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Page 4 THE OAKVILLE-TRAFALGAR J OURNAL Flames Menace Bronte Block As Storm Hinders Firemen Blustering winds of old time blizzard proportions, which clog- ged roads and highways with steadily pyramiding drifts, Mon- day and Tuesday tied up traffic and hampered business operations for several hours before driving rain aided utilities employees in clearing away accumulated snow. Texas Twister \Centring in the Toronto-Ham- flton area, Ontario's worst storm since 1944 applied a tight traf- fic tourniquet that had its pres- sure point in the Oakville-Bronte area, where hundreds of cars and trucks bogged down for hours on Lakeshore Rd, Queen Fliza- beth Way, town streets and J'ra- falgar sideroads. Described as the tail end of a Texas tornado, the §8-miles-per-hour gusts closed schools, kept hundreds late for work Tuesday, and harried hydro and telephone service men. Bronte Bottleneck Worst bottleneck was at Bron- te, where drifting in front of the Pig and Whistle Inn completely halted traffic for many hours, Motorists who cut north found similar conditions on Queen Eliz- abeth Way, where huge Grey Coach buses were pushing cars aside to battle their way into Hamilton. One coach required from 8.30 Monday to 4 pam. Tues- day morning to complete its Tor- onto-Hamilton run. Several cars and transports were ditched over a ten-mile stretch, while furth- er on, Burlington Beach Rd. was at a standstill, Even Trafalgar Police Chief Fred Oliver's cruis- er found the mounting drifts too tough to buck. He spent Monday night at the Oakville police sta- tion. Chief Oliver was assisting Tra- falgar and Bronte firemen who were fighting a blaze that broke out, during the storm's height, in the Kitchen of the Bronte home of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. N. Hoey. After the ' fire had been brought under control, he 'bund- led the Hoey's two children, Car- olyn, 3, and Martha, 16 moriths, into the cruiser. The kiddies had | far, for the wind was tearing the previously been takén to a neigh- | bed clothing off the children as bour"s home, and were on their we ran through the snow," she way to spend the night with heir | said, grandmother, Mrs. Dean Wilkes, in Oakville. Stuck In Drifts The cruiser bogged down in a drift, and a Trafalgar No. 2 fire- truck following also stalled on Wave Damage Bronte school children had a holiday again Wednesday, when the pounding waves put the water intake out of commission, cutting going to its assistance. Firemen | off the school's supply. At Oak- Dick Dando and John McCudden | yj gigantic waves caused con- helped the chief shovel a way clear, while the children, bund- led in blankets, watched, The cruiser eventually reached its destination, but several men undertook more shovelling stints. Chief Oliver didn't even consider a return trip. Wind and drifting snow ham- pered firemen in fighting the fire, which caused an estimated §2,500 damage. Although Fire siderable shore damage, and at times almost completely inun- dated the lighthouse. Historic New M Sold To Br Sturdy link with a pioneer era in which the wayside tavern played a predominant part in Prepare Grad Lists For H.S. Re-union The High School Reunion Com- mittee is busy preparing lists of former puipls to whom to send invitations. A few parents have phoned in the names of ex-pupils who no longer live in Oakville, and the committee will be great- ful for the co-operation of pre- sent pupils of the school. All those knowing the names and addresses of pupils who attended the school between 1924 and 1947 are urged to send them to Mrs. Maurice Lunau, secretary of the Reunion Committee, 192 Colborne Street East, phone 578R. The re- anion will not be held until May, as the new auditorium will not be ready earlier. not before the urray House antford Hotelmen Jack Gordon told the Journal | yesterday, his happy grin break- ing wide enough to catch the Ohiet Freeman Bray piloted the | ganagas development, Oakvilles | edges of his customary high hair most the the scene, to walk to firetruck to firemen had scene. Threatens Block "If the fire had started in the west side of the house, that roar- ing east wind could well have swept through the entire section bounded by Ontario and Trafal- gar Sts." Chief Bray stated af- terward. Despite the fact the home is on the lakefront, firemen were unable to get suction in their "hoses because the gale whipped the lake into heavy waves. Buck- ets filled at nearby wells and cis- terns were used to fill the tank on the truck. They were able to save most of the contents of the home, and the major damage was caused by smoke. 1 Mrs. Hoey discovered the blaze when she smelled smoke shortly after the family retired for the night. She rushed to the kitchen and found the walls in flames. "I rushed upstairs, wrapped the children in blankets, and my hus- band and I dashed outside with them without waiting to dress. Fortunately, we didn't have to go venerable New Murray House this week changed managerial hands once more. J. R. "Jack" Gordon, | who acquired the Navy St. host- fe in 1945 from Thomas Madi- gan, announced the sale of the business to Gordon Reid and Tom Hodges, former proprietors of Brantford's Hotel Alpine. It's foundation set with the famed Kingston stone brought here under full sail by the stone- hookers of "White Oak" Chis- holm's day, the ancient brick ho- tel will be 100 years old next year. Tn the old port's heyday, prior to the building of the light- house, a flickering fish oil lamp was hoisted each night to a roof pole to guide town fishermen to the then busy harbour. Since then, the establishment has been operated by a long line of publi- cans. Formerly the Kennedy House, it came by its present name during the tenure of Mur- ray Williams. "Outside of some pated travelling, Tm not settling down to anything for a full year," long antici- cut. "After that, who knows?" Mr. Gordon who has been prominent in service club work as a member of the Oakville Lions Club, isn't in too much of 5 hurry to terminate associa- tions here, however. "I have made a lot of friends here, I'm glad to say, and theyll still find me around on occasion," he declared, his head automatically swivelling into a full turn and his eyes light~ ing up in a merry smile as a cash register bell pinged in the back- ground, The cheery gleam became somewhat wistful as he realized it wasn't his register anymore. Mr. and Mrs. Herb Cummins, who have been associated with him during his stay here, are liv- ing in Toronto. "Herb has had his feet up on the radiator ever since we left, but we hope to talk him into taking them down be- fore too long," Jack reported. He is living with the Cummins. Messrs. Reid end Hodges, both experienced hotelmen, will re- tain the present New Murray staff, Mr. Reid stated this week. Form Arena A fact finding committee ble further inf concerning the proposed com- munity centre arena project be- fore a drive for funds is launch- ed, Rev. J. A. M. Bell, chairman of the committee in charge, told Oakville Rotary Club Monday night, It had previously been an- nounced the campaign would get under way about March 15. will "It is not a case of our post- poning the drive indefinitely," Mr. Bell said. "We feel that con- siderable additional data should Thursday, February 16, 1950 Fact Finding Group be obtained, and the committee is ation | now working toward this end." Recreation commission chair. man Fred Turner, who briefly outlined the proposed plans for the community centre, said the committee is conducting a sur- vey across Canada. "We want to find out if we are in line with other recreational set-ups." Ross Blaikie, in charge of spe- cial appeals, stated his early con- tacts had convinced him that "we don't know all the answers yet." CHANGE ror YOUR DRIVE A BETTER, SAFER CAR-- PAY AS YOU RIDE-- p USE THE FAMOUS » SORERTEET CAR. ® GMAC cen, iD j ERAL MOTORS akville Motors Chevrolet & Oldsmobile SALES and SERVICE ] Colborne St. E. Opp. Century Theatre -- Phone 460 = £ For the next two weeks the Jack Fraser low price--$34.85. These suits' 0 to $59.50 so the clearance price represents a ranges of better quality originally sold for $49.5 MEN'S WORSTED SUITS Stores are men's suits at one really worthwhile saving. We would like to el mphasize that all broken ranges of one trouser suits are being cleared--not just some patterns which as others. So theer is a grand selection to choose from--sharkskins, nail- striped worsteds, and gabardines. heads, pick and picks, a Since these suits are such exc the factory cost--we are sure it wou wide range of in this week-end while the selection is at its best. eptional value--many of them below Id be well worth your while to come clearing all broken are not as popular 62 Colborne St. ) 1 OAKVILLE ol01ES LIA. Phone 645-w | -