Click on photos to enlargeMidland became an international port over the weekend, even though the “ships” were a bit on the small side. Actually, the two vessels involved were outsized outboard cruisers that would delight the hearts of many a local boating enthusiast. First to arrive, at noon Saturday, was the Transco II, en route from New York to Oregon. Docking Monday afternoon was the “Coronet Explorer”, en route Montreal to Chicago on this occasion. Last year the Coronet gained worldwide publicity by becoming the first outboard-powered cruiser to cross the Atlantic. Built in Denmark, it made the crossing from Copenhagen to New York in 10 days, 17 hours, according to Jack LaFrendre of Lake Forest, Ill, in charge of it now. 

Route of the Transcona II on its 5,280 mile trip from New York to Oregon is seen on the above map. The only detour is 400-mile stretch over the Continental Divide in Montana and Idaho. 

Three Collingwood sailors, including Capt. Percy Butters, 64, lost their lives when the tug Bayport sank off Collingwood harbour Monday. Other victims were Ed McCoy, 49, a crewman, and engineer Ken Mclnnis 41. During winter months the Bayport was a familiar sight in Midland harbour, where she was used as an ice-breaker. (Happier days in this photo from September 1954.) Bayport returns from boiler work in Collingwood, on board are two captains and two first engineers. Capt. J. W. Scarrow of the Hochelaga, and Capt. C. S. Ward of the Goderich. J. G. Hendrickson general agent for CSL Midland and P. J. Rutherford, chief engineer of the Goderich.  Bayport was moored at the end of the (Sea Cadet shed) custom shed dock, near the Townhouse elevator. 

Hanging flower baskets on light standards along King Street has been an annual job for Midland’s Jaycees for a number of years. With the visit of Queen Elizabeth coming up July 4, the baskets (72 of them) are larger and better than ever this year. Helping with the job are, left to right, Jaycees George McLaughlin, Don Swinson, Doug White and Bill Mitchell. [Mac Perrin’s greenhouse behind the flower shop where the parking lot is now. The two flat-roofed houses in the background, built by Mac, are still there on Midland Ave.] 

Midland has begun its preparations for the royal visit July 4. Workmen above are attaching “ER” shields to light standards along King Street. Town employee on right is Jim Stewart. 

Familiar scene around the Midland-Penetang area these days are strawberry-picking groups like the one above, adjacent to Highway 27. A good rain is badly needed, however, to assure more than an average crop this year. Grain crops are also reported to be suffering from lack of moisture in the past three weeks. [Sandy Rankin had a patch at the south end of King Street and would pay us 5 cents a box to pick for him.] 

Fast becoming one of the most popular picnic spots in North Simcoe, the Flos-Medonte Park at Orr Lake has been all spruced up for another season. Caretaker of the park, Joe Lea is seen above starting work on a new stone fireplace. A number of churches in the area have already “booked-in” for picnics in June. 

Huronia Museum in Midland has opened for another season and one of the features this year is a display of paintings by Simcoe County artists. Some of the pictures, collected by the county arts and crafts association, are seen above with Mrs. D. H. Wray of the museum staff. John Desrochers of Penetang completed the one of Magazine Island (top centre). Other artists represented in the pictures above include Katherine Day, Orillia and J. L. Vleming, Port McNicoll. 

Happy pupils are members of Principal James Robinson’s grade 8-A class at Parkview School, who move on to high school in September. Class includes – Larry Ferris, Stephen Galt, Robert Gray, Sylvia Grexton, Nancy Hawke, Dorothea Heron, Alan Holt, Marvin Howard, Paul Howard, Gail Lalonde, Suzanne Lamb, Marilyn Lamorandiere, Richard Lemieux, Terrence Lethbridge, Kathleen McElroy, James McKean, Bob Mathis, Brian Mohan, Patrick Mohan, Elizabeth Morrison, Sharon Murday, Douglas Mutch, Beverley Nichols, Janice Nicklee, Joan O’Hara, Janet Playne, Jean Playne, Collette Preston, Carol Scott, Susan Swan, Lawrence Toutant, Frances Weatherell, Steven Weatherell, John Weeks, Dianne Wilcox, William Young. 

All spruced up for the grade 8 graduation exercises at Regent School last Thursday are, left to right, front row – Frank Reynolds, Barry Mcllravery, Ed Zablotny, Dave Carpenter, Randy Green, Graham Shaw, Ken Langley, Bill Scott, Jim Butson, Grant Langridge; back row – Ross Hutchinson, Bruce Moss, John Jensen, Art Langley, John Argue, Peter Dunn, Ted Black, Ron Merkley, Dave Belsey, Wayne Edwards, Gary Wood. 

Girls of the graduation class of grade 8, Regent School are shown above following exercises Thursday night. Left to right are, front row -Linda Revard, Carol Bridges, Barbara Caston, Wallace Graham, Edna Vernon, Nancy Jones, Detta Ridd, Christianne Brinkmann, Peggy Dempsey, Wendy Feltham; back row – Elaine Stainton, Marilyn Nicholson, Heather Davidson, Donna Lovell, Donna Jackson, Diane Cruise, Joanne Kettle, Mary Ironside, Judy Davidson, Helen Farrow, Pia Zuidema. 

Just in time for the Queen’s visit July 4, the dock area at Midland harbour is getting a new hardtop. The contractor is Jim Anderson, Midland. Improved surface for the dock has long been sought by local authorities. 

Midland firemen have successfully concluded another bicycle road-e-o in which public school pupils try written tests and later give an actual demonstration of their ability to handle their bikes on the road. Some of the winners include, left to right, front row — Mary Jane Mohan, Wendy Walton, Peggy Krochko (holding the lamp kit she won for placing third in the contest), Eleanor Boden, Connie Stelter; back row—Ronald Jessome, Danny Donaldson and Blair Shakell. Missing were Katherine Brandon, John Cranston, David Gosselin and Tom Atkinson. 

July 4 will be a long remembered day for 8-year-old Mary Lou Gignac of Penetang, chosen to present flowers to Queen Elizabeth on the occasion of her visit to that town. Seen with her mother, helping to fit her brand new dress, Mary Lou is the daughter of Mayor Jerome and Mrs. Gignac. 

Brand new bikes were the rewards for Maureen Mohan and Ralph Battrick, who knew their rules of the road, and how to apply them in practice. With fireman Dave Hudson, left, and Chief Arnold Tippin, Maureen scored 780 and Ralph 786 out of a possible 824 marks in the bicycle road-e-o sponsored by Midland Fire Department June 20. One of the bikes was the joint donation of Gordon Moss and W. H. Cranston and the other of the fire department. 

Midland Indians needed an extra inning before edging Orillia Terriers 5-4 for the Inter-county League championship of the Little Baseball League at Town Park Wednesday night. Members of the winning team are, left to right, front row—Bill Offord, co-captains John Hawke and Bob McLaughlin, and league director Len Self; second row—Edgar Dorion, Fred Jackson, Gary Blake, Ernie Charlebois; back row—Al Fournier, Rodney Todd, Ralph Blake and Ron Contois. 

Captains of the winning teams in Midland’s Little Baseball League finals are seen above with their trophies. Left to right are Bobby Offord (Brantford White Sox), Frank Reynolds (Baltimore Orioles), John Webb (St. Louis Cardinals), and Billy Jory (Toronto Leafs). Standing behind the lads is league director Rev. Len Self. 

When Farmer Humphrey climbs into the wrestling ring, it generally means a tough night for the ring, as well as his opponents. “Humph”, all 600 lbs. of him, hails from Georgia. He won a decision over Karl Kulaski at Midland Arena Monday night when Karl, who made sure his playmate didn’t fall on him, was disqualified. 

UGH!—”Hey, cut that out,” says Whipper Billy Watson, right, as Hard-Boiled Haggarty sinks a mighty right into the Whip’s tummy at the wrestling matches in Midland Arena Monday night. 

 

• Free Press Herald headline of June 24^th, 1959; Investigate Theft Try, Police Arrest Three. Penetang police questioned three North Bay men in connection with an attempt early Monday morning, to crack the safe at Penetang IGA store. It was the second time since it opened less than six months ago, that thieves had broken into Gillie’s IGA Foodliner at Penetang. Unlike the previous occasion, March 8, when more than $5,000 was taken from the safe, this latest attempt proved unsuccessful when the marauders were disturbed by police. Penetang police got a tip shortly after 5 o’clock Monday morning that men were around the store. As he approached, Const. Wally Lacroix saw a man running toward the rear of the store. Hastening around to the back, Const. Lacroix came face to face with a man about to leave by the rear door. As the intruder turned again and ran toward the front, Const. Lacroix fired a warning shot in the air.
• County Herald headline of June 26^th, 1959; Council Bows to OWRC Request; Approves Sewage Plant. Midland council has agreed to proceed with the construction of a primary sewage treatment plant for the corporation, to conform with the policy established by the Ontario Water Resources Commission. Initial cost for stage one of the project, which includes the plant, a digester, 15 per cent engineering costs and contingencies and the diversion of the William Street outfall, is $349,000.
• Free Press Herald headline of June 30^th, 1959; Commission Approves New Low Rate Schedule. Midland will now have one of the lowest electric rate structures in Ontario, Midland public Utilities Commission Chairman Alex Macintosh announced today. Mr. Macintosh said the new rate structure has just been approved by the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario for the town of Midland. “We have boon negotiating with hydro officials for some time in an attempt to have local hydro rates reduced,” continued Mr. Macintosh, “and our manager has just received verbal confirmation from the Barrie that the Hydro commission in Toronto has approved our request for a rate revision.” “I believe, there is only one other municipality in the whole of Ontario that has a similar rate structure. It places us in the lowest bracket normally approved by the HEPC.
• Ten Years Ago This Week – 1949, Two special trains — one of 16 coaches and the other 10 coaches — brought 1,235 pilgrims from London and Chatham to the Martyrs’ Shrine. Nearly 400 others arrived from Detroit and Windsor on the S.S. South American. * * * For the first time since the war of 1812-14, a ship of the United States Navy visited Georgian Bay waters. She was the patrol craft escort No. 894 of the U.S. Naval Reserve Training Centre, Chicago. She docked at Midland. * * * According to a report prepared by Simcoe County Assessor Eric Simpson, the county’s population climbed four per cent in 1948. The total population was listed as 91,933 or 3,573 more than the previous year. * * *  Twenty-five pupils — the entire Grade 8 class of Coldwater Public School passed their entrance examinations, Orillia Collegiate Principal D. H. McGill announced. More than half of the class did not have to try the examinations, passing on their year’s work. * * * Tourist resort operators and businessmen in North Simcoe and southern Muskoka reported that the early invasion of summer visitors indicated the district in 1949 would have one of the best years for tourists. * * *  Franz Johnston, internationally famed artist and one of the originals of the Group of Seven, died in a Toronto hospital following a cerebral hemorrhage.
• A new record was established at Midland Y’s Men’s Club’s Indian Village June 19 when more than 1,000 school students and teachers visited the famed village at the east end of Little Lake Park. They formed a large part of the more than 4,000 students and teachers from 74 schools who have visited the village this year since the last week in May. Each of the groups has heard lectures by Dr. Wilfrid Jury, assisted by three students from the University of Western Ontario. Of the 74 schools who have visited the village this spring 25 were from the Toronto area. Names of other towns represented sound almost like a complete road map of Ontario.
• The final week of classes brought 110 school groups to Martyrs Shrine last week to boost the total to 234 groups for the season. An exact count of the numbers who came was not kept, but judging from the number of buses, seven thousand children seems a conservative estimate, shrine officials said. The number of groups visiting the shrine has risen from 24 in 1951 to 150 last year and to 234 this year so far. School principals, teachers and parent-teacher associations are largely responsible for this increase.
• PLAUDITS FOR PARK – Dear Editor: About two weeks ago, my family and I made use of your excellent park in Midland. I must say that we were pleasantly surprised to find such high calibre accommodation and facilities. Since coming to this country four years ago, we have visited a good many communities in Ontario, some of them with a much larger population than your town, where the picnic and amusement and even the parks themselves were in a much shabbier state. On our visit to Midland, we were particularly impressed by the beautiful sand beach and the cleanliness of the park and picnic tables. The park workmen are to be commended for the care and attention they give to these While we were there, we noticed one disturbing thing, and that was that a number of the cars driving through the park seemed to be exceeding the speed limit. Perhaps they were the exceptions to the rule. With so many small children playing nearby, one would think their own common sense would cause the drivers to take it just a little bit slower. “J.P.”  – Toronto
• Community groups in Simcoe County are now, making plans for summer vacation programs for their children. In co-operation with the Simcoe County Recreation Service, swimming classes and day camps for 30 groups or communities will be held in almost every section of the county beginning early in July. Swimming classes, under the director of swimming and water safety, Mrs. Mary Elliott of Barrie, will be held from Tottenham to Waubaushene and from Oro to Oakview Beaches. More than 2000 children are expected to participate. Courses for regular classes include seven lessons.
• Penetang Police were called in to solve the case of a one-man nudist colony set up on the town’s Main Street Wednesday evening. With the principal in the case a completely naked two-year-old, the job resolved into one of going from door to door in the area until his home was found. According to the information given Sgt. L. Robillard, the youngster had been wandering around naked for approximately 10 minutes before he was taken in tow.

Taking that glimpse further back we are invited by the CPR to enjoy a cruise on one of their “gleaming white ships” on the inland seas. This page is from the Midland Advertiser paper, April 1940.

CPR Lake Cruise

Click on photos to enlargeThis painting of the old lumberman’s church at Port Severn, by Barrie jeweller Gordon Reeve, is one of a number by district painters assembled by Simcoe County Arts and Crafts Association for display at Midland’s Huronia Museum this year. Assistant curator R. A. Grigg is seen with the painting; which occupies a prominent place in the lower hall. The museum will be officially open Sunday. 

This odd-looking craft, currently tied up in Midland harbour, is the brain-child of Harold Keefer, Ottawa Street. Resting on two steel pontoons, the craft will be powered by an outboard motor. Mr. Keefer is waiting for a nice calm day to try the boat on the broad waters of the bay. 

Once a passenger cruise ship on Georgian Bay, the Vyroya of Midland, formerly owned by Roy French, has been sold to Imperial Oil. This past winter it was converted to a gas supply boat. Here it is beginning the first leg of a highway cruise to Lake Temagami in Northern Ontario. It was loaded on the float at Midland Shipyards.

Yukon Eric got a mixed reception as the first of the cards for this season got underway in Midland Arena Monday night. In the top picture, Eric is besieged by young fans wanting his autograph. In the lower picture, Dick Hutton leaves the imprint of his big boot in Yukon’s tummy, much to the delight (seemingly) of referee  Joe Gollab. 

Playing prominent roles in the success of the Midland Indians in the South Simcoe Baseball League race this year are, left to right, pitcher Gord Dyment and outfielders Larry Greene and Jim Lemieux. Indians have an important game in Creemore with the league leaders’ tomorrow night and return home to host Utopia here Saturday night. 

Best way to beat the heat, said Lynn Hoy, Florence Chapman and Audrey Hoy, left to right, is to get a pop-sickle and stay near a drinking fountain. The 90-degree heat didn’t seem to bother these youngsters too much as they and hundreds of others rushed down to Little Lake right after school, last week. 

Somewhat unusual this early in the season, this huge puffball was found by four Midland lads as they explored the shore of Little Lake. Puffballs of this size are much more common in the fall of the year. Left to right are; John Burke, Bob Fielder, Bill Argue, and Peter Moss. 

Saturday was a big occasion for the members of Midland lOOF Lodge 274 and Rebekah Lodge 199 as the cornerstone of their new temple on Dominion Ave. West, was officially laid. Among the dignitaries taking part were, left to right — Bro. Percy Smith, Noble Grand; Bro. Thos. Sharp, Past Grand Master; Rev. Ralph Wright, Calvary Baptist Church; Mrs. J. A. McCauley, PDDP; Bro. J. W. Bald, Past Noble Grand; Mrs. A. Johnston, PDDP; Mrs. R. Stamp, Noble Grand of Rebekah Lodge. 

During the recent heat wave, just about the most popular spot in this area was Midland’s Little Lake Park. While the younger fry enjoyed a swim, the older folks sat in the shade of the huge old elms. 

The 1,564 votes Lloyd Letherby received in Midland played a big part in his re-election as PC candidate for Simcoe East in the provincial elections Thursday. Here Mr. Letherby, right, smiles appreciatively as James Forester chalks up the winning figure. Party worker Frank Doherty also seems happy at the outcome. 

Ecole Publique Saint-Joseph

• The Free Press Herald headline of June 17, 1959; Midland Taxpayers Face Outlay of $1,000,000. As a result of an ultimatum from the Ontario Water Resources Commission, Midland ratepayers are faced with an expenditure of nearly $1,000,000 on a new sewage disposal plant. The ruling was contained in a letter from Dr. A. E. Berry, general manager of the OWRC, read at a special meeting of Midland council Monday night. The commission refused to approve a request from Midland council to install 2,738 feet of sanitary sewers in the Scott Street sub-division. Dr. Berry’s letter stated: “It is the policy of this commission to not issue certificates of approval for sewer extensions until a program has been adopted for providing adequate treatment of the sewage. We do not have in this case information from you as to what is planned for meeting those requirements.”
• The County Herald headline of June 19, 1959; Area Municipalities Face Increases in County Levy. Schedule of equalization of assessment for Simcoe County, which will receive final approval of county council in Barrie today, this year reflects, among other items, the effects on the 31 municipalities involved, of Barrie’s withdrawal from the county. The increases in equalized assessment for 1959 compared with those for 1958, as listed in the county assessment committee’s report, run the gamut from Orillia’s $1,384,229 to Creemore’s $32,851.
• Penetang’s committee in charge of local arrangements for the royal tour is getting some idea of the vast amount of coordination and effort being put into the affair by similar committees, across the country. Local information officer Marcel Bellehumeur this week received a book, titled “Royal Tour of Canada, 1959, Arrangements.” The 344-page volume gives a comprehensive picture of the royal party’s activities every minute they are in the public eye, from the time they arrive at St. John’s Newfoundland, tomorrow (Thursday) at 3.30 p.m. until they depart embarking aboard HMY Britannia at Halifax, Nova Scotia, 10.30 p.m., Saturday, August 1. An example of the minute-by-minute scheduling can be seen in the entries for Penetang and Midland, which read as follows:.”2.45 p.m., royal barge leaves HMY Britannia. 3.15 p.m., the royal barge arrives federal dock. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh disembark, accompanied by Hon. J. M. Macdonnell (Minister without Portfolio). Mr. Macdonnell presents the mayor of Penetanguishene (J. J. Gignac, Esquire) and Mrs. Gignac. The mayor presents member of Parliament for Simcoe Centre and his wife, The Warden of Simcoe County (J. Patton, Esquire) and Mrs. Patton, the general manager of the Georgian Bay Development Association (Neville Keefe, Esquire) and Mrs. Keefe and members of the town council and their wives. Her Majesty is asked to sign the guest book and also to accept a bouquet presented by Miss Mary-Lou Gignac. 3.20 p.m. the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh enter their automobile and leave the federal dock. Route: Main Street to Poyntz, west on Poyntz to Owen, North on Owen to Robert, East on Robert to Penetang Road, South on Penetang Road to the town limits.”
• A new and improved type of drinking fountains will be installed at the corners of King and Bay Streets and King Street and Hugel Ave., it was decided at the Midland Public Utilities meeting Monday night. “We had better see that they are well anchored,” suggested commissioner Wm. Benton. “Maybe when we get them installed we should notify the town council and get police protection for them,” countered PUC Secretary-manager Stewart Holt who suggested that it would be about two weeks before the new fountains would be installed.
• More than 400 children have submitted entry forms for the Midland firemen’s bicycle road-e-o, to be held on the municipal parking lot June 20. Dave Hudson, secretary of the Committee sponsoring the event, said first prizes for the boy and girl who obtain the most points in the road-e-o were bicycles. Second prize will be a $10 merchandise certificate at Eisenberg’s tire and sports. Eight other successive winners will receive crests.
• Accepting a recommendation of its police committed, Midland council Monday night appointed Sgt. George Wainman acting chief of police for Midland, on a six-month probationary basis, and paid on the basis of a $4,200 annual salary.
• by Charlie Noquet  – Two immovable objects — in the form of Midland Huronias and Collingwood Kaufmans — met head-on in an important Barrie and District Soccer League fixture at Midland’s Parkview School Saturday night. When the dust from the high wind and fast action had cleared, Collingwood had preserved its unbeaten record with an 8-3 win over Huronias, also unbeaten up until Saturday night.
• Demonstrating the immortal Willie Keeler’s “hit’em where they ain’t” technique to perfection, Midland Indians blanked Barrie Flyers 4-0 in a South Simcoe Baseball League game here Monday night. Held to only four hits, Indians made every one of them count in the run-scoring as they tallied all their runs and hits in the second inning. Going the distance for Indians Monday night was southpaw Joe Faragher, who at other times covers first base. Joe came up with a sparkling mound chore as he scattered five hits and was never in danger of losing his shutout.
• 25 Years Ago This Week – 1934; Mayor J. B. Roebuck of Midland officially opened the new five-acre Eastside Park in Midland’s east end. The park was situated in an area bounded by Yonge Street East, Elizabeth and Borden Streets. * * * Nearly 500 delegates attended the 20th annual meeting of Barrie Presbyterial WMS of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, held at Barrie. Mrs. M. W. Heslip of Penetanguishene, president, was in charge of the sessions attended by delegates from as far north as Bracebridge and south as far as Beeton and Bradford. * * * Simcoe County Warden Edward Dutton entertained county councillors, their wives and friends (about 350 in number) on board the CPR steamer Keewatin. The party left Port McNicoll at 2 p.m. aboard the flag-bedecked ship and returned 6 p.m. after cruising the waters of Georgian Bay. * * * When official nomination day for the provincial election had drawn to a close, there were 262 candidates in the running. They were comprised of 90 Conservatives, 82 Liberals, 37 CCF, 13 Communists and 14 independents. Among the party affiliations of the independent candidates were “Dry Liberals”, Labor, Labor-Socialists, Socialists and “Workers Industrial Party”. * * * An Alderman on Midland council for 11 years and a member of the Midland Citizens Band for 30 years, T. Harry Trill died unexpectedly at his home. * * * A deputation from Penetang Retail Clerks Association demanded that Penetang council enforce its bylaw calling for a Wednesday afternoon holiday. Council agreed to instruct the chief of police to lay charges “against any merchant who saw fit to resist council” on the half-day closing bylaw. * * * As clouds of dust were making driving conditions dangerous, the Department of Highways oiled Highway 12 between Midland and Orillia.
• Obituaries – LEGER J. BELLEHUMEUR  – A native of Penetang and a resident of this area throughout his entire life, Leger J. Bellehumeur died June 11 in Penetang General Hospital, following a cerebral haemorrhage. He had been unable to work following, a heart seizure about five years ago. Born in Penetang in 1893, he had lived here and in Lafontaine during that time. Mr. Bellehumeur remained a bachelor. Until he took a position at Beatty Bros, foundry about 25 years ago, he had been a machine operator at the C. Beck Co. Ltd. He was a Roman Catholic. Surviving are six brothers, Joseph Arsene of New Orleans, La., Fred and Theophile, Windsor, Andrew of Bala, Harvey of Midland and Edmond, Lafontaine. One brother, Thomas, predeceased him. Funeral service was held Saturday, June 13 from Beausoleil funeral home to St. Ann’s Memorial Church where mass was said by Rev. Leo Ramsperger. Interment was in St. Ann’s Cemetery. Pallbearers were Marcel, Hebert and Lawrence Bellehumeur, Rosaire Moreau, Theodore Simon and Joseph Bobus. * * * EUGERE BEAUCHAMP – A lifelong resident of this area, Eugere Beauchamp died Friday, June 5, at his Penetang home following a heart seizure. Born in Perkinsfield June 28, 1886, Mr. Beauchamp had farmed until he retired in 1940, moving to Penetang at that time. He had been educated at Penetang Public School. Five years ago, Mr. Beauchamp, and his wife, the former Victaline Mailloux, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Of the fifteen children born to the couple, four predeceased him. Besides his wife, he leaves, seven sons, Bernard, Armand and Alcime, Perkinsfield; Harvey and Jack, Penetang; Edgar and Lionel, Lafontaine; and four daughters, Bernadette, (Mrs. Tony Juneau), Alida, (Mrs. P. Desroches), Veronica, (Mrs. Norman Robillard), all of Penetang, and Albertine, (Mrs. A. Marchildon), Lafontaine, and one sister, Miss Hortense Beauchamp, Penetang. Two brothers, Julian and Napoleon predeceased him. There are 69 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. Funeral service was held (Monday, June 8, from Beausoleil’s funeral home to St. Ann’s Memorial Church where a solemn requiem high mass was celebrated by Father J. Kelly, assisted by Msgr. J. M. Castex. Interment was in St. Ann’s Cemetery. Pallbearers were six nephews, Alfred, Donald, Raymond and Gerard Beauchamp, Eugene and Herbert Mailloux.
• Additional gas mains are to be installed in Midland, Bud Turnbull, Public works superintendent for Midland, reveals. He said a start would be made immediately to install 2,600 lineal feet of new mains for the Consumers’ Gas Company, he said. The new lines are to be installed on Seventh Street, Montreal to Quebec; Robert Street, Russell to Johnston; Ottawa Street, Fifth to Sixth; Dominion Ave, Lindsay to William; Johnston, 200 feet south; and Midland Ave., Bay to Dominion. (It is easy to forget sometimes that under our feet lie all the gas, phone, sewer, water and hydro services.)
• At the official opening of Fort Penetanguishene Museum Wednesday, Dr. W. W. Jury said the University of Western Ontario and the town of Penetang have been trying to make history live in their work at the old military establishment. He went on to say that he was confident he would be able to rectify some errors in locations of historic sites in this area before the end of this year. Msgr. J. M. Castex said many local people “don’t even realize what the museum is.” He paid tribute to those who have worked in the restoration of the historical site and singled out J. M. H. McGuire, who died last year, for special praise. Mr. Jury said the museum was fortunate to have been the recipient of Labatt’s generosity.” The firm provided funds to completely furnish a room in the museum in period style. “This museum is history in a complete way. It tells us what our ancestors have done, and we should show an appreciation of it,” Msgr. Castex said. “We have here the making of a second Fort Henry and I am hoping we will be able to march right along with this development,” Mr. Jury said.
• P. B. Rynard, M.P. for Simcoe East, announced yesterday that two Midland firms had been awarded a total of S32,375.37 in federal government contracts. Dr. Rynard the firm of Wilson and Bell had been awarded the contract for plumbing and electrical work on two comfort stations and a house, and heating work in a house. The contract, amounting to $11,041. is for work on Beausoleil Island and was let by the Department of Northern Affairs and Natural Resources. The other contract, amounting to $21,333.52 was awarded to Midland Foundry and Machine by the Department of Defence Production.
• Under arrangements made by Reeve Montcalm Maurice. Tiny Township, some 75 members of Simcoe County council, their wives, and a number of county employees will visit Christian Island this afternoon. The visitors are slated to leave Penetang dock around 3 p.m. to travel to the island by the Penetang 88. Port McNicoll’s Reeve Albert Calvert, pointed out that in World War II every able-bodied man on the island reserve had served in one branch or other of the armed forces. “A few members from the Christian Island Reserve have since settled in our village and we have found them to be good citizens.” Reeve Calvert told other members of the council.

A look further back at some articles from the early days of Midland. 

February 8, 1939 –

Magistrate Col. C. F. Bick fined eight persons $2.00 and costs ranging from $3.00 to $3.50 for not possessing radio licenses, in Midland police court Thursday. One of the delinquents, Edward Cox of Hamilton, was fined for the operation of a car radio without a license. Girard Berriault, who shot a partridge out of season, was fined $10.00 and cost on a charge laid under the Game and Fisheries Act. 

October 1, 1931 –

The miniature golf course that has been operated here for the past couple of years on the Oddfellows lot, King Street, has been closed for the season this week. There was some little interest taken last season, but the novelty rapidly wore off and this season interest in it has almost entirely disappeared. It is hardly likely in view of conditions this summer that the institution will reopen next spring. The people here took little or no interest in the new game, although the course was made as attractive as it possibly could be. 

August 29, 1918 –

The ‘Pathfinder.’ the large private yacht owned by Mr. James Playfair, Midland, was in Owen Sound harbour yesterday and attracted a great deal of attention from the citizens. She arrived off King’s Royal Park about eleven o’clock Wednesday night and dropped anchor there, coming on into the river about nine o’clock yesterday morning. On board were the owner, Mr. James Playfair, and Mayor D. L. White and Mr. D. S. Pratt, manager of the Canadian Dredge Company, both of Midland, and Mr. J. S. Bell, general manager of the Bank of Hamilton, and Mr. W. E. Finn, also of the Bank of Hamilton. The trip was made from Midland for the purpose of conveying the latter two gentlemen part way on their trip to Hamilton. During the stay of the boat in town, Mr. Playfair and his guests were entertained by a number of prominent citizens of the town, including Mayor Webster, and Messrs. E. Lemon. J. M. Kilbourn and H. B. Smith. Mr. Playfair also visited the Kennedy plant. The boat is a beauty. 154 feet long, built like a battleship with protruding ram in front and a battleship stern. She is in command of Capt. Kitchen, a well-known lake mariner, and carried a crew of 13 officers and men, including a wireless operator. The boat was built in Rachine, Wis., for Mr. Burnham, of Chicago, one of the best-known yacht racing enthusiasts in the United States, and is capable of a speed of 24 knots. She is of steel construction and is handsomely equipped with all modern appointments as could be desired. Here furnishings are all of the very best and she makes an ideal gentleman’s yacht. She left for Midland at 12.30 p.m. yesterday. 

1918 was a war year and in contrast to the pleasant scene above, this picture appeared in the October 1918 issue of the Midland newspaper.

April 11, 1936, the Catholics win,

Happy first day of summer North Simcoe!

Click on photos to enlarge

Getting a suntan comes naturally to some people; to others, it’s sometimes a painful process. Margaret Ambeau makes sure “Ray” Stewart doesn’t get a burn in the hot (90-degree) sun at Little Lake Park Wednesday by applying a soothing lotion. 

Accustomed as he is to hot spots, being a member of the permanent staff of Midland fire brigade, John Small had to take a second look at the thermometer outside the new municipal building Wednesday afternoon. It read a cool 94, at 3.30 p.m.! 

Teaching Bobby, 2, and David, nine months, to swim was a pleasant task for Mr. and Mrs. Gord Dyment at Little Lake Wednesday. The cooling waters must have had a good effect on Gord, who later that day pitched a no-hit, no-run ball game for Midland Indians at Stroud. 

Still far from its final form, the new marina being operated by Bev Keefe at the foot of Midland’s William Street already has greatly improved the landscape of that area. Eventually, the thousands of pieces of lumber from the old sawmills, readily visible in the foreground and piled up at the right, will be covered over with solid fill. The new marina is already being used by boat owners of the area. (Later Rycroft’s Marina.) 

Prompt action by three women at Victoria Harbour Sunday afternoon was credited with saving the life of 10-year old Larry Secord, of 25 Wolfe Street, Penetang. But for the quick action of his mother, Mrs. Herb Secord, his sister, Mrs. James Biggs, 19, and Barbara Brodeur, 11, of Victoria Harbour, the boy might well have drowned off the foot of government dock at the Harbour, police said. Mrs. Secord, who had lost sight of her son for only a few minutes, jumped off the dock fully clothed and brought him to shore. There Mrs. Biggs and Barbara Brodeur took over by applying artificial respiration. They were successful in bringing the boy around. 

Barbara Brodeur of Victoria Harbour, who helped revive 12-year old Larry Secord of Penetang, a near-victim of drowning at the Harbour Sunday afternoon. Only 11, Barbara is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. “Sib” Brodeur 

The official plan of the royal tour route for Midland was announced this week by the local committee. Above is a map of the streets along which the Queen and Prince Philip and their party will pass July 4 on their arrival from Penetang. The lower part of the map shows a close-up of the welcoming platform and the press boxes. 

A twelve-year-old Midland boy was badly cut on the legs and face when he accidentally ran into this plate glass window in the entrance to Graham Swales in Midland Saturday morning. Jagged sections of glass can be seen lying shattered around the leg of the table.

 An odd accident involved Deiter Bauer, 12, of 150 Sixth Street. Deiter was in the Graham Swales clothing store Saturday morning with his parents when he was attracted by the sound of car horns made by a wedding party coming down the street. Store employees said the boy, in his anxiety to see the wedding party go by, ran towards the front of the store. Instead of going through the doorway, however, he plunged headlong into the 65 by 116-inch heavy, plate glass window beside the door. Rushed to St. Andrews Hospital the lad was treated for severe cuts about the legs, head and face. 

Among Midland’s preparations for the royal visit, July 4 is the setting up of this big flower bed in Little Lake Park. Being prepared by Ed Fox, florist, at the right of the picture, the bed includes a central crown flanked by the letters ER, the union jack and the year, 1959. The flowers are of the “carpet bedding” type, including red acharanthus, grey santolina and purple and white alyssum. 

Getting this huge 3,000 KVA power transformer into position at Midland’s new Scott Street sub-station was a man-sized job. The big transformer, weighing 24,400 lbs., towers over PUC Chairman Alex Macintosh, left, and Stewart Holt, manager, (on trailer) and Dave Durgy, sales representative for Ferranti-Packard. More than 12 feet high, the transformer takes up a 9 by a 6-foot base. 

This new $41,000 substation on Scott Street, in the Wireless Hill area, is part of Midland PUC’s program designed to increase the overall capacity of hydro service throughout the town. The immediate effect of the three-phase, 3,000 KVA sub-station will be to improve service in the southeast area of town. (The roadway is  Hillcrest Lane. The new house on the left was the home of Clare and Heinz Schmidt, the next was built by Alf Rei for Jimmy Johnson and the one on the right was the home Walter and Lily Kluck. The neighbours soon complained about the noise this station made and a sound fence was erected around it.)

Because it was a way to save the town some money, Midland council Monday night agreed to a land exchange between the town and Guenther Leitz, president of Ernst Leitz Canada Ltd. The property involved is in a lane (Hillcrest Lane) that runs between Irwin and Johnston Streets, only part of which has been opened. At a council meeting May 19, Mr. Leitz said he understood that eventually, the lane was to be opened to Irwin Street. If it was, he explained, it would pass very close to his home which had to be built back from the brow of the hill owing to the contour of the land. He pointed out that he would be agreeable to deed part of his property so the lane could be run out to Scott Street rather than Irwin, and provide 20 feet of land at the jog to enable the snowplow to pass through. At that time, the council decided to inspect the land. Monday night council was informed that the Scott Street route would be much less costly to construct as it is an open field, whereas the route to Irwin is rough ground. It was pointed out that since lots 15 to 16 are owned by Mr. Leitz, there is no need for a lane behind them. Deputy-reeve Herb, Beauchamp recommended that the land exchange be made. In the motion by Aldermen Haig and Orr, the easterly 250 feet of the Johnston, to Irwin lane is to be closed in exchange for sufficient land to provide a 20-foot lane to Scott Street. In addition, 20 feet is to be taken off lot 20, plan G49, to provide sufficient turning area for the plow at the jog.

[A personal note on the above. In the mid 80’s I bought lot #20, 100’ x 200’ with a 20-foot notch out of the SW corner, from a man from Hamilton for $15,000.00. The low price was due to the fact that there were no water or sewer services available to the lot. All the houses on Hillcrest Lane shared a common water supply and sewer. I contacted the woman who lived below on Colborne Street to ask permission to cross her property. She happened to be the sister of ex-mayor and Midland lawyer Ted Symons who discovered that the Leitz family, knowing that the lot, if sold, would have no services, had included an easement across the Colborne Street property which they had once owned. Neither the real-estate company nor the seller knew of this easement. Many thanks to Ted Symons for his research and the Leitz family for their foresight.] 

Wanton destruction with no sense or meaning is evidenced above as gardener Ed Fox (kneeling) shows Don Swinson the damage wrought recently to one of the flower beds at the entrance of Little Lake Park. Mr. Fox is holding one of the many flowers broken off by some person who walked through the bed, from one end to the other. 

Old timers returning to Midland would hardly recognize the town, even after a lapse of only a decade. Hundreds of new houses have gone up in that time, particularly in the Wireless Hill area. Two of the latest to be built are seen above, with the foundations for a third. 

“Don’t ask me how I won it, I don’t know,” said Ken McCaughen of Midland, left, as he showed Larry Stein the golf trophy he won at Toronto’s Cedar Brae course last Thursday. Ken was one of 105 golfers who took part in a tournament for shoe manufacturers and retailers. He brought home the Warren T. Fegan trophy for low net.

 

• Free Press headline of Wednesday, June 10, 1959; Police Nab Young Couple in $1,261.00 Store Theft. A growling dog played an important part in the apprehension of two persons subsequently charged with breaking into the Wool Shop, 307 King Street, Midland, early Tuesday morning. Charged with break, entry, and theft are a 22-year-old woman and her 30-year-old boyfriend. Police said the couple had been living together in a cottage at Balm Beach. He is also charged with possession of stolen goods, valued at $1,261. Sgt. George Wainman said the break-in apparently occurred at 3 a.m. It was discovered by Deputy-reeve Herb Beauchamp, whose residence is across the street from the Wool Shop. Mr. Beauchamp had been awakened by his dog growling in the garage, where it was tied up for the night. Mr. Beauchamp said the dog persisted in its growling and he finally went down in his pyjamas to investigate. He then became suspicious of actions going on at the store across the street and called the police.
• County Herald headline of Friday, June 12, 1959; Letherby, Johnston Win in Conservative Sweep. Progressive-Conservative candidate Lloyd Letherby of Coldwater almost made a clean sweep of polls in the provincial election yesterday in Simcoe East riding. Sitting member, in the last legislature, Mr. Letherby led Liberal Jack Andre, his closest contender, by nearly two votes to one in the overall balloting. Also victorious at the polls in Simcoe Centre, but with a much closer margin, was veteran legislator George G. Johnston of Minesing. He polled 7,678 compared with Jerry Coughlin’s 6,317 and Derrick Manson’s 1,335. Official figures for Simcoe East riding, released last night by Returning Officer Fisher Ganton of Hillsdale, were Letherby, PC, 8,436; Andre, Liberal, 4,298; Hoult, CCF, 1,139; Argue, Conservative (Independent), 869.
• Residents of Georgian Manor will have one of the best spots in town for viewing the royal party as they drive through the Main Street, according to Superintendent Ivan Vasey. Mr. Vasey said he has been successful in getting the use of the verandah of the Old Canada House. Bleachers will be constructed there, expressly for the use of senior citizens from the Manor. Mr. Vasey said the owner, G. Dillon, is making no charge for the space.
• Midland town dock is to be resurfaced before the Queen arrives, Mayor Charles Stevenson told council Monday night. The mayor said he had spent the afternoon with two federal department of public works engineers who had examined the pot-holed surface of the dock. He said the new surface would be hot mix paving and would cost about $15,000. Last year the dock was treated with stone chips and tar. The mayor said a grant of $1,000 would also be made by the federal public works department toward the completion of the approaches to the new boat launching ramp between the government dock and the shipyard.
• A former Midlander who has become internationally known for his artwork in oil, watercolour, gouache and inks, Paul Rodrik will hold a display of his paintings in Edwards Specialty Shoppe June 18, 19 and 20. More than 300 district citizens have been invited to attend the exhibition of this foremost Canadian artist. Son of the late Franz Johnston, one of Canada’s Group of Seven, Paul Rodrik has achieved public acclaim as a painter of both extreme tradition and extreme modern abstraction.
• “I hate to leave this wonderful place — particularly in the summertime, but we will be back,” Guenther Leitz, president of Ernst Leitz (Canada) Ltd., said Monday shortly before leaving with his family for a year in Germany. Mr. Leitz told this newspaper that he was returning to Germany to help with the “management re-organization” of the parent company and he expected it would take about one year. “We have been very happy about coming to Midland and are very pleased with our business relationships here,” Mr. Leitz stated.
• A directive is to be sent to the Midland police department, requesting that they pay prompt attention to complaints from citizens about the actions of dew worm pickers. The motion came as a result of a discussion on complaints that the worm pickers were damaging shrubs and flower beds and were startling people by looking in their windows. Alderman James Mackie said that any property owner has the right to phone the police because these people are trespassing on private property. Alderman Haig agreed and said that the worm pickers should obtain permission from the property owners before they trespass.
• Ten Years Ago This Week – Because of financial difficulties encountered by the town of Penetanguishene in the 1930s, the Ontario Municipal Board refused to approve a request for a $75,000 debenture issue by the town without prior approval of the ratepayers. The money was to be used for the construction of a new hospital and a recreation centre. As the projects would add seven to eight mills to the rate, council abandoned the idea. * * * Three men and a girl were contesting Simcoe East riding in the June 27 federal election. The four candidates were Marguerite Marchildon, Union of Electors, W. A. Robinson. Liberal, J. E. Skelton, CCF, and J. E. Wood. Conservative. * * * Approximately $14,000 damage was caused to the garage, buses and equipment of Penetang – Midland Coach Lines Ltd. in an early morning fire at Penetang. One large 29-passenger bus was completely destroyed. * * * Coldwater council estimated that, if the $11,300 budget, requested by the public school board — $2,500 more than the previous year — could not be pared, the village tax rate for 1949 would be eight mills higher than the 1948 levy. * * * A former warden of Simcoe County and county clerk for 27 years. J. T. Simpson announced he would retire at the end of the year. * * * At a district convention of Women’s Institutes at Waubaushene, delegates approved a proposal to split the East Simcoe District and form a new district of North Simcoe. The split was agreed upon because the larger area was causing administrative problems. * * * Some 25,000 persons were eligible to vote in Simcoe East on federal election day, June 27. In Midland 4594 were eligible and in Penetang, 2,433.

 

Looking Back to June 1939

William Casselman, 74, Farmer Son of Pioneer Lumberman Tells Tales of Early Days in Village – When Hotels and Industry Flourished
by J. H. Cranston
 
   It may astonish many of the oncoming generations to be told that the pretty little hamlet of Wyebridge was once a much more important business centre than Midland. Way back sixty or seventy years ago when Midland was just beginning to poke its nose out of the primordial mud Wyebridge was humming with activity. It was the most populous place between Barrie and Penetanguishene and boasted three hotels, three general stores, a woolen mill, two blacksmith shops, a grist mill, a lumber mill, and a number of minor industries. Big twelfth of July celebrations were held beneath gaily decorated arches, and every spring when the lumberjacks came in from the woods to squander their hard earned cash on red eye there were fights galore along the main street of the village.
 
    I had a chat the other day with William Astor Casselman who has lived in  Wyebridge or thereabouts all his 74 years. He has many tales to tell of the early days. Born on May 12, 1865, he was the son of Zachariah Casselman and his wife Mary Rebekah St. Lawrence Rowley. The Casselmans were strong on biblical names. Mrs. Casselman was given the name St. Lawrence because she was born on shipboard in the Gulf of St. Lawrence Her father was a veteran of the battle of Waterloo. The Casselmans originally came from Holland and took up land in the United States. When the United States broke away from Britain they came to Canada with other United Empire Loyalists and settled near Morrisburg, where Zachariah was born. One of the family heirlooms in the possession of William Casselman is a sword
worn by his maternal grandfather at the time of the Fenian Raid, and another is a stool on which his grandmother washed him as a baby.
BIG TIMBER DAYS
    Zachariah Casselman came to Northern Simcoe, along about 1858-60 with his first cousin H. H. Cook to go into the lumbering business. They hired gangs of men and got out square timber which they made into rafts in Georgian Bay and towed down through the Great Lakes and the Welland Canal, running the rapids of the St. Lawrence and ultimately landing the logs at Quebec where they were put on ships
and taken to Europe, one of the other Cook brothers looked after the Quebec end of the business. “My father often made the journey to Quebec,” said Mr. Casselman. He told me that the worst storms he encountered were on Lake Erie. There they sometimes lost the rafts when they had to cut them loose. Father and Mr. Cook secured timber concessions, cut down only the choicest of the trees, not cull stuff like one sees in the mills now. They sold plenty of land for forty cents an acre to settlers after they had taken their pick of the timber.   
   “Midland was not even thought of in those days. Later on, however, Hiram Cook built the first mill in what is now Midland while father erected a sawmill on the west side of the Wye River right across from the ruins of Old Fort Ste. Marie, at the outlet of Mud Lake. The machinery had to be teamed in from Barrie in the winter. There was quite a little village down at the Fort in those days. Father owned all the property around including the Fort. When I was a boy I used to have a good time playing around there. Our home was in Wyebridge and father drove down to the fort to work.
FIVE MILES OF LOGS
  “You would hardly believe it to look at it now but the Wye River was big enough then to float logs down. I have seen it jammed with logs for five miles. There was a big dam at Wyebridge and quite a sizable millpond. “Father used to ship the lumber from the sawmill on the Wye to Courtright, down near Sarnia, on sailing vessels which came up the river. There was a swing bridge where the road crossed, but no railways then, of course. It was in Wyebridge that Zachariah Casselman met his wife. She was the widow of James Jeffery, who, over 85 years ago built and operated the old Commercial Hotel, the first in Wyebridge. The little frame building structure still stands and is the oldest building in the village, carrying on its ancient trade of catering to the travelling public. The present proprietor is Harry J. Howard. Zachariah Casselman was married to Mrs. Jeffery in the Church-on-the-Lines, Penetanguishene. Of this marriage were born William Casselman and three sisters. Two of the latter are living, Annie Maud, who is Mrs. John McWatters of Port Robinson, near Welland and Sarah Alexander, Mrs. Bishopric of Toronto. Mrs. H. Bishopre’s twin sister, Alberta, was Mr. McWatters’ first wife. William
Casselman married Elizabeth Ann Preston, daughter of James Preston, Tiny township farmer, on December 22, 1894. They have had no children. “Father had no use for the hotel business,” said William Casselman, “and he soon moved into the house which he built on lots 98 and 94 on Mill Street, where I now live. My uncle Herman, who had married my mother’s sister, ran the hotel for some years. Father continued in the lumbering business until he decided to go farming on lot 92 the first concession of Tiny. He did not do much at it, however, and soon moved back to Wyebridge.
EDUCATED IN WYEBRIDGE
   I got all my education in Wyebridge. My first teacher was a Mrs. Firth, later of Firth’s Corners, who conducted a sort of kindergarten school. Afterwards, I attended the school about one and a half miles south of the village. Do I recall some of my teachers? Yes, there was Mr. Hook and Mr. Montgomery, Miss Clarker and Miss 
Blair. There were plenty of big fellows at school in those days but Montgomery had them as much under control as if they were kids. He scared me pretty badly one day. I had done something to make another fellow laugh right out. He told me to stay in after school. When all the others had gone he ordered me to take off my coat.
Then while I stood trembling in fear of what he was going to do to me he gave me the severest lecture I ever got and let me go. I might just as well have had a good threshing for I was sure it was coming all the time. There are some of his descendants still living in Tay Township. He kept a store in the village for a while. “I went to school until I was somewhere between 18 and 20. I took book-keeping lessons from the teacher, and in return, I helped him out by teaching some of the smaller classes.”
35 YEARS AS TRUSTEE
   That experience gave Mr. Casselman an interest in education. In later years he served school trustee and secretary-treasurer of S. S No 5, Tiny, for 35 years. “I was the means of getting the school moved from out in the country into Wyebridge.” Said he, “We were the only village between here and Barrie that did not have the school in the settlement. The country people wanted to keep it where it was. Finally, it was put to a vote, and it was decided to split the section. Our school is only a small one-room affair.
   After he left school young Casselman took charge of his father’s farm. There he built a house and got married at the age of 29. In the meantime, however, he had done some work at lumbering. He continued on the farm for thirteen years. His health not being too good he rented his farm and came back to live in the village.
For some years he worked his uncle’s farm, now owned by William Preston on the outskirts of the village. He then bought out Kennedy’s general store, which he conducted for two years. Selling out he moved into his present home, his father having died in the meantime. He has lived there for more than 26 years, more or less retired, but has cut and sold considerable marsh hay from some land he owned on the verge of Mud Lake.
HEAVY DRINKING
“When I was a boy in Wyebridge there were many buildings standing which have since been torn down,” said Mr. Casselman. “Besides the old Commercial Hotel, there was another just across the road on the northwest corner which was built by Hiram Tripp. It was called the Dominion. There was still another on the east side of the road, the name of which I cannot recall. There was a big shed just north of the Dominion Hotel in which the farmers stabled their horses and above it there was a hall which was used for political meetings. “There was a lot of heavy drinking went on in the village when the three hotels and one liquor store were in full swing, particularly when the shanty men came out with their winter’s wages. One camp would fight another, but though there was plenty of bloodshed I cannot remember any serious casualties. The Twelfth of July also saw much scrapping. I have seen fights going on all the way from the Dominion Hotel to the bridge, perhaps as many as forty or fifty men engaged. Whiskey was sold over the bar for five cents a glass, and a flask full cost only a quarter. The Dominion was a pretty wild place in Jack Enright’s day. He usually got all the shanty men’s money. It was burned down when he was the proprietor and never rebuilt.
OTHER HOTEL KEEPERS
“After the Casselman family moved out of the Commercial it passed through a number of hands. There was Chris Varty, Alf Swaisland, John Clappen, Jim Demorest, who is now in Midland, George Taylor, now in Lindsay, Peter McPhee, and Harry Howard. There has been no liquor sold there since the passing of the Scott Act. Mr. Howard sells soft drinks and tobacco and operates pool tables. “Herman Tripp, who erected the Dominion, sold out to William Edwards, who also conducted the liquor store and operated a 100-acre farm. He was followed by Tom Rogers, Sr., and two men named Bale and Deacon and then by Bill Leith. It came into the hands of Jack Wright and was burned down just about the time the railway was built. The other hotel was also burned down. I think it was run by Mr. Robins. “There were three stores in the village at that time,”   continued Mr. Casselman. There was Nelson McRae’s where the present Rawn store now is, the Gilbert Kennedy store, south of the river, and a small store run by a Mr. Moses.
BIG WOOLLEN MILL
   “The woollen mill was owned by John Lummis and operated by the family of John Wallace. He had three sons with him, Bob, Jack and Bill. The farmers came from all over the countryside to get their wool made into yarn. The mill made cloth and blankets and did a big business operating by water power. “My father owned one of
two blacksmith shops, and also a wheelwright shop in which waggons
and buggies were made. Jack Detweiler ran the blacksmith shop and Bill Foster the wheelwright shop. Later Bob Elliott was blacksmith and George Steer, now of Midland, ran the wagon business. “The grist mill, which was built by James Plewes, was operated by him, his five sons and three daughters. They did big business and would still be able to do one if they were running it today. They took a percentage of the grain brought to them as their pay. The flour that they made was stone ground and much healthier than that made today by steel mills.”
   “After the mill, which worked the year round, was sold to John Lummis, the five Plewes boys worked elsewhere in the grist mill Business, Angus at Markdale, John at Bracebridge, George at Sarnia, and James at Shelburne. The mill was operated for a while by Mr. Lummis and his son Adolphus, but after the dam went out in the big flood he tore it down. Mr. Lummis also owned and operated a sawmill on the other side of the river. He used to cut a lot of lumber.“
    William Casselman was warden of the Church of the Good Shepherd
for 35 to 40 years. “Father used to order me to make the fires and look after the church when I was a boy,” he said. “The old church which was 100 years old, was burned down and the new one built in 1910.
REMEMBERS MR. PLAYFAIR
“Politics, I have been a Liberal all my life.” Confessed Mr. Casselman. “Father was too and so were the Cooks. I am a Mason but not in good standing. I have been keeping the books for the Maccabees* for thirty years. There are only about thirteen members in North Simcoe now, there used to be fifty. Yes, I remember James Playfair and often had a chat with him about the days he spent in Wyebridge. He was working for Dodge Lumber Company and was scaler and kept time in the shanty. He was a fine lad. In later years I sold him some of the lands that formed part of the Mud Lake shooting preserve, at a good price. I still own some but cannot get rid of it for love or money.
   “What difference would you say is most noticeable between the Wyebridge of your day and that of today?” I asked. “People seem to be more sociable then, than they are now,” was the reply. They enjoyed themselves more than they do today. Now there is more style and class even among farmers. They are just as bad as the village or townsfolk. I would not want to live in a city for I do not like crowds. There is no better occupation even today than farming, and there is no reason why a farmer cannot make a good living today if he keeps abreast of the times. “People seem to want more play and less work today. When a man got a dollar a day in the harvest field it was thought big money and he was well satisfied. Men seemed to be stronger then. They would work all day reaping with cradles. The present generation could not stand that. I would never have left the farm if my health had kept good.”
 
*(The Maccabees were one of the more successful of fraternal benefit societies which sprung up after the Civil War. Many insurance companies were not interested in sales to ordinary people and there was little in the way of “safety nets”. Groups like the Maccabees, Foresters, Woodmen, and so on provided a safety net along with pleasant social meetings and other gatherings. Each had its own ritual legend — the Foresters, Robin Hood, for example, and the Maccabees the story of Mattathias Maccabee and his sons, the leaders of the Jewish revolt against Syrian desecration of the Temple.)