Essex, Ontario History: “Vote Against Communism”

The “Red Scare” was in full force in Essex, Ontario during the 1940s.  Here are a few short snippets of history that I’ve gleaned from my research:

• If one were to read the Essex Free Press on June 4th, 1948, one could find an advertisement promoting the candidacy of Adrian Tellier (1904-1981), Liberal Party candidate for North Essex. The advertisement would tell you to “Join The Swing To Liberalism” and “Vote Against Communism”.  Apparently, though, “Communism” won and on June 7, 1948, he lost out to the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (Democratic Socialist) party candidate Gordon Bennett Ellis.
• If you opened an edition of the Essex Free Press in 1948 or 1949, you’d likely find an advertisement “Sponsored By Your Bank” speaking about the advantages of the Canadian banking system and contrasting them with Socialist and Marxist schemes.
• You’d also find almost every church holding talks about Communism. Here are two examples from 1947:
  • Essex United Church held a three sermon series called “The Hammer, The Sickle, and the Cross”.
  • Woodslee United Church held a youth meeting on “What Is Communism?”.
  • You’d also find that various Essex area churches had “End Times” talks that largely focused on Communism.