Jewel in the crown

Dear sir:
A friend suggested I visit the new Townshend Theatre, which he said was a real credit to a community of our size. I took his advice and was in complete agreement with this assessment!
Whenever I hear the name Townshend, my personnel computer triggers my memory button. I am transported back in time about 60 years ago.
I am sitting in Room I of the Fort Frances High School along with about 25 other students. Miss Edith Durnan, our math teacher, had not yet entered the room. Was she a little late (which was unusual)?
Then she came in, and was obviously distraught. Miss Durnan was somewhat emotional and could get upset if her pupils didn’t work at their math, a subject she clearly loved.
However, this day she was red-eyed and had signs she had been crying. In moments, she regained her composure and said she had an announcement to make. It was then she announced that former principal Capt. J.R. Townshend had been lost at sea when his troopship was approaching the coast of Ireland.
He and the ship were victims of a German U-boat in World War II.
There was to be many families in Fort Frances and district who would suffer the anguish that Miss Durnan had borne that day. Young men from our town and district were serving their country in all the Canadian forces (army, air force, navy, and merchant marine), and many never returned.
Their parents and families, girlfriends, and buddies all knew the anguish of Miss Durnan.
For me, the loss of Capt. Townshend was at the top of the list (time wise) and brought the cruelty of war to our classroom. So perhaps the Townshend Theatre will be a memorial not only to those lost in World War II but also to those who fought in the war and returned home, and are now our senior citizens.
My friend was right. The Townshend Theatre is truly a jewel in the crown of our community.
Signed,
Kenneth J. Egan
Fort Frances citizen