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Midland's Bill Cranston by Shirley Whittington The study of the Cranston home_ on Midland's Cornell Drive is dominated by a huge first brought Herbert > Cranston and his son Bill to Midland in 1935. They came to buy a 4 newspaper. They stayed, and quite simply, helped put Midland on the map. Today, thousands of hand in establishing. Meanwhile, Midland's economy hums along on a varied industrial base that the Cranstons helped to initiate. -- The 30's were lean years for Midland. The shipyards were closed. A "I was conscious that we had become custodians of a public trust." The walls of Bill Cranston's study tell how and almost bewildering profusion of memorabilia. There are framed citations, photographs (including Sir John A. MacDonald and Sir Wilfrid Laurier, of who hang cheek-to- pallisade at Ste Marie. The distinctive shape of Ontario's official historical site marker is familiar to everyone, and it's a bit of a surprise to see one hanging on Bill Cranston's wall. It's a tribute to the Bill, with a smile. He earned it. years he was Chairman of the Ontario Archeological Historical Military and Establishments Penetanguishene and the Museum of the Upper Lakes at Wasaga Beach He has been Chairman Dominion Provincial Conference of group he's now honourary life President) and he was a Director of the Ontario Heritage Foundation. Recent history comes alive Museum, founded by Bill Cranston in the which His small weekly newpspaper grew to encompass the Penetanguishene Herald and the Midland Argus and 1957, was one of Canada's outstanding papers. There's a huge silver trophy in the Cranston den that attests to this. '"'We won that trophy so consistently," says Bill Cranston, "that make Midland more than a one-industry town. The shipyards opened, but only briefly, and with the support of local businessmen and_ local funding, an active search for new industries was excursions, Bill Cranston narrowly escaped death in an auto accident which left him with his neck broken in three places. life expectancy. At that time, Dr. R. I. Harris of Toronto and Go-Home Bay, gave me a maximum of 25 years to live. I'm now three years over the limit,' That serious accident and the industrialist Cranston feels strongly that. both sides _ of development are inter- linked. He recalls that Sidney Caplan was first attracted to this area for the development of mittee of the Ontario Economie Council, and later Chairman of that council, as well as vice- president of the Ontario Auld, he recommended the site for the Ontario Science Centre. He's a trustee of the McMaster Divinity College, in Hamilton. (He himself graduated from McMaster in 1935.) across the world It is no surprise to find out that he was one of those Canadians honoured with a Cen tennial medal In 1975 Trent University awarded him an Awards mark tribute to outstanding citizen artist who brought Canadian history to life "This is an hour long show,"' he told me, "'that will tell Jeffrey's story. window which overlooks seriously he felt about Board. He was Chairman With Bill Cranston as "IT went through a_ Regional Development We'll use it in our Little ake. That's that sense of public trust. of the Huronia Historical editor and publisher, the series of operations," he Council. museum, and it will be significant, for it was the Hung between the wide Development Midland Free Press says, "in an attempt. He began the Hillsdale shown on cable television beauty of Little Lake and window and the well- during the reconstruction Herald became _ bi- through wiring up the Conservation Farm. As here and around the the surrounding area that ordered bookshelvesis an of Sainte Marie, weekly, and between 1947 errant discs toextend my assistant to Hon. James Georgian Bay area He has a_ prodigious mental file of meetings and events that have proven to be milestones in local history. When a date eludes him, or a name, his wife Viola fills the gap. "I'm a rare tourists flock here an- cheek). a C.W. Jeffery's Historical Resource they finally gave it to us, didn't dim his ambition or He has logged a good j 4 5 nually, drawn by out- drawing of the mar- Development. to keep." energy. He bounced back many miles in order to Pird."" she says impishly standing historical sites tyrdom of Brebeuf and of the Huronia Historic Through their quickly and plunged into represent his province _. | Was born and educated and museums which Bill Lalemant,aframedpiece Sites and newspaper, the Cranstons his activities promoting and his country at |" Midland Cranston had a direct of wood from the original Association (of which began their campaign to Huronia for the tourist memorial unveilings As Viola Wheeler, she Sang in the choir of Calvary Baptist Church when Bill Cranston first came to Midland. 'I walked her home" says Bill. They married and she's been cheerfully at his side ever since, taking : ' i personal and his father. Originally begun Penetang's Fern Shoe honourary Docrate of an active interest in his Bill Cranston and wife Viola third of the town was on Cranston from the located in the Geln Mawr Frocks Corporation and Midland Laws for his contribution activities, particularly relief andthe town was in Ontario _ government, Playfair (now Fabulous Formals) Footwear because of his to the historical those relating to the ; bankruptcy. Herbert commending him for his overlooking Georgian moved up from Toronto, cruiser in Honey Har- development of Huronia Huronia Museum Recognized for "outstanding accomplishments in the fields of: Cranston bought the efforts at the preser- Bay, the museum's and the establishment of bour "The more recent and the province. (His When Bill Cranston-was ana and el i vation it ied, nitty precious contents Fine Silk Mills (now Bay similar industrial father, Herbert Cranston, Deputy Reeve of Midland apie r\ 5 ° . . weekly paper, and ap- "'I'm the only living later moved to Mills), Ernst Leitz, parallel,' says Cranston, wassimilarly honoured in in 1956, he instigated a publishing, industry, tourism and archaeology, culminating in the pointed his son Bill, as Canadian to have a building in Little Bausch and Lomb and '"'is that of Robert Har- 1949, by McMaster municipal award of manager. At that time historical marker Park, Recently Furnitex created new tog's Kindred Industries University.) merit. "At that time,"' he creation of the Huronia Museum" Ontario property taxation It also involves the by J.R. Chittick, Wils Development Associa- Ill health has forced archaeology, culminating contemporary Harrison and James_ tion, Cranston, along with him to resign from active jn the creation of the and social fibre Lennox. Manager Neville Keefe involvement in the life of Huronia Museum."' *hri les issi : . ommunity ersone , > > Ip reer > ronia he loves Y a te by Chris Knowles _ Commissioner BRUCE armen will only paya50 and 140 per cent for value' assessment will © unity : Personal tours of continued to help recruit the Huronia he loves, but It's only one, among Staff reporter Frazer, at the Simcoe per cent of market value distilleries in 1978 ns: Bill Cranston has been prospective industrial new industrial and tourist he's still contributing many tributes, but ari z NY s a 5 + 4 at actively inv od j > sites were ¢ i rte ve ents ates rojec F; 5 > 2 > > The Ontario govern bho et ebb tax on his residence. Government property assessments will take ee ae a Oe the sites were an important devs lopments fe as ae Beles! ine an putea one gets the ment is considering ice, Says from value and the taxes will would, under the place every two years. y y life uronia_ part of area promotion, e@ was a member of the iudio-visual presentation feeling that it is the changes in property faxation that has many assessments done recently at market value Herbert Cranston noted, presented to him,"' says be paid by the province. - However, the province proposals, be taxed for the first time. Establish- people worried. The about 60 per cent of Wilt be able to recover ten ments such as the Mental reforms, outlined in the property experienced no \,,,< of three back taxes Health Centre in last provincial budget and change. "The assessment jp, paid if the farmer -Penetanguishene would presently being reviewed A ue changes the use of the besubject to payments in by a government com- Mr. Frazer, bul jand, in order. to lieu of taxes equal to full mission, call for the because a town only discourage the farmer taxes at 100 per cent of implementation of needssomuchmoney, the from selling to. market value. e property tax based on the mill rate will go down gevelopers. The present practice of .. market value of the land accordingly. The single rate of 50per levying different mill and buildings. Vacant land, golf cont for business rates on residential and The last assessment on Midland properties took place in the late 1950's and _ properties have been taxed at this value ever since. Under the new proposals the assessment office, which is kept up to date on real estate values from in- formation on every property sale received from the registry, office, will determine the market value of each property. This figure will represent the value of the property on the real estate market. An example is a residence worth $40,000 is now assessed at the 1950 value, anywhere between $5,000 and $15,000. If the new system is adopted the residence will be taxed at the present value. Collectively, residences in Ontario now earry- about one half the total burden 'of property taxation. To reduce this, it is proposed _ that residences be taxed at 50 per cent of market value while other properties are taxed at 100 per cent of their market value. will go way up"', explains courses, lodges, clubs and conservation authorities would be taxed at 100 per cent of their market value and will no longer be defined as residential property. "Golf clubs and lodges may be compelled to sell out to developers," says reeve Moreland Lynn, "as their taxes are in- creased perhaps as much as ten times in some cases." The _ Ontario Golf Association has presented a brief to the Commission stating that the fee in- crease necessary to cover these increased taxes could vary from $75. to $400 per member and for public courses, from 75¢ to $5 per round. Also worried are far- mers. Farmland, farm buildings and managed forests will be taxed at 100 per cent of market.' The assessment will replace the current rates of 25 per cent for carparks, 30 per cent for retail stores, 50 per cent for professional offices and retail chains, 60 per cent for industry. 75 per cent for financial and wholesale businesses commercial properties would discontinue. Presently the com: mercial industrial mill rate is 15 per cent higher than the residential mill rate. If passed into law by the government, market which and natural history, and Corporation of Canada, ina significant degree by collection of his father's with all the other an art gallery for well- and Vice-President of the fact that he loves memoirs in journalism. memorabilia. It pays known Canadian Shoe Corporation of boating and Midlandison Country Parson is the {ribute to his "out- Gallery of Huronia was includes terpretive look at human and etchers. too But, history than the cherishing of the Changes worry many residents = employment ities When Bill Cranston became President of Shoe opportun- America, he sold his publishing interests to an employee group headed and during one of these Limited in 1962. The selection of a Midland site for his own plant and his own home was influenced the Georgian Bay As Secretary Treasurer of the Georgian Bay Tourist-Industry Com Two of his books have been published by Ryerson. One is Ink on says "I never thought I'd get one!" 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