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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1979-09-06, Page 13o ....P.:Udall. II 4 ,; PS. ',4'..1!1;a' 4.44, MAIN STREET 1902 — This is one of the earliest photographs of Grand Bend's Main Street when there was just a dirt trail leading through the trees to the lake. The big building on the left is "The Tenderspot" - when it was a quiet general store instead of a busy super- market. NO LONGER EXISTS — This building was once located just east of the stop lights where Highway 81 now runs. The house on the right now holds Gaiser-Kneale insurance offices. People say that this general store had several different owners over the years. Names men- tioned were Ravelles, Fredericks and Appletons. The smaller building is said to have housed the telephone office when that convenience first came to the village, This post card was dated 1934. Remember? 'The way we were...' The summer of '79 is now no more than a pleasant memory for those who spent it in Grand Bend. We thought you might like to see some scenes of by-gone summers to jog memories of those years at the beach. We tried to ascertain dates, names and places by consulting with several long-time residents of the area, but we apologize if we don't have every detail straight. These pictures and old post cards were photographed from a collection at Lambton Heritage Museum. Many collectors in Grand Bend as well as the museum have many more like them. THE IMPERIAL HOTEL —Just a block from the beach, this hotel was popular in the thir- ties. Over the years the look and the name of the Imperial has changed. In recent years it was known as Kelly's and this summer the name changed to R.D.'s. GATEWAY TO GRAND BEND — This was the post card you sent home to show your friends how welcome they'd be if they came to the 'Bend. This photo of a tree-lined Main Street was probably taken in the thirties. The stone pillars held up the welcome sign for decades after that. LA KEVI EW HOUSE — A popular tourist accommodation in Grand Bend early this century was Lakeview House. This building once stood where the board walk and "Village Square" sprang up this summer along Main Street, next to the Sun Shop. Residents at the turn of the century had a beautiful view of Lake Huron from the second storey veranda. After Lakeview House was torn down this lot remained vacant for several years. For a brief time in the six- ties trampolines had the area jumping. Page 1A SEPTEMBER 6, 1979 Price Per Copy 25 Cents Summer of '79 one of the best Main street businessmen are so upset about being taxed for the costs of a new parking lot, that Grand Bend council has decided to hold a special meeting for them to air their complaints. Those unsatisfied with the arrangements can attend a meeting of the parking committee, planning board and council Monday night at 7:30 in the council chambers. Bill Janssen owner of The Anchorage on Main Street came before council at the regular meeting Tuesday night to express his dissatisfaction with the parking lot system. Janssen said he hired someone to survey people parking their cars in the new CAMPING OUT — Taking your stereo tape player along on a camping spree is not a new idea. Many years ago these campers enjoyed music from their old gramophone. The beach front property around Grand Bend was not privately owned, so people just pitched their tents along the lake in the wooded areas. Notice that they came complete with their Union Jack flying. A letter written slightly it was on May 24. Music, tongue-in-cheek by Dr. although playing in the early Judith Brigham brought morning hours was muted, Grand Bend Council's at- not as loud as at previous tention to complaints of noise parties. The centre of the and rowdyism over the road was kept clear for Labour Day holiday. Many traffic, not blocked by residents from the area at parked cars as it had been the corner of the King and other weekends. There were Pine Streets came to the no incidents of urination or meeting with noise com- sex relations on front lawns plaints, as there had been Dr. Brigham said that previously, and garbage was conditions have improved a now placed in bags and not great deal over the situation scattered around the neigh- on the May 24th weekend, bourhood as it had been on but they are still "horrible". May 24. Dr. Brigham said that the Dr.Brigham recommended residents of the area have that council take action been working together to put against absentee landlords, a stop to the loud parties. She says that landlords, not In her letter to council; she the tenants causing all the wrote that at the Labour Day problems, are to blame. Dr. parties, there was only one Brigham added that she bonfire with medium size would like to see a corn- flames, not over the top of mission appointed to the cottage as they were on examine property rentals, May 24. She said that fur- Reeve Bob Sharen niture was only being thrown responded that he had been from roof tops, not burned as Please turn to page 2A those who benefit from the parking lot will pay for it. Sharen also said that all ratepayers in the village will be paying 2 mills towards the parking lot. But he made it clear that the businessmen on Main Street will have to cover any deficits. "I don't think it's fair for people on Main Street to do it alone," Janssen replied. Councillor Harold Green said that Main Street businessmen should be making more use of the parking lot. He said that many of the merchants do not live on the premises, and therefore have tc drive their own cars to work. Green says he has seen them parking their cars in front of other merchants so that there will be parking in front Residents complain of their own business. Sharen said that council has encouraged Main Street about loud n n oise merchants to use the lot for their own cars and leave Main Street free for visitors. Janssen also said he would like to see the parking lot advertised more, Deputy Reeve Judy Uniac asked him what council should do besides the signs they have already erected, and Jan- ssen replied he didn't know. Two letters were received from other merchants complaining about the parking lot tax. Marion Cherny of Marion's Arcade wrote to council that she objected being charged for the lot, Harold Klopp of the Colonial Hotel and Gables Tavern wrote that he ob- jected to being assessed for parking because he had recently moved several outdated cabins from his property, and made more than adequate room for parking for his two establishments. Reeve Sharen said that Klopp's complaint was probably legitimate. Cost of new parking lot angers businessmen lot over the Labour Day weekend, and learned that most of the users were near- by cottagers, not people shopping on Main street. He said he did not feel that he should be taxed for the parking lot. The new parking lot is located behind the municipal office. Reeve Bob Sharen asked Janssen to return for the special parking meeting this Monday. But Sharen took the opportunity to say that the Main Street businessmen are only being apportioned a cost of any deficit on the parking lot. He said that the pairking lot should pay for itself through user fees, but should there be bad weather next summer and a deficit arise, people would attend Saturday night mass, and well over 1,000 people would come during the three masses on Sunday morning. He said he has noticed more young _ families. in at' tendance. As well as a greater number of summer visitors, his actual per- manent parish is increasing, he added. Rev. H. Moore estimated that about 350 people at- tended the outdoor services at the United Church. He felt that more campers were attending church, and that special music and speakers attracted a very good congregation. Rev. George Anderson at the Anglican church says that his congregation doubled from 40 to 80 this summer. He says that many of the cottagers return each summer, but there were new visitors as well this year. "One of the best ever" That's the way the sum- mer of '79 is being described on the beach and along the streets of Grand Bend. A random sampling of mer- chants, clergymen and visitors agree that while the weather in later weeks may not have been the best, there were still crowds, and good times to be had in Grand Bend. Nick Carter, owner of the Sun and Surf Shops says that despite a poor start on the Canada Day weekend, the month of July was good. Carter says that business went very well for him this summer. Carter said that a gas shortage in the United States didn't seem to effect the I still find myself moving towards shops that have big posters in their windows featuring bargain prices on three ring binder paper and bunches of Bic pens. I haven't yet grasped the fact that for the first time in 19 years I don't have to go back to school. I guess that means that I never really minded going back to school. I don't remember much about my first day of school in Kindergarten, so I guess everything went alright. I only seem to remember those first days where tragedies—at least in my mind--occurred Like the first day of school in grade one, when I discovered that all the "bus" kids had brand new shiny lunch buckets with colour co- ordinated matching Ther- mos bottles. On the other hand, I was carrying a rusty, dented, scratched, ugly pink lunch pail that I think my older siblings had kicked home from school rather than carried, This thing was So out of style that it was too small to even hold a Ther- mos bottle, let alone a matching one, Now, what bothered me most was that my mother had lied to me. I had been skeptical about the ugly lunch pail when I left to catch the bus in the morning. (We still have the snapshot of me scowling at the camera that first morning with the pink thing in my hand,) But my mother had assured me that everybody would be carrying lunch number of visitors in Grand Bend. "You couldn't tell there was any gas shortage in Grand Bend, cars went up and down Main Street continually," Carter added. Carter, whods president of the Chamber of Commerce, said that he and some members of the executive felt that if anything, the U.S. gas shortage may have been a benefit to Southwestern Ontario. He speculated that Americans from Detroit and other border areas might have travelled farther, but with the gas shortage they decided to stay in this area. Carter said that people were pleased with what the Chamber has done this summer, according to what feedback he has received. He buckets that had belonged to their big sisters. I soon learned that most of my classmates' siblings were still in school and carrying their own lunch pails. Having sisters that are more than a decade older than you certainly has its disadvantages, And then there was the first day of school in Grade nine. I thought I was fully prepared for this event. My mother and I had gone shopping and We had pur- chased a new light brown imitation leather jumper, and then Mother had made me a gold coloured shirt to go with it. A mini length imitation leather jumper may sound tacky today, but believe me, in 1969 it was the best a 14 year old girl could ever dream of. And this was good quality vinyl--not like the cheap stuff a girl friend had. Hers cracked in the first frost that Anyway I had counted on making a good first im- pression that day--but it was far from being frosty. It was a hot, stuffy day, guaranteed to suffocate anyone who was wearing vinyl. I just couldn't wear it. With the bus only minutes away, I was forced to peel off the leatherette, and put on an cotton dress, on top of that my sandal strap broke, and I had to wear old loafers with knee socks. It was terrible to have to go to a new school in an old dress, but the worst blow was learning that no one Please turn to page 2A cited Burgerf est , the fireworks display, and the new flags lining Main Street as successful Chamber projects. Carter also said that he felt there were fewer problems with vandalism and theft in Grand Bend stores this summer. He said that for the first time in several years he did not prosecute any cases of shoplifting in his two shops. Wendy Andrews-Elliott co- owner of Merry Rags in Grand Bend agreed that "July was fantastic". She said that her clothing store had been particularly busy, and a Midnight Madness sale they held in August was very B emnsP popular. P. DeJong at Grand Clothing and Backroom Boutique said that they had a very busy summer, but she added "I'm always busy." Don Flear reported a successful summer at the Bakery after re-opening this spring. Flear said he felt there were more families in Grand Bend this summer, and that more families help business. "They'll buy a dozen doughnuts, they don't 'one' you to death," Flear said. Dennis Mathers at the Cheryl Ann said he had one comment about the summer - "I'm glad it's over." He said they had a very busy summer, and now he wanted to spend a nice relaxing winter making repairs. Mathers said the Cheryl Ann had a "super" July but things were slower in August due to cooler weather. He said he thought there were more families in Grand Bend, which meant less trouble. Ruth Lemon at the Bookstore was the only merchant in our random selection who reported improved sales in poorer weather, She says that cottagers and boaters like to read when it's cool or rainy out, She reported that their children's room with its selection of toys and books was particularly popular this summer. Leo Masse at The Ten- derspot said that this was his best summer ever in his nine years in Grand Bend. Masse said he had 25 on staff Goodbye Bluewater Country This is the last issue of Bluewater Country for this year. But we still plan to bring you plenty of news from Grand Bend and the area around Lake Hurom'. even when the blue water is froxen over. 234-1miry90 ama BY MARY ALDERSON this summer - double his winter staff. He said he had no difficulties with shoplifting in his store. Masse attributes his in- crease in business to the fact that he has tried to keep his prices v in line with city supermarkets. He says that in the past, people would bring all their groceries from the city with them, because they felt that stores in resorts would be a "rip- off". Masse is anticipating a busy September as well. "We don't roll up theside- .walks on Labour Day anymore," he said. Lorne Campbell, manager of the Bank of Montreal said that they have experienced a very busy summer. Camp- bell said that "things have been running smoother, thanks to the master charge cards and the multi branch banking cards." These cards have been a convenience to tourists, he said. He said that more Americans than ever were having their money ex- changed at the bank. "I'm amazed, at the number of transactions," he said. Tourists change their U.S. currency at the bank to get the most favourable ex- change rate, he said. The Toronto Dominion Bank was unable to make comparisons because this was their first summer in the village, but a spokesman said they were well satisfied with their business. Father Boyer at the Roman Catholic Church reported that this was "the largest summer we've had, by all means." Father Boyer said that church attendance has been increasing steadily over the past four or five years. He said that about 500 GAMES CONFISCATED — OPP officers Gary Parmenter and Gord Pelissero push a game of chance down the sidewalk in front of the amusement arcade where machines were con- fiscated. The policemen lifted the illegal machines onto a fork lift and then they were loaded onto a Ministry of Natural Resources truck. The machines are being held until the crown at- torney decides if they will be destroyed and the owner charged. Police search local arcade, confiscate games of chance Ten game machines were confiscated from a Grand Bend amusement arcade last week when police decided that they were games of chance and not skill. The arcade was in- vestigated by two plain- clothes officers from the Ontario Provincial Police in Toronto. The two men are with the anti-rackets branch of the OPP and work as a gambling squad. The ten machines con- fiscated were of two dif- ferent kinds, but similar in action. They were glass cases filled with plastic toys, cigarette packages, souvenirs, and occasionally lighters and calculators. In one type of machine, a quarter is inserted and a claw moves out to grasp an item, Most often, the player receives nothing for his 25 , an OPP spokesman said. The other kind has a turning plate with the various items on it. When the movement stops the player is supposed to get one of the contents. The machines were taken from the E.G. and J. Rupp and Company Amusements on Main Street. The ten machines were loaded onto a Ministry of Natural Resources truck. The Pinery detachment of the OPP conducted the confiscation rather than the Grand Bend detachment because the Grand Bend office is closing Up, and the officers Would not be in the area for further dealings with the matter. It is now up to the Lambton Crown Attorney to decide if charges will be laid, or if a hearing will be held, The crown attorney will also decide whether or not the machines Will be destroyed.