By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer Mayor Marshall Murphy Gowland was a man ahead of his time. A generation before Sarnia Council began debating the wisdom of building a multi-use complex, Mayor Gowland was advocating the establishment of a new civic centre. Born in Milton in 1913, Gowland studied [...]
By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer He built modern Sarnia. Those four words probably best sum up the achievements of William C. Nelson, the City's 59th – and longest serving – Mayor at that point in time. Born in 1885, he attended Durand Street School and Sarnia Business College. [...]
By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer If Sarnia Sting fans thought the club's home rink was inadequate, they can thank their lucky stars that Carlyle W. Hipple was in the Mayor's chair half a century ago. That's because under his guidance the City began planning for construction of the [...]
By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer Sarnians who think there's a shortage of hospital beds in the community can thank their lucky stars that John T. Barnes was elected Mayor in 1940. That's because the community's 57th Chief Magistrate played a key role in getting St. Joseph's Hospital built. [...]
By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer He could run well in two fields. Norm Perry, the legendary 'Galloping Ghost' of Canadian football, is best remembered as the fleet-footed halfback who led the Sarnia Imperials to a stunning Grey Cup victory. What's been largely forgotten over the years is that [...]
By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer He lost the fight to have it built in Sarnia, but Mayor Fred Pelling did play a role in getting the Bluewater Bridge off the ground. Born near Kitchener in 1890, Pelling lived in Brantford and Toronto before moving to Sarnia to take [...]
By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer He helped pull Sarnia out of the Great Depression. That probably best sums up the career of William F. Crompton, who served as our 54th Mayor in 1936. Crompton, a railroad engineer who lived at 180 Alfred Street, sat on Council for several [...]
By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer Mayor Edward Bedard gave Sarnians a tax break when they needed it most. Bedard, who was elected our 53rd Chief Magistrate in 1935, slashed taxes during the height of the Great Depression. Born in 1885 in the tiny Huron County community of Holmesville, [...]
By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer Mayor Edward J. Blake headed the Council that was accused of trying to muzzle the press with "Nazi" tactics. Known to his friends as "Teddy", Blake was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1879. He came to Canada as a seven-Year old, living in [...]
By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer The story of Gordon Hodgins is more about what might have been than about anything he accomplished in the Mayor's chair. That's because our 57th Chief Magistrate committed suicide just 24 days after taking office at the beginning of 1934. The tragic death [...]
