Periodically Flash from the Past likes to catch up on aspects of past essays and also share a new-found photo or two. In early August, I received an email from Dawn Murray who had recently seen the showing Margaret Avenue school’s 1950 kindergarten class. I had particularly pointed out the joyful expression of a girl in the top corner.
Dawn sent such a delightful note that I want to share it with Flash from the Past readers. This was one of the most rewarding responses Flash from the Past has received in the last decade and I thank Dawn very much for letting me share her mom’s story with readers. In a column on the Freeport Grand River railway bridge published on , a photo provided by George Roth was unfortunately cropped a bit too tightly and the reference point — protective steel collars around the piers — was cut off.
So, here is a rerun with the collar clearly seen. Its job was to give added protection to the concrete piers from heavy springtime floods careening down the Grand River carrying massive ice floes. Two recent columns looked at the development of Berlin / Kitchener markets and the 1925 .
This recently donated 1924 photograph is somewhat relevant to both topics. The unique view combines the 1869 town hall during its final year and part of the shiny new mid-1920s city hall nearing completion. A fine selection of Roaring 20s vehicles decorates the scene and in the foreground is one of the many gravity-fed gasoline pumps lining King Street in those days.
An.
