Ross Endicott was a well-known young man about town, not only for his ability to play clarinet in the Lindsay Citizens' Band, but for his popularity in the clothing department at Claxton's on Kent Street. Ross worked under the careful eye of Leo Rogers who was clothing department manager.
Endicott worked there until W.W.II broke out when he joined the Midland Regiment and was eventually shipped overseas until the war's end.
Returning to Lindsay after the war, it was not too long before Ross became a member of the town's Police Force where he served the town well for a number of years.
I vividly recall meeting him on Kent St. on day in October and, as usual, stopped to chat with him about one thing and another when he happened to ask me what my plans were for Halloween night.
(Oh, oh Ross, as usual, has something mischievous in mind.)
"Nothing in particular, just mind my own business, I guess" I replied
"Well Jack, there happens to be a building about four feet wide by four feet deep and seven feet high that is located on a property near our house on Logie St. and it obstructs my view when I look out of our bathroom window each morning."
Naturally I knew what he was referring to. "But Ross, what if the Cops came upon the scene at the time the matter was being attended to?"
He assured me there would be no problem. "We'll be doing our rounds and will be passing by at ten o'clock and then we won't be back for another hour; it'll give you lots of time to look after business."
As planned, I had a few of my pals on hand and after seeing the cruiser pass by we hurriedly went about our task and carried it out, with great expertise, in about one minute. The privy hit the ground with a thud and broke into a number of pieces. Ah, mission accomplished!
The following morning I 'phoned Ross and inquired "if his view was still obstructed."
He sounded very down and told me that things weren't as funny as he thought they would be.
My sister May was furious when she saw what had happened, he said.
Why, I asked.
Well Jack, I wasn't aware of it but she told me that the outhouse was the last thing our father had built before he passed away.
