oakville rem em bered · s^ j; F e b ru a ry 2002 · Page 15 Bronte summer memories MANY BRONTONIANS, past and pres ent, hold nostalgic memories of the early forties. Many of the boys who worked the fishing boats were headed for adventure on the high seas where enemy vessels hunted the allied convoys. Commercial fishing was still a factor in the economy of Bronte. Shanties and net drying reels stood along the east pier. Just up the road stood the old steam mill, long since converted from grinding flour to proalmost as tributes to the men who played there and didn't return from the 39-45 affair. The beautiful beach was a great meet ing spot thought the day, where permanent and part-time young residents became last ing friends. The open-air pavilion located back from the beach was the evening hang out. Moccasin loafers predominated and created an additional rhythm section for Miller, Dorsey, Krupa, and the other big bands' music that issued from the jukebox. The sand that came up through the floor or blew in from the beach provided not only the rhythmic sound but also the glide lubri cant for the dancers until the nickels for the ran out. Mrs. Collins ran the snack bar and made sure than the revelers consumed only "soft" drinks with nothing added. No one seemed interested in addition anyway. The question of the day was "What colour will Mrs. Collins' hair be?" Each weekend, both summer and permanent residents dressed in their Sunday best to attend church, followed by a coke at Allan's Drug Store. The major employer of students was Mike Cuddlier. He sat in his big chair at the fruit stand and directed their BY BUD MINNES ducing metal products. It was then operat ed by partners Rogers and Collins. I came to Bronte on Saturday morning during the summer, when my father did specialty tool and die work for Jim Rogers. I caught some fantastic 12 to 14 inch perch off the old pier from the clear waters of Lake Ontario. Those days were followed by many summer experi ences while I was a guest of a family who owned one of the cot tages which rimmed the northern edge of the bluff. There was farm houses where Sovereign House now stands and a field where we played baseball and football. Later, trees took over efforts. Mike and the edibles are gone but the garden nursery on the site is still a Cudmore family enterprise. A trip to Oakville in the forties meant going to town. Though it is now part of Oakville, Bronte still has its own identity for some people, one being the author of these memories. Bud Minnes is a Bronte Historical Society member. S t y le a G a r v e y 's t r a d it io n & T a s t e th a t h a s f o r c o n t in u e d o v e r 4 0 y e a rs ARVEY FINE M E N 'S WEAR DOWNTOWN OAKVILLE 183 Lakeshore Road East (905) 845-8911 . Store hours: M on., Tues., W ed. 9 am - 6 pm · Thurs. & Fri.# 9 am - 9 pm · Sat. 9 am - 6 pm