Times-Advocate, 1981-05-13, Page 22Boy from Belfast, Ireland
makes his. name. _in Grand Bend__
Eric Mcllroy was born in
Belfast, Ireland in 1909. He
grew up there, and appren-
ticed in the textile industry.
L•
Little Eric 21/2 years old.
But like so many other
young men, he decided that
he might be better able to
make his way in Canada.
In 1928, he moved to
Toronto. It wasn't long
before he had a very respon-
sible position as a buyer with
The very busy Timothy
Eaton Company.
At about the same time,
Ella Eccleston was growing
up, spending her summers in
Grand Bend. In 1917, her
parents, George and Ida
Eccleston, gave up their
grocery store in London, On-
tario. and purchased 45
acres in the resort. At that
time they owned the area
from Main Street to
Oakwood, and from the
Brenner Hotel (now
Colonial) to Lake Huron.
That summer George
Eccleston opened a dance
hall on the beach. It was also
a popular picnic soot. Two
years later the beautiful
Lakeview Casino was built.
Ella Eccleston spent her
winters in Toronto, and it
was there that she met Eric
Mcllroy. Her father died in
1931, and she married Eric
in 1932. The two men hardly
knew each other. "It's too
bad, they would have gotten
along so well," Mrs. Mcllroy
says about her father and
her husband.
When operating the casino
became too much for Mrs.
Eccleston, she offered to sell
it to Eric and Ella.
This was a very difficult
decision for her husband to
make, Mrs. Mcllroy
remembers. He had a very
good position with the T.
Eaton Company, and he was
a little reluctant to give it
up. They had been living in
Toronto for five years, and
they enjoyed the city. Mrs.
Mcllroy had never spent a
winter in Grand Bend,
But finally, Mr. Mcllroy
decided to purchase the
casino, in 1937. "He was
quite happy, he never
regretted it," Mrs. McIllroy
says.
"My Dad had great
visions, and Eric was able to
carry some of them out,"
Mrs. Mcllroy says.
The McIlroys operated the
casino from 1937, until they
sold it 1966. This was the
hey -day of the big band era,
and dances were held at the
casino every night, with the
occasional midnight dances
on Sundays.
Mrs. Mcllroy says that
although they enjoyed
operating the casino very
much, it meant long days
and hard work. On a typical
day the McIlroys were at the
casino early in the morning
to open up the dance floor so
that the band could
rehearse. Usually bands
were hired for the entire
summer, and the Mcllroys
had to supply accommoda-
tion for them. Then the
bands were free to enjoy the
beach in the afternoon.
As well as the Casino, the
Mcllroys operated a number
of different shops and ser-
vices over the years.
The Surf Shop, Sun Shop,
Snack Shop, Village Shop
and others are all names
connected with the busy
casino corner.
The shops and stores
would keep the McIlroys
busy for the day, until the
evening dances.
Mrs. Mcilroy stresses that
she and her husband were
always at the casino, as long
as the shops were open, and
the dances were on. There
was little spare time daring
the summer months, es-
pecially with Eric's involve-
ment in the Chamber of
Commerce, Lions Club,
Shriners, Village council,
South Huron Hospital board,
and so on, Mrs. Mcllroy
says.
Although the casino was
sold in 1966, the McIlroys
continued to operate the Sun
and Surf Shops until 1971.
Then they opened the Merry
Rags store which they ran
until 1977.
In addition, Merrywood
Farm has been well known
for race horses throughout
the years, and still is today.
Grand Bend beach
those busy days
the 50's and 60's
,.1
SHRINERS — A visiting grand potentate is greeted by
shriner Eric Mcllroy
o-,
The new bath house made the casino corner even more popular in the early sixties.
mismartheeriagnia
Taffy Arnold of Detroit accompanied by the Cliff Scanlon
orchestra, entertained during a beach concert. Taffy
gave his fee to the Grand Bend Orpha Club. Many of the
stars donated their time to raise money for service clubs.
A typical concert crowd, on the beach
GRAND BEND QUEEN — Reeve Orval Wassmann presents
the trophy to Maxine Holmes, 1961 winner. The McIlroys
sponsored the beauty contest for several years.
r■auaaau
.i!L1Ifl11t
.awnrnrr
In tribute to
PLAYED RUGGER -- Eric played for the Toronto Irish in 1929. He's on the right of the mid-
dle row.
ADULT & RETIREMENT HOMES
"THE BEST OF
TWO WORLDS"
A Rural Setting in Vacation Country
An 1A hole golf course within walking distance of your
home. Located near the shores of lake Huron In Grand
Bend. Price includes first year's green tees. Homesite
rent fixed for 5 years. Heated pool, recreation centre,
shuffleboard courts and many more amenities you will
like.
Whose forethought and
planning helped to improve our
community in so many ways.
If you're thinking of active retirement think of
Homes from 116.175 (excluding lot rentals).
For details call toll tree 1-A00.265-7016 or
write DRANO COVE ESTATES, P.0 Box
217, Grand Bend, Ontario NOM ITO
PRESENT GUEST BOOK — As Chamber of Commerce president, and chairman of the
promotion committee in 1957, Eric Mcllroy and Rev. A.E. Holley of the United Church, pre-
sent Reeve James Dalton with a guest book for village visitors to sign.
7- BOrir/ie Do one
rr)(arx)rt-e)r)- the, -Firma( -h
open year round
GRAND BEND WINNERS — In one of the liveliest elections at Grand Bend, only two of the
1957 council were returned. Voters chose two former councillors and a newcomer to
municipal politics. ReeveJomeDalton, seated, won his fifth term and second election. Vic-
torious councillors are, left to right, Eric Mcllroy,William Cochrane, Wellwood Gill and Cam
Chapman.
loom This page courtesy of
Exeter
235-2420
Clinton
482-9747
Page 8
Gaiser Kneale
Insurance Agency
Inc.
Box 550, Grand Bend,
Ontario NOM 1TO
(519) 238-2236
rC�ri�7�ias
aa)
40 Ontario Street South
Grand Bend, Ontario NOM 1TO
Telephone: (519) 238-2245
AN ADULT COMMUNITY
The First Canadian Bank
Bank of Montreal
411‘ i/ Gaiser Kneale Tait
H' Life Insurance Grand Bend
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G.K. Realty & Insurance Inc.
Ooderich
542-2118
SUNSHINE VILLAGE
Grand Bend FOODLINER 238-2123
NEAR LAKE HURON SHORES
Grand Bend
238-2381
Air
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Page 9