in Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey
April 16, 2025
As an ongoing series in South Grey News, we have asked prominent local folks to share stories of the moments, places and/or people in South Grey that have brightened their lives. What we got is a definitive guide to happiness in our communities. Love of place — our place, South Grey — deserves love songs of its own.
This week, South Grey News is delighted to publish a recollection by cartoonist, actor, director, local film historian and newspaper layout and design expert Jeff Wilson, whose classes in cartooning in schools, public libraries and other venues has led a generation of young astute illustrators to follow in his footsteps.
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BY JEFF WILSON — I confess. It hasn’t always been true, but I love where I live.
Born in a former incarnation of Markdale Hospital at the corner of Main Street West and Argyle Street and having grown up in Glenelg Township, one of my earliest memories as a boy is of playing around our barn, or farmhouse, or drawing my own comics indoors if it was raining – then hearing my mother’s voice inviting me to partake of grilled cheese, while watching our one channel on a blurry 11” black & white television.
I recall outings to “town”. Chatting with friendly folks at Mercer’s Groceteria, or filling up at one of the four filling stations.
Later, I spent Grades 1 and 2 at the one-room schoolhouse in Lauriston, before being bused to the “big” public school in Markdale and later, an even bigger public school, when the former high school was amalgamated into Grey Highlands Secondary School, with Dundalk and Flesherton high schools.
It was at the second big school (Beavercrest Community School) where I had the good fortune to learn from a teacher/librarian. Mrs. Freda Hunt opened the door for me to learn more of local history, which was more eclectic AND riveting than I had ever thought. Markdale was once stomping grounds of former members of parliament T. S. Sproule, Walter Harris and Agnes Macphail, the Moffat appliance company, and even the site of a Hollywood 'B' movie shoot (Wolf Dog 1958), the latter becoming a personal passion.
Throughout my youth, I dreamed bigger dreams than the split rail fences around our little farm could hold in. I aspired, like many others, to leave the area and find my fortune amid the city’s bustling activity and flashing lights. I would feverishly draw comics on scrap paper and write and perform improvised radio comedies on my little tape recorder, dreaming of the day someone in a position to do something about it would see my body of work, recognize my talent and make a big star out of me.
My experience as a Sheridan College 'Cartooning' student opened my eyes to many new and wondrous things, most of which I have long forgotten after having made choices. This was something this small town kid, for whom it was common to have only one to two choices of anything, took a long time to wrap his head around. One thing I learned was how fortunate I was to grow up where I had. At one time or other, I have had the good fortune to call Markdale, Flesherton, Owen Sound, Priceville and Dundalk home.
Today, my viewpoint has changed entirely. Like many peers, I chose to retire and now my mind turns less toward childish dreams to manage quality and balance for my lovely wife, friends, loved ones and myself in these fleeting autumn years, while reverently encouraging today’s youth to pursue dreams of their own.
It’s comforting to know that dreaming little boy never had to stray far from home.
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