Re: “From Grad House to Grad Club”, Issue #1-2011, p. 8

The photos in Andrea Gunn’s article on the Grad Club brought back vivid memories, especially the picture of 162-4 Barrie Street. I grew up in that neighbourhood, and later went to Queen’s, but it’s my boyhood memories (late 1950s – early 1960s) that are the most vivid.

Dr. Basil Koster lived at 162. He also had a general medical practice there, with a patients’ entrance on Union Street. Once he kindly agreed to examine me at short notice even though my family weren’t his patients. My mother suspected I had chickenpox, and she was right!

At 164, a charming woman named Ruth Moore ran a pleasantly efficient boarding-house for women students. In addition, male students could have their meals there, which made it more interesting socially! Ruth (whom everyone assumed would go on forever) astounded us all by getting married, at a mature age. She wound down her business and moved to Adolphustown. Needless to say, at her wedding (which my parents attended) there was an exuberant contingent of ­former roomers and boarders! Thanks
for the photos, and for the memories!