from the Evening Guide  Monday, August 27, 1951 PORT HOPE - The St John's Brownies held a two day camp on Thursday and Friday of last week on the Ott estate, Victoria Heights. Thirty-seven Brownies attended under the leadership of Brown Owl, Mrs Doris Mitchell, and Tawny Owl, Miss Nancy Bennett. The camp was held on the Ott Estate through the courtesy of Mr Hector Smith and Mr W J F Mitchell, co-owners. Each morning the brownies assembled at 9:30 am and after the fairy ring opening, 6 songs, prayers and the National Anthem, they hiked to the recreational centre pool for a swim. On the way back to camp, when they had changed from their uniforms into play suits they took an observation test. Lunch soon disappeared and there was an extra treat of ice cream supplied by one of the brownie's grandmothers, Mrs Bert Hosking. Lunch was followed by a story hour, thanks to Mrs W C Keyes the first day and Tawny Owl, Miss Nancy Bennett, the second. Games and brownie tests were the order of the afternoon on Thursday.There was a supper of hot-dogs, tomatoes, peaches and cookies prepared by the Brownies Mothers' Auxiliary. On Friday afternoon, as well as games, a treasure hunt, with many clues was the highlight. Brownies also made crepe paper hats. Each six entertained the parents with impromptu plays: Cinderella, The Three Pigs, Red Riding Hood, The Old Woman in the Shoe, and the Three Bears. A corn roast brought a very successful camp to a happy ending. The Sixers were: Joan Paeden, Mary Stothart, Mary Margaret Dakad and Sandra McMahon with seconders as follows: Margaret Wicklund, Kay McElroy, Patricia Frost and Donna Rowe. Diane Phillips and Audrey Monk were acting packies. Donna Rowe and Diane Phillips earned their swimimng badges, being tested by Miss E Wilkin. The Brownies wish to thank the Lions Club for the use of the pool at the Recreation Centre and also Miss E Wilkin and Mr and Mrs Jack McDowell for their courteous and kind attention. They would also like to thank the Mothers' Auxiliary and all others who helped in any way. from the Evening Guide  Thursday, October 25, 1951 YOUNGSTERS WIN ORATORY CONTEST The Port Hope Public Schools held their Public Speaking contest last night in Dr Power's School. The winners of the contest, Sammy Cancilla and Shirley MacMillan, will participate in the county semi-finals to be held at Millbrook, Friday, November 2nd. Following is a list of last night's contestants: Sammy Cancilla 'The House Fly'; Shirley MacMillan, 'Laura Secord'; Jean Lingard, 'Triumph and Sentiment'; Margaret Hayden, 'Seeing-Eye Dog'; Zelda Honey, 'Children's Books'; Joan Fenton, 'Algonquin Park'; Donna Smith, 'Port Hope Recreation Centre'; Gail Hawkesworth, 'United Empire Loyalists'; Donna Milco, 'George Washington'; Joan Austin, 'The Duke of Edinburgh'; Helen Marston, 'Canada's Census, 1951'; Patsy McCarthy, 'Grey Owl'; Jean Sheridan, 'Helen Keller'; Marlene Mann, 'The RCMP'; Yvonne Smith, 'Infantile Paralysis'; Stanley Frost, 'Canadian Sardine Canneries''; David Horley, 'Dry Dock'; Roberta Mumby, 'Homework'; Patsy Alexander, 'A Trip Across Canada'; and Eunice Huff, 'Laura Secord'. Vocal solos were rendered by Barbara Goodman and Joan Stinson and a piano solo was given by Roberta Mumby. The judges for the contests were Misses A Montgomery, I Dunn; Messrs G Sine, W Caldwell, and C Sailes of the Cobourg Public School. The Durham County finals will be held at Orono on Friday November 9th, and the district finals, including Durham, Northumberland, Peterborough, Prince Edward, Hastings, Victoria, Lennox and Addington Counties, will be held at Brighton, November 16th. from the Evening Guide  Monday November 19, 1951 The north wing of the William Hamilton Leather Company Limited, on Queen Street, was the victim of the largest and mostdisastrous fire in Port Hope for many years. The blaze broke out early Sunday morning but was not noticed until it had secured a good hold on the annex. It is estimated that the fire was burning about an hour before the fire department arrived. Despite the early morning call, which came in at 3:17 am Sunday, members of the volunteer fire brigade were on the job in record time. Less than five minutes after the alarm sounded the first truck was on the scene and pouring water on the blazing building. A minute later truck No 2 was also in the fight. Although the exact origin of the blaze is not known, it is believed to have been caused by defective wiring in the boiler room. Firemen said that it could not possibly have started from the boiler itself. Mr Hamilton, when contacted this morning, said that it was impossible to estimate the amount of damage since damage to hides and skins will not be known until later on in their processing. The roof of the building, while still in place, is a complete wreck and will probably have to be removed. When firemen arrived on the scene the flames were flying thirty feet in the air and lit up the entire neighborhood. It was not until about 6:30 am that firemen could leave the scene. Even after it was brought under control, the blaze kept breaking out at a number of different spots and so needed continual vigilance by fire fighters. A fireproof wall and fire doors kept the blaze from advancing into the older portion of the building. Mr Hamilton was high in his praise of the work by the fire department. "They did a wonderful job. I just can't thank them enough," he said. "If they hadn't been as prompt as they were the entire building would have gone up. They are a wonderful bunch of fellows and most certainly know all the answers when it comes to fighting a big blaze such as that one." He also gave much credit to Fire Chief Jack Record, saying that it was probably because of his expert instruction that the firemen were so efficient. The alarm was turned into the police department by a fellow who, 'tis said, does not wish his name mentioned for the simple reason, as he put it, that he does not want his wife to know that he was still out at that time in the morning. One casualty marked the successful fight against the terrific blaze. Rex Wakely, a member of the fire department, was cut on the wrist by a piece of falling glass. Plumbers worked until midnight last night getting the boiler into operation so that the leather factory would be heated for the ten or twelve employees. Mr Hamilton said that he did not think any employees would have to be laid off because of the work disruption. The fire department is most grateful for the assistance rendered by Sgt W Smith and Constable Wakely of the police force and to the several citizens who pitched in and helped out, particularly early in the fight when the department was still short handed. "The one sad thing about it, from our point of view," said one fireman, "is that we were too busy to sell any tickets on the party we are throwing for the youngsters next month." However, he was assured that the prominence the good work of the department would receive would help to boost sales considerably today and hereafter. from the Evening Guide  Wednesday, April 23, 1952 by Tom Micks and Jim Phillips, coaches of the pee wee Barons hockey team Are we in Port Hope doing the right thing for our hockey youngsters? According to this report we have a lot to learn Hockey fans, if you want to see something to warm your hearts, take a trip to Goderich during the hockey season. Those of you who are interested in hockey for what it can do for the small fry would find a set-up as near perfect as anything you'll ever see. Trying to get cars for transportation to Goderich was like banging our heads against a brick wall. Finally, a trip to Toronto brought assistance from Leon Thompson, and thanks to Glen James, Stan Crossett and 'Plinks' Clarke, who drove a car for us, we were finally on our way. The kids were wildly excited and looking forward to a 'whale of a time', but were full of mixed emotions; we hoped we weren't making a mistake. We were a little disillusioned by the lack of enthusiasm we had met. We wondered if we were a little idealistic and expecting too much of this pee wee enterprise. Of course we knew that everyone had worked hard this winter, the kids had played good enough hockey and, while there was room for improvement, we'd had a reasonably good season. Certainly we had all done as much as you could expect of a small town with limited funds and a population of very busy people. So we decided things weren't so bad and probably as good as we would find in Goderich or any small town. The boys certainly weren't suffering from any fears or doubts so we relaxed and enjoyed the trip with them. And then we hit Goderich! Or should we say Goderich hit us with a bang from which we still haven't recovered. There is a mecca of effort, organization, and selfless interest that amazed us. Hospitality is something they practice there, not preach! We received a welcome that left us wondering whether we were the team that had pushed in at the last minute or the reason for the whole celebration. We were met at the rink by the mayor and rink officials, and from then on the kids were out of our hands. We arrived in Goderich at 2:30pm and they were on the ice at 3:00. We wish you could have seen them play. They were tired after the trip, as you can imagine, and it was the second period before they hit their stride. By then they had a two goal setback to overcome and although they outplayed Goderich in the third, it was too much to expect. Remember that this Goderich team is no ordinary team to play. They are good and we wondered what would happen if our boys met them under different conditions. We noticed how well everything was handled. The officials worked smoothly and well and the whole game went on without a hitch. We were proud of the Barons and if we were the demonstrative type we could have hugged every one of them. However, we had no opportunity because after the game the kids were fed up-to-the-hilt and set out to see the town. Later, tired, happy and grubby, they were picked up to spend the night in the homes of several very kind citizens. They were treated like kings, given breakfast and sent back, in good spirits, next morning at nine. We oldsters were given the same treatment with a few changes in routine. We were guests of the management of the Bedford Hotel for the night. We really began to wonder about Goderich when, upon asking for rooms, we were casually told "Oh, this is on us." But our wonder grew. We had been talking to some officials, and after exchanging views, telling them how important Port Hope felt hockey is to the youngsters, and learning from them how Goderich had really worked for hockey, we were pleased to find we were invited to the banquet. This banquet is held to close the Young Canada Week, and to honour the two top teams. Officially, Waterloo and Goderich, respectively, were winner and runner-up of the pee wee championship of Ontario. The championship was won after a week of 35 play-off games in the Goderich rink. In this tournament were the cream of the Ontario crop, and probably the NHL stars of to-morrow. The tournament was a huge undertaking but Goderich seemed to take it in her stride. The mayor spent the whole week in the rink giving nothing more than moral support, he said, and having the time of his life. Mrs Hockey (Mrs Williamson) spent early morning till night in the arena, just making the kids happy and helping to dispense the 25 gallons of chocolate and the 69 loaves of bread which went into sandwiches every day. She still had enough interest left to take four of our boys home for the night, give them breakfast and send them back in a taxi. She is one of many workers who make things go over so well. There were men in the arena who had leave of absence from work for that purpose. Their employers didn't seem to think they deserved a clap on the back and while we were surprised, we realized that is the way things are done in Goderich. The banquet was a jolly affair. Port Hope was singled out for praise of its good sportsmanship and congratulated on what we had accomplished with so little practice and our meagre 45 minutes of ice each week. Jim Phillips replied to the mayor's remarks and voiced our appreciation of the way we were received. We learned that the arena was publicly owned, the money being raised by the community. It is run by a committee and is well organized and economically sound. There is free skating for the kids every day and all hockey teams are given maximum ice time. Needless to say, hockey comes first. With all this, they finished the year with a surplus. They consider hockey a character-builder but realize hockey cannot work alone. They don't just talk about it; they go out and work cheerfully and happily with the kids. One could go so far as to say there are no grown-ups in Goderich where hockey is concerned. They are all kids. No one seems to consider it a duty to be there - they enjoy it and don't consider it enough to just put in an appearance. They have a purpose and an ambition before them all through the season. Everyone is a part of it. They start three year olds, who can hardly stand on skates, on the road to hockey, under the capable leadership of a woman instructor. They call these teams the 'Squirts' and in their cute uniforms they are the pride and joy of everyone. So what if the goalie falls down and can't lift the heavy pads off the ice and everytime a fellow scores he runs to his mother for appreciation? They are learning and hockey is becoming part of their lives. Can you imagine the advantage they will have? By the time they are nine, they will have had six years on skates. All over Western Ontario people are beginning to realize that hockey is a phase in Canadian life that is here to stay and each community is buckling dawn and giving its youngsters the coaching and support they are going to need to meet the challenge of the future. Can we in Port Hope, with a clear conscience, afford to give our boys less? We expect them to meet teams who profit by professional coaching, practice periods and enthusiastic support, and they do their part. What needs to be done cannot be done by a few. They are fighting too many odds. Let's make hockey something we can all be proud of. Invest in it! Give your time and support, and be young again with the kids. If it's a chore to you, you are wasting your time, but let your hair down and be part of the fun, and the kids meet you more than half way. With this cooperation we can say at the end of next season, not "Well, it's done" but, "Well done". Before we conclude this we want to thank the team for their good behaviour on and off the ice and for the spendid way they represented Port Hope in Goderich. from the Evening Guide  Thursday, July 2, 1953 PORT HOPE - A daring act of heroism which was performed by13-year-old Port Hope Boy Scout last January was brought to light yesterday when annual Dominion Day Scout Honours and Awards were announced by His Excellency the Right Hon Vincent Massey, CH, Governor-General of Canada, in his capacity as Chief Scout for Canada. The hero was Scout John Walden, 13, son of Dr and Mrs D H Walden, 71 Brown Street, Port Hope. He is credited with savingthe life of six-year-old Judy Wakely, daughter of Mr and Mrs L Wakely, 9 Bedford St, who fell through the ice into deep water at Outram's Pond in January. Scout Walden will receive a letter of commendation for his brave act, which will be signed by Mr Jackson Dodds, Deputy Chief Scout for Canada. John, who is a member of the 5th Port Hope Troop, was skating on Outram's Pond on a cold January day when the rescue occurred. He had removed his skates and was preparing to leave for home when he heard screams from Judy Wakely, 6, who had fallen through the ice into water which was above her head. Upholding the Scout tradition John, in sock feet, immediately ran to her assistance and dived into the cold water and brought the girl to safety. He was assisted from the water by two other boys, John Bird and Don Marston. Others present had ignored the child's screams as she had been screaming while playing near the water's edge earlier. An adult who was present, highly praised the quick action of Scout Walden and was quoted as saying, "he certainly showed presence of mind." from The Leader Post  Thursday December 23, 1954 MRS SUSAN SOWDEN MARKS HER HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY A two-day celebration marked the 100th birthday last week of Mrs Susan Sowden, Port Hope's oldest resident. Friends and relatives, including great-great-grandchildren, flocked to Mrs Sowden's home at 81 Dorset street to help her celebrate her centenary. Among the many greeting cards and messages of congratulation was a telegram from Her Majesty the Queen: 'The Queen is much interested to hear that you are celebrating your 100th birthday and sends you warm congratulations and good wishes.' The telegram was signed by Her Majesty's secretary. Nearly 30 visitors crowded into 81 Dorset street on her birthday but Mrs Sowden was quite equal to the influx. "I feel as spry as ever", she said, and advised those who would imitate her long life, to live well and work hard. Among other birthday presents were 100 red roses, and messages of congratulation from the federal government and the government of the Province of Ontario. Mrs Sowden was born in Clarke Township in 1854. After spending her younger years there, she married and moved to the farm in Hope Township, where she lived until 1931. In that year she and her husband moved to Port Hope and Mrs Sowden has been here ever since. Mr Sowden died in 1933. Mrs Sowden has a son, Thomas Sowden, Bramley street, and a daughter, Mrs Cecil Smith, Hill street, living in Port Hope. Another daughter, Mrs Ethel Selleck, lives in Omemee. In all there are 32 Sowden grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren. from the Evening Guide  Tuesday November 29, 1955 Port Hope council changes street name, by-law passed A by-law changing the name of Beaver Street to Highland Drive was given three readings and passed at the Council meeting last night. The change will take effect when it has been approved by the County Court judge and registered with the registry office. Beaver Street, opened for the first time this year, runs east and west in front of the new high school. The name change was proposed to Council by a resident of the area who felt that the new name would be more suitable for a residential subdivision, planned eventually for the area. Third and final reading to a bylaw stopping up and closing a section of the unopened portion of Nelson Street was approved by Council. Sale of the section, 33 feet wide and 66 feet long, has been authorized to Thomas Graham and Trinity College School. A third by-law authorizing the closure of an unnamed lane running between Shuter Street, east of Hope Street South, and the CNR right-of-way, passed two readings. The land will be sold to Ross William Gibbs, 14 Shuter Street. from the Evening Guide  Monday December 12, 1955 Port Hope United Church presents Christmas Pantomime An impressive pantomime was presented at Port Hope United Church on Sunday morning with over twenty-five members of the Sunday School, Young People's Union and Congregation taking part. The stage setting was the inn on the night of Jesus' birth and the stable where the manger was located. The theme of the pantomime was the failure of men to recognize the presence of Christ in the form in which he appears among them and their preoccupation with lesser things. Those who took part in the pantomime were: Narrator, Louise Guy; Innkeeper, Milton Baulch; Beggar, Gordon Thomas; Wealth, Vernon Stewart; Attendants for Wealth, Bruce Dawson and Ronald Harcourt; Power, James Merrill; Pleasure, Marilyn Baulch, Patsy McCarthy, Sally Pike; Ambition, Neill Wakely; Triviality, John Stewart; Unbelief, Ronald Rose; Mary, Betty Lucas; Joseph, Donald Retallick; Shepherds, John Walden, Roger Dawson, Robert Bryce; Wise Men, Roger Phillips, Hugh Stewart, Kenneth McEwen; Child, Linda Guy; Sorrow, Dorothy Donaghue; Beauty, Nancy Isaac; Conscience, Zelda Honey; Revelation, John Black. Costumes and make-up were by Mrs W Keyes, Mrs L Brown, Mrs T Moffatt, Mrs T Kennedy and Mrs A Curtis. Those responsible for the scenery and lighting were J Merrill, J F Guy and Ira Campbell. The clever combination of ancient and modern costumes helped to impress upon the large and appreciative congregation the present day application of the theme depicted in the pantomime. The effectiveness of this presentation was enhanced by the appropriate background of organ music supplied by the organist, Mr T W Stanley. from the Evening Guide  Monday December 12, 1955 Christmas Bazaar of Baptist Church is great success The annual Christmas bazaar was held on Wednesday, December 7, by the Willing Workers of the Baptist Church in the Sunday School Auditorium.The room was gaily adorned with Christmas trimmings for the holiday season, and a beautiful poster of the 'Nativity Scene' reminded those present of the true meaning of Christmas. At the door to welcome guests were Mrs Arthur Rose and Mrs William Trawin. There were well-laden tables to interest all ages. The 'Home Cooking' table looked after by Mrs Geo Perry, Mrs Roy Gustar and Mrs Harold Schroter was the delight of all housewives and was well patronized.The Talent Table was also stocked to overflowing, served by Mrs Bertie Hosking, Mrs A Alexander, assisted by Mrs R Allchin. Mrs W P Tickell acted as Postmistress for the many gaily wrapped parcels one could choose at the Post Office, and Mrs Russell Mann and her daughter, Miss Marlene Mann, were kept busy helping children choose small gifts from the children's table which took the place of a Fish Pond. At the Tea Hour, the table was attractively decorated with a Christmas table centre, novelties and lighted candles along with plates of sandwiches, relishes and assorted cakes and cookies. Mrs Fred Sneyd and Mrs L B Randall presided at the Tea Services. Those looking after guests who were seated at small tables where they could rest and chat with friends, were: Mrs George Sneyd, Mrs Frank Ham, Mrs Vic Young, Mrs Wm Johnston, Mrs Rosalie Rice and Miss Pat Alexander. To help make the bazaar a success Mrs N L Dayman, Mrs Kent Brown, Mrs Al Gooderham, Mrs Harry Brown and Mrs H Van Everdingen served in the kitchen. Mrs George Gould kindly took charge of the receipts. from the Evening Guide  Saturday, December 17, 1955 Sidney C Brown, 14 Hill Sreet, who probably knows more about the Arctic than anyone else in Port Hope, and a good deal more about its growing defense system than can be published, flew out of Baffin Island last week for a brief Christmas fling with civilization.  Along with three polar bear skins, Eskimo carvings, harpoons and a sealskin jacket, he brought tales of the continent-wide Distant Early Warning radar system now being built across the Arctic, and of a 700-year-old Eskimo whaling village whose ancient stone ruins have been lately discovered. Assistant superintendent of a DEW line site at Kivitoo, on the north shore of Baffin Island, Mr Brown takes more than a passing interest in his bleak and barren surroundings. When he was last in Port Hope six months ago, he had three log books which he had kept simultaneously while acting as party chief on a Baffin Island site. The daily entries deal mostly with weather conditions and thermometer readings, but they are illustrated with pencil drawings of his surroundings and are anything but dull. This time Mr Brown has no log books - "I was too busy to keep one," he said - but he has seen, touched and explored the ruins of 'Old Kivitoo', an ancient whaling village that is believed to have been an active port on Davis Strait 300 years before Frobisher reached Baffin Island in his search for the Northwest Passage.Soon the Department of Northern Affairs, through the RCMP, will carefully investigate the site and probably turn it over to National Museum officials for excavation. In the meantime it authorized Mr Brown to take care of the graves of eight English and Scots seamen who were buried there and whose birth dates go back as far as 1700. "Whaling vessels used to come in to flesh their whales there," Mr Brown said. "You can still see the remains of the oil vats they used." He spoke also of the stone igloo remains that had sunk far into the ground over the centuries. "They are identical to the kind built by a tribe of Eskimo believed to have settled there 500-700 years ago," he said. But Mr Brown's main job is constructing buildings for radar equipment in 20th-century Kivitoo. One of 16 Baffin Island and Foxe Basin sites in the $250,000,000 DEW line project, the Kivitoo station will probably be ready to house the sensitive equipment next year. Most of the buildings have been constructed at shore level and then hauled ready-made, 1,440 feet up to the hilltop radar site."We have 60 or 70 men on the site, all living in igloo-type huts," said Mr Brown. "Five buildings have been constructed and hauled up by tractor to the site." Mr Brown will spend Christmas with his wife and family in the small house on Hill Street that is full of Arctic curios - bear skins, igloo knives, hunks of granite glinting with semi-precious stones, and even Eskimo-language pamphlets. But on January 1st he heads back to Kivitoo, to the outpost that will form a vital link in the West's defense network, and which still bears the traces of an ancient tribe. from the Evening Guide  Monday December 19, 1955 Port Hope Churches mark Christmas Season with Carol services and plays Churches throughout Port Hope welcomed the Christmas season yesterday with traditional services of carols and readings of the story of the birth of Christ. Large congregations attended the evening services held at St Mark's, St John's, the Port Hope United Church, and the Trinity College School Chapel. Children of St Mark's Sunday School enacted the familiar nativity story in Port Hope's oldest church. Supported by the choir and accompanied by readings by the rector, Canon C H Boulden, the play was simply but effectively presented to a congregation of more than 300. The children were directed by Mrs A B Finnie and Arthur Key, with A J M Prower as organist. Susan Kershaw played the part of Mary; John Sadler, Joseph; Carol Ann Woods, Elizabeth; and Suzanne Finnie, the angel Gabriel. At St John's, a full congregation joined in the singing of well-known Christmas hymns and carols, while the choir, directed by Edmund Cohu, presented less familiar carols of English, Polish and French origin. The chorale, 'Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light' from Bach's Christmas Cantata, opened the service. Gospel readings by the rector, the Rev L J Baird, lay-reader C M Lawson and choirmen B Gregory and N Hodgson, told the story of Christ's birth. More than 1,200 worshippers packed the United Church for the Candle light service of carols and Christmas music. Candles banked along the windows and gallery lit the church softly while the junior and senior choirs led the congregation in carols and hymns. Solos were sung by Mrs C J Windrim, Miss Jane Hutton, George Cameron and John Black. The choirs were under the direction of T W Stanley, who also played several organ selections. In the Memorial Chapel of Trinity College School, a fifty-voice boys' choir presented the school's 35th annual carol service. Parents, students and friends filled the nave of the chapel while the choir, directed by Edmund Cohu, organist, sang from the gallery. The service was conducted by the school chaplain, Canon C G Lawrence, and the Christmas story was read by Headmaster Philip Ketchum, and boys of the school. The offertory will be given to needy families in Port Hope and other centres. from the Evening Guide  Tuesday December 20, 1955 SKEENA FIRE, JOHN STREET Clouds of black smoke filled the sky yesterday afternoon as fire, apparently caused by an overheated furnace, consumed the interior of the RCSCC 'Skeena'. Firemen fought the blaze in zero weather for an hour and a half, before getting the flames under control. Lieutenant Creighton, Commanding Officer of 'Skeena' reported the fire last night to Area Headquarters at HMCS York, Toronto, and has been assured this morning of full support on the part of the Navy in establishing and equipping temporary quarters. The alarm was turned in by Mrs Stan Kennedy, whose husband is caretaker for the building. Mr Kennedy had been in the building at 4:15, attending the furnace, and had seen nothing to suggest danger. By five o'clock, when Mrs Kennedy, living next door, first noticed the conflagration, the flames had spread the whole length of the building and black smoke poured from every orifice. As pop bottles in the canteen began to explode, rumours circulated among the large crowd of onlookers to the effect that live rifle ammunition was being detonated by the heat. It was established later that the ammunition was intact, and the rifles taken from the building after the fire, though slightly damaged by water, can be made serviceable with a minimum of care. The hardwood floor which serves as the deck for the 'Skeena' was covered with ice this morning, and the partitions between the rooms in the east end of the building, though still upright, are charred and blackened. The furnace was located in the east end of the building, where most of the equipment and records were stored in a series of offices and storerooms. As this section burned, the wooden rafters caught fire, and flames licked along the tar-coated roof the full length of the building. The central part of the building was empty, so that the fire did not spread except in the roof and rafters, and the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment property stored in the west end of the building was not reached by the fire. Firemen poured streams of water into the brick-walled edifice, and managed to keep the roof from burning completely by dousing every attempt of the flames to break out at the top. The Fire Brigade was called out once more at 7:30 to quench a burning door which had burst into flames after smouldering for an hour. All uniforms and band equipment are a total loss. The log book is readable, but all other records were completely destroyed. The building, formerly a gas works, is town property, though all interior construction including the floor was done by the Navy League. It is believed that all damage is covered by insurance. from the Evening Guide  Monday December 24, 1955 W S PETHICK WINS $25 FOR HOUSE DECORATION First prize in the Christmas Programme Committee's exterior decoration contest was won by W S Pethick, of 140 Bruton Street. Covering 22 miles as they surveyed Christmas decorations of Port Hope houses last night, the judges gave the $25 award for a lighting scheme which includes models of Santa Claus and a reindeer climbing the roof. The second prize of $15 went to the double house at 51-53 Ontario Street, occupied by E R Goucher and Roy J Dayman. This display consisted of a nativity scene set off by lights and evergreen boughs. Dr E A Hunt's house at 16 Bedford Street, won the $10 third prize. Though no particular scene was depicted, the overall effect of lighted trees, doors and windows, culminating in a star on the roof, won high praise from the judges. Consolation prizes of $5 each were awarded to W A Southgate, 25 William Street; H S Winfield, 58 Molson Street; C Bushell, 30 Bloomsgrove Avenue; L K Knight, 225 Hope Street North, and Glen F James, 33 Bramley Street South. The ten dollar prize for decoration of a commercial or industrial building was awarded to the Nicholson File Company, and a ten dollar prize for a decorated store window went to Abrams' Flower Shop on Queen Street. The prizes were donated by the Town Council, with the exception of the store window prize, which was contributed by the Merchants' Division of the Board of Trade. Honourable mention for residential decorations went to L E Edwardson, 35 South Street; Sherman Gifford, 312 Ridout Street; Giffen's Apartments, Pine Street; C W Graham, 2 Clovelly Street; N H W Greenwood, 92 Ward Street; Fred Jamieson, 55 Sullivan Street; George Knight, 128 Hope Street North; A H Ross, 126 Hope Street North; and Ross Wilson, 4 Helm Street. Roberts Brothers Food Store, on Ontario Street, won honourable mention in the commercial and industrial class. from the Evening Guide  Tuesday January 17, 1956 HIGHLAND DRIVE SPELLING WON'T CORRUPT PU{PILS Hyland, Hyghland or Highland? Despite suggestions that so-called modern or olde tyme spellings be adopted, the town has stuck by straight 'Highland' in re-naming the new street running east off Victoria Street North, in front of the High School. Possibly the standard of spelling in the high school was considered when the decision was made. The question of spelling came up when Judge Miller approved the by-law authorizing the change in name from Beaver Street to Highland Drive. There was no opposition to the change at the hearing held in Cobourg on January 12, and the new name became effective January 13. The new name was suggested by residents of the area when the street was partially opened for the new High School. 'Highland Drive' was considered more fitting for a residential area than plain Beaver Street. But there will be nothing fancy about the spelling of Highland if the town can help it.