Anyone remember Fergie? I played hockey for him one year at Wilibrord
Park, and we lost every fun game. He would ask if you had a pair of
skates and if you did, you were on the team. Many boys ungifted as
hockey player (like myself), had a chance to play because of this
gentleman. God bless him so many years ago.
Second Avenue.
THANKS for stopping by, I do my best to acknowledge when someone leaves a comment,you do not have to be a member here & everyone is welcome. Ps: This site is monitored but not actively posting on a regular basis. Mostly these are stories & some photos saved from a defunct site known as Verdun Connections which was on MSN Groups initially then on a social network called Multiply.
26 comments:
i remember fergie, what was the name of his team?
I think it was called 'Fergie's Gang', but I only have the two brain
cells left so don't quote me. One year a number of good Verdun hockey
players decided to team up on Fergie's team, and they became a power
to contend with in that hockey league.
Second Avenue.
Fergies team was called Royals
The 'Royals'. Good name. Did you play for him at any time? Who were
the very best top 5 hockey players in that league during that time in
Verdun history? I know there were some great ones. I wish I had a
camera back then, b/c my memories are vague. I recall being glad I
made it to my warm home skating on the streets in the approaching
dark, and how frozen my feet felt removing my skates.
Second Avenue.
Was that the Norman Dawe Royals? Steve
It was during the early 40s that I played with Fergies Royals. at first ave St Willibrod and the YMCAon Gordon. I think we lost every game but had lots of fun anyway. The only equip. we had was a pair of skates a hockey stick a blue and white Royals sweater and 2 Life magazines as shin pads. Happy memories
A friend of mine told me he put pepper in his socks/skates to protect
his feet from the freezing cold. I don't remember that, but I do
recall the magazines, and stuffing socks into my shorts to protect my
twin boys. I think Fergie coached summer baseball too.
All this as a free contribution to the youth of Verdun. We need more
like him.
Second Avenue.
I played baseball for Fergie. My older brother Stan Allison played hockey and baseball for him. That was the thing about being on Fergies team. If you wanted to play, you were on the team. I don't recall winning any games, but just the fact that EVERYONE played, made him a hero in my eyes. He looked like a bum, was never clean shaven, and dressed like he was on skid row. But you know what? When I look back on the experience of just being on the team, not having any talent, and still getting to play. To me he was one of God's angels. He was what Verdun was all about. If anyone deserves a statue, it is Fergie. God Bless him. Winston Allison
Statue would be appropriate for him. Of the hundred plus people I had
contact with at Willibrord Park winter spring summer fall, Fergie is
the one individual I remember. If he was coaching in the early 40s he
must be very old or passed on. I wonder if there was ever a write up
about him in the Verdun Guardian, or maybe an obituary relating his
considerable service to the Verdun community.
Second Avenue.
Ernest Ainsley Frew "Ernie" Ferguson was my great-uncle (my grandfather's younger brother). He used to walk me to Woodland School from 5th Avenue when I first starting going. He came all the way from Osborne in the winter to get me.
As a child in England he suffered brain damage as a result of a serious fever (I believe), which accounted for his appearance and personality quirks. He lived until the 70s (I'll need to check with my mother) when he died of pneumonia after living for some time on his own after the rest of his immediate family, with whom he had lived, passed on.
Some organization in Verdun established an "Unsung Hero" award some years ago....and he was the first recipient.
I think it is quite wonderful that such a kind, gentle soul is remembered so fondly.
Bryan
BFantie. I am sitting here with tears in my eyes thinking what a wonderful human being Fergie was. The number of hearts that were touch by a man that if you some him on skid row, you would dismiss as "A BUM". What an Angel he was. What love we have for him. Thanks for the info. Winston Allison
I got my first start on Hockey and Softball teams with Fergies Maple Leafs. One year in 1950 we had a hell of a team some French Chaps and a few of us from Second Ave. We won at least a third of our games. Pat Leonard
Hello Pat I will never forget "Fergie" How could you. He gave a lot of us a chance to play. I think I was on that team that you played on ,for Fergie . We did have a pretty good team . I guess one of the great things that , as I look back on those days was ,he taught me . Never give up . That little lesson along with the lessons that , my dad gave me . Helped me get the tough times . Verdun , wow I will never forget .Many unbelievable times growing up on Second Avenue. Bob Vokey
If I'm not mistaking he also deliverd the Gazette in the mornings. Steve
if i remember correctly donnie marshall and dollard
st.laurant played on that great team fergie had,i think they won everything.i
remember fergie well he lived on osborne above verdun ave and i lived between
verdun and lasalle blvd.fergie use to deliver newspapers, and in the winter when
it was cold his nose would always be running.a really nice man.never played
hockey for fergie but did play against some of his
teams.
With regards to the "UNSUNG HERO" award. VERDUN ATHLETIC UNSUNG HEROES ASSOCIATION PERPETUAL TROPHY Ernie was the first recipiant in 1958. Martha Liddell 1959 T.A.Norris 1960 J.F.Holden 1961 I have the original trophy.Last given out in 1961 Fergie was a good friend of my grandmother Martha Liddell, he was a frequent visitor to our home on Verdun avenue,between Osborne and Beatty.He seemed to be always at the door be it to collect for the Gazette or the Montreal star or it was hockey related. Fergie was known by all and forgotten by none. Miles B!M Liddell PIC TO FOLLOW
Coachbim. You are right for sure. Forgotten by none. What an amazing person. Not much to look at. If you did not know him, and passed him on the street, you would not give him the time of day. But in our hearts, the ones who knew him, will forever by touched beyond anything we can explain. What a lesson Fergie taught us. Hopefully, and I repeat, hopefully maybe just a little of that can be passed along to others. That is a legacy to die for!!!!!! Winston Allison
he was an elitest coach, ST. FRANCES XAVIER,ANTIGONISH, NOVA SCOTIA. i have a friend in the bahamas whom he coached at st. francis, fr. ambrose mckinnon, who is pastor in freeport, bah.amas originally from antigonish. congrads, this is a famous verdunite. and so the kudo goes to coach ferguson. his style and expertise lives on. carolyn bennett. my late husband bob phelan, from westmount knew him well.
Hiya Winnie The things we remember about great Folks from the past. As you said with FERGies appearance somany people past him by not knowing what a great human being he really was. One of my memories of FERGIE was him getting his papers ready for delivery infront of STALKERS candy store on Verdun Ave and Beatty,I was a toddler then.,Filthy dirty from the ink from the papers he would deliver.Hair never combed,alway looking like he was returning from the tavern,his HIGH TOP running shoes (he'd be in style today with the YOUTHS) and holding a full conversation with himself.But the topper was the Snots all over and dripping from his nose.What a memory,even today when my father talks about Fergie he still refers to him as "SNOTFACE". I never had the chance to play hockey for Ernie "FERGIE" Ferguson but the Stories of what this man did for the young of Verdun with what little he had and to be forgotten pretty much by the city of Verdun but not the people that were fortunate to have their lives touched in such a way by a real life "Unsung HERO". It saddens me to see that the people we remember Like FERGIE and Martha Liddell or John Holden.not to mention so many others, have no recognition by the city of Verdun for all the good they did back in the day for the kids They named an Arena after phantom someguy named Guy Gagnon,then they named the new recreation after Marcel Giroux (the home heating oil tycoon),all the new streets have names of the unknown.Any new parks have names reserved for them of people who none of us knew,know or have forgotten because they didnt mean squat to us growing up as Kids in Verdun. But the important thing is "WE REMEMBER/NOUS SOUVIENS" and these good folks are OUR MEMORIES and no one can take that away from us. ALWAYS REMEMBERED,NEVER ever 2 b FORGOTTEN-R.I.P ERNIE FERGIE FERGUSON MARTHA LIDDELL MARK COONEY-COONEY PARK(the old Melrose) NORMAN DAWE-norman dawe park The Flood Family John Holden Mrs Umansky and the list goes on Maybe someone should start a new thread and name the people than have touch their lives and should never be FORGOTTEN Cheers and thanks for kick starting great memories for me Miles Bim Liddell I'm not looking to be a legend in my time as these people were in theirs,but a value they instilled in me was to always give back.I've been giving back to a sport that I love football for the last 25 or so years here in Quebec.In 2004 I had the oppourtunity to give back some time to the kids in Verdun,when I coached the Verdun Atom Ti-cats.In 2006 I am working on that chance again to come back to Verdun. ITS ALL ABOUT THE KIDS. You'd be surprized to know that a traditional sport chant is still sung by the kids in Verdun after their games and I am sure you all remember.Sends a chill done the spine when I hear it sung. "VERDUN ONCE, VERDUN TWICE, HOLY JUMPING JESUS CHRIST. ARE WE RUFF, ARE WE TUFF, WERE FROM VERDUN THATS ENUF"
coach bim, thanks, so much, i will mention one person i always seemed to bump into on the streets as a kid. mayor wilson. pharmacist: ben shara. these are just 2 that made life easier in tough times for a lot of people. carolyn bennett vch 1962
That's a lot of information, well worth reading! I wonder if the kids of today still get chastised for using that chant?
HECK NO ITS THE PARENTS THAT LEAD THEM INTO THEIR VICTORY SONG WHETHER THEY WIN OR LOSE.AND ITS CUTE SEEING 6,7 AND 8 YEAR OLDS BELTING IT OUT AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS.WELL IF WE WERENT SUCH A GOOD TEAM WE WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT CHOIR. b!m
Well now COACHBIM, That was the best reading that I have had the pleasure to read on VC in a long time. I just love to read the things that come from the heart as I believe that post did. Your devotion to give back will inspire the young one's to give back the same way you were inspired to do. Good for you, Danny
ben shara ...a good man
Mornin Dan Thanks for the kind words.Sometimes we do things because they r just meant to be.It's all about the KIDZ. Thanks Again B!M
Coach. You may never know if you have touched someones heart, or did something to help someone be a better person. But just like our unsung heroes, they did the best they could, made sacrifices, and basically spent many hours doing what gave them satisfaction. At times I am sure, as we all have felt, like packing it in and taking a rest. "Let someone else do it for a change". But as most of us know,when we have done our best to help the kids stay on the straight and narrow, we see someone years later that makes us proud and happy to see some kid grow into a fine adult. And maybe, just maybe, we may have had something to do with that. They may not put a statue up for any of us, and most of us would be to humble to want one. But, when we are by ourselves, in our later years, we can sit back with some sense of humilty, and be thankful that we had the chance to make a
difference, and walked that extra mile. Our hearts are touched by so many people who do not even know it. Coach, thanks for those touching words, for those who have passed on. We have been blessed, haven't we?? Winston Allison
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