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The Citizen, 1998-07-01, Page 10July 4th Greet old friends, gather with former employees Ian (au euesvatte Games for kids of all ages - face painting - clowns - music - lots of prizes 143 Josephine St., Wingham 357-2191 Blyth inspires playwright PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1998. Toronto playwright Andrew Moodie was so taken with his first visit to Blyth he was inspired to write a play about it. A year later, Moodie's Wilbur County Blues is set to open on stage at the Blyth Festival. Though Wilbur County Blues is a comedy set in a fictional rural village, the village is located somewhere in Southwestern Ontario about an hour's drive from London. It also has a rutabaga waxing plant and a local hotel referred to as 'the Boot'. The similarities to the real village of Blyth will not go unnoticed by audiences when Wilbur County Blues begins its summer run at Blyth on Thursday, July 2. In Wilbur County Blues, Moodie tells the story of Ben, a Nigerian immigrant played by George Seremba, who moves his son Gabriel to a small town to escape the tensions of big city living. when a teenage romance grows between Gab, played by Michael Blake, and Tabitha, a life-long resident of the village played by Mackenzie Muldoon, fear and mistrust rear their ugly heads. It takes laughter, zucchini bread and a set of unlikely conspirators to finally make Ben feel at home. The result is a touching, humorous tale of gaining acceptance. The exceptional cast includes Katherine Ashby, Caroline Gillis, Glen Gould and Michael Healey. Wilbur County Blues is being directed for the Blyth Festival by Marion de Vries, with set and lighting designed by award- winning designer Allan Stichbury. Wilbur County Blues is the fourth play written by Andrew Moodie, and the first to be offered at the Blyth Festival. His debut work, Riot, garnered him great critical acclaim as well as the prestigious Chalmers Award. The media sponsor for the Blyth production of Wilbur County Blues is CKNX Radio. Wilbur County Blues will enjoy two preview performances before beginning its month-long run, an evening performance on Canada Day, Wednesday, July 1 and a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 2. Once open, the show will run in repertory until Aug. 1. The gala opening night of Wilbur County Blues on Thursday, July 2 will be followed by an open reception in the Lower Hall. Curtain time is 8 p.m. and tickets can be reserved by calling the Blyth Festival Box Office at 519-523- 9300, n a spree The seven finalists for the Belgrave Optimist Club two-minute, $500 shopping spree gathered at Shaw's Knechtel's store in Wingham on Thursday to find out who would do the shopping. The winner was Karen Webster of Auburn. She collected $502.10 worth of groceries in two minutes. From left: Belgrave Optimist Club President Ken Swanson, Webster, Optimist Club Director Tom Cameron and store owner John Shaw. Dan Webster of Wingham won the $100 certificate from Shaw's. Winning $50 certificates were Jeannette Rodger of Wingham and Roger Kropf of Tavistock. Consolation prizes went to Marg Timm of Bluevale, Kim Simpson of Whitechurch and Joe Artista of Niagara Falls. (A dva nc e - 77 m e s photo) PAID ADVERTISEMENT One businessman affects generations With an easy smile and time for conversation, one Wingham man created a 40-year business which has drawn generations of loyal customers. When Murray Taylor, and partner Fred Templeman, first brought the Frosty Queen to the community in 1958, it was just a small take-out building situated on the corner of Josephine and David Street. The original section, built by Templeman father-in-law remains Murray Taylor today as the front kitchen area. "Murray had the business in Grand Band for two years before moving to Wingham," says his, wife Mildred. "There,. they only sold soft ice cream." • In the early years, the Frosty Queen was a weekend business, open from 4 p.m to 2 a.m. on Friday, II a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday and from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Once situated in Wingham, the Frosty Queen menu expanded to include popular items such as hamburgers and french fries. "Those fries were all hand cut," says Mrs. Taylor. "We had a small hand press that cut one potato at a time. We had a single fryer with two baskets and all the fries had to be pre-cook 'to hold them for orders." "It was hard for them to keep up with the orders sometimes," smiles Ruth Haines, the Taylors' daughter, as she recalled family stories. As well as the hand-cut fries, the burgers were made from real ground beef, which Mrs. Taylor pattied at home. "Murray was a real expert at making those burgers," she says. "With 10 pounds of meat and a little Stafford patty mix he could make featly moist burgers." The family still has the patty- making gadget, though, unfortu- nately, the small potato hand press which held memories for Mrs. Taylor was stolen from the shop many years ago. As the business grew, so did the building, after surviving the first two years with no washrooms, an addition was built in 1961, at the back of the original section. Throughout the 1960s, the Frosty Queen continued to be a place for families. When fried chicken dinners were introduced, a three- piece meal, including a -roll and coleslaw, cost $1.25. "My husband tells the story of his parents taking all seven children to the Frosty Queen on the weekend for an ice cream cone," says Ruth. "They had a dollar, but went home with 10 cents'change." However, times would change for the Taylors. By the mid-1960s, late night hours brought rowdy behaviour from some patrons. They began to close at 1 a.m. instead of 2. In 1970, Templeman sold his share and Mrs. Taylor, along with after school help from Ruth and son, Douglas, became more involved in the business. Ruth recalls some of her earliest times as a seven-year-old behind the counter. "The customers couldn't see anything but little fingers over the top." Through the following 15 years, Mildred and Murray Taylor ran the shop from Easter to Thanksgiving, closing for the winter months. Mrs. Taylor has many memories of those 28 years. "The kids used to drink swamp water, a mixture of all kinds of pop," she says. "And we had the hardest time teaching the girls to dip cones. There were messes everywhere." Remembering messes brought a funny incident to mind for Mrs. Taylor as she told of Murray emptying hot grease from the fryer. When the grease was changed, it had to be dumped in pails for disposal, she says. However, one time, Murray poured it into a plastic pail which could not withstand the heat. The pail simply melted, letting the hot grease flow all over the floor. When Murray questioned his wife as to what they should do, she said, "Just let it harden and we'll strap it up later." So they did. It was the easy attitude of Murray's which endeared him to customers and the community. "He enjoyed talking to people. He would talk to everyone as though they were his long-lost cousin. He was a great conversationalist," says Ruth. That love for meeting interesting people sustained his business even after he sold it more than 12 years ago. "If he had not been the man he was, I would not have the business I have today," says current owner John Freiburger. The Frosty Queen was sold to Linda and Aylmer James in 1985, before Freiburger purchased it in 1994. Though having remodeled, constructed and purchased all new equipMent for the establishment, Freiburger says he strives to carry on Murray's tradition. "Murray was always happy, always smiling. I enjoy this job, because I like meeting the people too," says Freiburger. Owning the Frosty Queen is like a dream come true for Freiburger. As a young man, his family would often stop by for treats after swimming, As a teenager, he would hang out there. He, too, has many fond memories of Murray Taylor and his impact. "We have a customer who is 90- years-old who still comes. We know what he will order by where he parks. The customers still talk about Murray. He made the place what it is today. Everyone loved hint.l' Mrs. Taylor says they had a lot of school-girls working for them over the years and that tradition continues today with Freiburger, who employs 14 people for his daily operation. Operating the Frosty Queen, however, was not Murray Taylor's only endeavour. Not only did he work for the LCBO for many years, but also served as pick-up man for the express service from the trains. "We used to pack the family in the car and go to the train station every night, except Sunday" says Mrs. Taylor. "Murray met the last train with express service which came through Wingham on Halloween, 1972. He earned $30 a month." Today, Freiburger has expanded the menu to include breakfast items as well as an extensive selection for lunch and dinner. A sit-down eating area was added just last year, which is fully air conditioned and boasts the most technologically-advanced wash- room in Wingham, laughs Freiburger. A big draw is also the regularly held cruise nights which are pulling in 500 to 600 participants and enthusiasts. He expects up to 1,000 on July 23 when a JVC Kaboom box, valued at $400 will be given away. Bike nights are scheduled for July 9 and Aug. 13. A stereo competition and battle of the bands is planned for Aug. 15. Throughout the years, the Frosty Queen has been not only a place for young people to gather after school and on weekends, but a place for seniors to meet long-time friends and travellers to stop off on a hot summer afternoon. Though Taylor passed away earlier this year, his impact on past, current and future generations will continue to be frequently recalled and recounted.