"On the eve of his 92nd birthday, Tuesday, Bill Ruffett told the story of the booming ice industry of yesteryear. Bell Ewart - "I started on the ice when I was 12 yeards old. Father had rented the old hotel on the south side of the dock of 1897 for one dollar a month. After the old sawmill had burned down, the hotel went out of business. I remember well tearing out the bar. It was then I started to lead a horse on an ice plow for 50 cents a day for the Belle Ewart Ice Company. It was the only ice company there then and was across the road from my home where Sheppard's Marina is today. I remember the winter of 1906 was very mild and the big lake never froze over until nearly spring. The railroad was still here, you see, from the era of meeting the Lake Simcoe excursion boats. It was then ice companies from Jackson's Point came here, partly because of the railroad. Their only transportation there, for ice to Toronto, was by street car. I had anywhere from 60 to 80 men working for me at one time, all farmer's boys."
Myrtle and Russell Copeland celebrate their 65th Wedding Anniversary.
Accompanying story by Susan Stein: "It was a day for memories, a day always to be cherished by Russel and Myrtle Copeland, by friends and family , who came to celebrate with them on their 65 Wedding Anniversary. There was an Open House, held at their home in Newton Robinson on Sunday, May 7, 1989. A large turn-out came from all over Ontario despite the inclement weather to share in the celebration of this respected couple's festive occasion and to share their memories. It was on May 7, 1924 that Russel Copeland and Myrtle Bateman were married at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Bond Head by Rev. Charles Hearn. They settled on the family farm on the 8th line of West Gwillimbury for several years before moving to their present home in Newton Robinson. Russel purchased his first livestock truck in 1926 - a hard rubber tire model T. That same year their eldest son Laurence was born, followed by Stanley ... " The rest of the story is cut off.
"The Stroud Brownies who have earned the honor of flying up to Guides are front row L to R: Kirsten Sejrup, Tracey Reed, and Wendy Noble. Two of the girls are wearing costumes suitable for the Japanese theme of the evening. In the back row, Debra Bowen proudly displays the All-Round cord she received. Leader Joyce Alford and patrol leader Cathy Mulliss give the new guides a warm welcome."
"Doug Bone, who began collecting old telephones only three years ago, says he now has the largest private collection of antique and unusual phones in Canada. He stumbled into his hobby quiet by accident. Doug and his wife, Joan, who shares his interest, visited the Bruce peninsula in search of glass insulators. While there they were offered two old box telephones. They were not especially interested but bought them anyway. Doug cleaned them inside and out, which was all he needed to stir up the unbounded enthusiasm for the hobby for which he is known today in both Canada and United States. Since that time, he has purchased a major part of one man's collection and all of another's. In addition he visited many of the 30 independent telephone companies still operating in Ontario. He bought a few old phones and a few parts and threw his energy into restoring, trading, and buying phones. His collection includes 160 telephones, all clean and polished like new."
"Harold Stephens, rural mail carrier on the Lefroy route for 22 years, died January 13 in his 71st year. He had been in failing health for some time and for that reason gave up the mail route two years ago. Mr. Stephens had seen many changes in Innisfil since starting to drive the mail about 1952. Most of the 18-mile route was gravel then. Initially, he called at 75 boxes and when he retired he was serving 150 boxholders. In an interview with Scope at that time, he recalled gasoline was only 25 cents a gallon when he first took over the mail route. The deceased saw the end of the era of mail coming to Lefroy by train and the start of truck service. He used to meet the train at 11 o'clock each morning in the early years and part of his contract included delivery of the mail bag for Churchill to the post office there. On retirement he noted the vast decrease in parcels from Eaton's and Simpson's over the years. Harold Stephen's moved to Lot 20, Concession 4 in 1931 and upon retirement from farming a few years ago, built a new house on the farm lane. He grew up at Churchill on the 5th Line, west of Highway 11 where his parents, Llewyn and Lizzie Stephens farmed. He is ervived by his wife, Phyliss and daughter Mary Ann and several step children. A brother, Jim and sister, Doreen also survive. He was predeceased by brothers, Fred and Glen and sister, Eleanor."
"The Easter Parade at Sunnybrae School in Stroud was a lively event. The children of the Junior Division marched around the gym with musical accompaniment of 'In Your Easter Bonnet' to proudly model their handmade bonnets and top hats."
"Everyone knows Barrie has its Kempenfelt Kelly, reportedly seen from time to time in the bay. But did you know Innisfil Township has a monster, too? Grades 5 and 6 at Innisfil Central school built a 30-foot Innisfil Iggy as a snow sculpture exhibit for the Innisfil Winterama. Although Iggy was not a prize-winner, he inspired teacher Ray McDonnell to write a poem about it."
"Legless almost since birth, Jerry Hiscock of Alcona Beach will be able to get around fairly well this Christmas. The Innisfil Lions Club and Canadian Honda Motor Limited have refurbished his three-wheel all-terrain vehicle. The 17-year-old student jumped on the vehicle on Saturday and showed his driving skill on the ice and snow near his home. Lions spokesman Harold Keiser said his club bought the Honda in 1973 and it was maintained regularly by member Joe Hornung. But it was worn out by July of this year. Honda agreed to fix the machine at no cost. "It cost the company more money to repair the bike than it would have to replace it, but it would have had to be a bigger model," said Ron Rogers, Honda representative and resident of Innisfil. As for Jerry, he has his sights on a job as an auto mechanic's apprentice. And if brake lights and a horn are added to the vehicle, he hopes to obtain a motorcycle licence."
"The South Innisfil Community Centre was officially opened last Saturday with a full day of activities ranging from skating races to moccasin dancing. The program started at 8:00 a.m. and carried on through to the evening ending with a dance in the banquet hall. Crowds packed the arena from the time it opened until it closed according to Judy Atkinson, one of the original workers for the arena project."
"More than $1,700 in pledges was recorded at the ski and skate-a-thon Saturday, sponsored by the Gilford and District Lions Club at Ski Haven. It was estimated that Harv Speiran of Gilford was the oldest of the 100 participants. It was also he who chalked up the most money in pledges, over $300, while skiing more than 10 miles. He wouldn't reveal his age. A young bank teller, Kim Brown of Bradford, had $258 in pledges, the highest for the women. Participants came from Gilford, Lefroy, Churchill, Bradford, and surrounding districts. The even was held to raise money for the Lions camp for the deaf at Parry Sound and the camp for the Blind at Lake St. Joseph. Snow and ice conditions were not the best but they did not deter entrants from having a fun-filled afternoon. Many enjoyed making use of the facilities loaned by Ski Haven to the Lions Club."
