We enjoy Newmarket parks and recreational areas year-round, but I bet most of us seldom give any real thought to how these parks were created or how they serve to commemorate our heritage. In my next two articles, I will feature many of these areas and explain their significance in regards to how they honour…
Month: February 2019
The Old Town Hall Has More Lives Than A Cat
In a January 1979 edition of the Newmarket Era, this quote concerning the future of the Old Town Hall was included in an article about its history: “… let me share with you some of my memories of this 96-year-old building which is slated for demolition in the not too distant future”. Fortunately, this dire prediction…
Newmarket’s Great Canal Project Became ‘Mulock’s Folly’
When I am asked what the most contentious topic is in Newmarket’s history, I answer that, in my opinion, the whole matter of the “Ghost Canal” would have to be my choice. Few topics in our history have garnered more missed facts or generated more myths and misinterpretations than Newmarket’s Canal project. In this article,…
Newmarket’s Fairgrounds Boasted Race Track, Palace, And Grandstands
In my second article in our series on events that provided entertainment for our town ancestors, let’s explore the Chautauqua, a sort of travelling vaudeville show that featured cultural programs by highly talented artists. It wasn’t always possible to travel to Toronto and other large venues for entertainment of this calibre, so the Chautauqua brought…
