I’m continuing my series on Newmarket churches with a closer look at the Methodists, from which the current United Church was to spring. Shortly after the beginning of the 18th century, the Methodists made their appearance at the new settlement north of York. An early reference to Methodism in the Newmarket/Yonge Street district comes from Nathan Bangs,…
Author: HistoryHound
When Newmarket Was Known As A ‘Nice Little Village’ Near Holland Landing
This is the second part of my two-part series on the history of Holland Landing, beginning with the organization of the community against the ruling Family Compact in Toronto. You can read part one here. In 1837, the area around Newmarket and Holland Landing was to become rebel country. Samuel Lount, the central figure in the…
Histories Of Newmarket And Holland Landing Have Long Been Intertwined
In the first of a two-part series, History Hound Richard MacLeod examines the establishment and growth of Newmarket’s neighbor to the north. This weekend and next, we will examine the history of our neighbours to the north in Holland Landing, which has long held a strategic and historic place in the history of our area. …
‘Number Please’: In 1937, You No Longer Had To Crank The Phone To Reach The Operator
Newmarket had its first telephone subscriber just three years after Alexander Graham Bell first transmitted his first voice sound over wire in 1876. In 1879, S.A. Russell and Company rented a pair of telephones from Melville Bell, Alexander Graham Bell’s father, for use within their firm. They were linked to the Montreal Telegraph Company office on…
Newmarket Marks 1964 With Growth, Sporting Glory, And End Of Specialty Whistle
Let’s take a closer look at another year in Newmarket’s history. I received several requests to examine the town during the year 1964, so I have gone through the records and chosen some highlights. As 1964 begins, the world is still shook up following the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th president of the…
Many Mentors Pave Path To Success
Exceptional mentorship has served to nurture my love of history, creating a relationship which, on the surface, may not be immediately apparent. By definition a mentor is “an experienced and trusted advisor.” While technically true, this fails to fully explain the true relationship between the mentor and mentee. In this article, I will attempt to…
Newmarket’s A Hockey Town At Its Heart
Newmarket has long been fascinated with the sport of hockey. There has been organized hockey in and around Newmarket since the mid 1880s, and before that, private games on ponds. We may not have produced any champions during this early period, but it is clear that the game was hotly contested and provided its supporters…
Newmarket Celebrates A Centennial, Ends Prohibition In 1957
This weekend, I return to a format that has proven successful to highlight an individual year from our history. I enjoy the process of picking a year and going back to chronicle what was happening in town, and in many cases, reliving cherished memories. I have chosen the year 1957 as our featured year so…
Newmarket’s Lacrosse, Softball Teams Brought Glory To The Town
Three sports have dominated the Newmarket sports scene over the years — softball, lawn bowling and lacrosse — enthralling our community over the last 180 years. In the early days of our community, cricket was one of the most popular sports dating back to around 1859. Football and quoits (something like horseshoes, as players toss rings…
Newmarket Has Long Answered The Call Of Duty
Given Wednesday’s observance of Remembrance Day, I want to dedicate this article to all those who selflessly have put their lives on hold in service of their community during times of trouble. My own father is one of those who answered the call to arms and who sacrificed everything as a result. Born into a…
