This photo, 1962, supplied by Wayne VanVolkenburg shows the "Pearce Street Boys" - Bernie Stewart, Wayne Van- Volkenburg, James "Squeak" Reynolds Back rt. Ken Horton, & possibly Doug Falls.

Happier Times

One Saturday night before midnight, in the late 60's on the main drag in Marmora Ontario, James "Squeak" Reynolds, about 26 years old, had a history of mental problems decided he was going to shoot up the hotel because they would not serve him anymore beer. He was on the "Prohibited" list. No alcohol was supposed to be served to him in the county. He had historically gone crazy on occasions prior to the court judgement. He wandered down to the hardware store and broke in to get a gun. Three of us who knew him came along & spotted him inside. I climbed up on the front window to look inside and he took a shot at me and missed by 2 inches - See arrow. It turned into a major event with many police.He also had fired several shots into the ceiling after he heard noises from the residents. The father mother and 2 daughters were in the iron bathtub for safety. A couple of my friends went around back to get him out as the police were on their way. He fired through the door and one fellow fell to the ground bleeding. Luckily it was just shattered glass from the storm door that cut him He wandered out on the street with a rifle firing up and down the street. About 200 people had collected all behind or under cars. The cops shot him 3 times; he went down; I rushed over to restrain him as well as some cops. He still had the strength to lift my whole body in the air. He survived. I was to be a witness against my wishes but I never had to testify. He could not see anything without his glasses. I noticed just before he shot they were all broken. So he was shooting at sounds. Right about where the GE sign is. Now we would call this terrorism but in Marmara in the 60;s it was just another Saturday night. Right about where the GE sign is.

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This photo, 1962, supplied by Wayne VanVolkenburg shows the "Pearce Street Boys" - Bernie Stewart, Wayne Van- Volkenburg, James "Squeak" Reynolds Back rt. Ken Horton, & possibly Doug Falls.

COMMENTS:

John Croskery: We were headed to the pool hall at the dance intermission. Saw someone at the cash register, thinking it was Leo Provost I knocked on the window. When Squeak turned around with a rifle we took cover.

Sharon Anne Vesterfelt: Remember that night so well. Teen dance at the town hall and we all headed to front street when we heard the excitement!!!!!

Celia Murray: I can't bring myself to hit the like button...it was a terrifying night.

Penny Barrons: My first thoughts were for the Murrays. What a frightening thing for them to experience.

Pat McCrodan: Joe Murray was lucky upstairs

Wayne VanVolkenburg added: We lived across the street from James aka "squeak" for many years. Unless he had too much to drink, he was a very quiet peaceful person. He liked to knit and even designed his own patterns. Many nights I would see him sitting in the rocking chair, knitting away.
I would imagine that he would have been a good marksman with all of his militia training, but as Lou mentioned, he was almost blind without his coke bottle thick glasses