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This ancient washing machine brought smiles from Mrs. M. Doucette and her daughters; Diana, 13, and Barbara, 6. It was one of the many articles donated to the Laymen’s Association of St. Mark’s Anglican Church for their auction sale at Midland Curling Club Saturday. The sale raised about $500 for the association’s “kitchen” and “needy family” projects.

Everything from “soup to nuts” just about describes the articles donated to St. Mark’s Laymen’s Association for their auction sale at Midland Curling Club Saturday. Here Mrs. (Betty) Cliff Irvine tries out a pair of garden shears while her sons, Brian, 5, and Charles, 3, seem more interested in a miniature deer head.

Massed flags of the colour parties from various branches of the Women’s Auxiliaries to the Canadian Legion provided a colourful touch to the parade and rally held in Midland Wednesday night. The Midland Women’s Auxiliary, Branch 80, played host to the visiting auxiliaries who arrived by car and chartered buses. The parade formed up at Midland Armory.

The laying of flowers on the cenotaph was an important part of the rally held by Zone E-4 Women’s Auxiliaries to the Canadian Legion here Wednesday night. Pictured left to right are Commander Mrs. Len Maheu, president of the Midland branch; Chairlady Florence Pegg, of the Ontario Provincial Council, Toronto, and Zone Commander V. Adams of Barrie.

Happy smile mark the faces of the trophy winners at Midland public schools’ field day Wednesday. Left to right, Nancy Higgs, intermediate, Janice Weeks, junior, and Elaine Stainton, the senior winner among the girls. Nancy set new records at this year’s meet.

The boys were Ron Merkley, senior, Frank Reynolds, intermediate, and Max Morden, junior. Max set new records at this year’s meet.

Despite their unexpected defeat at the hands of Alliston last week, Midland Indians are considered strong contenders for the South Simcoe Baseball League pennant this year. Three former Orillia players are now playing with Midland. Left to right are outfielders Dean Heliotis and Ken Hipwell, and catcher Court Braley.  

Three native sons are Murray Yorke, Joe Faragher and Jim Wilcox. Indians met Lisle here last night.

Separated by great distances for more than 50 years, Miss Isabella Gawley of Londonderry, Ireland, and her brother, George Gawley, are having a real get-together these days at the latter’s Sunnyside home. Miss Gawley, matron of a Londonderry hospital for more than 30 years until her retirement in 1954, plans to spend a year in Canada.

   For some 31 years, Mr. Gawley farmed in Manitoba, and also for a short-time near Sudbury. He had also worked for a time as “top filler” at the old smeller when it was “the industry” in Midland. For the past 19 years, he and Mrs. Gawley have operated Gawley’s Park, a summer resort located just a stone’s throw from the site of the old smelter.
   Undoubtedly Mr. Gawley and his sister will have many stories to tell each other concerning the happenings of the half-century they have been apart. Mr. Gawley will be able to tell about the hardships of farming in Manitoba in the early days, and of happier times, perhaps in Midland.

Top Cadets of RCSCC “Huron” are seen above receiving their awards from Commander G. J. Manson at the annual inspection last Wednesday night. Cadets are, left to right, A/B Kirk Mitchell, L/C Terry McIlravey, and L/C David McIlravey.

Another ancient art of the mariner is knot tying, a part of the training of all sea cadets. “Huron” cadets Gary Hood, left, and David Mcllravey show their proficiency to Commander G. J. Manson of Hamilton, during last Wednesday night’s annual inspection. 

• The Free Press Herald headline of Wednesday, June 3, 1959; Ask Minister Establish Township Planning Area. Tiny Township council, Monday night, took the first concrete step toward setting up a planning board for the municipality. It endorsed a resolution requesting the Minister of Planning and Development to “declare the township a planning area.” A select group of men who, it is expected will form the board, were present recently when a representative of the Department of Planning and Development gave a comprehensive explanation of the functions of a planning board. Establishment of a planning board likely will put an end to meetings such as the Monday night session, which did not adjourn until 1 a.m. The greater part of the evening was spent viewing a sub-division plan for the Sawlog Bay area, presented by Joseph Axler of Axler and Palmer Ltd., Toronto.
• County Herald headline of Friday, June 5, 1959; Tiny Council Revokes Licence Stirs up Hornet’s Nest. The controversial licence, according to Clerk Gabriel Marchand, was issued about a week and a half ago. According to the clerk, Homer Spring, owner of the Surf Tea Room came to the office with a Charles Kirke, and asked to have the usual restaurant licence renewed. As the licence was being written, he asked that amusements be added to it, and then requested that it be made but in the name of Charles Kirke. He said he had sold the business to Mr. Kirke. Council apparently was aware of the licence before attending Monday’s meeting and showed no surprise when a letter from Nick Pantos recommended the permit be not granted. Nick Pantos said Mr. Kirke is in the slot machine business. It was anticipated from council’s remarks that the amusements would be of the slot machine nature. The general feeling of the council was that one large enterprise of this type is sufficient for the Balm Beach area. It was contended that this would tend to create more noise, and possibly trouble in the area. Following these remarks, a motion was tabled and passed ordering the amusement part of the licence to be revoked and the money refunded to Mr. Kirke.
• Wayne Garraway, the four-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Reg Garraway, Penetang, returned to his home Thursday little the worse for an experience of having a peanut lodged in his right lung. Mr. and Mrs. Garraway rushed the child to Sick Children’s Hospital, Toronto, last Tuesday night after he had accidentally inhaled the small nut. Doctors there were successful in retrieving the foreign object from the lung, and Wayne was returned to his home apparently suffering no ill effects from the ordeal.
• Royal tour officials in Ottawa Monday announced the official schedule for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip when they visit the North Simcoe, Muskoka, Parry Sound area July 4. According to the announcement, the royal barge is to arrive at Penetanguishene dock at 3.15 p.m. After a 15-minute sojourn in Penetang; the royal couple will leave by car for Midland at 3.30 p.m. arriving at Midland at 3.35 p.m. The Queen and Prince Philip are scheduled to leave Midland by CNR train at 4 p.m., arriving at Orillia at 5.05 p.m. They will leave the Sunshine Sketches town by train at 5.30 p.m., arriving at Washago at 6 p.m. and leaving there by car for Gravenhurst where their time of arrival is set at 6.25 p.m. After a 20-minute stop in Gravenhurst, Her Majesty and Prince Philip will leave by car for Torrance, arriving at Torrance at 7.15 p.m. and leaving five minutes later by train for Parry Sound. Their scheduled arrival time at the latter centre is 8.35 p.m. At 8.55 p.m. they are to go back on board the Britannia, awaiting them off Red Rock, to leave for Chicago.
• A young Victoria Harbour workman, James Cote, 18, may have lost all his fingers on both hands as a result of an accident at the Canadian Name Plate Company’s Midland plant Tuesday morning. Company officials said Cote, a comparatively new employee, was helping operator Joe Klug produce parts on a press brake machine. In some manner, the young man had his fingers in the machine when the clutch let go. Mr. Klug, fortunately, escaped injury. The mishap occurred around 10 a.m.
• Tomorrow marks another big day in the career of Myer Mostyn; for almost 30 years one of the leading merchants on Midland’s King Street. On this occasion, it is the opening of the most recently remodeled of his two King Street stores, located on each side of the Free Press Herald building. It’s the most southerly one at 238 King, resplendent in a brand new stone front and new windows, set off in shining aluminium. Called “Angel Stone”, the new front has already earned many compliments for Mr. Mostyn and the contractor, Len Berriault, of Midland. Glass work was by Consolidated Glass Co., Toronto. Another feature is a Plexiglas section behind the big block letters that spell out the firm name, Mostyn’s. New lighting arrangements behind the Plexiglas will make the name stand out even more. In future, this store will cater to boys from four years to 14 years — only. It will be one of the few stores in the province dealing strictly in boys’ clothing and accessories, Mr. Mostyn said. This store formerly dealt in girls’ and women’s wear as well as boys’, but these lines are being discontinued. The other store, at 234 King, will handle men’s clothing and accessories, only. Fronts of the two stores, while of different material, now match closely architecturally. It was February 1930, that Myer Mostyn opened his first store in Midland, just south of the present Agnew Surpass store. In March of that same year, he was joined by the former Sadie Bidner, who had just become his bride in Toronto. In the interim Mr. and Mrs. Mostyn have changed locations many times, and still found time to raise a family of five sons in Midland. They stayed in the first store for three years and then moved across the street to 234 King for three more. Next, they operated a store on the site of the present Simpson’s mail-order office for eight years. Then it was north again to 232 King, where Dr. T. J. Johnston now has his office, for three years. The Mostyns next move was one block south and across the street, to the store Reg Mulligan is currently readying for opening soon as his new drug store. They were at this site for five years, coming back to 238 King in 1948. They also took over 234 King again in 1954 and have operated both stores since that time. “Thirty years spans quite an era when you look back on it,” Mr. Mostyn reminisced. From the end of the horse and buggy days to the space age, in effect. Associated in the stores with their parents are sons Stanley and Harold. Their second oldest son, Louis, graduates in law from the University of Toronto June 10. He will join a law firm in Toronto. Two youngest sons, Murray and Alan, are currently attending school in Toronto.
• 25 Years Ago This Week – 1934 – The Ontario Medical Association announced that it was sending out questionnaires to every medical practitioner in Ontario, to determine their opinions on state health insurance. * * * Waverley Anglican Church was preparing to celebrate its 40th anniversary. The special speaker was to be Canon Simpson of Millbrooke. * * * At a meeting in Phelpston, Flos Township council ordered that four farmers be recompensed for sheep and lambs killed or injured by dogs. * * * Midland Boat Works had completed and shipped five boats to Waterways, Alberta, 350 miles north of Edmonton. The craft were to be used on Great Bear and Great Slave Lakes. * * * District farmers were concerned about the effects of an early heat wave and drought. Unless rain came, spring crops would be ruined it was stated. Heavy, frosts during the winter had killed 99 per cent of the fall wheat and alfalfa, it was said. * * * Five hundred young people from the Allendale area made arrangements to hold a one-day outing at Little Lake Park, Midland. * * * Two double-barred silver crosses found with two skeletons on the banks of the Wye River were identified by Father T. J. Lally, director of Martyrs’ Shrine, as Lorraine crosses sent in the 17th century to Jesuit missionaries among the Indians, by the Duchess of Lorraine. * * * The S.S. Hibou was to make a weekly call at Midland during July and August. Her home port was Toledo, Ohio. She was a combined passenger and package freight ship.
• STREET NAME SIGNS; Elmvale is still progressing. A few months ago, numbers were placed on all stores and residences. Now street names have been erected as an aid to many who visit in the village during the holiday season.
• Obituaries; NAPOLEON BEAUCHAMP Hotel owner and contractor Napoleon Beauchamp died at his home, 329 Yonge Street, W., May 22 following a heart attack. He was in his 61st year. Funeral service was held from A. Barrie and Sons funeral home to St. Margaret’s Church, where Solemn High Mass was celebrated May 25. Pallbearers were Douglas Wilson, Jr., Robert Wilson, George Gouett, Jack Beauchamp, Raymond Beauchamp and John Beauchamp. Mr. Beauchamp, who was born and educated in Penetang, married the former Edna Brodeur at Grimsby. He had been a Midland resident for 12 years. Besides his widow, he is survived by a daughter, Betty, and a son, Donald, a sister, Hortense and seven brothers, Philip, Moses, Adolphe, Arthur, Herbert, Ted and Lige. Burial was in St. Margaret’s Cemetery.
• Penetang council, Tuesday night, moved to purchase extra land on two sides of the Memorial Community Centre property for a total cost of $1,300. George Kerr, speaking for the Lions Club, told the council the club held an option on five lots to the rear of the building and two double lots on the south side. He said the club had no use for the land itself and wanted to know whether or not the town wanted it for addition to the centre property. There was some discussion that part of the land could be used for a new tennis club in the summer, and parking facilities in winter.
• Cecil Stanley Wyley, 73, of R.R. 1 Vasey, lost his life Tuesday afternoon while attempting to blast stumps at the back end of his farm, Lot 14, Con. 3, Medonte. OPP Const. H. R. Banting, who investigated, said the accident occurred sometime between 2 p.m, and 6.30 p.m. It was discovered when Mrs. Wyley, 67, went to find out what was delaying her husband at the supper hour. Mr. Wyley, who was alone in the field, was attempting to clear away some stumps with “stumping powder”, a form of dynamite. The officer said no person has any idea how the mishap occurred. No inquest will be held. Besides his wife, Mr. Wyley is survived by two daughters, Gertrude, 36, and, Adele, 29, both living at home.
• School section No. 16 Tay Township, near Martyrs’ Shrine, will sponsor a new Scout group to be known as Little Huronia. The first meeting took the form of an informal gathering of interested boys from SS No. 16 and SS No. 17, Tay school areas. The meeting was held in Old Fort School. There were 11 scout-minded boys present and their proposed leader, Ray Worrell. Plans were made to form patrols, select patrol leaders, troop administration, and a meeting night decided upon. The next section to be organized is the Wolf Cub Pack. Plans are already being made for this. Mrs. B. Puddicombe will be the Cubmaster (Akela). The pack is expected to enroll 12 boys of Cub age, eight to eleven years. 

Looking back 80 years to June 1939. 

• With a view to securing more efficiency in the County Constabulary, the Crown Attorney’s Department in cooperation with the Provincial Police, have inaugurated a new set-up for the County of Simcoe. On May 26, says the Barrie Advance, 22 of the 33 recently appointed County Constables were sworn in at the Court House here before County Judge Holmes. The number of County Constables previously in charge of policing the County was 60, but all were asked to turn in their badges and the number was pared down to thirty, where it is claimed there will be more efficiency under the new plan. County Constables will work under the direction of Provincial Constable Harry Butler of Orillia, acting High County Constable. “The men are on all the time, receive moderate remuneration and act largely because of their desire to serve in their community for the preservation of law and order,” Constable Butler is reported as stating.
• NO NUDISTS According to a report in the Toronto press, moonlight bathing, which has been the cause of considerable complaint from Simcoe County beach resorts, will occupy the attention of the newly formed constabulary in an attempt to discourage this form of impropriety.
• PENETANG—A victim of complications resulting from scarlet fever, six-year-old Clarence Cascagnette, son of Councillor and Mrs. Ovila Cascagnette, was buried here Friday. The funeral was held from the home of the child’s parents to Ste. Anne’s Jesuit Memorial Church where services were conducted by Rev. Father Walsh. Interment was made in Ste. Anne’s Cemetery, death occurred Wednesday following an illness of six weeks. The boy who was born here would have been seven years old in July. Besides his parents, he is survived by brothers and sisters. Twelve of his young friends acted as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Andrew Beaudoin, Patrick Pauze, Remi Gravelle, Frank Longlade, Ernest Gauthier and Lawrence Cascagnette while active pallbearers were John Dumais, Allen, Julien and Thomas Beausoleil, Charles Longlade and Cecil Arbour.
• One time chief, many years as a councillor, one of the best farmers of the district, and a most respected citizen, Josiah Monague of Christian Island passed away Saturday in his 62nd year after a long illness. Funeral services were conducted by Mr. Cowan, Indian missionary, Sunday morning, with burial in the island cemetery. Mr. Monague is survived by his wife, a son Victor, aged 17, and 3 daughters.
• HOSPITAL COMMENCEMENT The citizens of Midland are invited to attend the graduating exercises of St Andrews Hospital, to be held in the Capitol Theatre, Tuesday, June 13, at 3 p.m. The speaker will be Rev. Alex Ferguson of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Ottawa. The nurses who will graduate are Misses Hazel Steer, Thelma Shaw, Katharine King, and Sydney Wilson.
• MARINE NEWS – PORT OF MIDLAND Arrivals in Midland on June 1, included the Arthur Orr from South Chicago at 2 a.m. and the Mariposa from the same port at 5. June 2, arrived: Ericsson, Fort William, 5 a.m.; Saskatoon, Wallaceburg, 8.20 p.m. June 1, cleared: Arthur Orr, South Chicago, 10 p.m. June 2, cleared: Mariposa, South Chicago, 1 p.m.; Ericsson, Fort William, 11; Saskatoon, Depot Harbor, 9. SAILINGS TO AND FROM PORT McNICOLL Arrivals: May 29—S.S. Alberta, cargo grain product from Chicago. May 29—S.S. Keewatin, cargo flour from Fort William. June 1—S.S. Assiniboia, grain products from Fort William. June 2—S.S. Athabasca, grain products from Chicago. June 3—S.S. Manitoba, grain products from Fort William. June 5 — S.S. Alberta, grain products from Chicago. June 5—S.S. Augustus, cargo corn from Chicago. Sailings: May 29—S.S. Manitoba, merchandise, package freight for Fort William. May 30—S.S. Alberta package freight for Chicago. May 31—S.S. Keewatin, package freight for Fort William. June 3—S.S. Athabasca, package freight for Chicago. June 3—S.S. Assiniboia, package freight for Fort William. June 5—S.S. Manitoba, package freight for Fort William.
• Midland’s third annual Public School Musical Festival held in the Arena Gardens on Friday evening was a great success in every way. Not only was the Arena filled to capacity, but every number on the program was greatly appreciated by the big crowd. Director of Music Douglas Major and the teachers associated with him scored another big triumph. The Musical Festival is here to stay. “A few years ago many of would have laughed at the idea teaching music in the schools, said Dr. Ross Parrott, Chairman of the Board of Education, at the outset of the evening’s entertainment. “Such a suggestion would have been called hooey.” he continued. “I think you will agree with me, however, that the progress that has been made has justified the experiment, and that the cultural development of our children is being taken care of in a very fine way. “The big attendance, here tonight is an indication of the keen interest the people of Midland are displaying in this feature of our children’s education,” declared Mayor James Mackie. “Music is a necessary part of education and should be encouraged as much as possible.” The Mayor paid a warm tribute to Director of Music Douglas Major and the teaching staff of the schools.

Click on photos to enlargeGrouchy-looking old Indian medicine man seemingly holds no terrors for pretty Western University co-ed Dawn Phibbs of St. Thomas, as she gets him ready for another big season at Midland’s Huron Indian village. Supposed to be holding the ladder is Dr. Wilfrid Jury, supervisor of the village and noted archaeologist. 

Getting ready for another busy season, John Bridges nails sign to palisade of Midland ‘Y’s Men’s Huron Indian village at Little Lake Park. Holding the sign for Johnny are Norman Clarke of Barrie, left, long identified with historic sites in Huronia country and workman Wallace Kells. The village, now starting its fourth year, will host more than 5,000 school children in the next few weeks. 

Each year the compound behind the palisades of Midland’s Huron Indian village at Little Lake Park gets more and more crowded as new and authentic pieces of every-day Indian life more than 300 years ago are added. This picture was taken from new look-out erected this year at the south end of the village. It makes an excellent camera vantage point. 

Long-time residents of North Simcoe, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Reynolds marked their golden wedding anniversary May 19. They are seen above with their anniversary cake during a gathering held in Wyebridge Community Hall. 

   There were, times when things were pretty tough, financially, but Henry Reynolds would be quite willing to do it all over again. Commented Mr. Reynolds as he was interviewed by a representative of the County Herald in Wyebridge Community Hall last Tuesday afternoon. The occasion was the celebration of his and Mrs. Reynolds’ 50th wedding anniversary.  Mr.  Reynolds and the former Maude Carpenter were married in Barrie May 19, 1909. Both were natives of Tiny Township.
   They operated farms in the area all their lives until they retired to spend their remaining days in Wyebridge four years ago.  The Reynolds’ first farm after their marriage was near Wyebridge, but they moved several times in subsequent years to a farm near Waverley and another elsewhere in Tiny. Then they settled down to live on a farm at Lot 86, Con. 1, Tiny, for something like 40 years before they retired.
   Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds had seven children, four sons, and three daughters. All are living and all are married, providing their parents with 23 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Sons are Armour, Albert and Willis, all of the Wyebridge area, and Edwin, who lives at Barrie. The daughters are Mrs. George Marchant (Gladys), R.R. 1, Midland; Mrs. Ed Collins (Leta), Midland and Mrs. Meredith Guthrie (Hazel), Wyebridge. Warden of the Church of the Good Shepherd (Anglican) at Wyebridge for 15 years, Mr. Reynolds also served on the board of S.S. 21, Tiny (MacDonald’s School) for six years. He’s a staunch Conservative in politics. Both Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds enjoy reasonably good health and entertained a large group of friends Tuesday afternoon and evening. 

Thursday night was a happy occasion for these pupils of St. Mary’s Separate School, Victoria Harbour, as they received their Grade 10 graduation diplomas. Left to right are; Bryde Bernard, Margaret Cadeau, Audrey Somers, Mary Deschenes, Carol Roy and Celima Pelletier. Mary will attend MPDHS next year, Celima hopes to register for a business course, and Carol will work for the Bell Telephone Company in Midland. The other three girls will attend St. Theresa’s High School in Midland. 

Chairman of St. Mary’s Separate School Board, in Victoria Harbour, Mrs. Theo Bernard can be proud of the scholastic prowess of her own daughters, as well as other students in the school. Bryde, left, had the highest standing in general proficiency, grades 9 and 10. Minta, right, was tops in religious studies among grades 7 and 8 pupils. 

These five Victoria Harbour boys took another step forward in their scholastic careers when they received their grade 10 diplomas at St. Mary’s Separate School, Thursday. Left to right are; James LaChapelle, Brian Larmand, Willard Larmand, Bob LaChapelle and Pat St. Amand. Jim, Brian and Willard will attend St. Theresa’s High School, Midland, next term. 

Old MacDonald’s farm was the theme for the junior choirs of St. Paul’s Presbyterian and St. John’s United Church as their portion of a musical evening held at Victoria Harbour Public School Friday night. Getting “in the mood” are, left to right, Barry C. Schissler, Lorne Profit, Danny Johnston, Jim Pearsall and Dennis Rutherford.

PC Candidate Lloyd Letherby, left, and Liberal candidate Jack Andre, right, met for the first time on Friday afternoon, May 22, in the office of J. R. Chittick (centre), general manager of the Free Press Herald, where they shook hands as a preliminary to campaigning for Simcoe East membership in the Ontario Legislature. 

Junior and senior choirs of St. Paul’s Presbyterian and St. John’s United Churches in Victoria Harbour combined talents for a musical evening in the public school Friday night.  Looking over their music are senior members Joanne Reid, Mrs. Dorothy O’Hara, Paul Eplett, Mrs. Mary Cameron and Mrs. Norine Schissler.

Among the junior members were, left to right, Patsy Warren, Doreen Todd, Dorothy Eplett and Linda Hutchinson.

Almost as old as man going to sea is the art of signalling messages between ships with flags. Demonstrating their ability at the annual inspection of RCSCC “Huron” Wednesday night are L/C Terry Mcllravey, left and L/C John Doran.

 

• Free Press Herald headline of May 27, 1959; Large Wire Rope Plant Slated for Midland Site. The B. Greening Wire Co. Limited of Hamilton today announced it has purchased 22.8 acres of land on the southeastern outskirts of Midland on which it will erect a 75,000-square-foot manufacturing plant. Frank Bray, chairman of Midland Chamber of Commerce Industrial Committee, said the property forms part of the farm belonging to Kenneth Taylor and lies within the corporation limits. The announcement climaxes negotiations between the company and the Chamber of commerce first initiated in March 1957. Mr. Bray said at that time, Harvey White, then chairman of the Industrial Committee, and R. B. Moffatt, secretary-manager of the chamber, received a suggestion from the Canadian Pacific Railway industrial commissioner that the Greening company might be interested in locating in this area. He explained that in the fall of 1958, representatives of the company toured various Central Ontario towns. They were accompanied by an official of the trades and industry branch, Ontario Department of Planning and Development. They spent some time in Midland, obtaining statistics and other pertinent industrial information.
• County Herald headline of May 29, 1959; Council Holds Tax rate to Four-Mill Increase. A $20,000 cushion from the 1958 surplus and $l8,900 of accumulated surpluses enabled Midland Council to hold the 1959 tax rate increase to roughly four mills. The new rate was officially set Tuesday night at a special meeting of the council. Commercial taxpayers will have a levy of 78 mills up four from last year, and residential ratepayers a levy of 70.10 mills, up 4.60 mills from 1958. Rates for Separate School residential and commercial taxpayers will be the same as above. Clerk-treasurer William A. Hack said the slightly larger increase in the residential rate is caused by the fact that residential property assessment is up and therefore there is more to share the benefit of the provincial unconditional grants, which have not been increased since 1955. Mr. Hack said there was an 8.83% increase in the town’s population in 1955 which brought about a 7% increase in unconditional grants.
• Some 30 Penetang councillors and ex-members of the council and their wives were present at a testimonial dinner for veteran clerk-treasurer W. H. Hewson, who retired from that position last year after completing 30 years of service. The guest speaker was J. W. P. Carter of the Department of Municipal Affairs, who spent some time in Penetang during the depression assisting with the administration of the town after it had fallen into default along with a number of other municipalities. “When I first came to Penetang 22 years ago, things were not too rosy, and it was a treat to meet such a thorough gentleman as W. H. Hewson,” he said. “I have many happy memories of working with you Bill, especially since many of the things I had to do were not always popular. Somehow you had a knack of smoothing the way,” Mr. Carter said. Mr. Carter recalled that five of the seven members of the council at that time were on relief, and I had the job of convincing them they were spending too much money.”
• Representatives of Midland Chamber of Commerce, the parks board and public works department Monday night decided on the location of two tourist information centers at the eastern and western entrances of Little Lake Park. Tourist Committee Chairman Walter Wood said one would be situated at the Yonge Street W., entrance and the other at the King Street entrance. The information centres will be housed in two full-scale summer cottages donated by Midland Planing Mills and Beaver Lumber Ltd. Mr. Wood said. He said the parks board cooperated by providing sites for the two units.
• Clarence Bannister discovered a unique coin while ploughing his garden with a tractor Friday night. Mr. Bannister said he saw the coin shining in the sun and stopped to examine it. It turned out to be an 1854 United States “Half Dime”. It is about the same size as the old Canadian five cent pieces. Mr. Bannister is attempting to determine the value of the coin.
• Births – BATES — To. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bates, Sunnyside, Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Monday, May 25, 1959, a son. EDWARDS — To Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Edwards, Vasey, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Friday, May 22, 1959, a son. HEBNER — To Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hebner, Port Severn, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland; Monday, May 25, 1959, a son. LATOUR — To Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Latour, 51 Bay St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Thursday, May 21, 1959, a son. LeCLAIR — To Mr. and Mrs. Patrick LeClair, 109 Elizabeth St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Monday, May 25, 1959, a daughter. (Stillborn). WALKER — To Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Walker, R.R. 1, Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Saturday, May 23, 1959, a son, (James Gordon). GRIGG — Helen and Fred Grigg announce the arrival of a new sister for Peter, Jane and Paul, Monday, May 25, 1959, at Penetang General Hospital.
• Ten Years Ago This Week – Two stores and a dwelling were destroyed in a disastrous fire which swept the Victoria Harbour business section. The damage was estimated at $75,000. * * * Edwin Walker of Midland was elected deputy district governor, Zone 8, District A-3, Lions International, at the district annual convention in Toronto. Mr. Walker was a charter member and past president of Midland Lions Club. * * * Nearly 400 persons, school children and adults, comprised the first organized pilgrimage of the season to Martyrs’ Shrine, Midland. The pilgrims came from Guelph and Toronto. * * * A new $15,000 combined boat and bath house was officially opened at Little Lake, Midland. The official opening ceremonies were arranged by Midland Junior Chamber of Commerce. * * * Viscount Alexander of Tunis, Governor General of Canada, and Lady Alexander were to visit Huronia the last week in July, an announcement from Ottawa revealed. * * *  Midland’s tax rate for 1949 was set at 49.5 mills, 3.5 mills higher than the 1949 levy. The public school rate was up 1.466 mills and the county levy increased by 1.152 mills. * * * Port McNicoll ratepayers were to be taxed 38 mills for 1949, an increase of six mills over the previous year’s rate. The hike was caused by a three-mill increase in the general rate and an increase of one mill each in the public school, continuation school and county rates. 
• Midland council has purchased and installed a soft drink dispensing machine in the new municipal building. Price of the machine is $547 and was purchased on an installment basis. Council was informed that the sale of three cases a week of soft drinks from the 80-bottle capacity machine would meet the installment payments. Maintenance of the unit is free.
• According to the Montreal Star, a Midland skipper Norman Donaldson was the master of the first merchant ship to enter the St. Lawrence Seaway when navigation opened in the new waterway. Captain Donaldson was in charge of the 36-year-old Canada Steamship Lines freighter Simcoe which led the convoy of merchant ships into the 185-mile waterway. The Simcoe was followed by the S.S. Prescodoc, owned by N. M. Paterson Lines. The Seaway will be officially opened by Queen Elizabeth and President Eisenhower June 26.
• Midland council has approved the sale of lot 27 on the north side of Scott Street and lot 44 on the south side of Scott Street to Bernick Construction Limited. The lots, assessed at $105 each, were sold for $210 each for a total of $420 cash, with the stipulation that houses be built on them in a year. The action was deferred on a request from Marshall Edwards, Midland Point, offering to purchase lot 36 on the east side of Seventh Street for $200.
• A young visitor to Midland’s Indian village discovered the other day, much to his own personal discomfort, that this replica of a Stone Age community has its good and bad points. The experience, however, was no joke so far as he was concerned. Apparently, he slipped and fell on a porcupine that Dr. Wilfrid Jury was preparing for display in the village. Medical assistance was required to remove “porky’s quills from the lad’s posterior. 

News items from The Midland Free Press on the last week of May 1939, 80 years ago. 

• Almost three tons of butter has been allotted to Midland in connection with the Dominion government drive to reduce the great surplus of butter now in the hands of Canadian creameries. The butter will be distributed to families on relief and those not on relief but in straightened circumstances. The Canadian Red Cross Society has undertaken the distribution, but the issuing of the vouchers locally will be done by Relief Officer G. H. May at the Midland Relief Office. The plan under which the butter is to be distributed provides that those holding vouchers will receive free one pound of butter for every pound they buy with cash. The vouchers are issued in one, two and three-pound denominations. There are available for distribution 2576 one pound, 1203 two pound and 204 three pound vouchers. Eighty per cent of the vouchers are designed to go to families which are now receiving relief and the other twenty to those which are finding the going hard but are not actually receiving aid. The vouchers will be presented at the various grocery stores at the time purchases are made, and will be accepted by the merchants as payment when accompanied by a cash purchase for an equal amount. The vouchers will then be redeemed in cash by any bank when presented by retailers or wholesalers, and the banks will return them to the Dominion government. If a family is now receiving its butter by voucher it will be entitled to a pound per pound with that now being given. The non-relief vouchers must be applied for and they are not to be given to anyone who is now on relief.
• Mayor James Mackie of Midland has received definite word from the Department of Public Works at Ottawa, through George McLean, M.P. for this riding, that work will be started in the very near future on the $22,668 dock in Midland Harbor for the use of pleasure craft. Arrangements have been completed with the Canada Steamship Lines,” commented Mr. Mackie, “and the site of the new structure which, it is hoped, will be completed in time for use this summer, will be on the old C. S. L. coal dock east of the property occupied by Canton Dobson. A road will be constructed to it, and the old coal sheds removed, and parking areas constructed. “It is hoped,” continued His Worship, “that some Midland firm will now have sufficient enterprise to construct boathouses in that vicinity in order to provide storage for the craft which now seek winter storage elsewhere”. [I am assuming this is the area between the Unimin property and Central Marina. For a long while known as Downer’s Yacht Haven.]
• The following have signified their intention of assisting in the promotion of a Boy Scout Association for the Town of Midland. Messrs W. A. Finlayson, Dr. A. H. Pinchin, Donald Swinson, Reginald Tipping. J. J. Robins, Murray Kearns, Rev. Father Belanger, Rev. A. E. W. Ingram, Peter Barr, W. H. Shaver and Les Taylor. A general meeting will be held in St. Mark’s Parish Hall on Tuesday, June 6th at 8 p.m., at which time the election of officers will take place and the meeting will be addressed by Art Paddon, Field Secretary of the Ontario Boy Scout Association. All men interested in the Boy Scout movement are requested to attend the meeting.
• After a lengthy and full discussion of all applicants, Council accepted the tender of J. E. ‘Chris’ Gardner, returned man, for the position of caretaker of restrooms.
• Christian Island News– Kenneth Cowan, United Church missionary, Miss O’Toole and Miss Bell, members of the school staff, and councillor Bert Monague visited Mr. Cowan’s parents at Blythe recently. Mrs. Cowan, who has been on vacation for two weeks returned with them. * * * Tuesday of last week, Indian Pay Day, found merchants of Penetanguishene very busy parcelling supplies. Twice annually, when the government allowance is drawn, a decided impetus is noted in trade in Penetanguishene. * * * Mr. Rawlings, former missionary on the reserve, Mrs. Rawlings and their boy Bobby were recent visitors with Mr. and Mrs. George Lumsden at the agency. * * * Rev. Father Labelle is spending a few days with his parishioners on the Island. Services are being held morning and evening each day. * * * Farmers on the island are busy getting their land in shape for seeding. * * * Fishing has started in the Georgian Bay waters surrounding the reserve. * * * Very entertaining concerts were held last week by the Agricultural Society, On-a-Quest Club, and the Catholic Church. In each case the concert was followed by a dance. * * * The death of Mrs. Christine Henry occurred at the Penetanguishene hospital on May 22 following a short illness. She is survived by one son John and three grandchildren. * * * The Island Women’s Institute held a very successful sale of works on payday.
• S. Arthur Orr, out of Chicago, arrived in Midland Thursday. 
• After lying idle in Midland Harbor for nine years, the C. S. L. freighter Glenross has been taken to Collingwood to be cut down to canal size. If memory and rumour serve us correctly, she was formerly canal size and was enlarged for lake service.
• PENETANG — Captain Eddie Mabey, the Ontario-born daredevil stunt artist, flew into Penetanguishene last week to make arrangements for a thrilling performance to be staged at the town dock next Monday evening, June 5, at 8 o’clock. The performance is being sponsored by the local fire department. Captain Mabey’s stunt consists of two fire dives from the top of a high ladder, into the waters of the bay. In the first dive, gasoline is poured over the waters of the bay and Mabey dives from a high ladder into the sea of flames. The second the diver is saturated from head to foot with gasoline and as a living ball of fire, he plunges from a great height into the water. Mabey is the son of A. E. Mabey, formerly of Barrie. He returned from England a few weeks ago after a course of study in the Royal Air Force. Prior to that for nine years he followed his hazardous pursuit as a professional daredevil. Some years ago he worked and lived in Penetanguishene. His air training stood him in good stead last year when he worked in Hollywood in the production of such outstanding air pictures as Men with Wings, Hell’s Angels, and Dawn Patrol.
• PENETANG — The McGibbon mill whistle sounded an unusually musical note last Wednesday as it called back a number of men who have been waiting for several months to return to work. The entire crew has not yet been called in but they will begin work just as soon as the first log boom arrives. When at full, strength the mill employs about 60 men.
• PENETANG — Funeral services for Louis Trudeau, professional fisherman and a life-long resident of the Penetanguishene district, who succumbed in his 89th year to a three weeks’ illness, were held at St. Anne’s Jesuit Memorial Church this morning. Mr. Trudeau’s death occurred Monday at his home on Robert Street. He is survived by only one daughter, Mrs. Mary Dusome. His wife pre-deceased him ten years ago. Pallbearers were Alphonse Dorion. Napoleon Levique, Arthur Copeland, Wilfred Lamoureux, Joseph Bellisle and Cyril Carriere.
• Midland Arena Gardens is expected to be filled to capacity Friday night for the third annual music festival of the Midland Public Schools, which, starting at 7.30 p.m., will feature the vocal and instrumental work of close to 1,000 school children. Douglas Major, director of music in the schools, is in charge of the festival, and Miss Katherine Clark will be at the piano. Chairman of the evening is to be Dr. Ross Parrott, chairman of the Midland Board of Education, while Tom McCullough will be in charge of the announcing. After the address of welcome by Dr. Parrott, the massed chorus of 900 voices will render “Caller Herrin,”  “Killarney,” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” Primary classes will then sing “Twenty Froggies” (Anon), The Rainbow” (Major), and “Dong Dong” (Gaynor). New features this year, the third number on the program, is to be selections by an 80-piece mass mouth organ band under the direction of Ian MacLaren and Douglas Winfield. A 150-voice massed choir will then sing three numbers, a selection in unison “Where the Bee Sucks,” followed by two three-act renditions, “O Worship the King,” and “Let Us With a Gladsome Mind.” 

Last week we posted an article on the creation of a 4,000-acre resort community that included Giant’s Tomb Island. This much older notice in the local paper indicates that it was not the first scheme that involved the island.

Another interesting item from March of 1914.

And finally, kitchen stoves are no longer manufactured in Canada, possibly not even in the U.S.A, but in 1937 you could buy this “Beautiful Creation” built in Penetanguishene.

Click on photos to enlarge 

All dressed up in their first communion dresses, these three little girls were all set to take part in the holy rosary parade and rally in Midland Town Park May 10. Members of St. Margaret’s parish, Midland, they are, left to right, Eileen Asselin, Brenda Contois and Barbara Anne Doucette. A short time after the picture was taken the rally had to be called off because of a sudden downpour at the park. 

Persons attending the first “spring luncheon” ever held by the Woman’s Association of St. Paul’s United Church termed the event a “great success”. Among the head table guests were, left to right, Mrs. W. N. Keefe, vice-president, Mrs. Wilson Morden, Mrs. G. A. Perkins, president of Simcoe WMS, Mrs. Milt Trace, Elmvale, president of Simcoe W.A., Mrs. Stan Harman, president of the St. Paul’s group, controller Mrs. Jean Newman, Toronto, the guest speaker, and Rev. Wilson Morden, minister of St. Paul’s. 

Most of the spectators who took in the annual inspection of Midland-Penetang District High School cadet corps last Thursday would have liked to change places with these girls. A few minutes with the skipping rope would have been welcomed on the cold, windy day. 

This cadet, Bill Laramey, was one of the better “casualties” on display during the first aid demonstration held as part of the MPDHS annual cadet inspection Thursday. Looking on while Grant Robinson completes his work are Cadet Lieut.-Col. K. MacEachern, left, and Lieut. Jim Downer, Grey and Simcoe Foresters, the inspecting officer of the day. 

So far as is known, Francis Somers, left, is the first angler to haul in a “Splake” while fishing in bay waters. With him is his uncle, Bert Martin. The Splake is a hybrid trout which Lands and Forests officials have developed by crossing lake and speckled trout. In this one, the lake trout characteristics predominated. 

Sunday morning saw the dedication of this new organ and the 50th anniversary of the present church building, at Vasey United Church. Left to right, around assistant organist Mrs. Ross Faint, are Mrs. Horace Vasey, Mrs. Harold Cowden the regular organist, Rev. Gordon Nodwell, Ross Faint, Harvey Fallis and Frank Rumney. Two other members of the committee who helped raise funds for the $1,500 organ and who were not present for the picture were Mrs. Frank Rumney and Miss Eleanor Edwards. 

Cold windy weather greeted the annual inspection of MPDHS cadet corps Thursday, making things difficult for both spectators and cadets. The corps demonstrates the use of Bren guns (foreground) while the big tank swings into action in the rear. 

Mass production plus, that seems to be the only way to describe this pure-bred Yorkshire sow owned by Ken Robinson of Con. 3, Medonte. Mr. Robinson was quite pleased when the sow brought forth a litter of 16 piglets May 2. He was flabbergasted when he went to the stable on the morning of May 15 and found the sow had ten more tiny mouths to feed. So far as can be learned, this production mark is unheard of hitherto in this area at least. 

[Still an oddity in 1959, and what a difference colour photography would have made to this shot.]

One of nature’s most eye-catching displays is provided by the amaryllis, a large lily-like bloom. The one above is owned by Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Jeffery, 360 Midland Ave., Midland. It has eight huge red and white blooms, each a good six inches in width, four on each of two stems. The stems, incidentally, grew almost an inch a day for three weeks. At one stage the Jefferys had relegated the plant to the cellar, fearing it would not bloom. 

This panel discussion group was one of the features of the tourist trade conference in Midland YMCA Wednesday night under the sponsorship of Midland Chamber of Commerce. Left to right are R. B. Moffatt, chamber secretary-manager who acted as moderator; Wilfrid Jury, well-known archaeologist; Frank Dale, proprietor of a tourist resort at Ossosane Beach; V. G. Edwards, Vice-President of Edwards Specialty Shop; and Phil Robitaille, manager of Penetang’s Hotel Brule. 

Currently Wilkinson’s Upholstery.

 

• Free Press Herald headline of May 20^th, 1959; Four Flee in Night Attire as Fire Razes Farm Home. A family of four escaped in their night attire when their two-storey frame and insulbrick home was levelled by fire about 1.30 a.m. yesterday morning. Not-so fortunate was the family’s pet dog, “Ring,” who perished in the flames. Loss in the blaze was severe and it is understood that comparatively little of it was covered by insurance. Burned was the home of James Borrow, who built it in 1940. It is reported to have been equipped with many modern conveniences.  The house was located on Lot 7, Conc. 1, Matchedash, known as the Irish Line. Mr. Borrow said he was awakened by the crackle of flames and the smell of smoke. When he spotted it, the fire had gained considerable headway in a back shed. He awakened his wife, son Allan, 15, and daughter Isabel, 13. They barely had time to get out in their night clothing.
• County Herald headline of May 22^nd, 1959; Four-mill Hike Forecast in Midland 1959 Levy. Although the 1959 budget for the corporation of Midland has not yet been finalized, indications are that the tax rate this year will be up at least four mills. At a budget meeting Tuesday night, two tentative rates were suggested which, if adopted, would have meant a 5.2-mill increase for commercial taxpayers and 5.8 for residential. Contributing more than two mills to the increased levy this year are the costs of education in the municipality. The public school rate is .37 mills higher than the 1958 levy and the district high school levy is up 1.98 mills. Council pointed out both were items over which it had no control.
• Births – ELRICK — To Mr. and Mrs. William Elrick, King St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Tuesday, May 12, 1959, a daughter. HEWITT — To Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Hewitt, Honey Harbour, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Thursday, May 14, 1959, a daughter. LEFAIVE—To Mr. and Mrs. Harold Lefaive, Port McNicoll, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Thursday; May 14, 1959, a son. LALONDE— To Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose Lalonde, 115 John St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Sunday, May 17, 1959, a daughter. MORLEY — To Mr. and Mrs. Roy Morley (nee Velma Gilson) at Grace Hospital, Toronto, Thursday, May 14, 1959, a son.
• by HARVEY H. BOYD – The Scout Badge Board session Monday, May 13, saw 39 badges go to the following groups of the district: 1st Midland, 3rd Midland, 1^st Penetang Troops; Packs, 1^st Midland, 3rd Midland “A” and “B”, 4th Midland. Badges awarded were: ambulance man, Jim McKean, Paul Delaney, Tom Gordanier, Ken Cleary, Marvin Howard, Doug Mutch; athlete, Denis Larmand; musician, Bert Mason, Fred Hacker, Allan McElroy; plumber, Denis Larmand, Bert Mason, Bob Prevett, David Hook, Frank Wice, John McLaughlin, Ken Ball; despatch rider, Fred Hacker; entertainer, Allan McElroy; Re-pass of ambulance man, Ken Ball; artist, Harold Belfry, Lawrence Thomas, Keith Stratton, Keith McCaughen; collector, Lawrence Thomas, Keith Stratton, Blair Shakell, Brian Scott, Freddie Hopkins, Ralph Brookman, Art McComb; swimmer, Ron Henderson, Gary McCaughen; toymaker, John Cardwell; Second star, Kennedy Self, Sandy Corcoran, Ian Dalrymple; house orderly, Freddie Hopkins, Ralph Brockman; team player, Bob Montgomery.
• 25 Years Ago 1934 – Heavy rains in Western Canada brought an end to a lengthy drought and new hope for a reduction in the grasshopper plague. * * * The Ontario and federal governments were planning a major switch of properties. In the land exchange, the Ontario government was to get the 24-square mile Camp Borden military station for turning over to the Dominion government 60 square miles of property at Petawawa. Officials at Ottawa announced they intended to abandon Camp Borden and move the flying station to Trenton. * * * Midland anglers, fishing off the dam in the Wye River, caught “several snake-like creatures with a small head and large sucker-shaped mouth.” One of them was put in a sealer full of water and was brought into Midland for identification. The anglers were informed they had been catching Lamprey eels. * * * Five tiny baby girls were born in a farmhouse near the Northern Ontario settlement of Corbeil. The mother of the quintuplets was 24-year-old Mrs. Ovila Dionne. Attending physician was Dr. A. R. Dafoe of Callander. * * * George Lynn, caretaker of Beausoleil Island National Park, was made an honorary chief of the Christian Island Indian Band. He was given the name of Oge-mah-me-she-newa, meaning Chief Messenger. The honor was bestowed on Mr. Lynn by Chief Peter Toby, a venerable member of the Christian Island Reserve. * * * Mitchell F. Hepburn, Ontario Liberal leader, addressed a crowd of 2,500 in Midland Arena Gardens. He was speaking on behalf of Dr. G. E. Tanner, the Liberal candidate in the provincial election.
• Bit of Fun – “What did the skunk say when the wind changed?” “It all comes back to me now.”
• A GROUP OF TAXPAYERS in the town’s east end are not too happy about Midland council’s action with respect to outdoor privies that have been permitted to remain on properties in that part of the municipality. Apparently, one of them is located not too far away from the new St. Andrews Hospital. The other is on a property which, in effect, belongs to the town. The taxpayers concerned point out that, as there is a bylaw prohibiting these ‘facilities’ within the corporation, and council has forced other property owners to remove privies and install adequate indoor plumbing, council’s position in these instances is particularly vulnerable. On the other hand, council found itself over a barrel on the issue when both cases were discussed at last week’s regular meeting. While the bylaw gives it authority to install sewers and toilets and to charge the costs to the properties concerned, there is, apparently, little hope of the town recuperating the charges from those now occupying the homes. In one instance, an agreement of sale was negotiated with the municipality some fifteen years ago. Since that time, and then only under duress, token payments have been made but they have not been sufficient to cover tax arrears that have accrued against the property, let alone the principal. The outcome of the discussion was that the town would advertise the property for sale by tender, in the hope a new owner would be obtained, who would pay for the plumbing and sewer installation costs. Some east end taxpayers contend, however, that the condition of the building is such that few if any, bids will be offered. They fear this unsavory privy condition will continue for some time. And they may be right. Since the municipality has plumbing equipment salvaged when public washrooms were torn down some years ago, since water is installed in the buildings, the cost of installing the facilities and the sewer laterals should not be too prohibitive. Council must admit there has been what could be termed “more frivolous expenditures.” But the question of how or when, if ever, these costs are recovered, while having an important bearing on the issue, should not be permitted to cloud the fact that so long as the privies exist, they constitute a public nuisance and a menace to the health of citizens of one section of the municipality. A statement made by Alderman Clinton Smith seems to sum up the case adequately. Council as the law-making body “should set the example.”
• The new red and white “STOP” signs erected at intersections in Midland are a decided improvement over their old black and white counterparts.
• (For the ship fans) Scheduled for christening and commissioning a few weeks prior to the official opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway by Queen Elizabeth June 26, the new flagship of Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd. will be named the Seaway Queen. The 717-foot bulk carrier, one of the largest Canadian carriers on the Great Lakes, will be in command of Capt. Frank Harpell of Midland. The Seaway Queen is designed to carry 23,000 tons of iron ore or 850,000 bushels of wheat. Weighing 7,650 tons, the vessel will travel at 16 ½ mph loaded. A crew of 31 will operate the ship. J. D. Leitch, president of Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd., said the Seaway Queen would be christened by Mrs. Gordon Churchill, wife of Canada’s minister of trade and commerce, and that Hon. Gordon Churchill would be the principal speaker at the May 30 ceremony. The latest addition to the 34-ship fleet of Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd. was designed to permit operation in the Gulf of St. Lawrence for the transportation of bulk cargoes between the Upper Lakes and Gulf ports. She was built at Port Weller Drydocks Limited, Port Weller. (I always thought she was one of the best-looking lake boats.)
• A new summer playground is to be developed right on Penetang’s doorstep. Work will start almost immediately. The development is to provide some 3,000 acres of cottage sites, an 18-hole golf course, swimming pool, tennis courts and marina, and yachting facilities. The development lies on the south shore of Georgian Bay and includes the 1,200-acre Giant’s Tomb Island. It is being developed in conjunction with Miss Edna Breithaupt; sister of the former Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario and a patroness of the arts for almost half a century. In the centre of the project, she will maintain a 50-acre estate for the advancement of the arts in the tradition of the Wakunda Art and Community Centres of Canada which she founded in 1928. Some 5,000 cottage lots with maximum access to the waterfront and other facilities have been designed for the development, said Joseph Axler, of Axler and Palmer Ltd., exclusive real estate brokers for the project. The lots, a minimum of 100 by 150 feet, comply with all requirements of the Ontario Planning Act and will be, fully registered so that purchasers may obtain a proper deed. Inland lots will face on access parkways that lead to many community waterfronts averaging 400 feet to be shared by fewer than 40 families. Cottage manufacturers are assembling models of cottages on the site for public viewing sometime in the first two weeks of June.

• Midland police have decided to take their wage and working condition demands to arbitration, council was informed at its meeting Tuesday night. Police brief signatories informed council in a letter that they had engaged the services of Penetang barrister, A. B. Thompson as their arbitration board representative. They asked council to name an arbitrator. The officers said they were unable to accept councils offer as of May 12. Police Chairman James Mackie told council the main objections of the officers, so far as he could learn, were that they wanted a 40-hour week and time and a half for overtime.
• What is the biggest problem of people concerned with the tourist industry in the Midland-Penetang area? Judging from comments heard at the tourist trade conference in Midland YMCA Wednesday night it can be summed up in one word. “Parking.” Closely allied with parking, or the lack of it, is the old bugbear of the parking meter ticket. A visitor who comes out of a store in which he has spent $30, $20, $25, or even 25 cents, is not happy when he finds a parking ticket on his car, it was agreed unanimously. The problem, of course, is not unique to Midland or Penetang.
• NAP BEAUCHAMP —well-known Penetang and Midland businessman, died suddenly from a heart attack this morning at his Yonge Street, Midland, home. Funeral services for Mr. Beauchamp will be held Monday morning.
• President of Midland Planing Mills, Milton Johnston Bray, died Wednesday at St. Andrews Hospital. He was in his 80^th Mr. Bray who came to Midland in 1901, married the former Effie Eugenie Sherwin in June 1906. The following year Mr. Bray and James A. Benson joined forces to form the firm known as Benson and Bray. They soon outgrew their modest plant at Montreal and Third Streets and a new company was formed, Midland Wood Products, which erected the building now used by Bay Mills Ltd. Extra capital was added and the company later became a limited firm. In 1935 the firm was liquidated and Mr. Bray returned to the site of his earlier operation. Associated with him was the Iate Norman J. Playfair, whose interests have since been purchased. Mr. and Mrs. Bray who celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary June 26, 1956, are both gardening enthusiasts and Mr. Bray was president of the Midland Horticultural Society for several years. He was recording secretary and elder of St. Paul’s United Church for 33 years. He was a charter member of the Midland Curling Club and was for many years a member of the YMCA board. During the building campaign for the new Sunday School at St. Paul’s United Church, Mr. Bray was co-chairman along with the late H. J. Thompson. Besides his widow, Mr. Bray is survived by son, Alan S. Bray of Port Arthur, daughters Marion A. Bray of Woodstock and Mrs. Clarke Edwards (Doris) of Midland, Mrs. R. Beaumont (Agnes) of Sault Ste. Marie and a son Frank of Midland. Funeral service will be held at A. Barrie and Sons funeral home Saturday at 2 p.m. with Rev. W. L. Morden officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery. 

Looking back 80 years.

CHARLES HARTMAN’S reflects on his 37 years in the hardware business in Midland as told to Herbert Cranston and published in the Midland Free Press Wednesday, May 3rd, 1939.

    Fifty years is a long time in any man’s life. It was fifty years ago, on Monday, May 1, 1889, that Charlie Hartman entered the hardware business. Thirty-seven years of that fifty have been spent in Midland. This town has a no more deservedly popular citizen than the said Charlie, who all this week has been receiving the congratulations of his friends. W. D.  ‘Bill’ Ross, who has kept store next door to him for the past fourteen years, says that there is not a whiter man in all of Simcoe County. “If Charlie Hartman gives you his word that’s all you need,” says Bill. And no higher tribute could be paid to any man. [Please excuse the racist innuendo above, this article is verbatim from 1939.]

    It was on September 5th, 1870, that the stork left a third boy baby at the farm home of John W. Hartman, eight miles southwest of Meaford, in St. Vincent Township. The little lad was christened Charles Edward. All four boys born to John Hartman and his wife, Susan Machell, are still living. Joseph, the oldest, is farming in St. Vincent Township. Frank is in the hardware business in Thornbury, and William, better known as “Bill,” who for many years was a partner with Charlie, now is Midland’s deputy reeve. Charlie Hartman loves to tell tales of his boyhood. He attended a country school in S. S. 11, St. Vincent until he was sixteen years of age and like other boys, he played “hookey” when the weather was too fine to be indoors. He remembers one teacher by the name of Frizell, who used a rung from a maple chair in place of a strap. “When he got through you didn’t want anymore,” said Charlie, as he reminiscently looked at his hands which had tasted that chair rung many times.

NEARLY SMOTHERED

“He was a bad actor, that Frizell.” continued Mr. Hartman. There was a big cupboard in the schoolroom in which we used to put our lunches. One day we had an exam in geography and there were three of us who didn’t know the answers. As punishment, he shoved us into the cupboard, locked the door, and went home to supper. There was so little space that we could not move. When Frizell got to his farm boarding place he gleefully told the farmer what he had done. “You will smother them said the farmer.’ Let them smother.’ said Frizell. The farmer ran to the school and let us out, and just in time. We could not stand up and collapsed on the floor,  in fifteen or twenty minutes more we might have been dead.” “The boys make much trouble for the teachers”, continued Charlie. “We did have a lot of fun, however. There were two gangs, the “uproads” and the “downroads”, depending upon which way we came to school, and when winter came we had many a snow fight, which usually ended in a fist encounter.

MEAN TRICK

“I must tell you about a mean trick some of us played on a farmer neighbor, old Richard Belshaw, who was so lazy he wouldn’t cut his lambs’ tails off at the proper time when they were very small, but let them grow until they were quite big. One day a bunch of us decided to teach him a lesson. On the way home, we cornered two or three of the Iambs and cut off their tails. Next day Mr. Frizell asked the boys who went north to stay in after school. We knew what was coming, and we declared we knew nothing about what had happened. So Frizell went to see another chap who had been with us but was not at school that day. He did not know what we had said, and as he was not coming back to school, he told the truth. The next night we got a whaling that I shall never forget. Of course, it was the wrong thing to do. The lambs might have bled to death, or their tails might have been infected as the weather was warm. But we were not thinking about the lambs. We were just playing a prank on old Belshaw.”

    At seventeen Charlie Hartman decided the time had come to prepare himself for his life’s work. He went to Owen Sound and tended business college for months, getting a training in bookkeeping. He boarded with an uncle, a carpenter, who secured a job for him with T. I. Thompson, a hardware merchant. So when his course was over young Charles began his apprenticeship. “I was general kickabout” said he. “The first year I got $2, the second $4 and the third $5. I worked under an oral agreement and the hours were 7 a.m. till 9 or 10 o’clock every night in the week, but I did not complain. I was tickled to death to get a job. Father and mother, of course, helped me, for I could not pay my board on $2 per week.

WENT TO BUFFALO

“I liked it in Owen Sound. There were a lot of lovely people there and I got along fine. At the end of the three years, Mr. Thompson claimed he had not guaranteed me any advance, although I certainly expected to receive a clerk’s pay when my apprenticeship was up. So I quit. Times were just as bad as they are today, If not worse, and there nothing to be had. I took a trip to Buffalo to see if I could get a job, but I could not find one in my trade. Finally, I got a chance at carriage and wagon painting. I stuck it out for three months and then decided to go back to Canada. Mother was anxious for me to come home and had got a job for me in a Meaford hardware store. The morning I left Buffalo was very hot, and as the train passed through fields of Ontario clover I thought I had never seen anything lovelier, nor had fresh air ever seemed so refreshing. I swore I would never go back to a city to live. It was while working for William Butchart that young Charles Hartman met the young woman who was to be his wife. She was Margaret Edwards, daughter of Albert Edwards, proprietor of Meaford’s grist mill. Charlie lived in the Edwards’ home during his four years in Meaford and got a chance to become well acquainted with the lady of his choice. He did not marry her, however, until he had purchased the hardware business of Thomas Carscadden at Thornbury, and set up in business for himself. ”I wasn’t going to make a fool of myself and marry before I was in a position to take care of a wife like so many young fellows do today,” he said.

CAME TO MIDLAND

After five years in Thornbury Charles Hartman came to Midland and in partnership with his brother William bought out the hardware establishment owned by William Peters. It was a little old frame building and occupied the same site as the present Hartman store. When he purchased the property a few years later Mr. Hartman tore down the old Peters building and erected the present store in 1913. “Bill and I never had a partnership agreement,” said Charlie. “He had had no previous hardware training. He came direct from the farm, but we shared everything on a fifty-fifty basis. He was with me for eighteen years and we always got along splendidly together. The partnership was dissolved on his initiative. He never cared much for the business, and he saw the boys coming along. In half an hour we settled all the details as to dissolution. In 1933 my two sons Albert and Wells became my partners. Each of us now owns a third. My other boy Ainsley also worked in the store, but as yet he has no partnership interest in the business. Those boys pull together wonderfully. “Some of your clerks have been with you a long time, have they not?” l asked. “Oh yes. Bill Stephens, who drives and delivers, has been with us for 21 years, and Mrs. Norman Chew has been bookkeeper off and on for nearly 25 years. Watson Battrick has been with us for twelve years.”

MANY CHANGES

“You have seen many changes in the hardware business in the past fifty years?” I suggested. Indeed and I have. There has been a great improvement in the finishing of goods, such as stoves and kitchen utensils. Old barn framing tools, blacksmith tools, lumbermen’s tools, and most of the heavy hardware has disappeared. Vises, anvils, and machinists’ tools have little sale. Not nearly as many lanterns are sold as in the old days. The old cut nails have gone. We never see them now. All nails are wire, and they are better nails. They should be for they are dearer. We used to buy a keg of nails for 31.90 which today costs us 3.50 “We did the greatest volume of business in the years 1915 to 1929. Those were the days when the lumber yards, the shipyards, and the elevators were flourishing. There was a lot of building in those days. Today there is practically none. “The greatest change is, however, in the hearts of the people. When things were going well and there was lots of work people seemed to be happy and contented. When things went bad in 1930 and men started going on relief it was terrible. So many people who had saved a little were soon drained of all they had. Some nearly went crazy when they found themselves dependent upon public aid. It used to be that if people kept you waiting a while before they paid their bills they would say they were sorry. Today, however, they make you wait and they never apologize. If you ask them for money they get angry and ask how you can expect them to pay when they have no work. It is the most regrettable change I have seen. “Credit is consequently not as good as it used to be and we do not give as much. The people have spoiled their own credit. If they are not as honest it is because of conditions and not all their fault. They have to scheme more to get along. The younger generations are more careless than their fathers.”

PUBLIC SERVICE

Charles Hartman was brought up as a Methodist but became an Anglican after he married. He was churchwarden of St. Mark’s for some years, and on the Y.M.C.A. Board of Management while it was being built. He served as a member of the town council for four years, the last in 1913, and it is his boast that in those days the debt of the town was only $350.000 as compared to $1,500.00 of today. All payments on principal and interest were up to date. “No members of the council, not even the mayor, got any money then,” he said. The mayors I served under were Richard Horrell, J. H. Craig, and John McDowell. The way I got into the council was this, there were some people trying to pass a law which would bring liquor into the town, I was asked to stand as an opponent of liquor and I was elected. I still believe Midland is far better off without booze, and that the people would vote against it if they wore asked to do so today. It is close enough in Penetang.” Mr. Hartman served on the school board for three years but was never chairman. “I never wanted any high position,” said he. “I don’t mind helping, but those jobs are a lot of worry. People are after you all the time. I never enjoyed feeling important.”

BUSINESS HIS HOBBY

“What is your chief hobby?” I asked of Mr. Hartman. “Staying with my business. I like it. I try not to overdo it, but one must be constantly awake to keep up-to-date.” “Don’t you ever go fishing or shooting?” “Oh yes. I am fond of duck shooting, and I used to go out every year when the season came round. I have also done quite a bit of deer hunting, and there is nothing I like better than a motor trip. I have seen quite a bit of eastern America from my automobile.” “How do you feel about the future of Midland?” I shot this final question at Mr. Hartman who has seen the town in alternate boom and depression periods. “That’s hard to answer,” he replied. “This world is in such a topsy turvy state at the present time, and business has been at a standstill for so long that one sometimes wonders if things ever will come right again. However, I’ll say that if things ever become normal again I see no reason why Midland should not forge ahead. We have lost some industries forever, but the tourist trade is steadily increasing in importance. This is a good center. It has many facilities, and it will come out on top yet.”