Every Picture Tells A Story-The Ghosts of Bronte

Have you ever noticed how a single photo can hold a whole story? Well, I recently shared some pictures of my family home on Cudmore in the Bronte Village Facebook group, and it was filled with amazing and wonderful comments.

One comment in particular really touched me. It said, “You must have had a wonderful childhood.”

Growing up in the 50s, 60s, and 70s in Bronte, most of us have fond memories of a truly wonderful time. To prove how deeply “Bronte” is ingrained in our hearts, there were two Bronte reunions in the late 80s that brought together over 100 people from those three decades.

And guess what? Most of us still have friendships from our childhood and teen years that continue to this day. I have four or five from public school that I cherish dearly. There are many more through Facebook or people I run into from time to time. There’s just this special connection we share for the place, the time, and all the amazing adventures that Bronte has to offer.

Have you ever felt like time just flies by and you don’t really connect with people anymore? Or maybe you get a comment, memory, or message on Facebook, and it’s like a time machine takes you back to when you were best friends in Bronte.

I’ve attached some class photos from Westbrook PS, which was located on Mississauga Street. You know, almost all of us started elementary school at Centriller. But around 1959, they needed a new school for the west side of Bronte. Westbrook was a small school, and it didn’t have a gym or a big field. But hey, it had a lot of land, a tiny ball diamond, and eventually, a basketball court! And guess what? They had separate girls’ and boys’ sides for a few years..

I’ve been thinking about my old friends from Westbrook, and these photos have brought back a flood of memories. I still recall everyone’s name, where they lived, and all the crazy things we did together during recess, after school, and on weekends.

Do you remember skating or swimming in Bronte Creek? Or hanging out at the Riverside restaurant, listening to the Beatles on transistor radios? And let’s not forget the bike rides, backyard sleepouts, and the epic Hard Days Night at the Odeon in downtown Oakville!

Life wasn’t always easy, though. We had to hustle and get part-time jobs to make ends meet. As we left elementary school in our teens, we all attended different high schools. Initially, we were divided between Blakelock and Perdue, but then White Oaks HS opened, and many of us transferred there.

Growing up in Bronte and the westside of Bronte Creek, we faced our share of ups and downs. We experienced loss and tragedy, and it was tough. Between 1965 and 1970, we lost six classmates and friends to accidents, misadventures, and illness. It was heartbreaking, and it seemed like every summer or year, we had to attend a funeral. I was barely 14 when we first lost someone, and I had to serve as a pallbearer.

Looking back at those old photos, I have specific memories of each person who passed away so soon. They were all part of our Westbrook family, living on the westside of the Creek in that small neighborhood between the Creek, Cudmore Road, the Lake, and Radial Road.

Sadly, there are even more people in those photos who didn’t make it this far. It’s a reminder of how precious life is and how quickly things can change.

So yes it was a wonderful time growing up in Bronte. There were so many adventures, life milestones and deep friendships. There was also a bittersweetness of the loss of friends. This is maybe why the roots of Bronte run so deep and long.

I often wonder how Lynn, Howie, Wayne, Ian, Richard (Rick) and Sonja would have turned out, what they would have become, whether we would get together or be "friends" on Facebook.