VOL. I

JUNE, 1942

NO. 12

Published at the Hespeler, Ontario Plant of Dominion Woollens and Worsteds, Limited

IN MEMORIAM

Norman Fleischman

L.A.C. Norman Fleischman

The tragic death of Leading Aircraftsman Norman Fleischman in a flying accident in Newfoundland on May 6th while on route to his home here, came as a shock to all employees. His death marks the first casualty among the many D. W. & W. employees on active service.

Born in Hespeler on August 28th, 1921, the late Norman Fleischman lived here his entire life time. He received his education at Hespeler Public School and Galt Collegiate Institute and Vocational School.

He joined D. W. & W. staff in October 1935, and over a period of five years worked in several different departments, and was connected with the Hand Knitting Yarn Department when he left in September 1940 to enter the Galt Aircraft School.

Before enlisting he was a familiar figure in local baseball and hockey circles. He took a keen interest in motion picture work and had served his apprenticeship as a projectionist at the local theatre.

He took his wireless operator’s course at the Galt Aircraft School with advanced training at Toronto and Montreal. He had been stationed in Newfoundland for some time prior to his death. D. W. & W. employees join with his many other friends in expressing sincerest sympathy to his bereaved mother, sister and brother, and to June Whorley, his fiancee, whom he was to have married on May 11th.

Full military honors were accorded the funeral which was held from the Anglican Cathedral in St. John’s, Newfoundland, with interment at Gander Bay military cemetery.

Piecing It Together PIT stop (Norman Fleischman)

Gordon Hall Opens

Second Girls’ Residence Completed and Opened With
Simple Ceremony

To help many girls whose homes are far off but who want to do their bit in wartime D. W. & W. has purchased the L.E. Weaver residence, rechristened it Gordon Hall and converted it into a residence for out-of-town girls who work night shifts. The house is large and modern. Its three floors will accommodate thirty girls and its wide verandahs and spacious lawns will ensure the privacy and quiet that are so necessary for those who must take their rest in the day time.

The interior has been redecorated and refurnished from top to bottom. Its bed rooms are cheerful and restful and its large dining room and two living rooms are designed for comfort and sociability. Its three bathrooms are modern and immaculate and its large kitchen is equipped to serve the needs of three dozen healthy appetites.

The Company has been fortunate in securing the services of Mrs. Lois Price as manager of the residence. Mrs. Price has had a wide experience as a dietitian including service in New York hospitals and girls’ schools and is thoroughly capable of providing the supervision such a project requires. She will be assisted by a cook and a housekeeper. Girls in residence will be expected to keep their own rooms in order but otherwise all household duties will be taken care of by the staff.

Gordon Hall as it is now known is in the centre of a large property completely isolated from other houses. It stands on hillside across the highway from the mill, screened from view by ornamental shrubs and trees. Its former owner, Mr. L.E. Weaver, was one of the principals of the R. Forbes Company from whom D. W. & W. purchased the Forbes Mill fourteen years ago. He was several times mayor of Hespeler and chairman of its Hydro Commission. He built Gordon Hall as a fine country home for himself, his family and his friends and it retains its character today.

The whole routine of Gordon Hall is designed for those who must reverse the usual order of living and sleep in the day time. Meal hours, kitchen routine and household duties are all timed to preserve absolute quiet from early morning to mid afternoon so that those who have labored through the night can enjoy undisturbed rest.

Gordon Hall was declared officially open on May 27th when Mrs. Price received a telegram from Mr. Henry Barrett, president of D. W. & W., congratulating her on the result of the furnishing and decorating which she had supervised, and announcing that Gordon Hall was now enrolled on the list of D. W. & W. properties and was authorized to begin its service to employees.

Gordon Hall

Gordon Hall

Wide verandahs and shady trees make a house a home.

First of the Family

Frances Henry

Frances Henry, one of Gordon Hall’s first members.

ACTIVE SERVICE ADDRESSES

R8360 LAC. Edward Cakebread
No. 14 S.F.T.S.,
Aylmer, Ont.

A103016 Pte. Lorne Fuller,
Wolseley Barracks,
London, Ont.

A67854 L/Cpl. Hodges, E.A.,
A.11,
Camp Borden, Ont.

A67849 Gnr. R. Inglis,
63rd Btty., 19th Fd. Reg.,
Camp Borden, Ont.

A67882 Pte. G. Kohli,
H.Q., Coy.,
No. 10 Basic Training Centre,
Kitchener, Ont.

B84070 L/Cpl. H. Morris,
41 Cdn. Gen. Trans. Coy.,
Canadian Army Overseas.

Lloyd Munch, Ord. Seaman, O.N. V19660
A Block C.13,
c/o Fleet Mail Office,
Halifax, N.S.

A67857 L/Cpl. Harry O’Krafka,
A.11 School of Instructors,
Camp Borden, Ont.

R139464 AC2 Alfred Scheffel,
No. 5 Manning Depot,
Lachine, Que.

R161003 AC2 Murray Seeley,
Hut 25, No. 5 Manning Depot,
Lachine, Que.

R165585 AC2 Strachan L.E.,
No. 1 Manning Depot,
Toronto, Ont.

R131005 LAC Wilson W.D.,
No. 5 Manning Depot
Lachine, Que.

Gordon Hall Dining Room

Corner of dining room. Printer would not wait for curtains to be hung.

Works Council Takes Action to Promote Sales of War Saving Certificates

The most important item on the agenda of the June Works Council meetings was a follow-up of the discussion which took place at last month’s meeting with reference to promoting the sale of War Saving Certificates. An analysis of sales indicated too great a variation in the average weekly amounts contributed. After reviewing the whole situation and thoroughly discussing methods to be used to increase the weekly contributions, council passed a motion that the overseers be instructed to approach each non-participating employee and also those contributing less than fifty cents per week. We are again reminded that we are not being asked to give our money, but merely to save and lend it.

Council devoted considerable time to a discussion on accident hazards, referring particularly to recent accident in Weave Room which occurred as a result of two men working on the same machine at the same time. Council offered several suggestions as to what might be done to prevent a recurrence of such an accident, but no definite solution to this problem was reached. However, methods of oiling looms between shifts are to be investigated further.

Mr. Rendall, on behalf of the Works Council, congratulated Mr. Bonner on his recent appointment to the board of directors of D. W. & W.

With reference to the close check now being made in connection with waste, it was reported that the percentage of waste has decreased about 20 percent over the past few months.

Starting rates and increases in rates of men in Dyehouse have been investigated and certain adjustments made.

Council received report that new lighting fixtures are now being installed in Burling & Mending Room; fans are on order for ventilation in Wool Loading Room, also for Woollen Picker Room.

Council received requests for improved lunch room service; lockers in Worsted Drawing Dept., emergency lights throughout mill.

Letters from the Boys

April 2, 1942

The Editor:

As I happen to be on guard I figured it a most opportune time to write you and express my deepest appreciation for the paper and the cigarettes.

I have been transferred to another unit so that “Pud” Edmonds and I are now separated. I have managed to see him a couple of times since and he is still in the “pink.” I was ever so glad to see a letter from Ray Reynolds in the Bulletin as I haven’t seen him for nearly a year. Hoping that he will read this letter in the paper, I would like to say “I was away ahead of you at the altar, Ray, but you sure are away ahead of me as a family man, congratulations and may we meet in the near future to talk over old Card Room days.”

I was sorry to learn that Ab Hearn had left. He sure was a swell man. A fellow never had a better foreman. To the Card Room crew may I say “Keep ‘em rolling boys and let’s put the Axis in the centre of each pulley.”

I guess the mill will be a strange place to those of us who have been away from it for a couple of years, according to all the changes that are being made.

So long for now friends, “thumbs up,” keep ‘em rolling, the very best to you all.

  Sincere regards,
L/Cpl. H. Morris, B84070,
41 Cdn. Gen. Trans. Coy.,
Canadian Army Overseas.

April 2, 1942

The Editor:

Just a line which gives me the greatest of pleasure to write. I have to start off by thanking you all for the paper you sent. I look forward to getting it. The town of Hespeler is sure doing good work towards the helping of the war and I wish you all the best of luck in your work. I hope we soon get this thing over with and we can all be back together once again.

I better not forget to thank you for the cigs I have received. You don’t know how much they are appreciated as it is hard to get cigs here and they are not the same by a long way.

By the paper they are sure making lots of improvements in the mill, I won’t know it when I get back. I hope I am able to go back to my same job. Give my best regards to all my friends please.

I am glad to say that I am getting along fine over here. I have met my two brothers who are over here also. We are having very nice weather just at present.

Thanking you again for everything and the best of luck in your work, I remain

  Yours sincerely,

A27136 Pte. James F. Crane,
11th Can. Field Ambulance, R.C.A.M.C.,
Canadian Army Overseas.

The Editor:

Just a few lines to thank you for the paper which I am receiving each month. It’s swell to able to read about what is going on at the mill. Seeing familiar faces is also a great reminder of what we left behind.

I also thank you very kindly for the cigarettes you have sent me, I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.

May the future bring you an abundance of success.

A37975 Pte. J.A. Brent,
Headquarters Coy., H.L.I. of C.,
Canadian Army Overseas.

BORN

March 3rd, a daughter, Bernice Isabel, to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Glanville.

May 1st, a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Povey.

May 2nd, a daughter, Carol Lynn, to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gibson.

May 14th, a daughter, Diane Lenore, to Mr. and Mrs. Bert Lacey.

Gordon Hall Music Room

Corner of the music room at Gordon Hall.

D. W. & W. ENLISTMENTS

Army ………………67
Air Force …………41
Navy ………………..3
_______________________
Total……………..111

PERSONALITIES

The Dyehouse presented Lorne Fuller with a wrist watch when he left the employ of the company to enlist with the Army.

Bill Kribs and Jimmy Leirsch have been called for military training.

Jimmy Leirsch, who was called for military training, was presented with a Waterman’s pen and pencil set and leather stationary case by the members of the Cloth Examining & Shipping Dept. before he left.

Sgt.-Instructor Ken. Parr, who has been receiving treatment at a hospital in Toronto, is spending some time with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Parr.

Bill Dunke, who was married on May 28th, was presented with a wall mirror, an etching, and set of individual ash trays on behalf of the office staff.

William Bates, whose marriage took place May 2nd, was presented with an end table on behalf of the members of the Maintenance Dept.

Mrs. W. Chittock (nee Margaret Marquis) was presented with a Kenwood blanket by the members of the Winding Dept. when she left to be married.

Mrs. Cecil Smith (nee Irene Jones) was presented with an end table by the girls of the Worsted Drawing Dept. in honor of her recent marriage.

The Wet Finishing Dept. presented Cecil Smith, whose marriage took place on May 7th, with a tri-light lamp.

George Heuther who underwent an operation several weeks ago has recovered and is back on the job again.

Word has been received that James Shaw, who is serving with R.C.A.F. at Bella Bella, B.C., has received a promotion and now holds the rank of Flying Officer.

D. W. & W. enlistments for this month include Lorne Fuller with the Army and Lloyd Fleischhauer and Edgar Wilkins and the Air Force. Also Bob Caswell and Howard Armstrong, who were called for military training, have now enlisted with the Army.

Don. Pannabecker whose marriage took place on May 9th, was presented with a tri-light lamp by the members of the Burling & Mending and Finishing Departments.

ENGAGEMENT

Mr. and Mrs. William H. Dunn have announced the engagement of their only daughter, Erna Margot, to Mervyn Leslie Himes, of Collingwood, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Himes of Brantford. The marriage will take place quietly on June 17th.

Fast Forward Mervyn Leslie Himes

MARRIED

Margaret Marquis to Aircraftsman William (Bud) Chittock. Reside in Halifax, N.S.

Beatrice Spring to William Bates. Reside in Galt.

Irene Jones to Cecil Smith. Reside at Clearview.

Margaret Dahmer to Donald Pannabecker. Reside in Hespeler.

Shirley Hawkins to Wilson (Bill) Dunke. Reside in Kitchener.

Bedroom in Gordon Hall

Bedrooms in Gordon Hall are bright and cheerful.

Kitchen at Gordon Hall

There will be no shortage of equipment in Gordon Hall to satisfy healthy appetites.

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1 Comment

  1. Frank Coulton
    Frank Coulton on June 16, 1942 at 9:54 am

    I write in acknowledgement of your most recent gift of cigarettes. As cigarettes over here are poor and scarce, you can imagine how much they are appreciated.

    I also enjoy your paper which I receive regularly. It gave me quite a surprise to find a picture of my grandfather in it.

    Thanking you again for your thoughtfulness.

    Yours sincerely,

    A31356 Gnr. Frank Coulton,
    100th Bty., 4th Lt. A.A. Regt.
    Canadian Army Overseas.

    Reply

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