FROM archives THE
April 17, 1993
"It's as close to heaven as you're going to get," was the quip that Belfast-born Malachy McAllister gave whenever asked about his job. In 1983, most of his workdays were spent about 50 metres above solid ground. A thrice-tested scaffold surrounded Guelph's Church of Our Lady and each morning the Cambridge resident mounted it. He was lead stonemason on a $2.6-million restoration project to repair the 105-year-old limestone spires atop the Royal City's landmark church.
June 23, 1982
Jim Scott had mixed feelings when much of Cambridge-Galt's YMCA near Queen's Square was levelled in mid-1982. As one of the Y's longest-standing members he had spent many hours in the old building. The gym and swimming pool (background) were kept and new facilities went up around and beside them. A decade or so later, the entire site was cleared for a Chartwell Terrace retirement residence. By that time, a new and much larger YMCA had already been built on Hespeler Road.
Feb. 11, 1956
Friday, Feb. 10, 1956 was "early-leaving-Friday" for many Twin City workers. Some 20,000 lined the streets to welcome back the K-W Dutchmen. In Cortina, Italy, the Dutchies had lost the Olympic goldmedal hockey game to Russia but that didn't dampen the fans' love for the players. Another 4,000 crowded city hall square for the official Welcome Home celebration where they cheered players such as Denis Brodeur, Gerry Theberge, and Don Rope.
June 24, 1982
Balsam Grove School is north of Conestogo, just past Highway 86, and in late June 1982 teachers Ester Bowman and Lena Martin threw a party. Forget the books and scribblers, they told students. Bring your brothers, sisters and parents and let's celebrate the end of the school year. Lunch at noon led to ballgames, tug-ofwar, stilt-walking and home-made ice cream at day's end. It was 1982 but the photographs look as if they could have been taken a century earlier — or 35 years later! Balsam Grove opened in 1966 as a parochial school, one of several created to serve ruralbased Old Order Amish and Mennonite families.
Jan. 8, 1968
Water Street North's pigeon population in the 1960s was glad that John and Wilhelmina Christiaan immigrated to Canada from Holland after the war. John, who had trained pigeons in his home country, had an affinity — and a pocketful of peanuts — for the birds. Each day they would wait for him to step outside his home on Weber Street and hide peanuts on his hat, under his collar or in his mouth. When John walked downtown, it was common for the birds to follow him.
Aug. 23, 1946
"Plenty of sweet and a good smattering of swing . . ." is how The Record's reviewer described what 3,000 local music lovers experienced at the Queen Street Auditorium Gardens. Appearing was Canada's top dance band, Mart Kenney and his Western Gentlemen. Of that 3,000, most probably attended to catch Kenney's new male vocalist, Roy Roberts, in his first local appearance. Roberts grew up on Richmond Street in Kitchener and performed with several area bands before Kenney hired the baritone singer. Dropping in on his parents, William E. and Sylvia Roberts, Roy presented them with the band's latest 78 recording.