WRIGHTS LANE ... come on in!: Just a little something special...

WAY TO GO MALLORY!

Team Canada only allowed one goal in the entire 2011 World Street & Ball Hockey Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia. Unfortunately for Canada, and Chatham’s Mallory Johnston, that goal came in a 1-0 loss to the host nation in the gold medal game. Mallory opened the tournament, her first in a Team Canada jersey, on a strong note with a three-assist performance against Greece, which she followed with another assist against Austria. She finished with four points in five World Ball Hockey Championship games. Mallory, who is a Colgate University graduate, plays ice hockey in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League for the Burlington Barracudas. Although this was her first tournament with Canada, she has played in the Canadian national ball hockey championships, and was named the Ontario Ball Hockey Association female player of the year in 2002 as a member of the Chatham Coyotes. Following the World Street and Ball Hockey Championships in Slovakia, she toured Europe before returning to her home in Burlington to prepare for the CWHL season. Parents are my cousins, Dr. Curtis and Jennifer Johnston of Chatham.

ALWAYS NICE TO HEAR FROM THOSE WHO RELATE

May 26/11

Hi Dick:

You probably don't remember me. I only know you by name as somone who was talked about by my mom and dad in a positive way. It is great reading about home on your blogs. I haven't lived in Dresden for 40 years but still can't let it go. Mother Laura recently celebrated her 101st birthday and lives with us in Vernon, BC. We moved her here 10 years ago to be close to us. Dad Roy passed away in 1973 and brother Jim lives in Washington, DC.

Regards,

--Dick (Richard) Turner

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SECOND OF TWO MESSAGES FROM ANOTHER DRESDEN "BOY"

July 8/11

Sydenham Street has arisen again. I see that Dick Turner has written to you. We lived next door to his grandmother, Mrs. Pegg who babysat for me and taught me how to knit and hook rugs. Actually our house was between Mrs. Pegg and Bess and Fred Steeper. I used to get included in some of the great activities that Mrs. Pegg did with Jim and Dick and their mother Laura. Incidentally, I left Dresden in 1966 to go to Colgate University which is where Curt Johnston's daughter went to school, I note in one of your blog posts. Small world isn't it? In another blog you mention a baseball player from St. Thomas that you coached. His name is Mike Webb and I wonder if he is the same Mike Webb from St. Thomas who I played hockey with at Colgate?

Hang in there. I love reading your blog and hearing about Dresden folks.

--Dennis Webster

*Note from Dick: Yes, we're talking about the same Mike Webb.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

April 30/11

Mr. Wright:

My name is Renee Urbanic. I was sitting here one night "Googling" my Dad, Paul Langlois, and came upon the comments you made about him in a blog post several years back. It is always great to hear about Dad's baseball days. It may be of interest to you that another River Canard native, John Charrette, has compiled stories and information on Dad's life as a baseball player. He has shared the book with my mother Leona and it is quite interesting. I just wanted to thank you for putting a smile on my face.

Sincerely,

--Renee

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

April 28/11

Hi!

For some reason I was looking at Dresden on the Internet and came across your web site. It was great fun to see. I have many fond memories of summers in Dresden with my grandparents Wallace and Mary Laird.

--Janet Carlile

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I BELIEVE...

...It is not possible for anyone to understand what their civilization is (and therefore who they are) without an understanding of their roots. Just think about it. All our laws, our morals, our mores, are predicated largely on a Judeo-Christian tradition. The standards and attitudes of our society have been profoundly influenced by the person and the life of Jesus, the Christ. Regardless of our attitude toward religion, a knowledge of what this young man from Nazareth said and did is enormously enriching. You can read all about Him in a book found on the dusty shelves of any library near you.

OUR EFFORTS APPRECIATED

Dick: Recently I thought I would check my name in the Yellow Pages online and when I entered the web site, I was pleasantly surprised to discover "Dresden Juveniles Ontario champs in '53" developed by you in 2008. Two hours later and still reading all of your links, I would just like to congratulate you on such a professional use of putting technology together for the benefit of your fellow baseball members.

I thank you,

"Yummy"

Floyd McCorkle

Good morning Dick. Although I have never had the pleasure of meeting you, I feel I have known you for some time. My wife purchased two books written by you and gifted me with them. I must say both were an enjoyable read.

My connection with Dresden is that I was a courier for CanPar for 25 years before retiring six years ago. I delivered daily to Dresden for all that time. Returning to Dresden now I always get hugs and hand shakes from many of my customers.

I live in Bothwell. My wife and I purchased the home of Elizabeth and Roy Tyrell 36 years ago. Elizabeth and Roy were the parents of Bruce and Mary and in our garage today is a Boy Scout staff carved by Bruce plus another staff carved by another lad whose name escapes me...

Anyway, thanks for the glimpse of great times past. I truly believe that we grew up in the best of times. We were able to explore, fish, hunt, participate in organized sports, or scrub baseball. All the gals of the day were just one of the guys and they could dish out as good as they got. You could buy a rifle at 14 years of age and we never thought about firing it at any one. Most of my school years I carried a jack knife and I still carry one.

Yours truly,

Al Gehl

*Note to reader: The Tyrells were former prominent Dresden residents who moved to nearby Bothwell after selling their dry goods business to Harry Fraser in the mid-1940s.

A PROUD NEPHEW

Hello Mr. Wright. My name is James Huff and I'm the son of Neil Huff (Bruce's brother). I stumbled upon your site just the other day and was quite impressed to read of my uncle's achievements and history in sports.

Unfortunately, I don't know my uncle very well, likely due to the lack of travelling my family did from Wawa to Chatham/Dresden area when I was younger. It has been years since I have seen Bruce and Carolyn but have fond memories of those times.

It was great to see photos of Bruce when he was younger and more current ones. I could see a family resemblance right away. I was proud to show my wife and kids those photos and the piece you have written.

I guess I just wanted to say thanks for sharing Bruce's life with others.

Sincerely,

James Huff

A PREFACE TO WRIGHTS LANE

A lot of what I write on this site borders on the philosophical. To say anything strictly new would be imposible; nor would I presume that my knowledge, ideas and experience would be as valuable as the maxims of the wise and sublime truths which have become a part of the standard thinking and writing. The best, therefore, that anyone can expect to do is to re-introduce the experience of the past, and compile such personal thoughts and extracts as have harmonized with the testimony of earnest and aspiring minds, and offer them in a fresh, novel context that hopefully offers some inspiration. In the words of the poet:
.
"We have gathered posies from other men's flowers,
"Nothing but the thread that binds them is ours."