Memories

Where have all the characters gone?
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES BY BOB SNIDER

As I walk around my wonderful village and gaze at the eyes of strangers, I sometimes find myself wondering where all the characters have gone. I hope you don’t mind me taking a few minutes of your time to reflect on a way of life and the memories of the people that crafted it.

Remember when the only restaurant in town was the Grill? We had our summertime eateries, the Sportsman and the Dairy Bar. Lorraine Haagsma at one end of town and Olive and Marjorie at the other looking through that little screen, eagerly awaiting your order. Olive and Marjorie put the pickle on top of your hamburger. Remember when the only watering hole was the Legion and you had to ring a buzzer to get in? Remember when we only had one town employee? Harry MacDonald Sr., through one era and Roland Clarke through another. Remember when Baitley’s and Channell’s plowed our streets at 4 a.m., not at 4 p.m.? Remember when the beach after a horn trip was a place to have a nap? Remember when our garbage was picked up by Cecil Fritz with horses and a wagon? Remember when the front lawn of the school was sacred? You didn’t even look at it, let alone walk on it. Now we have a shopping mall on it. Remember when the kids of our town could afford to live here? Remember when baseball teams cleaned the diamonds in the spring? Now it’s six trucks and ten employees. Remember on a snowy day, Hermie and Norm Courneyea would let us play hockey all day for free? Remember as kids leaving home in the morning and not coming home until supper? Do you remember the strap? I could go on and on, but it is time to remember the characters of this fine town. I remember the masters of the cue sticks that graced our pool hall, Cliff Ellis, Bud Wilson Clifford Young, Henry Dick and Harry MacDonald Sr. I remember our veterans and Legion members, Chip Boyce, Otto Bowerman, Beef and Jean MacDonald. Speaking of characters, these were two of the towns finest; Otto and Beef. Our liquor store manager Bill “I won’t tell your dad” Thompson. The masters of the buzz cut Benny Burley and Godfrey Upton, the caretakers of our school Don MacDonald, Stan Newson and Donny Upton. The Greer brothers, Bill and Mac. Boy, would they love our new arena. And I remember Frank Brimley, Bayden Alyea and Dorothy Rutter. I can’t forget Bruce Barrett, Fred Courneyea, Jean Dainard—Gord is still alive and well and residing in Picton—I miss you Gord. I remember Calvin Bowerman, Dave Bowerman, Frank Engelsdorfer, Johnny Wayy, Reg Bishop, Bill Gazeera, Gord Benway, Murray Wiltse, Morris and Marjorie Campbell. We can’t forget Dutch and Mertle Ainsworth, Everett and Doris Lavender. Our original motel owners Del and Ruth Boyle and Don an Helen Baitley. Do you remember Gord Jackson? We picked tomatoes for Gord. He was a nice man. I hope you remember Nobel and Torchie Young, Hank and Betty Young, Bill Wannamaker, Don and Pauline Courneyea, Joe Stevens, Earl and Doris Wannamaker, Earl and Laura Hardy. I fondly remember Bruce and Phylis Dolson, Mel and Sanger Minnie, Johnny Spencer, Chris Goodmurphy, Mel and Ben Bowers. I will never forget Freddy Mallay, Doris Elliott, Percy Elliott and Jack Elliott. I hope you can recall Hughie Breakenridge, Ronnie Bailey, Ducky Wight, Paddy Wight, George Middleton, Wes Lavender and Eric Lavender. I’m not done yet! I remember Charlie Lavender, Gordie Channell, Tack Channell, Clifford (Tippy) Channell and Olive. Do you remember Allan Pettingill, Bart Cunningham, Harold Teskey, Ernie Teskey, George and Bessie Teskey, Bruce Monro, Charlie VanHaarlem and Gomer Monro? Will we remember school teachers Mrs. Mathews, Mrs. Branscome, Mrs. Campbell and Keith Barnett? I’ll always remember Cecil Insley, Jimmy and Rita Barrett, Lewis Wight, George Maycock, Bob Insley and Ross and Harry Bedford.

I would be remiss in my duty if I didn’t mention Cliff McQuaid, Colin McQuaid, Pat VanDusen, Ross Pierson, Art and Irene Hudson, Gordon Lloyd and Honey Marvin. I’m getting toward the end, but I also remember Ron and Lula Miller, Jim Cleminson, Pat Bryant, Everett (Stu) Stuart, Vic and Irene Emby and Rod and Peggy Salley. Do you also remember our butcher Harley Aman, Lois Greatrix, the McFaul brothers Elmer and Barry? Elmer was the best boss I ever had.

As I bring this to a close I want to mention some of the folk that I remember so well, my uncles Alan Vader and Alec Tait, George and Hilda Dorland, Lije and Rena Armstrong, Grandpa Milton Snider, Gramma Tait, Mike Lavender, Dwayne Dayton, Harry Mac Jr., Sandy Rutherford, Frank Hardy and Randy Ellis, two of the nicest people I ever met Doug and Naomi Kleinsteuber, Buck and Maggie Trumpour. Mac and Doris Greer, Les and Judy MacDonald, two of the finest men I ever met, Garry Lavender and Leon Channell. And the one and only Stephen Foster Bailey. S.F.B. Esquire. And then there is the one I miss the most—my nephew Josh Snider.

Please remember every town needs characters and we have huge boots to fill. I’m sure there are some that I have forgotten. And likely characters that I didn’t know. I just hope you have enjoyed reading this, as much as I have enjoyed writing it.