It was a time of peace, growth and prosperity; but also one of rumour, fear and paranoia. And they combined to produce one of the most frightening incidents in Sarnia’s history. The era before the ‘Cold War’ had had its own moniker– the ‘Red Scare.’ From the late 1940s to the mid-1950s, communists, known as… Read more »
Phil Egan As an old travel and tourism guy who spent 39 years in the industry I was attracted to an item contained in the recently opened time capsules from Sarnia General Hospital. It was a 36-page Sarnia tourism brochure about 8.5 by 5.5 inches in size. Though undated, the contents suggest it was printed… Read more »
Wonderful people on both sides got me through bridge calamity Sir: On Oct. 21, I had an appointment in the U.S. and was returning via the Blue Water Bridge to Sarnia. I live 45 minutes from Sarnia, and my Chevy van had acted up when I started to drive, so while in the U.S. I… Read more »
Bob Boulton I’ll wager two cups of coffee that if this is Halloween night then it’s raining. And despite my repeated endorsement of the Mediterranean paleo high-veg low-carb diet, I will eat way more candy than is good for me. On Halloween night we’re surrounded by the smoky breath of demons, black cats yowling, and… Read more »
Several hundred people recently gathered in the central atrium of Bluewater Health to witness the opening of a series of time capsules that were embedded in the brickwork of the recently levelled Sarnia General Hospital. That included a time capsule from the original hospital in 1895, and another from a new wing added in 1929…. Read more »
Randy Evans & Gary Shrumm Maybe you’ve noticed it, an old-style cottage still standing at the corner of Lakeshore and Blackwell Side Road, abandoned and fighting a losing battle against the elements and surrounding housing development. It has a story to tell. The tale begins with Joanna and Joseph Smith, the first settlers of Blackwell,… Read more »
James R. Wallen A few years back, I worked on a film about Cookie Gilchrist who played one season with the Sarnia Imperials in 1954 before achieving fame – some might say “notoriety” – in the CFL and the American Football League (now part of the NFL.) Although Cookie doesn’t figure in my film Gridiron… Read more »
Phil Egan Over the past 81 years the Blue Water Bridge has seen tens of thousands of vessels pass beneath it. Each has a story; from passenger cruise ships like the Noronic and North America, to fishing boats, industrial lakers, ocean-going cargo vessels and Canadian warships. But one of the strangest stories of any ship… Read more »
Loss of after-hours veterinary service heartbreaking Sir: I read with great interest and equally great disappointment the last veterinary hospital discontinued after-hours veterinarian services locally “due to a full work load and the need for appropriate work-life balance.” EMS, police services, fire services, doctors, and health-care workers all carry a full workload and yet must… Read more »
Bob Boulton “My mom said I should bring these back to you.” I was standing at the curved oak desk of Sarnia’s old Carnegie Library with a thumping heart, fidgety feet, and a bag full of historical romances. Behind the desk sat Jean, herself. She looked at me, sighed, nodded. A distant memory of Jean… Read more »
