ANTEN MILLS – by Dennis Gannon
June 29, 2025 – There were a few sweltering days last week that were welcomed by most as Summer is finally here. It was also a great end to the school year and to celebrate that occasion, the Anten Mills Community Recreation Association held its annual Ice Cream Social. Looked after by the great volunteers in the community, it was a time where the children had an opportunity to catch up with their friends as the school year came to a close. Over 30 kids came out and enjoyed an ice cream sundae topped with any type of flavour they wanted. Thanks to the crew who looked after the event and made it happen.
While the Summer season is busy with many other activities, there are a couple that the CRA is happy to announce will be back again in the community. For the past several years movie nights under the pavilion have been a great experience for all. This Summer there will be two movie nights. The first is this coming Wednesday, July 9 when A Minecraft Movie is going to be shown. The movie will begin around 7:30 and everyone is welcome. On Wednesday, August 6 it will be a wet and wild night as the Springwater Fire and Emergency Services firefighters will be on site with their Hot Summer Night water fun. This is always a great time as there is the opportunity to meet with our great volunteer firefighters, check out the fire equipment and let the kids get wet as the firefighters turn on the hoses. The movie nights are free. You need to bring your own lawn chair, drinks and snacks. Thanks to the Chapman family for looking after this again this year.
Two groups that have been active in the community have wrapped up their activities over the past couple of weeks. The Knotty Knitters made a number of valuable contributions to various organizations through their charity work this past year. A good quantity of products for women was donated to the Elmvale and District Foodbank which they were grateful to receive. The Knotty Knitters will resume their gathering after the 150 celebration in September. The Thursday night euchre also finished up. The Wilsons, Pat and Gord have indicated that they are going to step away from being the sponsors of this event going forward. The community thanks them for their invaluable contribution for the past years and wishes them the best. Until the CRA meets sometime in September, euchre on Thursday evenings will be on hold. Watch for further announcements in the future.
You may have noticed that there is a dumpster at the community centre and work trucks in the parking lot. The upgrade work approved by Council has begun with the removal of the tile floor and the disposal of the drop ceiling. The drop ceiling was a home for the cluster flies that regularly dropped on patrons in the hall. Township staff have advised that both the contractor and the pest control company have been informed that this is a priority with the work and it will take some patience and applications to rid the hall of the problem. The community centre is not available until after the 150 celebration and it should become a jewel in our community again.
The Anten Mills Celebrating 150 team got together last week and went through the day’s activities. It is shaping up to be a wonderful day for new,old and former residents of the village. There will be lots to do along with making and sharing memories. The day is envisioned as a combination family fun day and a homecoming reunion. Whether you are new to the community, be here for a long time or moved away you will want to make certain you attend. Mark your calendars now for Saturday, September 13 beginning at 2PM.
There is a significant amount of work that goes into making the celebration a memorable day. Over the past several columns a call has gone out for performers for a variety show, volunteers to assist before, during and after the day, photo memories of the community as well as financial support events through sponsors and donors. A few photos have been submitted and are appreciated. The performers for the variety show have been slowly coming forward and more are needed. Remember you don’t need to be a professional to showcase your talents. We have a few volunteers to take on some of the tasks and we thank them for offering. More are needed so please consider offering your time. The committee has reached out seeking sponsors and donors for the day’s activities. They will be recognized in a booklet that is being prepared and available that day. If you have been asked to consider sponsoring or donating please give it some serious consideration. Every donation is appreciated in assisting in defraying the costs associated with making this a successful day. If you wish to donate, volunteer or take part in the variety show, the contact is by email, antenmills150@gmail.com and you will be contacted very quickly.
That’s it for this week. Brian’s story is about a local farm that has fed the community for many years through their fruit and vegetables and contributions. Make sure you check it out. THANKS for READING,BE WELL, and STAY SAFE.
Anten Mills 150 Years – By Brian Keyes
July 29, 2025 – Robert (Bob) and Judy (Smith) Clarke bought Lot 5/6 Concession 5 Township Vespra on Nursery Road in 1968. Bob was a native of Huntsville and Judy was from Etobicoke (Toronto). They bought the farm from Margaret Carson who was Irving Carson’s widow. Bob met Judy Smith at a dance at the University of Guelph. He asked Judy to dance and she asked him to guess her name first. As Bob tells the story, Judy was a common girl’s name at the time and Smith was a common surname so he guessed Judy Smith. The rest is history. Bob was a 1963 graduate following in the footsteps of his father John and followed by his son and daughter as Guelph alumni.
Judy was a library technician and Bob was a science teacher (Physics) plus he coached high school football. Bob’s dad was a dairy farmer and grew cauliflower so farming was in Bob’s genes. At first the Clarke’s tried their hand at livestock with sheep and Angus cattle. After some failures with predators and loose cattle they switched to fruit/vegetables. They upgraded their land from a clay/loam lake bottom with tile drainage. Their first crop of 10 acres was sweet corn which they marketed in Huntsville.They also grew 10 acres of broccoli that they sold to local stores. Bob and Judy were a busy couple as Bob would drop loads of broccoli at stores on his way to school in the morning. As this a hot seller,Bob would even come home at noon to get more loads to the stores. Still Bob found time to shift his coaching from football to volleyball where he not only coached but mentored other coaches. His son and daughter followed Bob’s footsteps and coached volleyball as well.
Clarkes have been a member of the Barrie Farmer’s Market for 49 years attending the market for a 9 AM opening every week from mid July thru the late fall. In addition the Clarkes have operated a farm gate (roadside) market selling cauliflower, broccoli and blueberries at the farm. Many crop varieties are grown at the Clarke farm including beets, blueberries, broccoli, yellow and green beans,cabbage, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, gladiolas, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, turnips and zucchini. Asked about nuisance critters that affected their crops they mentioned wild turkey in the tomatoes and cauliflower, raccoons and coyotes in the corn, bears in the blueberries and deer in the beets and cauliflower. Farm labour is a key ingredient to make sure the crops are planted, tilled and harvested on time. Clarkes have employed township residents especially the youth from Anten Mills and even found workers at the local ball diamonds.
Bob and Judy have fond memories of great times at Pinecrest Dance Hall attending dances every Saturday night. From minor hockey and figure skating, they knew Ray and Gayle Collins who operated Pinecrest Dance Hall. Judy told me she missed the Anten Mills General Store at the old Pinecrest location after it closed because of the great convenience it had. Bob told me he enjoyed coaching baseball (softball) in Anten Mills. Finally after living on the road for nearly 60 years the Clarkes felt that on the positive side the paving of Nursery Rd which was previously a gravel road with some nasty ruts was great versus the negative side, which is the future expansion of Industrial Parkway to Nursery.
Clarke’s Fruit and Vegetable Farm located at 1571 Nursery Rd near Hendrie Rd is an Anten Mills Institution. Stop by this Summer and get your local fresh produce and soon delicious blueberries!