Herman Weinreb’s Gift

Postcard Memories is a weekly series of historic postcard views and photos submitted by René Hackstetter.

Miles Blackhurst was an insider.

Head of every imaginable committee and, after he had passed through all the chairs, a councillor. This is not about Miles Blackhurst, an honourable and truthful man, this is about what he said.

“I knew Herman Weinreb and here are some facts no one knows,” he stated. “During the thirties, the Town of Midland faced financial problems meeting payments and Herman Weinreb bailed them out.”

According to Miles, Herman Weinreb, our local scrap-metal dealer, insisted that no one should know. We are taught that giving is essential and that giving anonymously, is blessed.

Can you tell a book by its cover ? To most, Herman Weinreb appeared to be a scrap-metal dealer, but to those in the know, he was an astute metals trader. What is citizenship and belonging, but these kinds of acts? 

Baron Amherst’s officer corps, of Wolfe’s army at Quebec, had five important, Jewish members of his staff running the Commissariat Department. Money and rhum were critical for the British war effort.The rewards for service with Wolfe was land and citizenship. These equalities were to be found in Britain and its empire.

Here are some of the land transactions in our area from The OHS Papers & Records Vol III, P.137: Lewis Solomon’s account: “Squire McDonald of the North West Company bought from my father the farm where Samuel Fraser now lives. He often called at Drummond Island on business of the company, and came to Penetanguishene with the soldiers.”

P.133 : “My father once owned the land where Waubaushene now stands.” Indians always called it ‘Baushene.’ Jewish life in this area started early.

The Solomons are buried under St. Anne’s Church in Penetang for goodness sake. Midland in the depressed 1930s was a tough town. Shipyards empty, men out of work, anger, frustration and the placing of blame on the other.

There were signs in Midland preventing Jews from using Little Lake Park. In the Balm Beach area, there were land deeds that had codicils preventing Jews from ownership. None were legal in any sense of the word.

Tourist camps stated: ‘Gentiles Only.’

Proscribe anyone, be they any nation or race and we cut off what is most precious to us...members of our own community.

This started out as a mystery revealed, and not a sermon, however, it quietly reflected the courage of men and women, in the face of intolerance and oppression who give fearlessly.

This precious heritage is the Town of Midland’s and how we regard these acts informs us.

Citizens had great affection for Herman Weinreb, honouring him at the old Orange Hall on Dominion Avenue. They kept it a surprise, his son, Sam tells us, as this would have shocked him - the humility his forefathers had taught him almost preventing him from receiving these accolades from his chosen community.

No memorial exists, except in the memory. Upon the Weinreb shield we find no emblem, but his good works. This is sufficient for eternity. We, as a community cherish these men and women, some known, others less known. The annals of our town are enriched by men such as these and we must recollect their acts and regard their precious gifts.

Amen. 

René Hackstetter July 17, 2020.