Book an eyeopener for daughter
Norma Edwards’ father was shot in the line of duty in 1928
Norma Edwards knows more about her late father than she’s ever known, thanks to a new book that tells the story of his murder.
Her dad, OPP Const. Norman Maker, was shot in the line of duty in Peterborough in May 1928.
Edwards was only three years old at the time and said she doesn’t remember her father.
She’s now 94 and lives at Summit Terrace with her husband of 70 years in the city’s west end.
Not long ago, local author Ed Arnold approached Edwards regarding a book he was writing, Inside Peterborough: Three Murder Stories. He wanted to tell her father’s story in it.
Edwards didn’t think she was much help though because she couldn’t remember anything.
Her late mother, Muriel, didn’t speak much of Maker after he passed.
Maker was shot dead outside The Montgomery Hotel (later the Queen’s Hotel) near Champs Sports Bar, by the owner’s brother.
He’s the only police officer in the city’s history to be murdered in the line of duty.
Yet Arnold noticed that there’s no real tribute to him in town – no street or park named after him, for instance.
That’s why the former Examiner editor said he wanted to share Maker’s story, to try to give the fallen officer the recognition he deserves.
And Edwards agrees.
“I think he deserves it,” she said.
Maker’s name is inscribed, however, on police memorial stones in Toronto and Ottawa. Edwards has visited both to see her father’s name.
Decades after Maker’s death, the OPP had a seat in Showplace Performance Centre dedicated to him. It’s seat 10 in row H.
At the dedication event, the OPP gave Edwards an OPP flag. She flew that flag every May, the month her father died and police week, until she moved into Summit Terrace few years ago.
In 2002, the Peterborough County OPP installed a memorial plaque with Maker’s name on it at the police office.
Although Edwards hasn’t read Inside Peterborough yet, during Arnold’s interview with her she said she learned quite a bit about her dad.
“I certainly appreciate all (Arnold) has done. He found out things that I didn’t know,” she said.
Arnold spoke about Maker’s story to a group of Summit Terrace residents, including Edwards, her husband and two of her children, on Wednesday.
He also presented her with a City of Peterborough plate, which former mayor Jack Doris promised her many years ago.
“Jack Doris started the joke with me one day. He said, ‘We must get you a city plate’ – that went on for about 20 years,” Edwards said with a laugh.
Arnold will sign copies of his book in Warsaw on Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the DouroDummer Municipal Building.