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_ __ a... -,.--c--'u _._..~. .,.. __--------' a-.-A..,,. _.,,----,-'-,--,.),-.--,.--"---- - _ - 7 7 -" ' we Grouindho wegkiiiiuid has I (d g l d I I t -/ ' uck) a y eginnln (tuutCir ', . _ A When Kris Morris of Windsor from many areas in southern opened them the 24th of My. the 1.956 party. The original . married Joan McKenzie of Ontario that were responsiblefor Very_few.saw the Bruce Penin- wedding guests with other T d Oliphant, the wedding triggered the future festival held each year sula In win.ttr. ' friends, all dubbefd Ground- a chain of events, leading to on the first weekend in Feb- The wedding reception was hoggers, returned or a gala d fame and merriment for Wiarton ruary. held at the Arlington Hotel weekend.- A large bonfire at citizens and visitors. - where most of the visiting Oliphant was built and the _ Groundhog Weekend is a Joan's parents operated the guests had booked rooms. All of guests went through the mystic 4 direct result of that happy store at Oliphant for many the guests were delighted and rituals relative to the appearance occasion which took place Feb- years. The summer people were amazed with the beauty of the 'or non-appearance of the & ruary12,1955. their friends. At that time Bruce in its winter dress. groundhog. Sleigh rides back snowmobiling, cross country ski- Everyone wanted to repeat the and forth from Wiarton to ' Happy Day red roses and ing, snowshoeing and dog sled- party the following year. Oliphant were enjoyed. 74 green fern set the scene for the ding were not thepopular sports Joan's cousin, Mac McKenzie, In 1957, the party was Valentine theme wedding. Joan they are today. Summer homes then with the provincial govern- repeated. The number of visitors rT Was attended by her sisters and were built for summer living and ment in Toronto was made grew and the event caught the 4 niece. Kris' groomsmen were not with permanent retirement International President of the attention tif the Canadian press. friends from Windsor. in mind. Cottagers closed their Groundhog Movement. It was called by a T.V. reporter ,4 However it was the guests cottages on Thanksgiving and He organized and publicized the only Groundhog Day cele- . bration in Canada. All the local _ rp' hotels were fully booked and the 4 ---- restaurants did a roaring busl- F ness. 4 The Chamber of Commerce M H were impressed and the town 4 ... .. n took over the celebration in rs. yatt /<i' gc , it 1958. it was then called Grounde ', ir Hogge Festival. 4 . t Lois Taylor, age 17, daughter crowned queen of Mr. and Mrs.' C. J. Taylor, J was the first Queen of the 4 Last Thursday evening at the a Festival. Julianna Aklwenzie, ball diamond, Ron Boyd, presi- F a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. ( , dent of the Rotary Club officially l 1 Joseph Aklwenzle of Cape Crok- opened the 42nd Annual Rotary , r er. and Pat Couch, daughter of ' "e _ Village Weekend with these t, Mr. and Mrs. Ewart Couch of ii words, "lt's the Big Show for , , Adamsville, were the Princesses. the Big Year." l An impromptu parade by the l The evening also witnessed Oliphant Light Infantry Band the selection and 'crowning' of consisting of four trumpets and the Centennial Queen who will i a bass drum ted to parades In . r rign over Wiarton's Centennial I future years. There were sleigh events throughout Homecoming . . T rides and skating in the arena, ( . Week. 1 many of the skaters in costume. The Centennial Queen is Mrs. By 1959 the testivltles includ- Bertha Hyatt. I ed a seven piece German Band C On behalf of the Centennial ' and the Velvetones quartet. 3 committee Mrs. Hyatt was 3 Dancing on the ice in moccasins , 2 presented with her Royal ribbon was enjoyed as well as many , by Margaret Wyonch. it outdoor events. Again Wiarton I The other three finalists in the g hotels reported capacity book- l I Centennial Queen contest were if ings. . I Mrs. Florence Lemcke, Mrs. . e The next year the Festival Eula Farrow and Mrs. Olive it went into a new decade well , l ' Schroeder. Each lady received i, established as one of the best 1 the special Centennial pin as a r winter fun events in Canada. It gift. If has flourished yearly and is now 1' '. Monique Craig, representing ' sponsored by the Lions Club 'i Wiarton Flowers, presented the l g assisted by many other organiz- ! , Queen with a bouquet of l If ations. 3' flowers. d All this is the result of Joan '! J Emcee of the opening cere- a McKenzie and Kris Morris 1 l monies was Al 'Red' Leeder, , choosing early February for their i a who also helped to coordinate t wedding day. The happy couple 3, - many of the Rotary Village I went off to sunny Florida for , , Wepkend's activities, in particu- their honeymoon however. r iar the Musical Variety show at t the Public Sch00| grounds Sun- / day evening. I a-r-r-fi--"-'---- / i l l