WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY; FEBRUARY 16, 1977, PAGE 3 and Mrs. Russell Bell Whitby Jaycettes' contest winners Church work strengthens a marriage of 64 years What is the secret of a successful marriage that lasts for 64 years? "You can't get along with- out your church", says Mrs. Russell Bell, 135 Perry Street, who, along with her husband, won second prize in the Whitby Jaycettes' "Longest Married Couple Contest", last week. "Church work is every- thing for us", says Mrs. Bell. "If you tie yourself to your church when you get married, you won't go far astray". Russell 3ell and Neta G. Newton, who are both 83 years old, were married in Lindsay on Jan. 29, 1913 by Rev. (later Canon) Charles Marsh, of St. Paul's Anglican Church, of that town. Mr. Bell, who was born in Medonte Township in Sim- coe County carne to Lindsay in 1911 to work as a brake- man for the Grand Trunk Railway. A few days after his arrival, he met Miss Newton at a surprise party and a year-and-a-half later they were married. Mr. Bell says a marriage will work "if the partners are willing to work together", and start out with that idea. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bell have seen a lot of changes in marriage in their 64 years together. Mrs. Bell feels sorry for young people start- ing marriage today, for "it's a hard world to go straight in today; it was easier years ago". Mr-. and Mrs. Bell came to Whitby in 1923 when the town had a population of less than 4,000. Mr. Bell worked as a mechanic in the heavy reject department of General Motors, where he made several attempts at in- venting. One of his inventions was a front wheel brake, but he did not patent it. In 1933 he opened a gar- age on Dundas Street West where Shorty's pool room is now located, and about 10 years later to a location on Dundas Street East. He was in the garage business for 40 years, before retiring in 1972. For Mr. and Mrs. Bell, the church has been their main interest in life. They taught Sunday school in Lindsay, Oshawa and Whitby for 16 years, and have been mem- bers of All Saints' Anglican Church for 54 years. On the flyleaf of a Bible Mr. Bell has kept a listing of all the church offices he has held since he came to Whitby. He was President of the Whitby Branch of the Upper· Canada Bible Society from 1935 to 1942, 1947 to 1953 and 1954 to 1961. He was superintendent of Ail Saints' Sunday School from 1928 to 1944, chairman of the Parish Advisory Council from 1944 to 1959, Chairman of Sides- men from 1934 to 1961, and the church's lay member at the Anglican Synod from 1932 to 1956 and 1966 to 1968. In addition to his church work, Mr. Bell has devoted sorne of his time to writing Cigarett a $5,00 A cigarette dropped on a chesterfield caused a $5,000 fire in one of the apartments in the old terrace on Byron Street North Wednesday night at 8:22 p.m. The fire occurred in the apartment of Jack Price. There were no injuries, but considerable damage was done to the chesterfield and poetry, and in 1962 published a book called Branches of the Muse, along with two other local men. Mrs. Bell likes weaving, crocheting, knitting and needlepoint. Mr. Bell laughs when he thinks of the first time he saw Whitby when working as a young man for the railway more than 60 years ago. "I said I wouldn't live in Whitby if it was the last place on earth", he recalls. 'It was dirty and drab at first appearance. I've often thought of that later". However, after more than 50 years of residence in Whitby, the Bell, are very devoted to the town. Mr. and Mrs. Bell have one son, Don, who lives in Whitby, two grand daughters and three great grandsons. Mr. and Mrs. Bell came a very close second in the Jaycettes' Longest Married Couple contest. The winners were George and Mabel Whit- bread, 86 and 84, of 15A McMillan Drive, in Oshawa, who were married nearly 65 years,July 1, 1912. The Whitbreads received a cheque for $20 from the Jaycettes and the Bells $10. e causes O blaze ceiling above it. The same evening at 7:30 p.m. a prisoner set fire to a blanket in his cell at the Whitby Jail, causing about $70 damage. The prisoner, three guards and a sergeant suffered from smoke inhala- tion but were revived by the Whitby Fire Departnent. Pat Napadek, chairman of the Whitby Jaycettes' Longest Married Couple Contest, presents cheques to Mr. and Mrs. George Whitbread (left) first prize winners, and Mr. and Mrs. Russell Bell (right) second prize winners. The Whitbreads have been married 64 years and seven months, and the Bells, 64 years and one month. Free Press Photo s biy iadgtt, I.er c. B. W.A.D. Selby, c.a. B., chartered accountants K. Madgett, c.a. Offices C.J. Roberts, c.a. R.W. Boler, c.a. Telephones 171 King Street East, Oshawa C. W. Marlowe, c.a. 579-5531 22 Walton Street. Port Hope 885-2335 pine ridge cable tv Mr e TO CABLE TV SUBSCRIBERS: For several years, Pine Ridge Cable TV has provided Cable Television Service to the residents of this area. In 1974, due to increasing economic pressures, we were forced to apply to the Canadian Radio-Television Commission for permission to implement our first rate increase. The application was approved, and became effective in May 1975. The increase changed our basic service monthly rate from $4.95 to $5.50. Now, for only the second time, we have found it necessary to apply to the.C.R.T. C. for approval to increase our subscriber rates. This second application has been approved, and became effective as of February 9, 1977. The increase of 50 cents per month per outilet applied The to new subscribers as of February 9, 1977. increase applies to existing subscribers as of March 1977. a whitby -668-9331 cable tv