Fond reflection of life on Coney Island Paris!

To the Editor:

I always look forward to reading the Paris Independent on Saturday mornings, to learn the latest news of the town where I was born and grew up.

I especially enjoy Chris Whelan’s historical columns, including this week’s “Paris: ATown of many Names and Locals."

He writes of Barker’s Bush, where my father, Fred Bemrose, often played as a boy There, he would swim at “First and Second Clay,” popular swimming spots on the great oxbow of the Nith River as it swung into town. Some people would venture out to "Devil’s Cave" on the river, to swim and picnic. (It wasn’t much of a cave, more of a crack in the limestone, but the spot drew many Parisians going back to the town’s earliest days).

Dad grew up at 32 Mechanic Street on Coney Island (the house, which stood next to the old Town Yard, has since been torn down), while I lived as a young boy at 18 West River. To the people who lived on “Coney Island,” the neighbourhood did not include the downtown business section, as Chris’s column implied, but was separated from the stores by the Wincey Mill race, which left the main raceway described by Chris, and ran south parallel with Broadway to the Wincey Mill. This left a small isolated neighbourhood of no more than two dozen houses small, but with fierce local pride and its own cast of colourful characters. Coney Islanders had access to Barker’s Bush via a footbridge at the west end of Mechanic. This simple bridge was frequently swept away by spring floods but was rebuilt each year by the co-operative efforts of the neighbourhood. Of course, for many years now a permanent bridge has taken its place

-John Bemrose

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: All letters must be signed by the writer and are subject to editing for length and clarity. The opinions expressed in the letter are those of the writer, not the Paris Independent. Email your letters to stories@theparisindependent.com

Traffic disruptions expected during tonight’s Santa Claus Parade – be prepared

Please avoid parking on the streets listed below as during the parade/staging they will be shut down and parked cars will be blocked until the parade is over

The staging area will be closed from approximately 4:30pm to 7:00pm –that area includes:

-Ball Street (Between Main Street and Grand River Street South)

-Burwell Street (Between Dundas Street West and Grand River Street South)

- Arnold Street (Between Dundas Street West and Grand River Street South.

Downtown angle parking on Grand River Street North will be closed from 5:30pm until approximately 8:00pm Any parked cars will be blocked until the Parade is over, so just don’t park downtown later this afternoon! Paris High School parking lots will also be blocked for demobilization of floats. Please consider an alternative route to get from the North end to the South end during the parade. The Paris Firefighters have suggested using Silver Street to Keg Lane, left onto Brant Oxford Road and left onto King Edward Street (at Falkland). Dress warm and bring that holiday cheer –the long awaited for event is finally here!