Another Letter from The War

My brother gave me a copy of a letter he had in his possession from another of our Uncles from Hespeler who served in the 2nd World War. Following is the letters contents.

August 17 1941

The Editor:

I received a copy of D.W. and W bugle last night when i came on duty and was really pleased to read all the local news. I’m writing this on duty so if it seems rather disjointed it is because i had to get up to quiet a wild bunch of Irishman we have here one with a fractured skull and when i say wild Irishman i mean exactly that.
The first thing that caught my eye were the pictures. They really looked interesting but you know i worked at all those jobs and somehow or other they never looked the same to me. Still I would not mind taking a whirl at it again. Maybe i will after this issue is over.
How is Red Wilfong, is he still in the dye house and Bill Clark,Shorty Reid and all the old gang. Is Jimmy Tordoff still on the tubs or has he decided to quit wahing Khaki and start wearing it. By the look of the paper the mill must be getting a preety good going over. Is Red Watson and his trusty .38 still guarding the back of the dyehouse. Oh yes one more thing i probably should know myself. Who is the patriotic society i have received two parcels from them and did not know whom i should send a letter of thanks. whoever they are must be getting the idea that i’m not grateful.
Next time you go through the dyehouse will you remind Jim Cutting that he still owes me that letter he promised a year ago. Since coming over here i have run across most of the boys in the 1st division. Just out of curiosity who is June Whorly, I have never heard of her myself but she seems to be creating a sensation among the boys of this unit.
I’ve been here eight months now and i think we have had rain 5 or 6 days a wek every week. It never rains in Scotland I’ve been there twice and it rained both times. Next time i’m going to Ireland.Most letters that i have read that fellows have written to the reporter have been very elaborate in describing the beauty of the country,the hospitality of the people. I will admit that the people as a whole are hospitable.Only it is pretty hard to convince some of them that the people of Canada don’t ride down main trails waving tomahawks.
Due to scarcity of films and the fact that the sun never shines people over here don’t take many pictures. but this one was taken in the surgical ward. Never mind i cant find it,here is another one instead. tell John From if he is still in the dyehouse that he might as well stay where he is, they have no schnapps here and the beer is terrible.
Well i guess that’s just about winds up the news, although it seems that i all i have done is ask questions, so I’ll say, as they say in Scotland

Cheerie–Bye
Ken Mclaughlin
Canadian Army Overseas.

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The Hespeler Communication Network

Preivously published here

One of the things about growing up in a small town like Hespeler during the 60’s and 70’s was the communication network that existed in the town. A lot of it was good, as a small town we had a volunteer fire department and since my dad was a volunteer the only way to get the information about a fire was for each member to have an assigned person to call. So when the fire was phoned in the system would start. The first fireman would call the next on the list and so on and so on, until everyone was notified, and no matter what time of the day, this would occur. It was never a surprise to hear the phone ring at 2:30 in the morning. If someone was sick or got hurt everyone would find out quick enough, and really anything that happened went through the communication network. Even things that would get you in trouble, trust me i know.
In the day’s before Ernie’s the building was known as the Queens Hotel and was a regular spot for many of the locals, including my Dad and his cronies and since it sat at the main intersection in town they could sit and watch the town(and the Characters} go by. And that is how they got me. One warm summers evening i pulled up to the lights in my Dodge Coronet, the 8 track spitting out some raucous Zeppelin tunes, and as i was prone to do, i revved the engine a few times and when the lights turned green i spun out, squealing the tires and headed up Queen Street and headed home. Now this was no more than a two minute drive to my place and as i pulled into the driveway i saw my dad standing there with his arms folded and glaring at me like i had let in a game winning goal or something. Upon parking the Dodge and slipping out the door my Dad made it clear in no uncertain terms…don’t ever squeal your tires in this town, go to Preston or Galt or even better Kitchener, but do not ever, ever do it in HIS town, and while i am at it turn the music down as nobody else downtown wants to hear that metal crap and wear a seatbelt goddamn it. I stood there stunned! How in the hell did he find out in 2 minutes what i had done? There was no such thing as cell phones in those days, he didn’t have ESP, so how? As he explained it later, one of his chums was sitting at the bar and saw me there revving my engine and was on the phone to the old man when i peeled away from the corner, so by the time i got home the whole story was known. And you know what was worst? Later that day i went over to a friends house and his dad laughed at me for getting in trouble doing what i did. That Damn Hespeler Communication network had nailed me and their was nothing i could do about it.

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The Tao of Hespeler

This article is in no way an attempt to attack anyone for there views, but just an attempt to explain why we in Hespeler hold the name and our past so dear.

So why do we hold on to the Hespeler name? Technically it no longer exists, and half the people living in Hespeler in all likelihood are not really concerned with it, and i don’t hold it against anyone for that, but those of us that grew up here have a strange mysticism about the Village on the Speed.   And I am going to tell you why.

Many of us have family members that go back two or three generations, some even more. Many of the Old Hespeler residents had family members that were responsible for building what was once a thriving little town and like to think that we are keepers of our ancestors flame.  Anyone under 40 may not understand what this town meant back then.  Our location puts us in a weird spot as it is, but can you imagine what it was like even before the 401 cut through us? To go to Galt meant a bus ride, and not  a Grand River transit bus, it was almost a day trip way back when. Now the 401 separates  us from the rest of Cambridge(so it seems), and at one time,yes we were self sufficient. A fully operating mall, movie theater etc..

It was always a tight knit town, the Textile Mills employed many of the residents and everyone knew everyone. You could go to almost any local store and there was always credit waiting there for you, many times I was sent down Cooper Street to Eatons Varitey store to pick up grocerys with no money, just get what was needed and My mom or Dad would pay when they had it.  We had a volunteer fire department and when something happened almost everyone in town would hear the fire siren and go to watch the men fight what ever fire there was.  Hockey Sticks and Fine furniture were made here and the Speed River was majestic.  Frank brix used to come to your house to cut your hair if you were sick or unable to get out.  The textile festivals were something to behold, with a big parade and everything. Christmas eve would include a visit from santa down at town hall and a little something for all the kids.  You knew the Police and of course they knew you. For my generation things changed a little bit and not for the better of course, at one time all kids from  went to Preston High School, but we were the first that had to deal with going to Galt Collegiate and that “here come the Hespeler rowdies” attitude.

So Hespeler holds something over us, as i am sure residents of Preston,Galt and every other small town in the 60’s and 70’s felt.  Change is not what scares us, it is inevitable and ongoing and we know that, all we are trying to do is save a little piece of our Soul, and if we are wrong to do that then as the song say’s”I don’t want to be right”

—————-
Now playing: Simon & Garfunkel – My Little Town
via FoxyTunes

 

Hockey Day in Hespeler(The Video)

 

New Hespeler vs Old Hespeler

A recent discussion on New Hespeler vs Old Hespeler took place today and after thinking things over i came up with a few things that are different in though between the old and the new.

New Hespeler call’s them Motor Homes, old Hespeler calls them drive in houses, In New Hespeler they discuss Shakespeare and call him a “BARD”, in old Hespeler we just worry that the pickup truck that our Cousin “Bard” get’s returned in good shape. A conversation in new Hespeler may discuss new Asphalt for the roads, in Old Hespeler we just wonder what that has to do with our ‘rectal problems”,  A new hespelerite mentioned a cat scan and next thing you knew there were a bunch of old Hespelerites putting together a search party to look for the lost cat. New Hespeler may worry about Murphy’s law, in old Hespeler we just worry about not getting Murphy’s lawyer, New Hespeler worry’s about Corruption in Government, we in Old Hespeler call it old fashioned values.  A new Hespelerite say’s they are unemployed, old Hespeler calls it semi retired.  And in Old hespeler we still use terms like Nincompoop,fuddle duddle and thimamagiggy and understand what they mean.   That is my view, and your welcome.

 

Fireman vs Police

This is from around 1969[ I'm not sure of the date, but it is in that area] it was a benefit hockey game pitting the Hespeler Fireman against the Hespeler Police. The fireman won 5-3 and i remember having a great time at it. In the picture is Jack Stark,Jack Westbrook and Jim Hillis[my dad]. During the game Police chief Fred Stewart was assessed a number of penalties including 2 minuets for speeding and 2 min for leaving the scene of an accident after two members of the fireman collided and fell down. My Dad had to use a goalie stick that was 3 times bigger than a normal one to hide what chief Stewart called the sure target caused by my Dad’s awkward goalie stance,some called it bowlegged. The police were forced to use wooden pucks on penalty shots to make handling easier. I have no idea how much money was raised but everyone had a good time.

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Passing of Time

The top picture is of a group of young ladies from Hespeler during the early 1940’s. the bottom picture is of them 60 some odd years later.  While a few of them are gone now, they all stayed friends till the end. Hespeler people are like that.

In these photo’s:

Mary McLaughlin(Hillis)

Betty Roscoe(Rabb)

Betty Garside(Brueckner)

Shirley Connor(Beatty)

Irene Kendry(Constant)

 

Buddy Holly killed in Air crash

February 3rd 1959

Three young rock ‘n’ roll stars have been killed in a plane crash in the United States.

Buddy Holly, 22, Jiles P Richardson – known as the Big Bopper – 28, and Ritchie Valens, 17, died in a crash shortly after take-off from Clear Lake, Iowa at 0100 local time.

The pilot of the single-engined Beechcraft Bonanza plane was also killed.

Early reports from the scene suggest the aircraft spun out of control during a light snowstorm.

Only the pilot’s body was found inside the wreckage as the performers were thrown clear on impact.

Holly hired the plane after heating problems developed on his tourbus.

All three were travelling to Moorhead, Minnesota, the next venue in their Winter Dance Party Tour

Holly had set up the gruelling schedule of concerts – covering 24 cities in three weeks – to make money after the break-up of his band, The Crickets, last year.

Recorded life

Born Charles Hardin Holley – changed to Holly after a misspelling on a contract – he had several hit records, including a number one, in the US and UK with That’ll be the Day in 1957.

A singer and guitarist, he was inspired by Elvis Presley after seeing him at an early concert in his home town of Lubbock, Texas.

With Presley serving in the Army, some critics expected Holly to take over his crown.

Richard Valenzuela was the first Mexican American to break into mainstream music, after being discovered by record producer Bob Keane, who changed his name to Ritchie Valens.

He had made three albums and achieved a number two chart position in the US with his composition Donna – about his girlfriend – in 1958.

His rock ‘n’ roll re-working of the traditional Mexican song La Bamba – on the B-side of Donna – has also received acclaim.

The Big Bopper had been a record-breaking radio DJ – with a 122-hour marathon stint – and reached number six in the American charts with his record Chantilly Lace.

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Swinging Babes of my Youth

One thing that no man can agree on is what makes a woman hot. some like
legs, some like figure and some like personalities. No guy can agree on
anything, what i am putting forth here,is my list of the ten
swinginest woman of my youth. They all have a little something
different and some may not be what turns others on but, it’s my list so
here it goes.

10.Marilyn Monroe–The ultimate pin up girl

9.Ann Margaret–oozed sexuality

8.Raquel Welch–Nobody could beat her in a bathing suit

7.Bridgett Bardot–Even Elton John thought she was sexy

6.Ursula Andress–Or as we used to call her Ursula Undressed

5.Aretha Franklin–Made big woman and gospel sexy

4.Barbara Eden.–rubbed many a bottle trying to find one like her

3.Nancy Sinatra–Those boots could have walked all over me

2. Goldie Hawn–Sock it to me, baby

1.Elizabeth Montgomery–Man did she make witchcraft sizzle.

So there you have it, now let the debates begin.

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Hockey day In Hespeler

The men who were young at heart started arriving a little after twelve on this cool sunny Saturday afternoon in Hespeler. It was Hockey day in Canada and in about one hour the parking lot of the Hespeler legion would be transformed into a makeshift Hockey Arena and the Men of the Legion would, for the second year in a row play for the coveted Beehive Classic. They wore the sweaters of the teams they supported, there were Maple leaf sweaters as well as St.Louis,Edmonton,Boston,Calgary, Montreal and Detroit, as well as a few others including a couple of Shamrock Sweaters. They sported nicknames like Happy Harry,King Henry,Blackie,Brewster,Greener and Bucket Head to name just a few, and like true pro’s the pre game banter was all about giving verbal jabs and getting some back.
As they were being called out to the lot to begin this battle the last stragglers finished their pre-game training fluid, gathered up their equipment and headed out into the sunshine for a true outdoor classic. And a classic it was, from the first faceoff to the Intermission where a few beers and a few cigarettes were had to the final whistle to end the game they played their hearts out. there were a few knockdowns, a few calls by the referee that were disputed, a couple of good goals and the usual in game banter that goes on from Coast to Coast when people get together for a good old fashioned Road Hockey game. At times the hockey sticks were flying like the flippers on a pinball machine, and the biggest concern was losing the tennis ball down either of the hills that surrounds the legion, and in true Canadian tradition there was even a call of “CAR” as Gary”Shaft”Boomer drove his taxi onto the playing area.
So who won the game? Who knows or for that matter who cares? The main thing was that these good Old Boy’s had fun and everyone survived to enjoy the post game party inside the legion. This is what Canada is truly about, and we don’t see enough of it these day’s.

To see the video of this event visit       Click Here

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