View of The Country Store and residences backing onto the Holland Marsh in the early 1990s.

"Temperatures which dipped below freezing Monday night met resistance from warm water early yesterday, creating what appears to be a grass fire. Icy weather did some damage on the Marsh, but farmers were expecting it. Warmer temperatures are expected later this week."

This two-storey, frame and cement-clad house is located south of the “Y” at 223 Simcoe Road. Mr. Bruce bought this house and the land (which extended south to the town limits and over the canal) many years ago. A marsh laneway ran east and there was a bridge across the canal for the road to the marsh. The lane circled the house and came out on Simcoe Road. There was a large barn east of the entrance to the property. It had a basement for animals and chickens. Albert Readman and his family (Mildred, Albert Jr., Olive, and Tom) lived in this house for a number of years. Mike Kasik (a market gardener) eventually bought the property. Len Saint built a cement garage and a storage building south of the house on the end of the bank and the lane. (1, 2)

A metal and wooden sickle. Similar to a scythe, a sickle is a hand held tool for agricultural use, specifically used to cut things like grass or hay.