This is part three of a series on the historic hamlets around Newmarket. We continue our travels in the Township of King. Some of these historic hamlets still exist, perhaps in a reduced capacity, but you’ll find remnants of their existence if you know where to look. We begin our excursion with the hamlet of Rafferty’s Corners,…
Tag: Oral History
Family Compact Founder Had Many Ties To Newmarket
In this week’s column, I highlight the links between Bishop John Strachan, founder of the powerful elite ruling institution in Upper Canada, and Newmarket The Family Compact was a political institution that shaped many aspects of our local history, which quite frankly was unclear back in my high school history lessons. The Family Compact ruled Upper Canada…
Indigenous Shared Secrets Including That Of The Sugar Bush With Settlers
Let’s examine a fun topic, you may say a “sweet topic.” Maple sugar was an important commodity for our early pioneers and, as was so often the case, the knowledge of maple sugar production came to us from our Indigenous peoples who shared the secret with our ancestors. Would our early settlers have survived life in the new world…
Newmarket’s Quaker Heritage Preserved In Doane House
In this article I tell the story of the Ebenezer Doane House, which was relocated, restored and remains a well-loved abode as the Doane House Hospice Let’s look at the history of what is known as the Ebenezer Doane House, which is now the Doane House Hospice on the northwest corner of Eagle and Yonge streets. If…
September Brings Memories Of School Years
The phrase “back to school” always carried with it a tinge of sadness, along with a little magic for me during my school years. I thought that we would examine the mixed emotions involved in the “return to school” and perhaps remember how the carefree joys of summer holidays were so rudely interrupted by a…
Irish Immigrants Settled In Newmarket’s Paddytown
A tiny Irish settlement along the river on Main Street north of Davis Drive (formerly Huron Street) remains a vital part of our Newmarket history. It took many years for Newmarket to spread north over the hill on Main Street north and this is the story of a tiny community that was indeed ahead of its…
Newmarket Flourished In The 1950’s
In this week’s column, History Hound Richard MacLeod continues his timeline series of Newmarket’s history beginning in 1950. This article in the series highlighting Newmarket’s historical timeline begins in the year 1950, and continues to 1955. As 1950 opens, we find the same council in office, headed by our mayor, Joseph Vale. We have five members…
1930’s Mark Heyday Of Hockey, Theatre In Newmarket
We return to our series on Newmarket’s history timeline, beginning with the status of the town as the year 1930 opens. The total population sits at approximately 3,700. The town register lists 186 persons as being owners of their own businesses, with 98 business and trades located on the east side of town and 88 businesses…
Political Cartoons Are Signposts In History
I have always been a keen observer of the various political cartoons that have graced our local newspapers and magazines. I have often wondered how it all began and just how they evolved into the fine art of depicting the odd points of political or public policy through the various character that become the butt of…
1920’s Brought Newmarket A Hospital, Saw Trading Tree Saved
Welcome back to our timeline of Newmarket’s history, where we pick up the story in 1921, following the roller coaster war years. The year 1921 finds the local butchers presenting a petition to amend a bylaw that prohibited them from selling smaller cuts of meat as this was reserved for the farmers market. They were limited to the…
