History's Trains On Time Tonight

Today, I purchased some 1930's hockey material that resulted in pure joy. Yes I am a Montreal Canadiens fan, but I am truly enamoured with the heralded ghosts of Habs past. 

The key item in the purchase was a signed, group 1 Beehive photo of the great and grisled "Hainsworth",(wonderful flowing fountain pen signature from the mid-30's). My only pang of discontent, was the classic blue and white Leaf sweater, but alas, a treasure, nonetheless, and the black and white photography dulled my pain. 

The second item of my purchase was the sleeper - an 8 x 10 black and white vintage photograph of what at first glance, I believed to be the fedora wielding, zoot suited, train waiting, Toronto Maple Leafs. 

You see, I had only looked at it briefly, and had recognized Hainsworth, but asssumed it also to be of mid-30's vintage.  When I arrived home, I began to immediately collect team portraits of Smythe's boys from my library.  As I began to cross reference material to the photo, I was disheartened with the lack of matches.  That was until, out from under a smart felt derby, I noticed the impish, yet contented grin of the great Morenz!  My mid-30's improptu railway team portrait, was not of Dillinger and his henchmen, nor the Kid Line and the rest of the Leafs gang, it was my beloved, "Habitant sont la!" 

Morenz, Joliat, Gangon, the Mantha's, Munro, Leduc, Lepine, Larochelle, Hainsworth among others, and from the 1931-32 season.  No, their attempt to maintain Stanley's mug for a 3rd time was thwarted, but my evening of discovery and reflection was as sweet as a "train on time!' 

Sincerely, Mark Presley