a bin onto the cement floor and lay there for four days in 20-below zero weather before he was found. Today he’s around as good as ever “and there isn’t a mouse in the place,” said Mr. Dupuis. 

Biggest factor in the successful operation of a grain elevator is just plain, simple “good housekeeping”. That’s what T. A. “Bert” Armstrong, superintendent of the CPR elevator at Port McNicoll says, and he has one of the biggest in eastern Canada to keep spic and span—a 6,000,000 bushel “house” to be exact. And, as of Saturday, August 22, “Bert” had a record 6,603,000 bushels in his house, the biggest pay-load it has ever carried. Pay-load is a good word. That 6,603,000 bushels of grain represents between $10 and $11 million dollars, depending on the price of grain day by day. Ernie Dupuis, distributor foreman is seen with a full grain bin. (Grain is now measured by weight, a bushel of wheat is about 60 pounds, contains approximately 1 million kernels and sells for around $4.00 a bushel. 36.7 bushels per tonne.)

Canada’s new Minister of Public Works, David Walker (dark jacket) is seen with three well known fellow cottagers at Nottawaga Beach. Left to right are Col. R. M. Harvie, former Midland physician who is now medical administrator of Sunnybrook Hospital, Mr. Walker and Dr. Walter G. Carscadden, senior surgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto. Standing is Cecil A. Cathers, MP for North York. The dog is the Walker family pet, “Wiggy”.

North Simcoans in general and residents of Nottawaga Beach, in particular, will have a special interest in Canada’s new Minister of Public Works.  David J. Walker, Q.C., member for Toronto-Rosedale riding since 1957. Members of the Walker family, have been familiar figures at Nottawaga Beach for the past 20 years. Mr. Walker’s introduction to this area had a romantic note. He was best man for Dr. D. C. S. Swan when the popular Midland medico joined the ranks of the Benedicts. He was invited to see Midland and district prior to the event and liked what he saw. In 1939, Mr. Walker purchased the cottage of the late Mr. and Mrs. Norman Playfair at Nottawaga Beach. He and his family have made it their summer home ever since. 

Visitors who look at Midland’s comparatively small Little Lake are often sceptical about it containing fish of any size or quality. Harry Stewart of Birmingham, Mich., disproved the size theory when he hauled in this 5-lb., 9-oz. largemouth black bass around noon last Thursday. It took the American angler some 15 minutes to land this beauty on light spinning gear. He was fishing from a boat and using ordinary worms. “It’s the biggest one I’ve ever caught,” the happy fisherman admitted.

The big flag pole, under which Midland and summer visitors have gathered for 28 years, is no more. Alarmed at the amount of dry rot appearing in the pole, Parks Superintendent Harold McAllen had the 90-foot pole taken down August 19. Mr. McAllen is seen at right top photo examining remains of the pole with W. A. Hack secretary of the parks commission. Workmen remove some of the supporting wires from the top section of the pole which was also rotten. The pole was the gift of the late William Findlayson and was unveiled August 17, 1931.

Excerpt from the Midland Argus, August 27, 1931. 

Mr. Finlayson has taken a great interest in the park development movement here, and to his efforts is entirely due the credit, for a fine motor road that now sweeps from end to the other. Mayor of the town when the first small section of the present property was purchased for park purposes and yesterday he reminded us that at that time considerable opposition to the movement developed. The park of to-day demonstrated how wise this foresight was. The fine flag pole, his latest contribution to the development of the property was secured from the Temagami forests and brought here early last spring. It was trimmed and made ready for erection by the Georgian Bay Shipbuilding Co. and is a splendid ornament. The Park Commission has superintended its erection and it stands to-day a worthy tribute to the generosity and good-will of our popular representative in the Ontario. 

 

• Midland Free Press headline of August 26, 1959; Sooty Pall Covers Harbour, Town to Protest to CSL. The CSL freighter Prescott blew its (boiler) tubes in Midland harbour some time Monday night and a large number of citizens literally blew their stacks the next morning. Came the dawn and the angry citizens found their boats, cars, planes and even the water itself covered with thick, black soot. Mr. Wm. A. Hack, Midland clerk-treasurer said he had been instructed to send an official letter of protest to the CSL concerning the incident. “It was a terrible mess. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Midland harbormaster D. G. Hewis. “The soot was lying inches thick on the water and everything you touched was covered with it.”
• County Herald headline of August 28, 1959; Seek New Traffic Study for King-Yonge Corner. The outcome of special talks on traffic control in Midland and its environs Monday night, Midland council is asking the Ontario Department of Highways to make a new traffic study on the King-Yonge intersection. Purpose of the study will be to determine whether there is sufficient flow of traffic to make necessary the installation of traffic lights at the corner. S. Trew, a traffic engineer with the Highways Department, told the council, that two previous studies made by the department had indicated that the lights were not necessary. He said the one survey was made on a day specified by the council and the other on a day of the departments own choosing. Mr. Trew held that experience has shown that traffic lights tend to congest traffic. He conceded, however, that there had been a considerable increase in motor cars in the province since the last study was made.
• James Connell, 73, of R.R. 2, Midland, is “holding his own” but still in critical condition in St. Andrew’s Hospital, where he was rushed following an accident on Highway 12, one-half mile west of Midland, Saturday afternoon. Mr. Connell was riding a horse-drawn hay mower into Midland when it was struck from the rear by an eastbound car. The elderly man was tossed 48 feet by the impact and suffered severe lacerations to the top of his head and chin, compound dislocation to the left ankle joints, probable damage to the circulation in the left foot, compound fracture to the left elbow and severe shock. He is being treated by Dr. I. T. Weldon. The brown and white team of horses died as a result of the accident. The brown mare, which had its right rear leg broken, had to be destroyed. The white horse was being given sedation by Dr. T. J. Henderson, Midland veterinarian when it died of its injuries.
• The carnage continues in every edition of the paper in the summer, as well as the article above, two men were killed in a car accident near Port Severn and a seven-year-old boy drowned at Paradise Point.
• BIRTHS – BOWEN To Mr. and Mrs. John Bowen, 278 William St. Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Saturday, August 22, 1959, a daughter. WRIGHT — To Mr. and Mrs. James Wright, 291 King St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Wednesday, August 19, 1959, a son. YORK — To Mr. and Mrs. John P. York, Penetang Road, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Saturday, August 22, 1959, a son.
• 25 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK – Airman James R. Ayling and, Leonard Reid, who took off from Wasaga Beach on a nonstop flight to Bagdad, were forced to land at Heston aerodrome, England, owing to carburetor trouble. The two made history, however, for it was the first time a plane had flown from Canada to England. Previous trans-Atlantic hops had started from Newfoundland. * * * A. Allan of Victoria Harbour was appointed Indian agent at Christian Island. He succeeded H. J. Eade. * * * At its August meeting Tay Township council authorized payments to farmers for 44 sheep which had been killed or injured so badly by dogs that they had to be destroyed. * * * The cruise ship Midland City, returning to Midland after an afternoon jaunt with 150 passengers on board, struck a rock shoal near Present Island and started to take in water. Her officers beached the ship in the sand on the north side of Midland Point. All passengers and crew were removed safely in lifeboats. The stern of the ship sank in 30 feet of water. * * * The McGibbon Lumber Co. mill in Penetang was completely destroyed in an early morning fire August 26. The mill, built in 1920, was one of few which had been in operation in this area. * * * A total of 106 game wardens were dismissed by the Hepburn government in an economy wave being carried out within the department of game and fisheries. Twelve of those dismissed were from district No. 2, with headquarters at Orillia.
• An addition to St. Theresa’s High School is now nearing completion, Ted Johnstone, Secretary of the Midland Separate School Board, told this newspaper. The new room will house the Grade 12 students and will mean that pupils will be able to complete their junior matriculation at St. Theresa’s. Mr. Johnstone said the board also hope to get its expansion plans for Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s Separate Schools underway in the new year. Three rooms are to be added to St. Mary’s and four the east end school.
• For the first time in what some people believe to be between 80 and 90 years, the school bell will not ring in the little one-room school of S.S. 17, Tiny, when classes begin this year. Better known as McAveela School (MacAvalley). It is one of the oldest in Tiny Township. Board Secretary Chas. Robb said he has no definite records as to when it was built. He has, however, been able to trace the school back as far as 1893. The school was originally built on property owned by an Irishman named McAveela, who farmed nearby. Mr. Robb said it was only in recent years that the board had obtained a deed for the property on which the school stands. Originally the school section covered a far greater area then it does at present. Two new school sections have been carved from it within the last 40 years. In 1922, a school was built at the Northwest Basin and became known as S.S. No. 22. Eight years later another large section was turned over to S.S. 23 when a school was built at Highland Point. This is familiarly known as the “Light‘s School. The school burnt down within a year of its closure.

• Owing to an increase in pupils, indicated during last spring’s pre-school registration, a new kindergarten room has been added to Regent  School. The new classroom has been constructed in the basement of the school. At Parkview School the gym floor has been repaired, Secretary W. A. Hack stated. Mr. Hack said blackboards in all three public schools have been resurfaced, the roofs on all three have been inspected and repaired where necessary and all have been given a general clean-up.
• An Elmvale area egg-producer may not know it, but he has a hen that seems to be pulling a fast one on him. It is laying egg’s within eggs — complete with shell. Jim Borland of Midland, who buys eggs from Elmer Peacock near Elmvale, discovered this unique event this week. When a normal-sized egg was broken open, it was found that it contained not only the regular yolk and white but another egg about one inch by one and a half inches, encased in a shell.
• Simcoe County Health Unit report, released Tuesday, reveals there was one death from infectious hepatitis during the month. Tops among the communicable diseases reported was chickenpox with 33, next highest on the list was mumps with 13. Others in order were whooping cough, 10; scarlet fever, 4; undulant fever, 1; measles, 1.
• Funeral services will be held Saturday for Thomas Wesley Scott under the auspices of Canadian Legion, Branch 80, Midland. Mr. Scott, a long-time resident of Midland and veteran of World War I, died Tuesday in Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto. The body is resting at Nicholls funeral home, Midland. Mr. Scott is survived by his wife, the former Margaret Stevenson, a son Wesley and two daughters, Mrs. Robert McLeod (Audrey) and Mrs. Norman Donaldson (Betty).

Click on photos to enlargeDaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lorne Ball, Victoria Harbour, Diane Ball placed second in upper school departmental examination results at Midland-Penetang District High School this year. Diane, who is working in her father’s drug store for the summer, will begin training as a nurse with another Victoria Harbour girl, Nancy Jardine, at Hamilton General Hospital in September. 

Robert Belanger top photo. A joint funeral service was held in Mount St. Louis Church recently for Robert John Belanger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Belanger, and Kenneth King, son of Mr. and Mrs. Theophile King, all of Mount St. Louis. The two boys were killed by a car while crossing the busy intersection of Highways 103 and 501, at Port Severn. They had been visiting friends. Robert was conscious when his father, who was only a short distance away, arrived at the scene but he died in the ambulance en route to the hospital.  (It has been our policy to avoid tragedies in these posts but this one is so profound and moving we are compelled to include it.)

Heading the list of graduates at Midland-Penetang District High School this year was Sheila Catherine Armstrong, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Armstrong, Port McNicoll. Sheila, who hopes to attend Victoria College and later enter social service work, obtained six firsts, two seconds and one third in her upper school departmental examinations. She also obtained a first in music. During the summer Sheila is working in Edwards’ store. 

This “dinosaur” is now part of the equipment in the playground section of Little Lake Park, should enable local and visiting children to work off plenty of energy harmlessly. Erected only recently, the dinosaur was donated by Midland Rotary Club and is located at the south end of the playground area, now one of the best equipped in the district. 

“You’d never get me to holiday in a tent,” say many people who have never tried it. But many people still prefer tenting, as witness the line above. These are just a few of the more than 100 tents in Midland’s Little Lake still popular tourist park last week. And that’s only half the number that was there Civic Holiday weekend, said Harold McAllen, park manager.

Still another type of accommodation used by tourists in Midland’s Little Lake Park is this collapsible summer house, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Irwin of Mimico. It has canvas walls and roof, with plywood partitions. The Irwins have been visitors at Little Lake Park ever since their son and daughter, both now married, were babes in arms. They’ve been here all summer again this year. 

Besides tents, Midland’s Little Lake tourist camp always has many of the popular house trailers. Capacity for this type of tourist is 29 trailer sites — all of which have been taken every day since July with the exception of Monday of last week. They were all full again Tuesday. Trailer in the right foreground even has its own flower beds. 

Not many ocean-going cruisers find their way into Midland harbour, so the arrival of the Huborton on the weekend aroused much interest. Built in Halifax N. S. this 60-footer is owned by F. E. Newman of Montreal but was chartered to J. K. Crang, Toronto, when it visited Midland. In winter months the boat, which has a 16′ 6″ beam and a five-foot draft, is based in Florida waters. 

Enough to turn adult fishermen green with envy this 47-inch, 24-pound muskellunge was caught by two young boys at Sturgeon Bay Beach Wednesday afternoon barehanded! David Ireland, 10, Woodbridge, and Gordon Price, 9, of Cooksville found the big lunge in two feet of water, trying to swallow the 5 lb. carp being held by Terry Ireland, 8. Aided by some other young friends, the two older boys rolled the big fish onto shore. 

• Midland Free Press headline of August 19, 1959; Five Bogus Bills Passed, Arrest Woman as Suspect. The sharp eyes of Orville Ambeau, the cashier at Penetang liquor store, resulted in the arrest Monday of a woman who later was charged with passing counterfeit American money in Penetang and Midland. Acting Police Chief George Wainman of Midland said yesterday that four of the bills had been passed in Midland business establishments. A 29-year-old woman, who gave a North Bay address, was arrested by Penetang’ police, and lodged in the county jail on a charge of “uttering”. She will appear in Penetang court Thursday.
• County Herald headline of August 21, 1959; Find Pre-Ice-Age Fossils on Farm in Tay Township. A Tay Township resident, Nelson Bumstead of R.R. 1, Victoria Harbour, Wednesday made a unique discovery for this area. Mr. Bumstead was digging a hole for a septic tank at his home on lot 6, Con. 6, Tay, when he found several “stones” embedded about four to six feet below the surface. When the pieces were removed it was discovered they contained what appeared to be sections of bone of some unknown animal. He said he knew they were not human bones. Mr. Bumstead brought the stones to this newspaper office Wednesday afternoon. Thursday morning. Dr. W. W. Jury, the curator of University of Western Ontario’s museum of Indian archaeology, identified the strange objects. He said they were more than a million years old. Dr. Jury said this type of rock formation is found in glacial deposits and the three pieces found near the Harbour probably were left in this area when the ice-age receded. He termed them “pudding stones.” The outer shell he said was limestone and the inner pieces, which resembled bones of some prehistoric animal, were actually rocks.

Again we regret not having the original negatives of the hundreds of Tiny and Penetanguishene photos, including these below, but as each one holds a memory for someone we will continue to post them directly from the paper.

 

• Midlanders should “batten down the hatches” in October when the town will be invaded by some 400 men who haven’t got together in 40 years. Veterans of World War I, the men were originally members of ” A”, “B”, ” C ” and ” D ” Companies of the 157th and 177^th Battalions, Simcoe Foresters, formed in 1915. Although the battalions went overseas intact, they were later broken up in England. The men who will gather in Midland in October were transferred to the 116th Battalion (Ontario County) which later saw much action in France. No active association of these outstanding battalions was formed after they were disbanded after the war. “But now, after 40 years, it seems worthwhile to reunite these old comrades,” O. H. Smith, QC, of Midland, told this paper this week. Actual plans for the reunion were laid at Branch 80, Canadian Legion, Thursday. Mr. Smith was appointed chairman and G. E. Hurl secretary. Also in attendance were Andy Tudhope, Orillia; Ed. Partridge and Bill Bradley, Barrie; Claire Trott, Wilbert Foreman, Frank Hewson and Ernie Dickson, Collingwood; George Cameron; Ottawa; Charles Stewart and George Parr, Midland.
• Nearly 5,000 persons have visited the Officers’ Quarters Museum at Fort Penetanguishene during the present season according to figures presented at a museum committee meeting last week. Dr. W. Jury, chairman of the committee, said it is the best year to date. In his report, Dr. Jury said a grant of $500 had been received from the Historic Sites Board, and this money is being used to improve the site of the naval establishment and the Bayfield Plaque.
• The operator of a barbershop at the foot of King Street, Bob Zuidema, 44, died suddenly in St. Andrews Hospital Sunday following a heart seizure. Funeral services for Mr. Zuidema, who emigrated from Holland only a few years ago, were held today. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. Mr. Zuidema’s mother had left Midland only a few days earlier to return to Holland following a visit to relatives here and elsewhere in Ontario.
• BIRTHS – GADSBY — To Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gadsby, Ninth and Dominion Ave., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Sunday, August 16, 1959, a son. PALMER — To Mr. and Mrs. Charles Palmer Jr., (nee Doris West), 144 Fourth St., Midland at St. Andrews Hospital, Saturday, August 15, 1959, a son. WEYMAN—To Mr. and Mrs. Richard Weyman, 60 Ontario St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Friday, August 7, 1959, a daughter.
• Ten Years Ago This Week – Scarcity of ice forced district ice dealers to purchase artificially produced ice from Buffalo manufacturers. Hundreds of new cottages built in the area during the year and the hottest mean temperature in 110 years, combined to cause the dearth of natural ice. * * * After 22 years during which the office of secretary-treasurer of Gloucester Pool Cottagers Association was held by her late husband or herself, Mrs. W. B. Leatherdale of Coldwater resigned. She was extended a vote of thanks at the association’s annual meeting. * * * Owing to a shortage of water in the village reservoirs, Coldwater council decreed that water service to consumers would be cut off six hours each day, twice during the night, and once in the afternoon. * * * Work on the superstructure of the bulk freighter, S.S. Coverdale, under construction in Midland shipyard, had commenced. The aft deck of the freighter had been completed. * * * The Canada Year Book for 1948-49 gave the total number of Indians residing on the Christian Island Reserve as 342. The total for Parry Island Reserve was 349. * * * A Vasey aggregation won the North Simcoe Rural Softball League championship and the Tanner Trophy, defeating Penetang 9-1 on the Vasey diamond. * * * Officials, of the Detroit and Cleveland Navigation Co. announced their ship, S.S. City of Cleveland would make two postseason visits to Midland in the fall.  * * * Potato growers from New York and Ohio states and from Chile, South America, toured North Simcoe seed potato farms and cruised among the 30,000 islands during their visit.
• F. K. McKean, district marine agent, Department of Transport, Parry Sound, revealed this week that the average water level in Lake Huron during July was slightly lower than for June this year. He pointed but that the lake had reached a low point in February but emphasized that this level was not as low as levels recorded in previous years. A record low was, recorded in February 1926; Mr. McKean said that it is predicted the lake will subside slightly in the next few months, going to the usual low in January or February. But officials feel this will not be as low as it was last year. There are further indications, Mr. McKean said, that the cycle of low water is past and that a gradual increase in the lake level may be expected for the next few years. (We could use some of that “low water” right now in Georgian Bay.”)
• Milan Borysek, 8, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Borysek, 309 Yonge Street W., Midland, was seriously hurt last night when he was hit in the eye with a BB gun pellet. Milan was playing with Joell Voorzanger, 5, 301 Fourth Street, and Brian Morden, 11, 230 Yonge St. W., when the accident happened. The gun was owned by the Morden boy and was in the hands of the Voorzanger lad when it discharged. Milan was rushed to a Toronto specialist to have the pellet removed after he had been treated by Dr. W. F. Neale. It is not known whether the Borysek boy will lose sight in the eye or not. Acting Chief Wainman said that under a town bylaw, the use of BB guns or any other guns in town is forbidden. He said the gun owned by the Morden lad was confiscated. The accident was investigated by Cpl. Ernest Bates.
• Editorial – Wise & Otherwise – Although it has been a bitter pill for many segregationists, and uprisings in Little Rock the other day indicate that in some quarters it still has not digested too well, it now seems that at long last law and reason are to prevail in the integration of white and coloured students in schools in the state of Arkansas. This in spite of the raucous appeals of Governor Faubus and his misguided demonstrators.

 

Some items of interest from the August 18^th edition of the Midland Argus;