It seems a coincidence that the birth of the tiny settlement that we would later call Newmarket would coincide with the beginning of the 19th century, when Timothy Rogers brought 40 families from the northern American states to the Yonge Street area in 1801. Rogers, who himself came from Vermont, led his relatives and friends…
Month: December 2018
Christmas Was More Of A Community Celebration
As many of you know, I have been conducting oral history interviews, first audio only and later audio-visual, for many years. Eventually, Christmas memories come up in most of the interviews and this article centres around some of those discussions with our older interviewees. Many of these memories may strike a chord with you or…
Carter, Luesby Pillars Of Historical Community
I pay tribute to my mentors, Terry Carter and George Luesby, who can take credit for not only ensuring Newmarket’s heritage has been preserved but for igniting a respect and passion for history in our community The pursuit of local history is an endeavour requiring a passion that is quite often lit by a personal…
Carter, Luesby Pillars Of Historical Community
NewmarketToday.ca brings you this weekly feature about our town’s history in partnership with Richard MacLeod, the History Hound, a local historian for more than 40 years. He conducts heritage lectures and walking tours of local interest, as well as leads local oral history interviews. You can contact the History Hound on Facebook or at thehistoryhound@rogers.com. The pursuit of local history…
Private Library Club Became Public And Free To All In 1903
Newmarket Public Library has its roots in the Mechanics Institute Hall, still standing as an apartment building on Millard. One of the topics in my local history lecture series at Newmarket Public Library centres on the history of Newmarket’s own library system. For those who were unable to attend this presentation, I have written an article…
Constant Threat Of Fire Prompted Town’s First Fire Brigade In 1858
Fire and the threat of fire was the scourge of life in our town since its beginnings in 1801. One of the first things we did as an incorporated village was to form our own bucket brigade. Consisting of a small hand pump with which we could draw water from the various wells or from…
