Norm Blair
Norm knows Knox.
Norm Blair likely knows every nook and cranny in Knox Presbyterian Church, Kincardine.
After he drywalled the large addition built in 1987, he kept finding things to do.
When the church ceiling was replaced, Norm taped the drywall, high above the pews. He mainly worked alone, he says, moving the scaffold as he went. Next came the tower and he made repairs from the bottom to the top and did any other repairs he found around the church.
It took Norm a while to find Kincardine. He grew up on a farm in Streetsville and won a Canadian Junior A Lacrosse title and the Minto Cup in 1952 with the Brampton Excelsiors. Then he joined the Canadian Army in 1953, which saw him stationed in Germany for two years. When he left the army in 1956, he took a job with Imperial Oil at Malton, fueling planes. When the new airport was built, he did deliveries for Imperial across Southern Ontario.
An injury on the job led to a disability pension and Kincardine. His father-in-law had a cottage at Sauble and Norm took a liking to this part of the country and moved his family here in 1974.
Norm’s grandfather and father were plasterers and Norm had learned the trade while growing up and while helping his father in later years. He was so busy doing plastering and drywall jobs in Kincardine that he could have worked seven days a week.
It was only natural that the Blairs would join Knox Presbyterian – his grandfather was a contractor and helped build the Mimico Presbyterian Church and his father was an elder at the Presbyterian Church in Streetsville.
When he first joined Knox, the pews were full. Now he can count the number of people in church.
The biggest change during his time at Knox was the addition to the back of the church. Now in his nineties, Norm can still be found in his usual spot most Sunday mornings at Knox.
***
Rev. James and Mrs. Margaret Weir
People make a difference, says Margaret Weir.
When the late Rev. James Weir and his wife Margaret first arrived in Kincardine in 1965 to preach for a call, it proved to be a bit of a culture shock.
Jim was the minister at a new, modern church in Kitchener and the “people were modern too,” says Margaret.
Knox Kincardine had an old, beautiful church and an established congregation. Jim had to start doing funerals in Kincardine, says Margaret.
She says when Jim preached for the call, Knox had them stay overnight at the Bruce Inn and Margaret remembers Ev MacKenzie helping her dress for the Sunday morning service.
The Weirs moved in to the manse at the end of June, 1965. The furniture came first, then Jim drove up and two hours later Margaret left Kitchener.
When she arrived, she noticed an OPP cruiser parked in the drive and thought Jim had maybe got a speeding ticket. However, it was just Constable Andy Burgess, a member of Knox, welcoming them to town.
The Weirs had lived in a small apartment in Kitchener so moving into the five-bedroom manse was a real pleasure. Back in 1965, women had to wear a hat to church. Margaret was pleased to see a closet that would accommodate up to 50 hats. Within 10 years, the hat requirement seemed to disappear.
Members often dropped potatoes, carrots and other food off at the manse. She believes church members weren’t used to a two-income family.
During the Weirs first five years in Kincardine, Margaret did supply and night school teaching. When Marion Laramie retired, Margaret took over her full time job at Kincardine District High School.
As the minister’s wife, she had other duties besides her teaching job. She attended the meetings of the three Dorcas groups and two missionary groups, sang in the choir and was involved with the CGIT. There was also a couples club. She tried to entertain each group at the manse once a year so members could have a look at it. “They liked that,” says Margaret. “I couldn’t believe there were so many groups here.”
The minister and his wife were also expected to get involved in the community. Jim joined the Kinsmen and Margaret the Kinettes.
The Weirs left Kincardine April, 1976 after Jim accepted a call to Knox church in Burlington.
However, they purchased a piece of property north of town while here, and moved back to Kincardine in 1998 when Jim retired.
Although Jim died a few years ago, Margaret continues to be involved in the church, organizing the card writers group which she started 11 years ago.
Margaret has mobility issues and finds it hard to attend church regularly. However, modern technology helps her stay connected to the church. She now watches the service each Sunday morning on YouTube.
People make all the difference, says Margaret, and that’s why Knox remains so special.
***