The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Willow Park History - Part II In the 1950-51 curling season, the ladies had eight night rinks and five afternoon ladies rinks. The curling dues for the season were $5 and it was agreed that half would be paid before curling started. As well, a committee of Joy Longmore, Florence McDonald, Ann Thompson, Evelyn Duncan and Ruth Yeo was set up to take charge of the coffee situation. Each member was asked for 20 cents to purchase cups. A meeting was held in January to decide whether to have a bonspiel within the club. It was decided to hold one on a Sunday at a cost of 25 cents per curler. The rules were: 1) skips play lead; 2) third play skip; 3) no help to be given to the third by the skip; and 4) each team must have three members of their regular rink on the team. Another meeting was held to make up the draw for this bonspiel, which was slated for Sunday, January 23, 1951. A report was given by the prize committee, with prizes including tea, sugar and novelties from such businesses as Willowvale Grocery, Parkview Confectionary, Green Oak, Lakeside Grocery and Del's Grocery. The District Play Downs were also discussed, with it being stated that the entry fee was to be $4 per rink. Another meeting was held in the Jubilee Hall on January 29, with the executive of the three curling clubs discussing the District Play Downs for the provincial playoffs. Mrs. Leslie moved and Marj Wallace seconded that he play downs be held at Main Rink. Isobel Stewart moved and C. Dunning seconded that all games be 10 ends. The draw was made that Willow Park play Uptown, with Ross Lake getting the bye. Another meeting wasn't held until March, 1951 at the Jubilee Hall. Isabelle Ketchen gave a report on the provincials play downs with the following members being appointed from the clubs as a reporting committee: Isabelle Ketchen and Dot Ash (Willow Park), Mrs. Hutchinson and Inez Forsythe (Ross Lake) and Neva Lockhart, Bertha Schneider and Marg Stevens (Uptown). In April, 1951, the annual meeting had the treasurers report showing a balance of $186.49. It was also agreed at that meeting that the vice-president, Evelyn Duncan, move up to take the presidency, with Mrs. Olive Thom taking the vice-president position. Here is a listing of the personnel for the first season at Willow Park, 1950-51, in the ladies' league (positions from skip to lead): Dot Ash with M. Glover, Marg McCrimmon and M. Beever; Olive Thom with Mrs. McIsaac, M. Woloshyn and Mrs. Dembinsky; E. Duncan with K. Dutton, Mrs. Stonehouse and Grace Lethbridge; I. Ketchen with M. Hill, S. Hemmings and V. Inglis; R. Harron with R. Arndt, F. McDonald and O. Cram; J. Longmore with D. McFarlene, E. Nelson and Mrs. P. Woloshyn; Ann Robillard with R. Evans, Mrs. C. Hope and Mrs. Camsell; Mrs. Wallace with Mrs. LaPointe, H. McCallum and Mrs. Csigi. In the afternoon, there were: Mrs. Ruckle with Mrs. Yeo and Mrs. Daubert and Mrs. Willmot; Ann Thompson with Mrs. Mitchell, Mrs. McKay and Mrs. Monson; Mrs. Hill with Mrs. O. Ledieu, Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Keddie; Mrs. Dadson with Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Sorensen and Mrs. Pope; Mrs. McRay with Mrs. Morrison, Mrs. Norquay and Mrs. Bone. Subs for the season were Marg Wingert, Mrs. Venables, Mrs. Scoretz and Mrs. Mathers. In the 1951-52 semi-annual meeting, a motion carried that a letter be sent regarding the Winnipeg Play Downs Committee. It included: 1) that district winners be declared by January 15, 1952; 2) that Winnipeg Bonspiel games remain 10 ends and; 3) that they approve play downs in Brandon in January 1952. At this meeting, it was moved that a donation of $80 go to the Men's Curling Club to purchase a buzzer. As well, the annual curling dues went up to $6 per member. When going through the annual meeting records, it was noted that two delegates representing the Flin Flon Women's Curling Association were sent to the annual MLCA meetings in Winnipeg for many years. In 1952, Mrs. Olive Thom took over as president of Willow Park with Mrs. R. Ash vice-president, Mrs. Gilmore as secretary, Miss Glover as treasurer and the executive members of Mrs. I. Ketchen, Mrs. Howell and Mrs. Martin. A motion was made that subject to approval by the men's club, the coffee booth be run again by the Ladies' Curling Club, with Mrs. Martin, Mrs. Ketchen and Mrs. Howell in charge. A discussion, followed by a motion, saw the lady members request ice for 9 p.m. on Monday and Thursday evenings, and the afternoon's ice request be for Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mrs. Searle made a motion that the afternoon games be reduced to eight ends, and that motion carried. Mrs. Ash gave a report that the 1952 bonspiel showed a balance of $149.37 in the treasury. It was noted that these ladies loved their meetings in those days. By December 1952, they had already had two executive meetings and one semi-annual meeting. Now, on December 5, a special general meeting was called with 28 members present. The Extra End runs Wednesdays.
