I spent a Summer in Wiarton about 50 years ago. I was still in school and was working at the D.O.T. airport for the Summer break. I met a lot of great people in that little town and often wonder if any of them are still around and how they're doing. There was George McKnight, the manager of the airport. He had a 2 daughters, Barbara and Marilyn who were close to my age. There were several workers at the airport who I got to know as well; Hank Finch, Buzz Bell, Garnie (Can't remember Garnie's last name, but he operated heavy equiment around the airport). There was a chap named Jim who was a seasonal worker (I can't remember his last name either, but he lived at the intersection of the main street and the road going out to the airport.) There was a mechanic at the D.O.T. garage by the name of Lloyd and he lived in a house next to the garage. I hurt my leg one day and went to a doctor by the name of Leeson. I stayed at the Anchor Inn which was run by a great lady by the name of Myrtle Langford. Other guests at the Inn were Bill Spence, who worked as a radio operator at the airport and Gunther Schott who worked at a place with a name that sounded like Caframo. There was a fine old gentleman by the name of George Edmunston (not sure of the spelling of his last name.) who was a former R.C.M.P. officer living at the Inn as well. Whenever I went uptown, George would give me 50 cents to buy him 2 packs of "Old Chum" cigarette tobacco and 2 packs of "Export" cigarette papers.
Does anyone remember any of these people? Are any of them still around?
Ernie B.

Hello,

I came across this message and was wondering if anyone had replied to you. George McKnight was my grandfather, unfortunately he passed away in 1968, just 6 months after I was born. He had three daughters, Barb and Marilyn are my aunts and his 3rd daughter was Joyce who is my mother. She would know of these people you mentioned. I will share this with her.

All the best,
Jennifer

Hi Jenn; I was amazed when I received an email saying that this old old post had finally gotten a reply. I gave up on ever getting a reply years ago. I simply thought that all of the people whose names I mentioned has passed away or moved to other parts of the country long ago. I'm so sorry to hear that George McKnight has passed away. He was a great guy to work for and treated me really well that Summer half a century ago. I returned to Wiarton about 15 years ago and looked around for some of the people I'd met while I was there in the early 1960s. I couldn't find any of them and the home in which the McKnights used to live was no longer there. I didn't know Marilyn very well but did get to know your aunt Barbara who was a lovely person. Please pass my email address along to her and ask her to give me a shout. I doubt that she would remember me as Ernest because I always used my nickname, "Gomer",
Barbara can reach me at
ernbanting@yahoo.com
It would great to hear from someone from that great and adventurous time of teenage years.
Best regards,
E. Banting

Hi there,

So great to hear back from you. I will pass along the message to my Aunt Barb, she will be thrilled to receive it. I love Wiarton and spent most of my summers up there as a kid and stayed with my aunts and my grandmother. I grew up in Milton, but both Marilyn and Barb still live in Wiarton. I only ever saw pictures of the house out at the airport that my mom grew up in.

All the best to you and I am sure both my Aunt Barb and my Mom will reply to you and let you know of the people you mentioned.

Best regards,
Jenn

That's just great Jenn. I look forward to hearing from your Mom and Aunt.
Regards, Ernie B.