INTRO - Oakville Memories

A COLLECTION OF RECOLLECTIONS
Looking back half a century…and more !
A website for living memories of the Town of Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Hosted by Bob Hughes
Victoria, BC

CARE-FREE DAYS

Here’s a photo that I took in 1946 of friends Pete Moorhouse
and Terry Regan. It was taken across from the Post Office on
Colborne Street, (now Lakeshore Road) just a few doors from
Len Hope’s Drug Store, the main after-school hang-out in
those days. I saw Terry in Milton Sept. 2008 (after 60 years)
at my brother-in-law Jim Snow’s funeral. And, after 50 years,

I recently talked to Pete who now lives in White Rock B.C.

Hanging out at Len's Drug Store

Left, Ivan Woods ; Center, George Sythes; Right, Charlie Alexander

If you have an Oakville photo, 50 years old or more, that brings back memories you’d like to share, send it along with a short text and I’ll include it. (or have your grandchild send it I

I dedicate my website to my Mother, Florence Hughes, nee Thomas ,
who was Oakville’s Senior Citizen of the Year 1975
(Certificate signed by Mayor Harry Barrett and Clerk D.W. Browne)

My mother was born in East London in 1889 and on the death of her
Mother in 1903, was shipped off to Canada as a “Home Child”* along
with her younger brother and sister.

*THE BRITISH CHILD EMIGRATION SCHEME TO CANADA (1870-1957)
100,000 British Home Children (alleged orphans) were sent to Canada by over 50 British Child Care organizations. These young children worked as indentured farm labourers and domestic servants until they were 18 years old.

For more info just Google “Canadian Home Children” and find a number of sites.

“Oakville Memories” rohughes@shaw.ca

An Oakville Historical Society booster ~ http://www.oakvillehistory.org/

Mary (Hitchcox) Philbrook Remembers

Albert Dudley Hitchcox WWI

Growing up in Oakville: The West Side Story

by Mary Hitchcox Philbrook

When I was born on Bond Street in 1935, Oakville was a picturesque little village overlooking Lake Ontario and extending from roughly Brant Street in the West and Gloucester in the East and Queen Elizabeth Highway to the north. Our home overlooked a beautiful cherry orchard bordered by a magnificent perennial garden that was breathtakingly beautiful. The “Home” ( I.O.F.-Independent Order of Forresters) was home to orphans until the Second World War when it was transformed into Ortona Barracks, a military headquarters. The cherry orchard came down to make way for the quonset huts that held the offices for the new operation and the beautiful spring blossoms no longer blessed the view.

Back to 1935: I was born at home with Dr.E.P.Soanes delivering as at that time there were no hospitals in the town and home deliveries were “the norm”. Foresters Bush was a wonderful area to go for walks in the spring to collect wild flowers and pollywogs and fish in the little cove on the banks of the river. Kerr street was residential to Stewart Street and then opened to farms and strawberry fields. Bread and milk were delivered by horse-drawn carts; the horses always seemed to know which house was a customer. Ice trucks delivered blocks of ice for the “ice boxes” and was a great source of frozen chips to munch on in the hot summers.

Oakville in memory seems like “Brigadoon”; a magical village that was idyllic and peaceful. In reality, it was a time between two World Wars and the Depression, commonly called the “dirty thirties”.

Swimming in the harbour between the two piers, cycling, skating at the town Arena on Reynolds Street, Brownies and Guides at the Scout Hut on Randall, Gymnastic classes at St.Jude’s Church, tobogganing on the many hills and canoeing on the Sixteen were the many delights for children & teens. The Oakville Town Band was a musical hub for my brothers who played the saxophone, cornet and clarinet, (one brother going on to play with Oscar Peterson in Montreal).

Westwood School with its four classrooms was the primary school for the west side; Linbrook for the East Side; and Central School for grades 4 to 8. Oakville High School was the only high school for Bronte, Oakville and all the rural district. One managed to know just about everyone in their age group .

Summertime was a wonderful time to visit my grandparents’ farm in the country on Rural Route #1, now 1705 Rebecca Street. I learned to swim in a delightful little pool that was a natural formation on the little creek that wound its way down through Lady Baillie’s Estate on the Lakeshore. Indian arrow heads were often unearthed when exploring the surrounding area and casually tossed backed. Wish I had them now!

The farm produce was mouth watering and delicious. My Uncle George would often take a few children in to Bronte to buy ice cream at Allan’s pharmacy to fill a half freshly picked melon. I can still taste the treat fit for a king! Strawberries were another delight from my Aunt Hilda’s 100 acre farm on Rebecca Street near the Third Line and my mother had a wonderful recipe for Strawberry shortcake that still swirls in my mind and tickles my taste buds. The strawberries managed to find their way to “The Jam Factory” where students would often cut classes to hull strawberries by the pail. I managed to earn my money for Guide Camp this way. When we closed our eyes at the end of the day, we would see nothing but strawberries.

Surrounded by farms provided an “oldy worldy” bucolic countryside. I often cycled from Bond Street, north on Trafalgar, along Upper Middle Road to the Howell’s Farm where driving the cows home for milking, bringing in the sheaves, playing in the hayloft seems now like a world that existed centuries ago. I remember the co-operative effort of several farmers who banded together and went from farm to farm for threshing. The farm meals for these hard working farmers were a banquet; meat, vegetables and mashed potatoes, home-made bread, and the most mouth-watering array of freshly baked pies. I remember vividly the farm of the Savages at the corner of the ninth line and upper middle road…a Constable scene of idyllic beauty.The farms I knew did not have tractors, just horses, and dogs that scurried after all the mice that had built there homes in the cozy stacks of hay.

Winter always seemed to bring abundant snow for winter sports and temperatures that were adequate for skating on the Sixteen.

My father, who was a World War 1 veteran , married “his sweetheart from Simcoe” in 1919 and worked various jobs as his family of four thrived and grew. Working at the aluminum factory on Trafalgar, air plane factory Dehavilland during World War II, and as a Game Warden after the war, brought many interesting aspects to our life. Plastic picture frames that were riveted together from Spitfire windshield scraps, cribbage boards, aluminum bowls, copper trays and artifacts were all a product of his spare time and ability. He worked hard and I can never once remember hearing him complain. Working six days a week gave him little time for pleasure

But he seemed happy with his home life and found time for the Legion Hall where he worked on all their various projects. Having taken the “Oath of Sobriety” at the Temperance Hall on Trafalgar Road (now Tim Horton’s), he was determined to educate and provide for his family. He was also Chairman of the Library Board which saw the library move from a small little shop on Main Street to a more substantial dwelling nearby, on the east side of my Uncle Cedric’s gas station and car dealership for Buick, Pontiac and GMC Trucks.

My mother made the most amazing culinary feasts from a wood-burning stove, a monstrous creature that burned both wood or coal. I swear she could have earned an engineering degree! Opening the doors just right to let the amount of oxygen in to keep the temperatures at just the right level to create the loaves of bread, the berry pies, the Yorkshire Puddings, the Toad-in-the-hole, the roasts, the turkeys, the cakes and tarts…..truly a work of art! …and this while a quilt was on four chairs in the dining room. Bacon fat was saved to make her own soap along with Gillet’s Lye. She claimed she had the whitest wash in town for just a few pennies a week. Chickens in the back yard for eggs, a garden for fresh vegetables, rhubarb patches , and clusters of lilacs bushes were natures gift. Pet rabbits, a cocker spaniel and canaries and budgies were added to the menagerie……my father even breeding canaries! Their songs filled the air and they always seemed to accompany the records we played on the Victrola which we cranked vigourously at regular intervals.

My mother’s basement was filled with jars of produce; yellow peaches and plums, and jams of all kinds. At one point she even “canned” vegetables ; peas and tomatoes. Amazingly, she still found time for “The Mother’s Union” at St. Jude’s , Red Cross work at the Masonic Lodge and many projects at the Legion Hall.

These are a few of my happy memories of growing up in Oakville……and I have many more!

Bob Ballantyne Remembers

OAKVILLE JUNIOR "C” O.H.A. TEAM 1946 - 1947

Back Row: Baz Megaffin, Coach; Blake Tuck; C. Currie; Roger Tuck; Bert Regan, Trainer; David (Red) Smith; Bud Cameron; Joe Lawrence; Bill Leslie; Fred Turner, Manager.

Front Row: Bob Ballantyne; Dillon McNally; Jack Davison; Don Kemp; Bill (Hank) Galbraith; Ray Patterson; Bill Currie.

Most of us grew up skating and playing shinny every winter on frozen Sixteen-Mile Creek. For those of us "east-siders," we reached the creek edge by making our way down the stone steps behind Catherine Hoar's house on Dundas Street, just south of Chamber's grocery store on the corner of Dundas and Division Streets. Our home games were played on natural ice in the old Oakville Arena in those days. No goalkeeper masks. No helmets. Warm weather - no Game!

The “Staffords” jerseys were used hand-me-downs from a Senior OHA Toronto team, the “Toronto Staffords”. My best recollection is that the Stafford company manufactured flavored syrups used in soda fountains for milk shakes and sodas. Baz Megaffin knew the Staffords team manager and acquired the jerseys for us .

Bob Ballantyne

Gordon Buch Remembers

Maple Grove School S.S. No. 12, 1937

I was also born in a Sheridan Nurseries house. My father was K. Buch, known as the slave driver to the high school students that came to work for him at the nursery during Easter Break.


I am 2nd from the right in the front row of the Maple Grove photo above. My memories of Maple Grove school include learning how to cook, sew and wash dishes.


I had a paper route in Grade 9, West on Lower Middle Road to the angle crossing, down the town line to #2 Hwy and West on #2 to Wilson's Cartage.

I left Oakville High School at age 15 to work at the British American Refinery, on shift work. I was eased out of BA at war's end so I joined the RCN. I served on the Micmac, Magnificent, and Portage. When in the Active Reserves (after 5 years RCN time) I served short times on the Nootka, Buckingham and Portage. I was in the Engine Room Branch and finished my time as a Petty Officer.

I returned to the oil refinery work at Port Credit that eventually became Texaco, Canada. I worked in refinery operations at Port Credit, United Kingdom and Belgium. In later years I was a safety auditor (International Loss Control Institute) for Texaco Canada plants.

In 1985, due to plant closure, I was forced into early retirement at age 58. Eventually I moved to Nanaimo, BC to sport fish, play bridge and grow old.

Gordon H. Buch

Nanaimo B.C.

Dawn McArthur Remembers

Dawn McArthur lives in Simcoe Ontario but her interest in Oakville is vast. Perhaps it's because she was born there!

She provided the following information about her family:

Duncan McArthur married Jeannie Robertson McMillan and lived for a number of years at 111 Burdett Street where they raised seven children.

James b1911

Duncan b1916

Isabel b1921

Brock b1923

David John b1929

Margaret b1930

Annie b1931

Dawn's parents, David John McArthur and Barbara Anderson Daniel were married in Knox Presbyterian Church on June 21, 1958. Here we see Barbara and David John (in his Legion Pipe Band regalia) passing Roberstson's Esso Station in their wedding chariot. Ahead of them was the Legion Pipe Band leading through the streets of Oakville.

David John was a piper for many years with the Oakville Legion Pipe and Drum Band

Dawn's Uncle Brock served with the RCASC and 48th Highlanders in both England and Europe. He was born June 30, 1923 and died Nov. 7, 1995. A great day for many Oakville families was when their sons or daughters returned from war. Brock is shown above under the "Welcome Home Son" sign on the Burdett home. Brock never married and lived in the family home for most of his life.

Dawn reflected: "I've often wondered how Brock came to be named". His full name was George Brock Chisholm McArthur.

The man in the photo above may provide the answer. He's one of Oakville's most famous sons. General George Brock Chisholm was a First World hero who turned to medicine and ended up head of the World Health Organaization. He practised medicine in Oakville for six years.
Dawn says: "I'll never know for sure, but it would make sense if my grandfather knew him in WWI when they were both in the CEF, or perhaps, even in Oakville after the war. Maybe he held him in such high esteem he named his son after him".

Dawn continues: "Lachlan McArthur. who was Mayor of Oakville 1954-55, was my great uncle, known as Uncle Lackie. His brother, Duncan McArthur, was my grandfather.

Grandpa Duncan served in WWl as a private with the 92nd Division Highlanders. He servived. Duncan was married to Jeannie Robertson McMillan (my paternal grandmother).

Frank McCraney Jr.

Frank McCraney Jr. appears elswhere in this site in a wartime group photo "Oakville Boys in Italy" page 12. This caught the eye of his daughter Brenda Chisholm who sent along this more striking picture of her dad in Uniform.

Bill Russell Remembers

Bill has supplied the following items that take us back.

BRANTWOOD SCHOOL
c-1934

Front row R to L: Don Gilroy, Harry Barrett,Lily Hughes. Julia Blakelock, Agnes Teale Jane Hillmer, Isobel MacGregor,Doug. Heath, ? .

Second row L to R: Kathleen Blakelock, Jean Lamb, Helen Duncan, Ann Calverley, Lois Lunau, Barbara Lawson, Nora Parnaby, Nancy Hart, Winnie Hughes, Betty Carley, ? .

Third row L to R: Gordon Roser, Betty Chambres, Georgette Gallow, Margaret McCleary, Joan Lankin,, Irene Woods, Doris Litchfield, Bill Cator, Charlotte O'Grady.

Fourth row L to R: John Buckley Black, Peter Moorhouse, Bill Russell, Bob Snowball, Charley Howard, Stu Smith.

Fifth row L to R: Betty Taylor, Frances Watts, ? , Eleanor Walsh, Lily Prentice.

The following wartime Oakville newspaper clipping (in two parts) has this as its heading:

SPIRIT WHICH CARRIED OAKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL 1936 RUGBY SQUAD TO CHAMPIONSHIP
NOW TRAINED FULL AGAINST THE AXIS

J. Booth, *Bruce Fox, *Granville Morris, Don Myles, *John Kemp, Don Macrae,

*Ken Kemp, *Bill Archibald, Ted Williamson, Andre Ryan, A. Edgar, *Monty Bull.

*Half of them made the supreme sacrifice.

Here’s the male half of a wedding party that was taken at the Oakville Club
Left to right: Stuart Smith, London ON; Bill Russell, Oakville; Terry Regan, groom, Oakville; George Hagie, deceased; Pete Moorhouse, White Rock BC; Bob Snowball, deceased.