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Postcard Memories

Looking back on the golden age of the YMCA in Orillia

Looking back on the golden age of the YMCA in Orillia

Orillia YMCA earned the HI-Y Fellowship for fulfilling the mandate to 'create, maintain throughout the school and community high standards of Christian character'
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Plowman's Laundry offered their services to 'particular people'

Plowman's Laundry offered their services to 'particular people'

The downtown business offered pickup and delivery services in the 1930s before being purchased by Wagg's Laundry
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Orillia's Dumbells wowed audiences globally amid First World War

Orillia's Dumbells wowed audiences globally amid First World War

Merton Plunkett and his four brothers were a 'howling success' as they entertained the troops in England and France
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At war's end, Orillia factory turned to making metal toys

At war's end, Orillia factory turned to making metal toys

In the fall of 1945, workers at Otaco were busy making 500 Minnitoy shovel and crane toys a day to meet the surging demand for Christmas.
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The legend of Lightfoot began with Teen Timers in the mid 1950s

The legend of Lightfoot began with Teen Timers in the mid 1950s

The quartet, formed in 1954, featured Bill Hughes singing bass, Gord Lightfoot baritone, Terry Whelan lead and Bob Branch tenor
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Local band scene in Orillia was really rocking in 1950s, 1960s

Local band scene in Orillia was really rocking in 1950s, 1960s

Groups like The Shadows were popular and played in clubs from Oshawa to Muskoka, including the iconic Pav at Orillia's waterfront
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Collegiate Four featured teen tenor named Gordon Lightfoot

Collegiate Four featured teen tenor named Gordon Lightfoot

The quartet was formed in 1952 to take part in a minor competition between a girls’ and boys’ quartet at Orillia Collegiate
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Peter Street fire station, constructed in 1896, still stands

Peter Street fire station, constructed in 1896, still stands

Construction of a fire hall was one of the first priorities for elected officials when Orillia was incorporated as a village in 1875
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Maintaining local parks looked a little different in the 1920s

Maintaining local parks looked a little different in the 1920s

City employees used an early iteration of a riding lawnmower to help keep Couchiching Beach Park looking pristine in the 1920s
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William Swinton's furniture store was a popular downtown mainstay

William Swinton's furniture store was a popular downtown mainstay

For more than three decades, the family's furniture store operated in downtown Orillia before being sold to Adams Furniture Company in 1947
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