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7| The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,O ctober 25,2018 theifp.ca • Truck Accessories • Upholstery • Heavy Equipment Glass •Window Tinting 354 Guelph Street, Georgetown 905-873-1655 Wehandleall insurance work. We handle all insurance work. • your window & door professionals • 11 Mountainview Rd., N. Georgetown, ON L7G 4T3 905.873.0236 www.buy-wise.ca info@buy-wise.ca • awarded readers choice 27 times • Visit our showroom Furnace Air Conditioning Gaslines Boilers Water Heaters Radiant Heating 905-877-3100 proud local dealer of Canadian made products .ca THE WAY WE WERE An industrial landmark in Georgetown for more than 70 years, Smith and Stone Limited opened its doors in 1919 to manufacture items related to electricity, such as porcelain and bakelite wiring devices, porcelain insulators, conduit fitting and switches. In this 1953 photo, employees work at the assembly tables for photo vending machines and radar boxes. A major employer in Georgetown, Smith and Stone survived several prolonged labour strikes and several ownership changes before eventually closing in 1992. Submitted by Heritage Halton Hills EHS photo The Sidekick and I spent Thanksgiving weekend vis- iting her eldest sister, as well as attending her nephew's engagement party. It was a leisurely trip, as we boarded our train and settled back into our seats to leave the driving to the Via Rail folks. As we rode along, The Sidekick chatted. She was suspicious of her nephew. "I think he's up to some- thing," she said. "He's either already married, or they're going to get married this weekend." She laid out the evidence - I could see where she was coming from. We did receive a "save the date" card in June. "Who sends out a 'save the date' for an engagement par- ty?" she grumbled. "There's more to it than that." Seems The Sidekick was the only one among her five siblings who suspected their innocent, good-looking nephew could pull off such a stunt. Her other siblings had the typical excuses: Thanks- giving with so-and-so and all the other excuses to not trav- el to Montreal. We arrived in Montreal, booked in at our hotel and went for a walk. She spotted a Shoppers Drug Mart. "I need to go here" she said, gravitating to the greet- ing cards. "You already bought an engagement card," I remind- ed her. "Yes, but I haven't bought a wedding card yet. I'm gon- na be ready! Just in case!" She also picked up a gift card, "just in case." As the evening light de- scended upon old Montreal, and the crazy cab drivers bumped the speed up a notch, we arrived alive at the Knox Tavern. We hustled in and found the lucky couple, Taylor and Melissa. He was wearing a suit, she had an off-white dress on - nothing out of the ordi- nary. The Sidekick was having problems holding it back. She even sneaked over to Taylor's sister Dayna to pry a bit. "Are they getting mar- ried tonight?" she asked. "Not that I know of," Day- na replied - looking the other way. The Sidekick wasn't to be deterred. She was taking stock of everything about the party. It sure looked like an or- dinary party to me - but what did I know? After a few drinks, one of Taylor's friends took the mi- crophone, and welcomed ev- eryone. He turned it over to Tay- lor, who said something like, "We were going to have an engagement party, but since we're all here, we may as well have a wedding ..." And somewhere in the crowd, I heard The Side- kick's voice, (a few decibels too loud for my comfort zone) "I knew it! I knew they were getting married to- night!" With that, the stunning bride Melissa was escorted out of the back room, wear- ing a gorgeous white back- less wedding gown. The cer- emony started - oh, I forgot to mention the friend who introduced them was also li- censed to perform wed- dings. The Sidekick took great pleasure in being the first to give the couple a wedding card - oh, and a wedding gift. Following the ceremony, she spent time sending pho- tos off to her siblings - you know, the ones who missed the wedding 'cause it was Thanksgiving. There is a story in The Sidekick's family from de- cades ago. Her youngest brother Jamie and his girl- friend Jeri-Anne held a Hal- loween party. They dressed up as a bride and groom. An- other fellow was dressed as a clergyman. And at one point in the party, Jamie welcomed ev- eryone, and said "You've all been asking when we're get- ting married. Well, we've chosen the date." Apparently, friends cheered and applauded, and he went on ... "It's today! And you're all invited ..." On the train, The Side- kick was somewhat like a puppy who had played too hard chasing a ball. She snoozed, and when she wasn't snoozing she sat with a satisfied smile on her face. "I knew it," she said (for the zillionth time). "Yup, Kiddo," I replied, "You knew it." - Ted Brown is a freelance journalist for the IFP. He can be reached at ted- bit@hotmail.com. WE WENT TO AN ENGAGEMENT PARTY - AND A WEDDING BROKE OUT OPINION 'IT SURE LOOKED LIKE AN ORDINARY PARTY TO ME - BUT WHAT DID I KNOW?' WRITES TED BROWN TED BROWN Column