After some discussion and deliberation, an executive for the newly formed region was elected, and consisted of: President, John Taylor; Vice President, Murray Hall; Treasurer, Bud Reid; Secretary, Harry Hodge, and Directors, Walter Muncaster, John Graham and Clarence Coons. The group was formally installed by Norman Hathaway, and the Bluewater Region of the Antique and Classic Car Club of Canada was formed on October 1, 1966. Word of this newly formed club spread across the regions of Grey and Bruce Counties and interest started to grow!

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Perhaps some of the appeal to many prospective members was that the club catered to family events rather than being a man’s club...this holds true even today as we plan events that appeal to families rather than just a select group. Whenever a new group is added to the parent organization, it takes a while to become familiar with the workings of the club. It seemed there were many events that the  Bluewater Region could become involved in, such as a Concours d’Elegance, and a Tour to Yesteryear.  A number of our members became involved as judges for the Concours and this opened up more avenues to find more people who were out there who were very involved and indeed excited about antique automobiles, both original and restored.

 

The year 1978 saw the Bluewater Region’s first hosting of the annual Tour to Yesteryear. This was a truly memorable event and one not to be forgotten. By the spring of 1978, the BWR had grown to nearly 75 members, a big jump since the 1966 beginnings of about a dozen, and many of those members were taking a huge role in the Tour to Yesteryear.

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About 1988, the Bluewater Region was approached by the Grey County Museum and Archives to be a part of a new project, namely, the building of an antique style garage to emulate the era from approximately 1914 to 1940....commitments were made, funds were raised, and the project took off, opening in 1992 with many  dignitaries on hand and a 1935 Ford driven out of the Bluewater Garage to officially open the display to the public! Our club has been committed to the ongoing operation of the garage for the past 16 years, have donated many artifacts and have undertaken the restoration of a 1936 Chevrolet wrecker to enhance the authenticity of the garage itself.

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As the years have ticked away, the Bluewater Region has continued to grow and prosper. Our region hosted 19 successful flea markets, beginning in 1969 on Saturday, June 21st at the Owen Sound fair grounds.  Over the 19 years both Owen Sound and Shallow Lake were hosts....great fun, great car displays and a great deal of work, but always well attended. 

 

Our annual Touring Inspection started out in a small way, with 12 to 15 cars per year being inspected, but of late, the number of vehicles has exceeded forty, and as new government regulations take effect, we expect to see that commitment to safety in our club grow even more, which will mean a greater number of touring inspections as well.

 

We have undertaken the Tour to Yesteryear again in 1988, 1999, which was our Circle Tour around Georgian Bay via Tobermory to Sudbury, Parry Sound, Midland and returning to Owen Sound for the end of tour festivities, and in 2009, where we were once again using the City of Owen Sound as our home base for the week. We have now hosted the Tour to Yesteryear 5 times (1978, 1988, 1999, 2009, 2019 and all have been wonderfully successful due to the commitment and follow-through of all members involved in the organization of this event.

 

A number of our members continue to support the Concours d’Elegance as judges. Our region has also been host to several Annual General Meetings of the National body of ACCCC and one of the recently instituted multi-region picnics.

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The Antique and Classic Car Club of Canada, by its existence, outreach and common interest in the restoration and preservation of antique automobiles, has created a unique collection of regions throughout the Province of Ontario each with its’ own personality and interests. We, in the Bluewater Region, have been proud to be a part of such a fine organization and will continue to continue to contribute 

meaningfully to future endeavours of our Club.

 

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Presidents of the Bluewater Region of the Antique and classic Car Club of Canada:

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• 1966-67 - John Taylor

• 1968 - Murray Hall

• 1969 - Gilbert Rice

• 1970 - Walter Muncaster

• 1971-72 - John Lamb

• 1973-74 - Charlie Bonner

• 1975-76 - Robert Walker

• 1977-78 - Larry Clapperton

• 1979-80 - Robert Charlton

• 1981-82 - Fred Parsons

• 1983-84 - Kevin Moores

• 1985-86 - Gordon Baverstock

• 1987-88 - Andrew Dinsmore

• 1989-90 - John Lamb

• 1991-92 - Fred Parsons

• 1993-94 - Don Sheeler

• 1995-96 - Karl Cook

• 1997-98 - Ross Gray

• 1999-2000 - Dave Howard

• 2001-2002 - Karl Cook

• 2003-2004 - Ross Gray

• 2005-2006 - Fred Parsons

• 2007-2008 - Wayne Hynd

• 2009-2010 -Barry Parkhouse

• 2011-2016 - Wayne Hynd

• 2017-2018 - Fred Parsons

• 2019-2022 - Wayne Hynd

• 2022-present - Fred Parsons

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In assembling this brief history of the Bluewater Region, I would be remiss by not thanking the Charter Members who made it possible for us all to be a part of the Antique and Classic Car Club of Canada. At the time of writing, we still have two of those pioneers in the hobby, active in our region, namely, Murray Hall and Gilbert Rice. I also extend thanks to Murray Hall and Gilbert Rice for the articles and pictures from the past forty-four years of our existence.

 

Thanks to Fred Parsons and Mary Hall for submitting this article.

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More pictures will be forthcoming.