While never turning back the clock—there are wonderful reminiscences
To the Expositor:
I read of the passing of Lorne Herbert King in the January 13, 2016 issue of The Expositor. The obituary brought back childhood memories of my first visit to the Island some 70 years ago.
Although there was no mention in the obituary, Lorne was the son of Herb and Maggie King. Herb farmed, worked for the Department of Highways and as a sideline, built his first cottage on the present site of Island View Cottages in the late thirties. Herb and Maggie had two other children, Lorne’s brother Ivan and sister Francis (Becks). My family and I were the initial occupants of that first cottage.
In those days, Manitoulin was a magical place for a young boy. No running water, outhouses, ice boxes and wood stoves. I can remember helping Lorne and Ivan load hay on a horse drawn cart and going to Hare’s Creek to load water for the cattle. And there were fish in Lake Mindemoya in those days too but no paved roads in Mindemoya. It brought back fond memories of Wagg’s creamery, the “drug” store, as it was known, then Harold’s Cold Storage, Hare’s Esso and of course the old hospital. Although we would never turn the clock back to those relatively primitive days, the notice of Lorne’s passing brought back some wonderful reminiscences. Rest in peace, Lorne.
John Longworth
Strathroy, Ontario
