History and Genealogy Detective
I have written a series of columns on the history of Newmarket High School, from its humble beginning as a grammar school to a series of buildings of higher learning that were prone to fire. The moniker ‘the Phoenix’ is well placed regarding this educational institution given its ability to rise from its ashes time and time again….
In this week’s column, History Hound Richard MacLeod recalls when winter was really winter, and some of ‘storms of the century’ As winters go in southern Ontario, this year’s has been a breeze so far, but it hasn’t always been so. Let’s look back at some of those winters where we experienced some of our…
This column continues my two-part examination of our Black history. My goal for these columns has always been to whet your appetite, to encourage readers to investigate further to achieve a deeper understanding of the subject, so I’ve added some additional sources for you to follow up on. Let’s continue to explore the substantial contributions of the…
I confess that I, like many Canadians, am sadly ‘late to the table’ regarding our understanding and appreciation of both our Black and Indigenous history and its importance in our collective history. Let’s look at how February became the month in which we focus our appreciation of our rich Black history. I will examine a…
This is another column in my ongoing regular series featuring the history of our local clubs and organizations. The Newmarket branch No. 426 of the Royal Canadian Legion — to which both my father and my uncle belong — was started in 1946. My column on Newmarket’s military camp explains that in August 1946, after the military camp…
This is second instalment of my column on the history of gas stations in Canada. First, I examined the arrival of the gas station to Canada back in 1907, and now we turn our focus to the iconic gas stations in the Newmarket area. If you would like to contribute one of your memories to this list, please…
This is the first of a two-part examination of the history of gas stations, beginning with their arrival in Canada and our town. In part two, I will look at back through history at our iconic Newmarket gas stations. I am sure you will remember your local gas station from your youth and have noticed just…
A participant on one of my recent heritage walks incorrectly made the point that Canada has played no role in either the United Nations mandate or various world events that continue to arise, which has prompted this column on Canada’s crucial role in the establishment of the UN, its charter, human rights charter and participation in…
The arrival of the shopping mall changed our history in Newmarket and across Canada, as consumers shifted away from family-run local stores to mega malls. Let’s take a brief look at the emergence of the mall shopping experience. Experts tell us there have been three main stages in the development of shopping centres in North America: the…
Every year I have conducted polls for my own amusement on a subject that may not appear to be associated with local history, but the results do indicate the generation of birth, and your ongoing social and economic background. The interesting thing is one’s views on the subject seem to vary as we age. The question…
