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» % i "A Family Tradition for 130 Years" on . To the Editor: The photo of Chief Nes- bitt in the Port Perry Star of July 3 brings back many memories of Port Perry in the grim 1930s. {It has prompted me to write "briefly about the impor- tant role played by the chief during those lean years. I came here in 1930 and took over the Davis Drug Store (the present Port s Perry Pharmacy). Indica- . tions of that time were "the stockmarket crash of October 1929 had cleared the air and there would be ' prosperous times for the foreseeable future." Noth- ing could be farther from the truth. The depression was-with us and would be for the next 10 years. Chief Nesbitt was one of the first people I met in Port Perry. One could hardly miss rubbing * shoulders with him some- where. Some of his duties included ringing the town. bell at 7 a.m.; noon; 1 p.m. and 6 p.m; 'caretaker at the Tone Hall; patrolling Queen St. on Saturday night and any other oy occasion; delivering court summonses, traffic infrac- tion tickets, etc.; directing traffic when there was a fire alarm; being on hand wherever there were crowds such as street dances, hockey games, Port Perry Fair, etc. In his spare time, if he had any, he was expected to work at street maintenance such as cleaning culverts and other pick and shovel jobs. All this in addition to risking his life in case of a bank hold-up or other vio- lent crime. It was during these de- pression years that Chief Nesbitt's duties really reached their climax. Old timers will remember the "transients." In the 1930s there was no highly orga- nized system of relief for the unemployed and, al- though there was some municipal relief available to really destitute fami- lies, none was available to unemployed single men. In the summer many of them drifted from coast to coast riding on freight trains, hoping to find work somewhere. In winter they walked from town to town, seek- ing a night's shelter and something to eat. Port Perry, of course, re- ceived its share of transi- ents. Most of them decent citizens, who through no fault of their own, were unable to find work and were forced to beg for food and shelter. . In the Town Hall base- ment there was a single jail cell and a considerable amount of available space that was not being used. Here, the chief installed a cookstove and assembled a supply of cooking uten- sils and dishes. Late each 'Old-timer's' ode to unsung hero Picture sparked memories for reader Phil .. 3 afternoon, he visited the with the viform Ie is of life and the" town was town hall to see how many saved a considerable *&fen wearingin the photo. - men had sought shelter amountofmoney. he . Time marches op. for the night. ~All this was accom-" gng theJast 60 years. Port With money suppliedby " plished through Chief /#Perry 'has. changed in the town,= he purchased food and supplied each man with enough to pre- pare his own supper and breakfast. If it was the weekend he provided for them over Sunday. This way many men were pro- vided with the necessities Nesbitt's efforts, bigyind many ways. Iti is no nats % "the call of duty. ~~ 4 "one-horse town;" nor is 'The chief dd aot brvedo: "it a one "police-person" proper police uni form, He = towfi.. was provided with'a'p olice As an old-timer, I still badge, a-police-cap Pe a respect the memory -of revolver, but that was all. ChiefNesbitt. = The town -finally came Andrew M. Lawrence, through and supplied him / + Port Perry SUMMER TIME SCLEARANCE Choose from Weigela Bristol Rub@Spiraea Anthony Waterer, False Spiraea, Silverleaf Dogwood, Forsythia Lynwood, Lilacs & more! Beg 12.88ea. , ALL CONTAINER GROWN - NO TRANSPLANT SHOCK! . 25% OFF Y 25% OFF | EXTRA LARGE BLOOMING iPERENNIALS Choose from Astilbe, Dianthus, & Salvia, Bellflowers, Coral Bells, } Bleeding Hearts, Iris & more! eg. 5.99ea. : a "To Chief Willia Scugog Sho STARTS JULY 10 Luxurious colour in fall, winter & spring. Choose from Andorra, Gold Coast or Mint Julep. - Reg. 8.88ea. 1/3 (old BAMBOO POLES 5' TALL Reg. .44ea. Other sizes available at similar savings. | UTILITY NETTING 6' x 25' SIZE Protects fruit trees & gardens from birds & small animals. Reg. 5.97ea. Choose from Globe Catalpa, Crimson King Maple, Norway Maple, Flowering Crab Splendor & more! Reg. from 44.90-54 90ea sie $3966) » 20% OFF FERTILIZER CLEARANCE SO GREEN PREMIUM PLUS 3 WEED & FEED 3.3 18 kg bag. Reg. 34.88bag. 524% OFF SO GREEN MILORGANITE nd (WAR elels B Ldn bag 40% 20 kg bag. Reg. 24.88bag. % AFRICAN VIOLETS > >. 4" pots. Choose from white, pink, purple, bi-colours & more! Reg. 2.49ea. HOURS: MON. - FRI: Sam. - 9pm., SAT, SUN. & HOLIDAYS: 9am. - 6pm. SALE ENDS July 17, 1996 OSHAWA WHITBY AJAX 300 Taunton Rd. E. 1243 Dundas St. E. 15 Westney Rd. N. TION OR PRICING MAY OCCUR. IN THE EVENT OF PRICING ED AVAILABLE STOCK. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT ONS. NOT ALL PLANTS AVAILABLE IN NORTHERN LOCATIONS.