TOMMY DOUGLAS

Tommy Douglas came to Uxbridge and I might be the only one that noticed.

In 1955 I was 13. I had been hired by a friend of the family to help tear down a building (The old marketplace) he owned on the main street of Uxbridge Ontario. As I was cleaning the sidewalk I heard a car coming up the street beeping its horn wildly. On the side of the convertible was a sign that said 'Vote CCF! In the back, a man stood up waving. When he looked at me I hollered "I'll vote for you!" That man was Tommy Douglas. He had come to the riding to help the CCF candidate.

How Willard Grieg got to Uxbridge

Willard Grieg was a determined young man with the ambition to become a lawyer. He lived in Nestorville (now a ghost town near Thessalon around Sault St. Mari ) as a teenager he was an accomplished trapper and woodsman.

In the spring of 1909(circa), he told his sister Florrie to pack her bags they were going to Toronto. He had a dogsled heaped high with the furs he had trapped all winter pulled by his 2 huskies 'Grit and Tory' He said after he sold the furs he would have enough money to go to law school and also to pay for Florrie's tuition at the Royal Conservatory of Music. So they got on the train with the sled, dogs, and all and headed for Toronto.

From Union Station, they headed up Bay Street sled and again dogs and all and as they approached Gold's Furriers the dogs who had not eaten for a couple of days broke loose and chased down the furrier's cat and killed it and ate it. When the Furrier saw the furs he forgot about the cat. He bought the sled full of furs. He also noticed Florrie and a few years later after she graduated from The Royal Conservatory of Music He (Bert Gold to become Gould) married her.

And they were to become Glenn Gould's parents.

John Grieg was Glenn Gould’s first cousin

Furthermore no sooner than Willard Grieg graduated law school than WWI started up. He joined The Ontario Regiment's Uxbridge Battalion under Major Sharpe. the regiment formed up at Niagara on the Lake but it was found that Willard had flat feet and was being discharged. Before he got on the train Major Sharpe took him aside and told him he needed somebody to run his law practice in Uxbridge and offered him a partnership in Law firm for $2.00.

Major Sharpe had promised the people of Uxbridge he would bring his soldiers home safe and sound. That was not to be. Uxbridge had a tragic number of casualties and the despondent Major Sharpe committed suicide by jumping out a window in Ottawa rather than face the town. This left Willard with a Law practice for $2.00

told to me by John Greig

 

ROBERT GOULET

Robert Goulet was a star on CBC TV during the 1950s.

He was invited to our high school prom as a celebrity host. I was only on the decorating committee but when Mr. Goulet arrived at the door in his corvette. the student council president failed of confidence and I was somehow pushed out the door to greet him.

I was super nervous I didn't have my own suit just then, and my mother had fitted me into my father's old wedding suit. It was a 3 button and the style at that time was 2 button suits. When I ushered Mr.Goulet in the door and took his coat he was wearing a 3 button suit. he looked at me and said "Hey you are right in style." He reached over and undid my top button. "That's the way to wear it" he said. he had quite a night he ended up driving the prom queen home and partied with her and her parents to all hours. See Less

 

UXPO 72 The Governor-General and the Mounties

The Governor-General and the Mounties

In 1971 I was married and living on Main Street in Uxbridge. I was elected vice-president of the Legion. The Centennial was coming next year and I was selected to represent the legion at the Centennial Committee. As 72 rolled around we had 3 Chairmen for the committee resign for various reasons mainly because it was a lot of work. Somehow I was pushed into the job. it was a big job almost too big. The secretary Mrs. Kathleen Morrison did a remarkable job of holding it all together.

So the Governor-General was Roland Michener and his brother lived just south of town. His brother was giving a big party in aid of the Centennial on the main week and the Governor-General was officially attending.

The Governor-General is the patron of the legion so it was decided to invite him and this last-minute task was given to me.

Now Dean Watson hat the Datsun Dealership at that time and he outfitted me with a Datsun 240 Z for the week. The Z had a hatchback and Dean also supplied a fully stocked bar.

So as Chairman I am invited to the party and I managed to get the Governor-General aside and I asked him if he would visit the legion and sign our guest book. Roland said he had no problem with that if I would go outside and make arrangements with his Mountie Bodyguards.

So out I go and explained to his  Mounties and fixed the details. Seeing they were kind of bored I asked if they would like some refreshment and opened the hatchback for them. Bingo I was Mounties best friend for the next couple of days and every time I parked there was a mountie or two hanging around the back of the Z.

so the Governor General came by the Legion and signed the book and all. I was on his Xmas card list for the next dozen years.

The next day was an event the GG had to attend in Sunderland to which I was invited as well.

So I am on Highway 12 on my way to Sunderland in the 240 Z when the Mounties pull along side me and holler "Whats the matter Gary wont that thing go!" So the next moment i am racing the mounties to Sunderland. It was crazy we running like a hundred mph. The mounties won easily they didn't have to worry about the OPP stationed along the way.

ONTARIO'S FIRST BEER GARDEN

Uxbridge History first beer Garden raised money for Ux-Pool

The first legal Beer Garden in Ontario was in the old arena on Marietta street.

I was chairman of the Centennial Committee and this was quite a coup. We thought it was a great way to raise money for the swimming pool. It was mostly put together by Morley Barton who was the beer rep for O'keefe

We found the law was quite restrictive, we had a license for only 300 people at a time., and we could only have enough beer on hand for 3 beers a person.

we certainly weren't going to raise much money this way.

Morley came to the rescue he supplied a refrigerated tractor-trailer outside the back door so we just kept replacing the empty cases with full ones so we were always legal.

The beer garden was a huge success at any given moment we had 2 000to 3000 people crammed in there.

I remember a constable asking me if I thought there were 300 people yet. "Close," I said.

I told the chief of police who was on our committee. He just said whatever yo//

do, don't tell him.

We raised considerable money for the pool.

Morley was a great guy and for the rest of the time I was in Uxbridge there was a 24 of beer at my door every week.

Morley died much too young.

 

DAVID MILNE

My father and mother were both artistic. My father was an admirer of David Milne, and at that time probably the only one in Uxbridge. David Milne lived in Uxbridge and I went to school with David Milne jr. He was a year older than me and in grade 3 at the time.

I was playing with David in his living room when his mother came in and said “David your father is home and your friend will have to leave.” “Hello Mr. Milne’” I said on my way out.

 A neighbour of the Milne’s often looked after young David after school and David’s mother offered her a Milne painting by way of thanks. “It was handed back with” I wouldn’t hang that in my house!” A local dentist also turned down an offer to trade paintings for dental work.

Back then the train was a big part of Uxbridge life and the only way to get to Toronto if you didn’t own a car. My dad told me a story about sitting with Duncan and David Milne on the train to Toronto. Somewhere near Stouffville David pointed out the window and remarked what a beautiful green this haystack was. Duncan said he was crazy that the haystack was red. 

Dad said he didn't say anything but that haystack sure looked yellow to him