Souvenir History of Bruce Beach/1927-1933

1927

FOR beautiful weather and sunshine at the Beach this year has not been exceeded. The annual concert was unusually ,good and the Sports day one of the best in many years.

A new cottage was built by Rev. Gordon Rintoul of Forest. and enlargements made by Rev. C. A. Malcolm. Mr. W, H. Collins of Kitchener, who was transferred to Montreal. sold his cottage to Rev. J. W. McNamara. who returned to the Beach after a number of years absence. The Rev. D. G. Paton of Teeswater erected a cottage and Mr. J. F. Ross of Guelph purchased the Johnston Cottage. Mr. Ross is welcomed to the Beach as a valuable member of the fraternity.

The Cottagers who had formed themselves into a Joint Stock Company to take over the option of Messrs. Kennedy and Wilson received a Charter. The name inserted in the same was The McCosh-Grove Ltd.' At its first annual Executive meeting Rev. W. A. Bradley was elected President in the place of Me James S. Anderson, deceased.

Two Tennis courts were laid out on the property at the top of the hill, and surrounded by a wire fence. Mr. Bradley's garage at the entrance gate was taken over by the Company and moved to a convenient place as a house in which to store the golf horse-mower and other implements.

At the annual meeting of the Association there was some excitement over the notice that had come to one of the cottagers from the Government to pay up or his claim would be cancelled. The committee having the matter in charge were instructed to interview the Government and also to make them an offer for the property.

A representative from the Pyrene Fire Extinguisher manufacturing Company was present, and demonstrated the powers of their extinguisher, Several Cottagers gave orders for the contrivance.

Sorrow was expressed at the untimely taking away of Mr. James S. Anderson. who bad been one of the oldest and most active members of the Association, and a committee was appointed to convey the sympathies of the members to the bereaved wife and family. To beautify the surroundings of the 'Cottages, ,Mr. Kennedy procured 2000 pine trees to be planted on the Cottagers' lots and on the property of the McCosh-Grove Limited.

Officers: President, Mr. J. E. Robertson; Vice Pres., Dr. G. Wilson, Sec.-Treas., Rev. H. J. Harnwell.

1928

OLD Sol did his best this year to make the holidays of the beachers worth while. There were few hours of the days of July and August that he did not beam benignly upon the campers. The weather was delightful and throughout the season few fires needed to be kindled in the fire places. The cottages were ail filled throughout the season.

The McCosh Grove Limited made considerable improvement on their property. The hill road coming down to the cottages was greatly improved and made secure for drivers, by posts and cable, the latter donated by Me D. E. Kennedy.

A new road from near the pump to the Steve Tout property northward was cut through, and gravelled, making sites for garages and parking places for autos available.

At the annual meeting of the Association it was announced that the negotiations of the committee with the Government bad failed. That the Government refused to lower the rental, continuing the figure at S12.00 per annum for a lot 66 ft. wide. The committee was thanked for its efforts.

The Golf Tournament this year was of particular interest. Mr. C. W. Yates of New York presented the Club with a beautiful Gold watch to be contended for in the annual Tournament.. The contest was keen. It was won by Dr. C. L. Eaton, Mr. Fred Jackson was the runner up. A large gallery followed the players in the final contest.

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Mr. T. L. Hamliton, President 1928-30

During the year Mr. J. G. Archibald of Woodstock built a cottage and became a resident of the Beach. It was noticeable this year that the lake level was considerably higher than for a. number of years previous.

Officers: President, Mr. T. L. Hamilton; Vice Pres. Dr. W. H. Sedgewick; Sec-Treas., Rev. H. J. Harnwell.

1933

THE year 1933 was. a year of pleasure and progress at the Beach. The cottages were all filled by tenants or their owners throughout the holiday season. The weather was exceptional fine during the months of July and August.

Sports day, while threatening rain in the forenoon, cleared up, and a delightful afternoon was spent. The concert in the evening had a record attendance, and the programme was up to its usual quality.

The Tennis Tournament was of particular interest tIm year. All the divisions met on No. 1 courts. Refreshments were served to more than 100 guests.. The club was invited to a friendly game with Kincardine and sent 12 players.

At the annual meeting of the Association a petition was presented by tenants and owners of cottages asking the Association to take steps to prevent or regulate the motor traffic on the shore.

After much discussion in which the legal phases of the matter were explained by Mr. McCrae-president of the Law School, Toronto, and His Honor Judge West the following resolution was adopted.

Whereas Bruce Beach has been long noted as a quiet retreat where the lakefront has been a playground for the children, The Bruce Beach Campers' Association would respectfully request every cottage owner, renter or tenant, to use motor cars on the Beach only when necessary, and then to exercise care and consideration for children."

The secretary was instructed to procure cards for distribution in all the cottages calling attention to this matter, and also to have signs erected along the shore calling attention to the shore speed limit.

It is a long call from the early days when the Beachers went begging for some merchant in Ripley or Kincardine to bring supplies to the Beach, without success until 1933. when canvassers from both Ripley and Kin- the Beach soliciting orders for their firms, and the Dominion Store, Kincardine, holding an afternoon tea on the Golf grounds and inviting all cottagers to attend.

But 1933 will be remembered as the year in which the Golf Club erected a beautiful little club house at the first tee, also the presentation of two handsome cups to the Club. One by Mr. C. W. Yates to be contested for by our own club and one by Mr. C. R. Miller to be contested for by the Kincardine and Bruce Beach Clubs, and also the presentation by the Kincardine Club of a nice flag to be flown from the flagstaff of the Bruce Beach Club at the first Tee.

Officers: President, Dr. J. W. McNamara; Vice Pres., His Hon. Judge West; Sec-Treas., Rev. H. J. Harnwell.

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Dr. J. W. McNamara President 1933-34