First Appeared in the Barrie Advance
Apr 29, 2001

Take a trip down memory lane...
where does your mind take you?

It didn't take much.

Just a hint, and a whole group of us was off and running, looking back on the Barrie of yesteryear.

So, this column invites you to do the same. I hope it inspires you to remember our city in its various phases and stages.

Remember when...

...the little hamlet of St. Pauls was in between the village of Painswick and the village of Stroud and there were fields in between?

...when Holly was a tiny little village and everybody knew the names of everybody else's dogs?

...when Horseshoe Valley ski hills were just being developed, in the shadows of the old radar tower which was part of the DEW (Distant Early Warning) system?

...when there was hay in Harold Franklin's barn and little Franklins in the farmhouse? The house and barn are still there as part of the buildings on the former Molson property.

...when penny candies cost pennies? ...when Cusdens, Tamblyns, Crosslands and Robertsons drug stores were all on Dunlop St at the same time?

... when there were 2 grocery stores on Dunlop St?

...when Morrison's Sunoco had gas tanks?

...when CK Chinese Food was the farthest building out on Bayfield St?

...when Cundles St was barricaded at its finish line at Leacock?

...when the dump was in the middle of nowhere?

... when the dump was down by Kempenfelt Bay, where Centennial Park is now?

...Delaney's Car Wash at the end of Bayfield St., right beside the government docks? And Delaney's Boat Works were there before that?

...Carley's Boat Works at the foot of Mulcaster St?

...Bell's Farm took in all the land from Grove St to Little Lake from St. Vincent to Highway 400? All farmland. Charlie Zeihr is still there forging ironworks in the barn. And Bev Bell still lives in the house with Charlie and her mom.

...when City Hall was in the middle of the road? ...when Barrie Collegiate Institute was the only school in Barrie?

...when Midhurst was a place of simple homes? ...when the population was 12,500? (that was 1960)

...when Brown's Farm with its glorious farmhouse and many fireplaces sat in the middle of empty fields at the northwest corner of Bayfield and Cundles?

...when Cundles wasn't paved?

...when Willard Kinzie, mayor of Barrie as it transformed from town to city, owned the Lakeview Dairy? You could eat like royalty, watch the water, and order a marvellous tin roof sundae.

...when Mary Howden owned The Frog Prince toy store in the old Underhill Shoe Factory building?

...when Peter Young's family owned the yellow farmhouse across from Eastview arena and high school?

...the Barrie Twin Drive-in Theatre at Bayview and Little avenues?

...the Barrie pool hall on Tiffin St near Ferndale? ...Timberline? ...Cancillas fruit and vegetable store on Clapperton St.

...when the Roxy movie house was opened by the Saso family? ...when Dutcher Meat Shop was at the corner of Maple and Dunlop?

...when Dycks Butcher Shop was at Collier and Poyntz?

...the big fire at the Five Points? and the next big fire at the Five Points?

...when the lobby of the Wellington Hotel was big and gracious and THE place to be? (The Royal Thai Restaurant is there today)

...the Mirmar Gardens?

...when the Barrie Train Station was at Memorial Square? with the post office?

...when Andy Ayerst had lots of advice from the lower level of Robinsons Hardware?

...when Carol Grainger served up wonderful raspberry pie from the Driftwood Restaurant on Owen St?

...when Ernie Lindell, and Candy and Danny performed the live noonhour show on the old CKVR?

...when Milt Conway sold cars as an announcer on CKVR? Milt would stand with a microphone in front of one of the new Bradford St dealerships and as the cars were driven into camera view, Milt would describe them, capping them off with their price? The car would drive offcamera and the next would approach, with Milt not missing a beat.

What are your memories? Little's Hill? Gravel Pits? Sandy Hollow? Student movements? Great teachers? Parades? Important visitors? Grand openings? The day Rick Hansen wheeled through town? Thanks, Barrie. Thanks for your roots!

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