By 1955 the economy in Ontario, nay Canada, had gone into the dumper. Building came to a standstill in Pickering and the King Bros. were left standing with their p***ers in their hands. They tried their best to hang on but all hope was lost.
The family was now growing by leaps and bounds. My aunt, mother of my sister, and my two cousins came to Canada in late '55' and the nest was now more than a little cozy. To me it seemed like a lifetime since we left England, but in fact it was only five years, and I soon picked up the relationship with my cousins. Claire (my sister) was still no more than a toddler and was oblivious to the relationships surrounding her. Barbara (my aunt) did not want Claire to know she was her biological mother and so the secret was kept.
By early '56' gloom and doom reigned supreme. Avro folded the Arrow, the country was in some form of economic crisis, but worst of all, my friend John was off to California. Businesses were closing, the King Bros. included, and the property sold. We were now off on a new adventure to Scarborough. With the proceeds from the Pickering property, we moved to a new house in Scarborough and my uncle and his new found bride were off to experience the joys of apartment living. Oh, did I forget to mention that Syds wife could not stand life in Canada, packed up her stuff and went back to England in 1951. Barbara and my cousins Anne and Susan came with us and we were now in an even more cozy nest.
At Scarborough Golf Club Public School I was further behind than when we first left Scarborough for Pickering in 1952. I was lost...life was hell and James Dean died in his Porsche. My Grade 7 teacher was the son of a friend of my Dad's so you can imagine there was not much I could get away with. I guess I was a country geek having been removed from city life years before. Not only was I behind in school but definitely in the social skills required to survive in the city. Shades of grade one all over again. I was befriended by one individual, Bill Mclachlin. To this day Bill and I are friends and get together two or three days a week. It is easy as he only lives a stones throw away.
Dad had turned to Real Estate and he was successful enough to keep the wolves from the door, so much so, that I was whisked off to camp in the summer of '56' with my new found friend, Bill.
Two glorious weeks at Arrowhead Ranch in Collingwood. Horses, archery, shooting, hiking, camping and GIRLS!!!!!!! I guess by now I would have been pushing the ripe old age of 12 and the hormones were just starting to stir. Post Office, Truth or Dare and other fun games were played late into the evening in some isolated area of the camp. Alas it ended all too soon but provided experiences and memories that would last a long, long time. At the end of our stay, Mom and Dad came to pick me up, as did Bill's parents. Our parting gesture was to say "see you at home". We pulled out of the camp together,Bill's parents went one way, us another. Strange as we lived only doors apart in Scarborough. Did I say Scarborough....no chance. I was unceremoniously advised that we no longer lived were we used to live. In the two weeks I was away my parents had bought a property, and moved, to the small town of Dwight, some 13 miles east of Huntsville. I was not to see any of my school friends for a long time. Not only that, but I never even got to say goodbye.
Next...A new life begins in The Great White North.
The family was now growing by leaps and bounds. My aunt, mother of my sister, and my two cousins came to Canada in late '55' and the nest was now more than a little cozy. To me it seemed like a lifetime since we left England, but in fact it was only five years, and I soon picked up the relationship with my cousins. Claire (my sister) was still no more than a toddler and was oblivious to the relationships surrounding her. Barbara (my aunt) did not want Claire to know she was her biological mother and so the secret was kept.
By early '56' gloom and doom reigned supreme. Avro folded the Arrow, the country was in some form of economic crisis, but worst of all, my friend John was off to California. Businesses were closing, the King Bros. included, and the property sold. We were now off on a new adventure to Scarborough. With the proceeds from the Pickering property, we moved to a new house in Scarborough and my uncle and his new found bride were off to experience the joys of apartment living. Oh, did I forget to mention that Syds wife could not stand life in Canada, packed up her stuff and went back to England in 1951. Barbara and my cousins Anne and Susan came with us and we were now in an even more cozy nest.
At Scarborough Golf Club Public School I was further behind than when we first left Scarborough for Pickering in 1952. I was lost...life was hell and James Dean died in his Porsche. My Grade 7 teacher was the son of a friend of my Dad's so you can imagine there was not much I could get away with. I guess I was a country geek having been removed from city life years before. Not only was I behind in school but definitely in the social skills required to survive in the city. Shades of grade one all over again. I was befriended by one individual, Bill Mclachlin. To this day Bill and I are friends and get together two or three days a week. It is easy as he only lives a stones throw away.
Dad had turned to Real Estate and he was successful enough to keep the wolves from the door, so much so, that I was whisked off to camp in the summer of '56' with my new found friend, Bill.
Two glorious weeks at Arrowhead Ranch in Collingwood. Horses, archery, shooting, hiking, camping and GIRLS!!!!!!! I guess by now I would have been pushing the ripe old age of 12 and the hormones were just starting to stir. Post Office, Truth or Dare and other fun games were played late into the evening in some isolated area of the camp. Alas it ended all too soon but provided experiences and memories that would last a long, long time. At the end of our stay, Mom and Dad came to pick me up, as did Bill's parents. Our parting gesture was to say "see you at home". We pulled out of the camp together,Bill's parents went one way, us another. Strange as we lived only doors apart in Scarborough. Did I say Scarborough....no chance. I was unceremoniously advised that we no longer lived were we used to live. In the two weeks I was away my parents had bought a property, and moved, to the small town of Dwight, some 13 miles east of Huntsville. I was not to see any of my school friends for a long time. Not only that, but I never even got to say goodbye.
Next...A new life begins in The Great White North.
Yours is the second blog I've found this evening, regarding Arrowhead Ranch in Collingwood, which I too, attended for many summers (1970-1975?). I understand that it is now a housing development...not the info I was hoping to find, but not surprising, either.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting.
It is so great that you have such fond memories of Arrowhead as do I.
ReplyDeleteTo the second "blogger" We may have been campers together. I was there in 1970 and 71(ish), went back and worked there from 1975 - 80.
"I've got that Arrowhead Ranch enthusiasm down in my heart!" I too was a camper back there in the same time frame...God, how I loved it! I went for three to four years, stayed for one or two weeks & for a couple of Thanksgiving weekend specials as well...Being a girl though, I eventually switched to English riding & left Arrowhead behind! Now as a mother, I wanted my kids to share such an experience, but alas, until I just came across this blog, I have not been able to find any info. Those weeks at Arrowhead, were certainly the highlights of my childhood!
ReplyDeleteI attended Arrowhead back in 1955-59 and many good memories. Max, Doreen, Paul Campbell, Elgin in the stable, leaders Harriet, Bill D. and all the great times we all shared. The were the highlights of my childhood. I came from Calgary every year to share the good times. Erik Q.
ReplyDelete