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Fairmiles, launched October 1942 Corvettes, fairmiles built More than just a depot At one time Midland Harbour was more than just a depot for lake freighters and small pleasure craft. During World War Two, two Midland firms were actively involved in the construction of warships. In the early war years, Midland Boat Works -- located where Downer's Yacht Haven now stands manufactured small wooden submarine chasers and later on were involved in the con- struction of minesweepers. Next door, at the Midland Ship Yards -- on the property now owned by Indusmin -- small steel corvettes were turned out Long time Midland businessman Ed Walker was involved with the electrical wiring duties at Midland Boat Works. Walker, who began his electrical business in Midland after coming from Guelph in 1935, remembers. the boat Ww orks turning out nF irmile: BD Chasers. A loz home on the river An ancient log homestead on the banks of the Coldwater River has become a mecca for students of local history, lovers of antiques and and arts crafts en- thusiasts Built in 1830, the Woodrow homestead was restored as a Centennial project by a group of Coldwater' citizens. Located south of Cold- water just west of High- way 12, the old home houses a collection of artifacts and museum pieces, including a large wooden tool chest with George Borland's name inscribed on it. Borland has an_ in- teresting connection with the Woodrow family, One hundred years ago, Catherine Woodrow fell in love with Borland. That family objected to the marriage, so Katherine and George eloped. She slipped through the kit- chen window, and together they fled down the Coldwater river by canoe. On display at the Woodrow homestead is a copy of the Geographical Astron- omical and Historical Home Knowledge Atlas of 1889. Loaned by Amborse Swaile, it reports that in 1889 the population of Coldwater was 450. Penetanguishene boasted a total of 2,000 residents while Midland straggled along with only 1,800. Each year Coldwater Canadiana holds a variety of homespun events at the Woodrow homestead. A favourite is the sauerkraut meal, served in the stone floored kitchen. The cabbage is ground in an authentic old fashioned grinder. A special attraction in the old kitchen is the open fireplace. Many local ahndicraft groups use the homestead for a meeting place, and the fireplace sheds a generous warmth over the gathering. Page 10 s early in the 1940's. Walker helped the electrical contractor and recalled the Fairmiles were about 112 feet long, made of wood, manoeuverable and designed to draw little water. The subchasers were equipped with depth charges, meaning barrels of dynamite, with Anti Submarine Detection Equipment and 35 millimetre anti-aircraft guns. The subchasers worked in groups and, recalls Walker, when they came upon an enemy sub- marine "would dump the charge and run." Six subchasers were built in Midland with similar ships being manufactured at other boat yards in Penetanguishene, Honey Harbour, Orillia, Sarnia, Toronto and Mimico. Walker became the electrical contractor when the Boat Works converted to minesweepers, Thesweepers were also made of wood, but were constructed much more strongly than the sub- chasers. The minesweepers built in Midland, and in the other Ontario centres, were designed to activate magnetic mines before steel warships and cargo vessels passed over the oc to $1.00 STORE Seatrins a the Wagon-full . and N ae cA) Proprietors Brigitte and George Hofmann mined area. The boats were built with heavy oak ribs and thick planking, measured 145 feet long and about 22 feet wide. Walker remembers about 40 tons of steel spikes being used in the construction of the sweepers, and because the ships had to supply their own source of power, they used a box car load full of wet cell batteries with about one and three quarter tons of water and acid to charge them. Because the vessels were built to sweep magnetic mines the steel spikes, chains, anchors and other metal objects needed on the ship were wrapped in coils to offset the magnetic field that would set off the mine. Magnetic mines, tells Walker, worked on the principle of having a magnetic needle fixed on the north pole. If a foreign metal object entered its magnetic field and pulled the needle in its direction and away from the pole, the mine would explode. Behind each minesweeper trailed two long coils, floated on the surface by a layer of cork. At the end of each cable was attached an elec- trode, one charged positively and the other negatively. One cable was slightly longer than the other but ELMVALE DEPARTMENTS Packed with SPECIALS both reached a distance of about a quarter mile. The magnetic field created by the trailing electrodes would set off the mines with the boats safely out of the way. The minesweepers worked in flotillas with the captain of each ship coordinating the charges on his electrodes with those of the ships on either side. Both the subchasers and the minesweepers were built for the Royal Canadian Navy but were never used by the Canadian forces. Upon completion they were leased to the Soviet Navy and were sailed out of Midland harbour by Russian crews. Subsequently, instr- uctions on all electrical panels in the ships were engraved in English and Russian, remembers Walker. Only one minesweeper was ever completed in Midland. A_ second, finished following the war, was re-built~-with another three inches of hard wood and no Sweeping gear for use in the Canadian arctic by the National Hydrographic Depart- ment. Walker estimates there were about 1200 man hours devoted to the minesweepers by his electricians alone. 329, For value, service and dependability for almost half a century Visitors are welcome to browse anytime SEE OUR SPECIALS for next Maple Syrup Festival, coming _ April 10th, 1976 Staff ELMVALE 5c to $1.00 STORE ~ fat i, Ew Shipbuilding in Midland spanned about half a century. According to the book 'Georgian Bay, The Sixth Great Lake,' James Playfair and D. it, White founded the Midland Navigation Company in 1901. They had ships built in Scotland and Collingwood before setting up the Great Lakes Transportation Company in 1912. a IY PUIS STI RITIS FOC SSS COLS ee MOEA AMID: prep Mla MT a PETE P TED He bE MMI HIH In 1910, Playfair was one of the founders of the Midland Company, which became the Midland Shipbuilding Company _ in 1916. Later in 1925, he unified Drydock- Evinrude V-6 14' F I B R E F oO R M BOATS TO 28' MODELS FI ARCRA 1976 526-6391 Happy Boating 1976 Season! 19 OMC accessories for Evinrude and Johnson OMC Stern Drive Complete parts & Service Depts. Fiberform Toi A great new spirit! on Display 76 Models to Evinrude 2 2400 FIBERFORM BERMUDA Many models on display, daily Come ng Holic, Cats And "eftain UDer, 'S, See Them 4, erie? rts Midland Marina Ltd. Bayshore Drive at William Open 7 Days a Week Fishin des 7 1® © ©©© 099909990009 OOOO OOOO OOOO 9009909099090 OOOO8OO8 OOOH: I HIGHWAY 12 VICTORIA HARBOUR WATCH FOR SALE ON PATIO AND SIDEWALK SLABS IN APRIL ISSUE Atlas Block Co. Limited Victoria Harbour 534-7219 VOCK. fl LIMITED et ow his shipping concerns into the Great Lakes Navigation Company and then sold the whole outfit to Canada Steamship Lines in 1926. This photo shows the " Shipbuilding i in Midland 'spanned about half a century - from 1901 to 1 957 launching the Cloverdale, on April 5, 1960. This ;photo shows the April 5, 1950 launching of The Cloverdale, one of the first of the bulk freighters launched here after World War Two, according to Stan P] ; of Fifth Street, MidNgy, who submitted this photograph. 1957 saw the end of shipbuilding in Midland. "Panorama Inn invites you to The Burgundy Room featuring the organ and vocal stylings of * Mr. Versatility * BOBBY DEAN For Your Listening And Dancing Pleasure Goldies * Requests Wednesday Through Sunday Evenings fully licensed air conditioned Hwy. 27 And. Yonge 526-8483 ONTARIO G G yO OG Tarr » G }9 OOO OOOO TATATAIQINISISISISINISISISISISISISINISISISISISISISISISIOISIOIIOIAT SOc 999 00999000990 9 BO O99 99GO9999999999999090999999999999990990999990996 ¥ 999999096 @900G r OG ©) OOOO OOO O90 OOOO 0006590000099 OOO 90060056000 OHOOOHOOHt Rowika Industries Ltd. Manufacturers of SPIRIT LEVELS and BATHROOM ACCESSORIES Established in Midland and still growing with Midland Rowika Industries in 1964 Ltd. 150 Albert S. MIDLAND 526-7951 @; ' Historical Past <