Due to the holidays, we have combined the last two weeks of 1958 into one edition of our Huronia Museum – Looking Back feature.

Click on Photos to Enlarge Preparing for their Christmas pageant has been a lot of work but at the same time a lot of fun, for the First Midland Brownie pack. Seen during a practice session at St. Mark’s parish hall are, left to right, back row, Cathy Harrison, Margaret Hood, Lois Belsey; front, Margaret Shill, Elizabeth Taylor, Ruth Barber, Jay Ellis, Beverley Hanna, Carol Nalysnyk, Ruth Anne Battrick, Debbie Lawlor, Aura Finch. 

At this time of year, children in many lands will be enacting the old and loved Christmas story. The First Midland Brownie pack is one of these groups. They staged their play at St. Mark’s parish hall Saturday and will do so again Friday night. Taking part are, left to right, back row: Jan Worrell, Debbie Bertrand, Joyce Ferris, Carol Banting, Cynthia Lamorandiere, Anne Delaney, Beverley Lamorandiere; front, Barbara Lloyd (Joseph) and Sandra Nesbitt (Mary). 

 A miniature streetcar and the traditional reindeer and sleigh provided part of the transportation at Elmvale’s Santa Claus parade Saturday. In this picture, Chief Horace Elwell gives a few tips to the youthful driver of the “streetcar”. Santa in the lower photo, of course, needed no tips on how to drive reindeer.

Rather an odd pairing, these two “characters” provided fun for the spectators along the route of the Santa Claus parade in Elmvale Saturday. There were a number of other animal characterizations to enliven the parade. 

Saturday’s snowstorm subsided just long enough to permit reasonably good conditions for Elmvale’s Santa Claus parade. An hour earlier or later, and nobody would have been able to see the Three Little Pigs playing hide and seek with the Big Bad Wolf. 

Be it the Grey Cup or a Santa Claus parade, no event is complete without its scantily-clad majorettes. Snow and cold winds didn’t seem to dampen the enthusiasm of these young girls from Oakwood Beach (Wasaga) as they marched in front of Elmvale’s Santa Claus parade Saturday. 

Well known in Midland, where he received his early education Capt. John Wesley Scarrow of Hamilton, left, ended a 46-year sailing career when the Sir James Dunn docked at Tiffin elevator, Midland, Friday. On hand to wish him well in retirement was J. A. Hill, Tiffin superintendent. 

Now studying at MPDHS, these three girls received scholarships for their work in Grade 8 at Port McNicoll public school during a ceremony in Port McNicoll Friday night. Left to right are, Marlene Loney, Mary Kovolak and Helen Elliott. Making the presentations are board members Bruce Duncan (chairman), left, and Raymond Belanger. 

Port Legion President Russell Coughlin (who is also a member of the school board) presents prizes to these Grade 6 and 7 pupils. Left to right are Brenda Latondress, Annabelle Todd, Joky Van Pypen, Heather Hartford Judy Coughlin, Mr. Goughlin, and Francis Kelly, the lone boy among the nine winners. The presentations to top pupils were made Friday night. 

There’s nothing much colder than the top decks of the big bulk freighters at this time of the year; as numbed fingers fumble with icy ropes in the annual tie-up. Men in the foreground are placing a tarpaulin over a lifeboat on the Sir James Dunn. Other workmen in the background are performing a similar operation on the funnel of the Thunder Bay.  Both CSL ships will winter at Tiffin elevator, Midland. 

Battening down the big bulk freighters for the winter season was a tough, cold job last week in strong winds and near-zero temperatures. Covering over one of the lifeboats are M. J. Montgomery of Nova Scotia, left, and Walter Lacroix, Midland. On top of the lifeboat is Dave Dunning, also of Midland. 

One of the best places to find lots of snow in the Midland area is on “The Mountain”, along the county road to Balm Beach. Snow banks already tower high over the top of the car seen in the picture above. 

The thousands of letters and postcards seen in the picture above long since have reached the homes of Midland residents. Only a small part of Wednesday’s incoming mail, the letters are being sorted into carriers boxes by Fred Grigg, Roy Mitchell and Chuck R. Stelter, left to right. Many additional helpers are being employed by Postmaster W. F. Bourrie to assure prompt delivery of Christmas mail and parcels. 

Letter carrier John Hilliard is still able to muster a smile despite the evidence of heavy loads as he readied his carrier’s box in Midland post office Wednesday. By Wednesday night the Midland office had handled more than 165,000 pieces of Christmas mail. 

This giant Santa Claus made of snow has attracted a lot of visitors to 267 Lindsay Street, Midland, during the holidays. It’s the product of Ken McFarland and his younger brother, Albert. The huge figure dwarfs the brothers who made it. 

 Four CSL ships are now safely tied up at the winter berth in Midland for another season. They are the Goderich, Donnacona, Prescott (hidden from view) and the Lemoyne. Last in, the Lemoyne tied up Thursday, Dec. 18 after a four-day battle with the elements. 

Midland Indians wound up a successful baseball season last week when they received new jackets and the OBA intermediate “A” trophy they won on the diamond. Left to right are Reeve W. H. Keller, trying on one of the jackets for size and handing a cheque to John Power; players Larry Greene and Harold Jackson, with the trophy; and Alderman Herb Beauchamp, admiring both the jackets and the trophy. 

There was plenty of entertainment as well as gifts for children at the Shoe Corporation Christmas party in Roxy Theatre Dec. 20. Among the entertainers were John Geere and Marc Gignac, from Penetang’s Fern Shoe plant. 

Saturday, Dec. 20 was a lucky day for 3-year-old Randy Vincent, son of Mr. & Mrs. Dean Vincent. When his name was drawn from the box at the Shoe Corporation Christmas party, Randy won the huge panda bear. The man with the dual armful is William Axten, personnel manager at Fern Shoe, Penetang. 

Winning their certificates for feats on the gym floor, brought big smiles to these young members of Midland YMCA. Girls are Linda Duggan, left, and Barbara Ann Spence, boys are Gerald Jeanotte, Allan Cornell and Ronnie Jeanotte.

One of several hundred youngsters who attended a big family party, held by Shoe Corporation of Canada at Midland’s Roxy Theatre Saturday morning, Little Esther Duguay, 2, seems more interested in the camera than Santa at the moment. Esther is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nestor Duguay, Midland. Party was staged for families of Midland Industries, Midland Footwear, and Fern Shoe employees, Penetang. 

On her way into Roxy Theatre for a big family Christmas party Saturday, Sharon Forget gets a party hat from Miss Sheila Bechard, left, and Mrs. W. Jaeniseh. Sharon is the 4-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Forget, Penetang. 

Helping with the prize list at the Shoe Corporation Christmas party at the Roxy Saturday were the six young ladies seen above. Left to right are, seated, Arlene Vaillancourt and Mrs. Miles Blackhurst (Grace Edgar); standing   Margaret LaGrandeur, Doreen Cascagnette, Joyce Quesnelle, and Betty Anne Mayer. Several hundred youngsters from Midland and Penetang branches of the firm attended the party. 

After some 37 years in business in Midland, George Parr, right, has sold his battery and auto electric business on Bay Street. New owners are Les Cammerer, left, and his son-in-law, Bill Sutton. Mr. Parr will remain with the new firm for some time, he indicated last week. 

Finding a place to dump the thousands of tons of snow dumped on Midland streets during recent storms is almost as much a problem as clearing the streets in the first place. Midland harbour provides a convenient place but even this gets plugged eventually and must be plowed under by the CSL tug Tiffin. 

These four buoys recently came in to spend the winter in Midland, They got a snowy (more than 40 inches this month) and frosty (it was 20 below zero Saturday morning) reception. Before spring they may wish the Canadian government lightship (seen in background) had left them out in Georgian Bay. 

The photo below, although a poor copy taken right from the paper, was added because the family and the girls were so well known in Midland. Again there are many such photos that we do not have the negatives for.

• The Free Press Herald headline from Wednesday, December 17, 1958; Adopt Acceleration Plan in Three Midland Schools. The anticipated introduction of the acceleration program during the balance of this school year will only affect Grade 1’s of the schools this year. Normally a child in Grade 1 would complete three units of work but in the acceleration program the top group of children in Grade 1 (about 20 percent of the class) would com­plete four units of work, the report continues. “In other words” the principals’ report states, “those pupils would advance a unit into Grade 2, thereby completing one and one-thirds years’ course in one year. The following year they would go on with unit five in Grade 2. (This worked well for me until Bill Barnett sat me down at the end of Grade 10 and said, “You had a good time this year, I think you should do Grade 10 again, this time with more school and less fun.” Is that de-acceleration?)
• The County Herald headline of Friday, December 19, 1958; Say ‘58’ Grain Shipments up Four Million Bushels. During the summer prospects looked bleak indeed. There were as many as eight freighters tied up in Midland harbour alone, because of a lack of cargoes. Similar distressing sights were to be seen in every harbour on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes. It was not until well into the fall that business suddenly picked up and sailors were hastily called back to their ships. Unfortunately one of the earliest and most severe winters in several years appears to have ended this state of affairs. As late as Monday, however, several ships were still battling snow storms and thickening ice to reach elevators in Midland and Port McNicoll. As far as can be learned at the moment, this appears to be the winter fleet for the year: At Tiffin – Sir James Dunn and Thunder Bay. At Aberdeen – Algoway. At Port McNicoll – Nipigon Bay, the first time in Georgian Bay, Coverdale, Hochelaga, and the two CPR passenger ships, Keewatin and Assiniboia.  At CSL – Prescott, Goderich, Donnacona, Lemoyne. At Midland-Simcoe – Paterson, Senator of Canada, Quedoc and the barge Portadoc. 
• This is a link to the front page of The Free Press Herald of December 23^rd, 1958. The file was too large to include. (Click on the link to view, use the ‘Back’ button to return to this page.) Pages from Free Press Herald_1958-12-23  
• The Free Press Herald headline of December 31, 1958; Harbour Acclaims Reeve, Seeks Six Council Seats. While the village is still $5,000 “in the red”, the financial picture of Victoria Harbour has improved by $9,000 over last year at this time, according to Reeve Ernest J. Cadeau. Reeve Cadeau made this statement at the annual nominations in the Legion Hall Monday night, where he was accorded an acclamation for his second term as reeve of the village. Also nominated for the reeveship, Mrs. Florence Belcher, a former reeve, and former councillor Theo Bernard, both withdrew from the race. A goodly number of ratepayers attended the meeting, which proved to be much less controversial than has been the case in recent years.
• Clerk Wm. A. Hack informed Midland council Thursday night that E. (Red) McCuaig had paid $5,000 for the town garage and has obtained his deed. (On Yonge St. between Manly and Russell, north side.) 
• Persistence paid off for a Penetang girl when one of her ideas finally stumped the panel of “Front Page Challenge” a CBC-TV program. Monday night Miss Lorette Desroches, 19, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Medard Desroches, suggested as a challenger, Leona Gates, the girl who was on her way to winning the Miss Universe contest last year before it was discovered she was actually a married woman. 
• The volume of mail handled through the Midland post office this Christmas will almost certainly constitute a record year according to W. F. Bourrie, the postmaster. Up until Dec. 17, inclusive, the Midland office had handled 11,000 more letters than for the same period last season. In order to speed up the work, Mr. Bourrie has hired 16 additional employees. Because of the heavy snow and poor weather conditions this year, extra helpers for the letter carriers were hired a day earlier than last year, Mr. Bourrie said. 
• Since Boxing Day, Dec.26, falls on the publication day of the County Herald, only one paper, the Free Press Herald, will be published next week.
• What might have been a serious fire at Dubbin’s Dairy, Dominion Ave., Midland, early Wednesday, was quickly brought under control by Midland fire brigade. Starting near the plant’s boiler, the fire burned a hole in the roof before being brought under control. Firemen were called shortly after 8 a.m. No estimate of the damage is available.
• In the recent death of Elmvale born Lewis L. Crawford, the ranks of Great Lakes mariners lost another old timer of the lakes. Born in Elmvale August 23, 1885, Mr. Crawford had sailed for the greater part of his life, and in July 1945, was made a chief engineer of the Upper Lakes and St. Lawrence Transportation Company’s fleet. He retired Sept. 27 this year.
• “I’ve been on council a long time but this is the first time that I have heard public expressions of tribute at the last regular meeting of the year.” So stated Ward 1 Alderman Clinton Smith at the last regular meeting of Midland council for the year. The statement was prompted by tributes paid to retiring Mayor Charles N. Parker by members of council. The expressions of praise from all members followed on the heels of prepared statement made by the mayor.
• BIRTHS – ARBOUR —To Mr. and Mrs. Jules Arbour, Penetang, at St. Andrews Hospital. Midland, Sunday, Dec. 21, 1958, a son. HENRY  – To Mr. and Mrs. Charles Henry, 142 Dominion Ave., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Tuesday. December 16, 1958, a son. MARSDEN—To Mr. and Mrs. Earl Marsden. Christian Island, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland. Thursday, December 18, 1958, a son. McINTAGGART—To Mr. and Mrs. Philip Mclntaggart. 92 Fifth St. Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Wednesday, December 17, 1958, a son. PRENTICE—To Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Prentice, Port McNicoll, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Wednesday. December 17, 1958, a son.
• Coldwater and area residents quickly responded to a fund appeal for Mr. and Mrs. Walter Laughlin of Coldwater, who lost all their possessions in a fire in their home early Dec. 21. The parents and two of their children, Bobby, 3, and a twin daughter Kerry, one-year-old, escaped from an upstairs window. The other twin girl, Kim, lost her life by suffocation. The family was treated for injuries following the tragic fire, Mr. Laughlin being the most seriously affected. In rescuing members of his family, he suffered serious burns and severe cuts which have kept him in Orillia’s Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital. His wife and children have been provided with temporary accommodation at the home of relatives.
• According to a recent study made by the Canadian Life Insurance Officers Association, the first babies born in 1959 will in all likelihood, live longer. If the first New Year’s babies are boys, they can expect to live until they are 67.6 years of age—an increase in life expectancy of 7.6 years since 1931. If they are girls, they can expect to live until they are 73 years of age, a gain of almost 11 years since 1931, the study shows. (In 2017 those figures were 79 for men and 83 for women. For indigenous Canadians, the numbers are 69 and 73.)
• Basic hourly starting rates at Fern Shoe and Midland Footwear will be increased 8 percent Jan. 5, and employees of all divisions of Midland Industries Limited — Fern, Midland Footwear, and Plastics—will receive two more paid statutory holidays effective with the year beginning May 1, 1959. This announcement was made last week by Jerry Zabransky, executive vice-president of Midland Industries, in a Christmas message to the 365 employees of the shoe factories in Penetang and Midland.
• Motorists in Midland apparently behaved very well over the Christmas holiday weekend, with not a single arrest for drunk or impaired driving, according to Chief Robert Cameron.
• Ten Years Ago This Week – J. B. Roebuck, a veteran Midland merchant, was elected president of Tiny and Tay Agricultural Society. He succeeded Archie McArthur. * * * Forty percent of the eligible voters turned out for Midland’s 1948 civic elections. Elected were reeve, W. H. Taylor; aldermen, Clinton Smith, P. A. McKeown, W. L. Logan, and G. R. Stevens; PUC, Charles Stevenson, and David Hurrle. * * * A few hours after the home of Penetang Legionnaire George Beaudoin was destroyed by fire, Penetang Legion branch swung into action to aid the stricken family. At a special meeting, the Legion decided by unanimous vote to rebuild the Beaudoin home as soon as conditions would permit. * * * Midland Public Utilities Commission, at its final meeting of the year, decided to retire the remaining water debentures, amounting to $14,901 and interest. Electric utility debentures had been paid off for some years. * * * Orillia citizens voted down by a substantial majority a proposal that the town secedes from Simcoe County and become a city. The vote was 1,544 against to 1,053, in favor.
• 25 Years Ago This Week – A cold wave sent thermometers in Midland plunging to 30 below zero. At Alliston, 32 degrees were recorded, at Coldwater and Huntsville, 48 below, at Sudbury, 60 below, and in Toronto 21.2 below. * * * Magistrate Compton Jeffs of Barrie was named the successor to Magistrate Daniel McCaughrin at Orillia. * * * Wheat exports for the week ending Dec. 22, 1933, amounted to 2,347,673 bushels, an increase of 1,382,697 bushels over the preceding week. * * * J. B. Roebuck was re-elected mayor of Midland for his sixth term. He had a 140-vote majority over his opponent. Elected deputy-reeve was Jack Moore. * * * W. Parliament was elected worshipful master of LOL 947, Midland, at the lodge’s annual meeting Dec. 29. About 50 members were in attendance. Deputy master was H. Wiles. * * * A boys’ council, modeled on lines of the town’s municipal council, had been organized at Midland YMCA. The council was to meet every two weeks. * * * To provide winter work for the unemployed, the Ontario government proposed to widen a section of Highway 27 between the Midland cut-off and Penetang, and to straighten and widen a corner near the golf course. * * * As the first nomination meeting in Penetang had been unsuccessful in obtaining a mayor and three of the four aldermanic seats, a second nomination meeting was scheduled for January 15. * * * Midland public and high school teachers had asked the board of education to pay at least part of their back salaries before Christmas. Because of the town’s financial state, the board had been unable to pay teacher’s salaries since October. The board was able to obtain enough funds to pay them for the month of November.

The board of directors, staff and volunteers of Huronia Museum wish everyone a  happy and safe holiday season and all the best in 2019!!

 

Click on Photos to EnlargeMidland’s King Street looked like a picture in a Christmas card after the weekend storm. Yuletide decorations have been erected by Junior Chamber of Commerce members, public works employees and PUC workmen. This view is looking north on King Street, the town’s main business section. (King Street before Percy’s Peaks.) 

He always seems to bring up the rear of the parade but no matter where they put him Santa always gets a warm welcome from the kiddies. Santa’s float in Midland’s annual parade Saturday was provided by the Midland Lions Club. The old chap in the red suit and long white whiskers stopped off at the CNR station long enough to distribute candies to the children. 

Two veteran Midland politicians made successful bids to return to public office in Monday’s elections. Getting the good news in the Free Press Herald office are mayor-elect Charles Stevenson, left, and James Mackie, a former mayor, who was elected alderman for Ward 3. Mr. Stevenson is a former PUC chairman. 

Midland constable Ray Atkinson had good reason to make sure the Free Press Herald’s Jim Lennox, left and Wils Harrison, tallied up the Tay Township returns correctly Monday night. Const. Atkinson was a candidate for the deputy-reeveship of Tay, opposing fellow councillor Lawrence Parker. Listed as a dark horse prior to the election, Constable/Councillor Atkinson emerged the winner by 89 votes. 

Midland Public Works Department was kept busy last week clearing away the snow from the season’s first big storm. They barely finished the job when a second storm hit Friday night and continued on Saturday. Here the snow loader can be seen clearing parking space along Hugel Ave. W. 

Supervised skating periods at the Midland Arena are proving popular with both parents and school children. Wednesday afternoons are set aside for the junior grades and Fridays for the upper classes. Acting as pilot for Debra Williams, left, and his own daughter, Nancy, is Lorne Craig. Teachers also help with the supervision. 

NEW MAYOR — Father of six growing children, RCAF veteran former councillor and chairman of the Penetang General Hospital Board, Jerome Gignac is mayor-elect for the town of Penetanguishene. He also operates a successful clothing business. 

Midland chapter of the Society for the Preservation of Barber Shop Quartet’ Singing came up with the top chorus in the Metro-Northern Area competitions held in Barrie recently. Club president Cecil Crealock is seen receiving the championship trophy from Roy Keys, left, of the Aurora Chapter, in a ceremony held at the club rooms in Midland Wednesday night. Choirs from Owen Sound, Midland, Orillia, Aurora and other district points took part in the event. 

Question is, does this old cannon stand guard over Victoria Harbour, or is it a warlike gesture on the part of Port McNicoll residents? Seen in winter dress, the cannon has been photographed countless times by visitors to Port’s famed CPR gardens. It’s not likely it will ever fire a shot in the direction of Victoria Harbour, seen in the distance beyond Hogg Bay. 

One of the many phases of youth activity at the Midland YMCA, a newly-formed radio club. Some of the young members are seen above during a demonstration at Harwood Gosselin’s home on HugeI Ave. Left to right, standing, are Mel Moreau, club director, Paul Howard, Jock Ambrose and Ron Gosselin. Seated are Ken Langley and Mr. Gosselin, club assistant. 

Youngest men in the Midland political scene are Jack Thompson (left), and Thomas “Tim” Nesbitt, two of the successful candidates for seats on the public schools’ board Monday. Mr. Thompson is a member of the present board and Mr. Nesbitt was a member of the board several years ago. 

In “the good old days”, before the advent of the motor car, Midland children could go sleigh riding or tobogganing down almost any street. Now, of course, such fun is highly dangerous. The view above is an everyday one for residents of Montreal Street, who can look east across the new Pillsbury plant and the CNR yards and up Gloucester Street. On a good clear day, the southeastern shore of Georgian Bay is clearly visible many miles away. (The distortion in the photo is due to deterioration of the negative.) 

Forty years of service to the Canadian Pacific Railway’s steamship division came to an end this week with the retirement of John H. Bridges, supervisor of traction equipment at Port McNicoll. Mr. Bridges, a resident of Midland since 1923, was honoured by his fellow employees in ceremonies held in the CPR sheds at Port McNicoll Tuesday. The same evening, a number of members of Midland Y’s Men’s Club gathered at Mr. Bridges’ Colborne Street home to wish him well in his retirement. He has been a Y’s man for many years. Mrs. Bridges (Edna) stands beside him with the bouquet. John was also the go-to person at the Y’s Mens Indian Village now part of Huronia Museum. He was their person on the site for many years living only yards away on Colborne Street.

As the sign indicates, the dozen or so cats around the CPR sheds at Port McNicoll will miss Mr. Bridges about as much as the many friends he made there in 40 years service with the company. Mr. Bridges, who retired this week, is seen with his wife Edna and S. F. Malin, superintendent of the steamship division. 

Gentlemen in the picture above can look back on jobs well done as far as the CPR is concerned. All now retired, their total service in the various branches of the CPR at Port McNicoll totalled 319 years. Left to right, with number of years’ service, are W. S. Struthers (38), W. R. Mitchell (25), Tom Morgan (48), Reg Vosper (42), J. M. Frederick (34), J. W. Ball (14), J. H. Bridges (40), J. E. Heels (43) and John Bell, 35. The picture was taken aboard the S.S. Assinaboia at a luncheon for J. H. Bridges, who retired this week. 

Unidentified clowns in the Santa Claus parade.

  Several of the new floats this year drew favorable comment from spectators, and officials. Among them were Midland Industries “North Wind”, Beaver Lumber’s “Enchanted Forest”, Bausch and Lomb’s “Davy Crockett”, Midland Phalanx Club’s “Three Men in A Tub”, and Wagg’s Laundry. Several organizations used the same theme as last year while adding improvements here and there. Among these were Midland Planing Mills, Ernst Leitz (Canada), Canadian Legion, Knights of Columbus, Bev’s Marine, and the Free Press Herald. Also taking part in the parade were Midland Citizens and Sea Cadets bands, Midland Fire Department and Singer Motors. Midland Lions Club provided the sleigh and reindeer for Santa, mounted on a trailer. 

 We include this ad from Dunlop’s to highlight the pace of technology. The “Victrolas” or record players offered here sixty years ago are still usable today if you have the records and some do exist, do you have one? The proof is in the photo below that was forwarded to us. The irony is that we have also received a Palm Pilot 1000 for possible inclusion in our museum collection. The PDA or Personal Digital Assistant was first offered for sale in 1996 and is now obsolete.

That is a penny taped to the arm.

• Free Press Herald headline of Wednesday, December 10, 1958; Midland Has New Mayor in Close Municipal Vote. For the first time in eight years, Midland ratepayers Monday elected a new mayor. The winner Charles Stevenson obtained a 49-vote majority over Charles N. Parker, who has held the office since 1950. Mr. Stevenson, a former public utilities commission chairman and commissioner, swept every poll but Ward 1 where he trailed by 83 votes. In Mr. Parker’s own ward, Ward 2, he led by nine votes.
• County Herald headline of Friday, December 12, 1958; Repairing Plant Machine, Sand Mixer Mangles Man. The life of 37-year-old Theophile Cascagnette of Penetang was snuffed out yesterday morning in an accident at James Stewart Manufacturing Penetang, where he worked. As far as is known, the accident took place about 10:30 a.m. According to Chief Jack Arbour, who investigated, Mr. Cascagnette was doing some maintenance work inside the sand mixer when another workman inadvertently threw the machine’s starting switch and set the machine in operation. The sand mixer is used to blend moulding sand, preparatory to re-use in the moulds.
• Ren Moffatt, secretary-manager of Midland’s Chamber of Commerce, expressed it this way: “You wouldn’t think it possible we would get a day like this two years in a row.” Moffatt was referring, as mildly as possible under the circumstances, to the weather conditions which have plagued Midland’s Santa Claus parade these last two Decembers. Last year the weatherman dished up a heavy, wet snowstorm less than half an hour before the parade was slated to get underway! Everybody and everything was soaked. There was still plenty of snow in evidence for this year’s event, Saturday. It was a blustery, squally day that made a lot of people in the surrounding townships and villages decide there was no place like home, and the children on the various floats didn’t get wet. Because of the low temperatures, most of the children were placed aboard their floats seconds before the parade moved off, and removed as soon as possible at the other end.
• The students of MPDHS held their election for the Students’ Council for 1959 last week. House ALPHA BETA elected captain, Arlene Armstrong, the vice-captain, Bernard Arbour, secretary-treasurer, Louise Brand; boys’ athletics, Brian Dubeau, girls athletics, Ann Maher; director of arts, June Bannan. Executive members. Grade 9, Jane Campbell; Grade 10, Wayne Sinclair; Grade 11, Stan Holden; Grade 12, Sue Quinlan. House THETA KAPPA, captain, Ken Ball; vice-captain, Anna Mae Sweet; secretary-treasurer, Ken Mackie; boys athletics, Don Popple; girls athletics, Linda Riley; director of arts, Harry DeVries; Grade 9, Ken Leonard; Grade 10, Judy Hack; Grade 11, Ross Hebner; Grade 12, Faye Lavigne. House SIGMA CHI captain, Carol Van Luven; vice-captain, Paul McDonald; secretary-treasurer, Carol Fox; boys athletics, Bob Rawson; girls athletics, Mary Jane Gouett; director of arts, Bryson McQuirter; Grade 9, Keanna Boyce; Grade 10, Richard Blair; Grade 11, Elizabeth McGowan; Grade 12, John Adamson. House DELTA PHI, captain, John Daniells; vice-captain, Mary Lou Brissette; secretary-treasurer, Elmer Quesnelle; boys athletics, Don Zabzinski; girls athletics, Earla McCuaig; director of arts, Elizabeth Cowan; Grade 9 Brigit Brinkmann; Grade 10, Jill McKinnon; Grade 11,  Ardath Zimmer; Grade 12, Peter Gouett.
• VASEY — The Vasey Woman’s Association and Missionary Society met at the home of Rev. and Mrs. R. Dingwall Nov. 26. President Mrs. Orval Edwards conducted the meeting. Mrs. Nathan Edwards gave a reading entitled, “It isn’t the church, it’s you”. Members had been asked to make a crib quilt and it was decided to bring patches of flannelette to the next meeting in January. Roll call at that meeting is to be answered with a verse containing the word portal or beginning. Mrs. Harold Cowden, secretary, read the minutes of the last meeting and a report was given by Mrs. Charles Brown, the treasurer. Election of officers for 1959 was held. WMS officers elected were, president, Mrs. Orval Edwards; Mrs. Earl Jones, 1st vice-president; Mrs. Ross Faint, 2nd vice-president; Mrs. Frank Smitham, secretary Mrs. Charles Brown, treasurer; Baby Band, Miss Eleanor Edwards and Mrs. Ken Robinson; pianist, Mrs. Ross Faint; Mission Band superintendent, Mrs. Ted Vasey, with Mrs. Joe Lockhart and Mrs. Frank Smitham assisting. W.A. officers elected were president, Mrs. Wm. Irish; 1st vice-president, Miss Eleanor Edwards; 2nd vice-president, Mrs. Nathan Edwards; secretary, Mrs. Martin Strath; treasurer, Mrs. Fred Edwards; auditors, Mrs. Mervin Russell, Mrs. Joe Tinney; welfare, Mrs. Ross Faint, Mrs. Joe Tinney; parsonage committee, Mrs. Mervin Russell, Mrs. Nathan Edwards, Mrs. Wm. Irish. Light refreshments were served by Mrs. Charles Brown and Mrs. Stewart Belfry, assisted by the hostess. Next meeting will be at Mrs. Joe Tinney’s in January. The Sunday School held its Christmas tree end concert Friday evening in the church. Recent visitors of Mrs. Stewart Belfry were Rev. and Mrs. Ross Cumming and family, Coldwater, and Mr. Andrew Cumming, Barrie. Quite a number of friends and relatives called on Mr. and Mrs. Joe Tinney to offer congratulations and best wishes Sunday, Nov. 23, when they celebrated their golden anniversary. Mrs. Wm. Collins of Stayner is spending some time with her daughter, Mrs. Morgan Edwards.
• PORT McNICOLL- The W.A. and WMS of the United Church met in the Sunday School room last Thursday evening for a potluck supper. Their regular meeting followed, beginning with the WMS Christmas program, conducted by Vice-president Mrs. J. Duncan. Rev. G. Nodwell read the scripture. A brief business meeting of the W.A. followed conducted by the president, Mrs. M. J. Armstrong. The election of officers for both groups was held, with Rev. Gordon Nodwell in charge. The WMS officers for 1959 are President, Mrs. J. Duncan; vice-president, Mrs. D. Ramsay; secretary, Mrs. B. Adam; treasurer, Mrs. C. N. Callard; Christian stewardship. Mrs. B. J. Brownell; Christian citizenship. Mrs. M. J. Armstrong. The officers for the W.A. are president, Mrs. H. Loomes; vice-president, Mrs. B. J. Brownell; secretary, Mrs. E. N. Ramsay; treasurer, Mrs. D. Ramsay; flower fund and cards, Mrs. M. J. Armstrong. The Willing Workers of Bonar Presbyterian Church held their monthly meeting Thursday at the home of Mrs. A. McCullough, Sr. Mrs. L. Fair conducted the election of officers. The following are the officers for 1959: president, Mrs. D. Duncan; 1^st vice-president, Mrs. E. Lawes; 2nd vice-president, Mrs. A. Bremner; secretary, Mrs. J. D. McPhee; assistant secretary, Mrs. A. McCullagh, Sr.; treasurer, Mrs. L. Fair; remembrance fund secretary, Mrs. T. Lawler; assistant, Mrs. F. French. At the close of the meeting, the hostess served refreshments. * * * The Explorer initiation and red star ceremony was held Friday evening in the United Church. Many parents and friends attended. The opening ceremony was conducted by Sheila Dundas. Cheryl Lattimore and Lynda Miller were in charge of the worship service. Lynn Lattimore and Sally Spencer were initiated into the group by leader Sheila Armstrong and received their red stars. Blue stars were presented by the leader to Linda Adam, Linda Comber, Sheila Dundas, and Jane Lattimore. Gold stars were received by Cheryl Lattimore and Lynda Miller. Graduation certificates were presented to Joky Van Pypen and Gloria Waples by leader Sheila Armstrong. A Christmas story was read from St. Luke, chapter 2, with all of the Explorers taking part. A film was shown of the Christmas customs in countries throughout the world. Refreshments were served following the program. * * * Weekend visitors of Mr. and Mils. H. Loomis were Shirley Calhill and Henry Loomis, Jr., of Smiths Falls. Mrs. J. Calvert and Mary spent Saturday in Toronto. Raymond Sauve, Toronto, spent the weekend with his mother, Mrs. J. Sauve. Guests of Mr. and Mrs. A. McCullagh, Sr., were Mr. and Mrs. Orville Wood, Toronto.
• Ten Years Ago This Week – The finance chairman of Port McNicoll’s 1948 council told a nomination meeting in the village that he believed a law should be passed, prohibiting a person from serving more than two consecutive years on council. He declined to let his name stand for reeve or councillor. * * * Temperatures were hovering in the fifties when Midland held its Santa Claus parade Dec,4. The parade was sponsored by Midland District Shrine Club. * * * For the first time in 15 years Port McNicoll had a new reeve. Albert Calvert was nominated to the post by acclamation, succeeding George Patterson. * * * Simcoe County council approved village status for the municipality of Elmvale. A census of the village revealed a count of 783 persons. * * * A proposal to establish a juvenile and family court in Simcoe county, advocated by Deputy-reeve Alex Macintosh of Midland was voted down by county council. The vote was 30 to 25. * * *  Only 298 out of 2,026 eligible voters cast ballots in Penetanguishene’s civic election December 13. Three members of the 1948 council and three new men were elected. * * * Waubaushene had completed a new cement block building to house its fire truck and snow plow. Ninety percent of the funds for the structure were raised in the village by the chamber of commerce. The building was erected in the main by volunteer labor. * * * After 35 years of service as lockmaster at Port Severn, Joe White retired. He was succeeded by his son Bob.
• An Orillia woman who took a strong sedative, then set out to drive from Midland to Orillia Nov. 7 was sentenced to 15 days in jail and her licence was suspended for 12 months in magistrate’s court in Orillia Dec. 2. She had been charged with impaired driving.
• The Canadian Girls in Training of St. Paul’s United Church, Midland, will be joining other CGIT groups across Canada in their annual Christmas vesper service Dec. 14. , The CGIT is an inter-denominational movement under the Canadian Council of Churches. Its activities are many and varied but its chief purpose is to present the Christian way of life to teenage girls, it was stated.
• Penetang-Midland Coach Line buses are now providing musical rides for their passengers. While passengers on town buses in Midland have enjoyed radio programs, only recently has the bus company installed the radios in other district buses. The newscasts and Christmas music are proving to be an enjoyable feature.
• A well-known and respected businessman, Harry Stephen St. Amant, Penetang, died unexpectedly in St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Wednesday night. Mr. St. Amant had been ill for the past three or four years and had been confined to the hospital for the last two weeks following the second amputation of a leg. He had been reported to be progressing favourably, and those who had visited him told of his happy outlook and healthy appearance. Members of his family had talked to him by telephone earlier in the evening. Born in Penetang 68 years ago, Harry St. Amant, often called “Steve” by his close friends, had lived all his life in Penetang. Married 41 years ago to Rebekah Laurin in Lafontaine, the couple had raised eight children. Mrs. St. Amant died four years ago. It was 25 years ago that Mr. St. Amant went into the plumbing business with four of his sons joining him as they completed their education. The present showroom and shop on Robert Street W. was built in 1942. A keen spectator at sports events, Mr. St. Amant followed the fortunes of his home teams with great interest. For many years he was an active member of Penetang Volunteer Fire Brigade. In public life, Mr. St. Amant had been a member of the public school board, and it was when he was serving in that capacity that bilingual classes were started at the school. A Roman Catholic, he was a member of Huronia Council, Knights of Columbus, and St. Ann’s Holy Name Society. Surviving are five sons, Bernard, Gerard, Richard, Lawrence and Oswald, all of Penetang, and three daughters, Mrs. Clair Edgar, (Margaret), Parry Sound; Mrs. Lionel Lacroix, (Marie), Penetang, and Mrs. Bernard Gravelle, (Betty), Thorold. There is also one brother, Herman Peter St. Amant of Toronto, and two sisters, Mrs. Robert Ovren, Orillia, and Mrs. Jonas White, San Salvador. The body is at the family home, Robert Street, W.
• Since the end of October this year no mail deliveries at Coldwater have been made by train. Post office service is now entirely dependent on trucks, this has been detailed as follows by Coldwater Postmaster Fred W. Brown. – One truck service between Orillia and Penetang leaves Penetang daily, except Saturday, at 10:25 p.m. serving Midland, Victoria Harbour, Waubaushene, Coldwater, Orillia, where it connects with Toronto and North Bay train 47. A return trip leaves Orillia at 2:45 a.m. after receipt of mail from Toronto and North Bay from train 47, serving the same offices on the return trip. All mail received via this service is sorted when the Coldwater post office opens at 8:30 a.m. daily. The second truck service is the Lindsay, Orillia and Midland one, which leaves Lindsay daily except Sunday at 8 a.m. delivering and receiving mail en route for offices between Lindsay and Orillia, arriving at Orillia Post Office at 10 a.m. and waiting there to receive mail from the Toronto and North Bay train 41 at 12:30 noon. Then it proceeds to Coldwater, Waubaushene, Victoria Harbour, Port McNicoll, and Midland. The return trip leaves Midland at 2:30 p.m. serving the same offices to Orillia, and connects with the Toronto and North Bay train 44, and then on to Lindsay serving the intermediate offices between Orillia and Lindsay, arriving at Lindsay at 6:45 p.m.
• EMMA MAUDE SHAKELL – After a prolonged illness, Mrs. Emma Maude Church Shakell died in St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Dec. 6. Born at Palgrave, Ont., in July 1884, she was educated and lived in Matchedash until her marriage on June 26, 1907, to George Shakell at Coldwater. She had lived in Midland for five and a half years. Funeral service was conducted at the Nicholls funeral home by Rev. Wilson Morden Dec. 9. Honorary pallbearers were Joseph Silk, George Silk, and David Haig. Active pallbearers were; Ernest Hurl, Douglas Church, Leslie Church, Haig Abbott, Wilford Abbott, and Pat (Doug) Roberts. Besides her husband, she is survived by two sons. Nelson and Roy of Midland, and three daughters, Mrs. J. Little (Anne), Mrs. E. Noland (Lillian) and Mrs. A. Romanchuk (Pauline); all of Toronto. A second son, William Albert, was drowned while his father was overseas in World War 1. One sister, Mrs. A. Knibbs (Gladys) of Toronto, also survives. Burial was in Lakeview Cemetery vault.
• One of the few things that are not at an inflationary level these days is the percentage of eligible voters who turn out for elections. Municipal Affairs Minister W. K. Warrender said the other day that the provincial average so far this year has been about 30 percent. In one or two cases it dropped as low as 15 percent. In the village of Coldwater, the majority of citizens seem to value their franchise for 60 percent of them cast ballots during the village election two weeks ago.
• Orchestra –   For company dances, weddings, etc. Modern and old-time, Polkas, Rheinlanders, waltzes. Stuart Johnstone 183 Eighth St., Midland. Phone LA. 6-5158.
• Births – BROWN — To Mr. and Mrs. Everett Brown, Port McNicoll, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Tuesday, December 2, 1958, a son. BRISSETTE To Mr. and Mrs. David Brissette, Victoria Harbour, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, on Tuesday, December 9, 1958, a daughter. CORBIER—To Mr. and Mrs. David Corbier, Honey Harbour, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Monday, December 8, 1958, a daughter. FISHER — To Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Fisher, Christian Island, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Thursday, December 4, 1958, a son. GRANT — To Mr. and Mrs. Donald Grant, 291 Dominion Ave., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Tuesday, December 2, 1958, a daughter. HENDERSON — To Mr. and Mrs. John Henderson, 368 Manley St., at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Tuesday, December 9, 1958, a son. STRICKLAND — To Mr. and Mrs. Victor Strickland, 191 Yonge St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Sunday, December 7, 1958, a son. THOMPSON—To Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Thompson, 88 Dominion Ave, Midland, at St. Andrew’s Hospital, Midland, Monday, December 8, 1958, a daughter.

Click on Photos to Enlarge

The Santa Claus parade in Midland Saturday should be bigger than ever this year. Members of the Midland Lions Club prepare the large float that will carry old Santa into town. Left to right are Garnet Armstrong, in charge of the Lions float committee, Herb Secord, an assistant, and Lions Lloyd Murday, Bud Turnbull and Bob MacLeod. 

Mrs. E. Keylwerth, Ken Simms and Hans Wiese paint some of the scenery for the Leitz float. This is the second year of the return of the annual parade after several years without it. Providing music for the procession will be Midland Citizens’ Band, the Collingwood band and Midland Sea Cadet Corp band.

One of the best floats in last year’s Santa Claus parade was the one entered by Midland Planing Mills. Making sure the firm’s float will enjoy the same success in Saturday’s parade are Ray Laurin, left and Bert Maheu.  The parade is sponsored by the Midland Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycee’s). Committee Chairman J. E.
Lounsbery said there will be 15 floats  (at least three of them new entries), three bands and models of new cars in the procession that will leave the curling rink at 2 p.m. The parade will move down King Street to Bay Street, east on Bay to the CNR station where Santa will hold court on a throne being provided by the Midland Y’s Men’s Club.

Getting ready for Midland’s big Santa Clause parade Saturday, Mrs. Don Argue wields the paintbrush while Harvey Boyd marks out the letters on one of the displays to be featured on the Bausch and Lomb float. 

Employees and senior staff members of several Midland industries have been busy preparing floats for the Santa Claus parade in Midland Saturday. Here Heinz Kiefer, Ernst Hasenier and Wolfgang Detambel assemble a section of the float of Ernst Leitz Canada Limited. 

Putting the finishing touches on the North Wind, the theme of Midland Industries Ltd. float in Saturday’s Santa Claus parade is Jim Wood, designer, for the plastics firm. Watching is Miss Anne Shiels, who will be “Queen” on the float. 

There are bound to be some changes in Tay Township council this year with the retirement of Deputy-reeve Mrs. Minnie Mayhew. Pictured at a farewell party for Mrs. Mayhew at Bourgeois’ dining room Friday night, the present council includes, left to right. Clerk Ralph Dalton, Reeve Fred Kinnear, Councillors Norm Widdes and Ray Atkinson, Mrs. Mayhew, and Councillor Lawrence Parker. 

New houses seem to be springing up everywhere you look in Midland these days. The area above, between the Leitz factory and Wireless Hill, was a bare sandy plain only a couple of years back. Now it is dotted with many taxpaying homes.

“Sign here,” advised William Hack, Midland clerk-treasurer, as candidates for the town’s 1959 council and other bodies lined up following Thursday nights’ nominations. Three men above, PUC Commissioner Bill Logan, Alderman Doug Haig, and Reeve Bill Keller left to right, all received acclamations. Seated are Mr. Hack, left, and Kenneth Hawke, assistant assessor. 

The busiest man in Midland Arena Thursday night during Brooklin-Midland junior game was Red Wing goalie Rodger Gray. In the top photo, Rodger has just warded off a close-in drive by Brooklin forward in the foreground (dark jersey). Wings meet Orillia here Thursday night.  

People’s warden at St. Mark’s Church,  Arthur Lloyd examines a scale model of the new memorial tower to be erected at the church.

The tower is to be a memorial to Captain and Mrs. Ed. Burke and the McCartney family. Bequests for this purpose had been made by the Burkes and by Miss Annie McCartney. The tower will house the chimes donated to the church by Jim Thomas in memory of his son Bob, who died in 1948 at the age of 13. The 40-foot tower, originally planned when the church was enlarged in 1953, is of contemporary style, and will be made of pre-cast concrete according to the plan by Toronto architect E. S. C. Cox. 

It’s a question whether learning to skate is harder on the tiny tots or on the mothers. Above, Mrs. Lloyd Roberts helps her two-year-old daughter Lynn get the feel of the ice at Midland Arena. 

Big moment in a “Cub’s” life comes with his elevation to full Scout status. Three lads above seen with Cub Leader Mrs. Albert Magloughlin, got their Leaping Wolf badges in a ceremony at Knox Church, Midland, Wednesday night. New Scouts are, left to right, Gary Crawford, Bill Mackie, and Pat Lediard. 

Wooden hulled steamers St. Andrew, formerly the W. B. Hall, and C. W. Chamberlain, both owned by the Playfair Line, are shown coaling up at the Beck coal wharf at Penetanguishene. The small tug  Shawanaga is the wooden vessel in front of the two steamers.  —Photo by J. W. Bald.  (Note that J. W. has written his name and the date on one of the timbers in the foreground.)

For the marine buffs, we include the entire article that accompanied the photo above;      The early days of the shipping interests of the late James Playfair were recalled recently when W. R. Williams reminisced about the steamer “St. Andrew,” the first steam-driven ship purchased by Mr. Playfair in 1896. The “S.S. St. Andrew” was originally the “W. B. Hall”, built in 1885 by Maltese shipbuilder Louis Shickuna of St. Catharines, relates Mr. Williams. The single screw, wooden steamer, which was built for William B. Hall of Toronto, was 157.6 feet long, 27.9 foot-beam and had a depth of 12.4 feet. Deciding to enter the grain trade, Mr. Playfair bought the “W. B. Hall” and had her lengthened to 192.6 feet with a beam of 41 feet, and a gross tonnage of 1,113 tons. This rebuilding of the “St. Andrew” was done at the Owen Sound Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. and gave the ship a capacity for 40,000 bushels of wheat. Captain Featherstonehaugh became financially interested in the boat and was given command of her. On her trip to the head of the lakes she carried coal and returned with grain. Northbound on Sept. 20, 1900, the St. Andrew struck the rocks near Bachand Island near the entrance to Nipigon Strait, continued Mr. Williams, who noted that she soon filled with water and sank in deep water, but not before her crew made their escape to the island. They were picked up by the tug “Georgian” and taken to Port Arthur the following day. Another fond memory of Mr. Williams is the wooden tug “Shawanaga” which was built in 1882 at Penetang by “carpenter Morat” for Charles Beck, lumber merchant. The 80-foot tug had a beam of 17 feet and was used each summer to tow log rafts from various Georgian Bay timber limits to the two Beck sawmills at Penetang. At the close of navigation in 1904 she was sold to Joseph Ganley of Sault Ste. Marie because Mr. Beck had the 90-foot tug “Wahnapitae” under construction. After serving several owners the registry of the “Shawanaga” was closed Sept 20, 1912, because she was “broken up” at Midland.  

 This was the ultimate before Nintendo, Game Boy, Xbox, Play Station 4, etc. It was estimated that in 1950 there were 25,000 miles of Lionel train track in service and 500,000 toy train layouts in the U.S.A. In 1952 Lionel sold 622,209 locomotives and 2.4 million freight cars at a time when there were only 43,00 real locomotives in the country.

By 1958 this scene was quickly disappearing with the advent of fuel oil but even at my tender age, I can remember the coal furnace in my uncle’s basement, although he had a mechanical stoker and watching the delivery truck slide coal down the chute into the neighbour’s basement. The car that wouldn’t start in the cold is also pretty much a thing of the past. The endless cranking of the engine, before electronic ignition and fuel injection.

• Midland Free Press headline of Wednesday, December 3^rd, 1958; Say Loss Tops $7,000 in Two Weekend Blazes. Two major fires, one in a home in Sunnyside and the other a woodworking shop in Midland, caused more than $7,000 damage over the weekend. The first occurred in the three-storey brick dwelling owned by Frank Rourke of Sunnyside, a lighthouse keeper at the Western Islands. It was first noticed about 8.02 p.m. Friday. The second major fire occurred about 1.25 p.m. Sunday when a storey and a half, frame woodworking shop owned by Angus Willette of 120 Seventh Street, and its contents were destroyed.
• County Herald headline of Friday, December 5^th, 1958; Ten Seek Civic Seats, 4,300 Can Vote on Monday. Ten candidates are seeking election to the six municipal offices being contested. Polls will open at 10 a.m. and will close at 6 p.m. Adding interest to the vote this year is the contest for the mayoralty where Mayor Chas. Parker faces his first vote battle in three years. Title contender is Charles Stevenson. First elected as an alderman in Ward 1 in 1946, Mr. Parker moved up to the deputy reeve’s post the following year. He has been mayor for the last eight years. Engineer Charles ‘Steve’ Stevenson is no newcomer to municipal affairs having served eight years on the Midland Public Utilities Commission, at least two terms as chairman. In his second bid for a PUC post in 1948, he led the polls.
• Two boys and a girl, 16 to 18 years of age, will appear in Midland police court today to face a total of 45 charges laid by members of the OPP detachment at Victoria Harbour. With the arrests, police hope they have cleaned up a series of cottage break-ins along the Severn River, particularly in the Severn Falls area.
• Worst damage reported in Penetang from the weekend snow and wind storm was at Norse Boats where a boathouse collapsed after being struck by a large section of open roof. The loss is estimated at approximately $3,000. According to Jan Ulrichsen, sometime Saturday night the wind picked up a section of roof from an open stall and slammed it down on a metal clad boathouse causing it to collapse. The section of roof, 90 by 20 feet, was metal sheathing on six by six timbers, and fairly heavy. The flattened boathouse was 45 by 20 feet.
• Motorists around Penetang found the going extremely difficult between four and five Saturday afternoon when wind-driven snow almost completely cut off all vision. Visibility was so poor that several car drivers almost became lost in territory they know well. One man left his office in time to view the football game and decided to put his car in the garage. When he arrived home he couldn’t find the garage and didn’t know where he was until the car dropped into a ditch about 15 feet off the road. He was a little late getting to see the game.
• For F. A. “Sandy” Dempster, the appointment this week as manager of Midland’s Loblaw’s store was something, of a homecoming. “Sandy” first served in the old Loblaw store a couple of blocks farther north on King Street, on several occasions during the war years. Part of that term he served as a relief manager. “It’s nice to come back again, especially to a fine new store like this,” Mr. Dempster said Monday.
• “We will be able to give better service in our exclusive line of furs,” stated Sam Cadesky when he announced yesterday that he had doubled the size of his store on Hugel Ave., E., in the Georgian Hotel block. Mr. Cadesky has rented the store next to his present location which was formerly occupied by Oliver Smith. The smart new showroom to house the silver racks of fur styles has been decorated in a pink and mushroom color combination. Interior decorations are not quite complete but Mr. Cadesky reports they will be finished shortly. Mr. Cadesky, who started out buying raw furs more than 40 years ago has spent most of his business life in Midland. Besides his many American customers who are here during the tourist season, Mr. Cadesky lists many communities in central and southern Ontario with citizens who wear furs with the Cadesky label.
• New Arrivals – CERNY — To Mr. and Mrs. Steven Cerny, Yonge St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, November 25, 1958, a daughter. IRWIN — To Mr. and Mrs. Ross Irwin, Manley St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, November 27, 1958, a daughter. PELLETIER—To Mr. and Mrs. James Pelletier. Victoria Harbour, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, November 29, 1958, a son.
• 25 Years Ago This Week – A cold wave, which was felt throughout the province, froze Midland Bay as far as the gap. Several Midland and district deer hunters, who had been hunting Up The Shore, were icebound in their hunting camps. Preceded by the tug Fanny Arnold the City of Dover steamed out of Midland to pick up some of the stranded parties. * * * Twelve hours overdue in an 86-mile trip from Charlotte, N.Y., a CSL collier arrived in Toronto sheathed in ice after she had bucked a gale all the way. There were 18 inches of water in rooms below decks. The ship was commanded by Capt. Reg. Belcher of Victoria Harbour. * * * Simcoe County Trustees and Ratepayers Association had endorsed a resolution at its annual meeting in Barrie requesting that Latin and French be dropped from the curriculum and that subjects of “more practical value” be adopted. * * *  The Northern Navigation Co. passenger steamer Huronic had arrived at Midland to undergo extensive repairs at Midland Shipyard. The Huronic was built at Collingwood in 1902. * * *  Midland was to have the distinction of manufacturing the first television equipment in Canada. Two floors of the Craighead building had been leased by General Television of Canada Limited and production was to get underway as soon as machinery could be moved from Chicago. * * * Dr. G. E. Tanner of Midland was the unanimous choice of East Simcoe Liberals as their candidate in the next provincial election. Dr. Tanner was nominated at a party convention in Orillia. Principal speaker was Mitchell F. Hepburn, M.P., provincial Liberal leader. * * * Fire Chief Peter Grigg reported that fire losses in Midland in 1933 were $239,158 less than those for 1932.
• Editorial comment. – Here’s a new switch. Australian postal workers have requested higher pay for night work on the ground that television, now well, established in the land down under, has become a way of life in Australia. Night work deprives them of “this privilege” and, therefore, they hold that they should be reimbursed because of this loss. If their programs are anything like many telecasts in this country, the viewers should be paid for watching them.
• Three Penetang district residents received awards in the potato seed classes at the Royal Winter Fair, Toronto. Gabriel Maurice, R.R. 2, Penetang, received award 15 for his Sebago seed potatoes. Telesphore Forget, R.R. 2. Penetang, in the same seed class, received award 18. Mr. Forget also received award 26 for his Katahdin seed potatoes and Ida Maurice of R.R. 3, Penetang, received award 28 in the Katahdin class. Total entry in the seed department was almost 1,200 with several entries from England, Australia, France, Africa and various parts of the United States and Canada. (An important industry in North Simcoe and Lafontaine farmers were world-class competitors.)
• ROSEMOUNT NEWS (Or should it be Gratrixville)— Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Gratrix and boys spent last Tuesday at the Royal Winter Fair. Bob Hughes and Jim Ironsides of Midland visited Ted Potter Saturday. Mrs. Walter Gratrix was the weekend guest of her sister, Mrs. Eva Milligan, in Toronto. Verne Laughlin, the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Horace Laughlin, is a patient in Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, Orillia. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Bell of Swift Rapids spent Thursday evening with Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gratrix. Bud Winger of Severn Falls visited Melville Boyd Sunday evening. Ron Jordan of Warminster spent Saturday evening with Dorland Potter. and Mrs. Alex Ferguson and Jack Hardy of Toronto were Sunday visitors of Steve Gratrix. Mrs. Walter Slack of St. Catharines and Earl Walters of Beamsville spent the weekend with Mr. and Mrs. Reg Potter and George Walters. Mrs. M. Boyd visited Mrs. O. W. Lovelace in Coldwater, Friday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Gratrix, Cecil and Garnet were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Gratrix at Oro Station. Mr. and Mrs. Currie Bell of Waubaushene visited Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gratrix Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Siddall of Hamilton were at their home here for the weekend. Murray Gratrix spent Sunday with his grandmother, Mrs. Thomas Lawson, at Sturgeon Bay. Mr. and Mrs. Garfield Cross of Orillia and Miss Edna Brush of Coldwater were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Melville Boyd and Charles Cross.
• Between 350 and 400 hunters were in the field on opening day of the four-day open season for deer in Matchedash Township November 3 to 6. Ontario Department of Lands and Forests officers report. Department staff operated a checking station between Lovering and Severn Park and counts were made daily between 2 and 6:30 p.m. Some 291 hunters passing through the station were questioned and officers report that 99 deer were shot. Of this total 40 were bucks, 35 does and 24 fawns. Three bears were also killed during the shoot.
• Saturday’s violent storm played havoc with TV reception of the Grey Cup game for a number of set owners in this area. Many private TV antennae were toppled by the high winds and even officials of Midland’s community Tower TV had some second thoughts about the Hydro’s new slogan — “Live Better Electrically”. Breaks on the Hydro lines in Tiny Township twice interrupted reception by the Tower of portions of the first half of the Grey Cup final. So heavy have been the losses on roof antenna that Canadian insurance companies are no longer including replacement coverage on TV aerials in their blanket homeowner policies, it was stated.
• Orr Lake Post Office, one of the oldest in the Elmvale district, was closed Nov. 13. A rural delivery has been established with new rural boxes set up in front of Farmer’s store. This service is from the Elmvale Post Office.
• The 1958 edition of Penetang voters’ list indicates that 59 percent of citizens own their own homes. Figures show a total of 2,432 eligible voters with 1,428 of this number indicated as owners.