When we talk about the major employers for the town of Newmarket and area, we usually identify Davis Leather, the Cane Woodworks, and the Office Specialty but there was another company that employed a huge number of the area’s workforce, the De Havilland Aviation Company in Downsview. Over the next two weeks I shall be…
Author: HistoryHound
Memories Of Newmarket School Days Mostly Sweet
As I prepare for the 100th anniversary of my alma mater, Stuart Scott School on June 10, I have noticed that more and more I am reflecting on my school days, my memories of life as an 11 and 12-year-old. I hope that some of my memories spark in you the same longing for a…
Different Public Holidays Celebrated Across Canada
When I began researching my column about Victoria Day, I discovered a whole treasure trove of information on public holidays in Canada, some of it new to me. Did you know that we have different categories of holidays in this country? I never really realized the complexity inherent in our system of public holidays! Perhaps I should start…
Here’s How We Celebrated Victoria Day Over The Centuries
This weekend we are enjoying the Victoria Day long weekend but I wonder how many of you know the story of why we celebrate the day. Not everyone in Canada celebrates it as Victoria Day. Victoria Day, known in French as Fête de la Reine (Celebration of the Queen) is a federal Canadian public holiday celebrated on the last…
Arrival of Toronto Subway Sped Newmarket’s Growth
The building of the Toronto subway system played a significant role in the economic and social development of Newmarket and area. While the Toronto subway is part of a larger public transportation network that includes streetcars, buses and light rapid transit, I shall confine my examination to the subway. In a second article, I shall look at the subway…
Teen Town Highlight Of Social Scene In 1950s, ’60s
I have been working on this article since I first began writing this column nearly five years ago, looking back at some of the memories associated with Newmarket’s Teen Town that are still so strong after all these years. My sincere thanks need to go out to all those who have participated in quite a few…
Young Doctor’s Persistence Behind Southlake’s Beginnings
How many know the history of institutionalized medical care in Newmarket? Here is an overview of how we progressed from rooms in a local hotel to a modern facility called Southlake Regional Health Centre. The Royal Hotel at the corner of Main Street and Millard Avenue was repaired after the fire of 1907 and, in…
Newmarket: Ice Cutter, Soda Jerk, Candy Girl, Milkman Among Long Gone Jobs
Whether you are a history hound or simply researching your family tree, you have probably come across occupations that are now extinct or most certainly rare. Ever wonder what those jobs entailed or where they went? Let’s have a look at what some of our ancestors did for a living. Some occupations on our list disappeared thanks…
Two Sides Of Newmarket, Split By Prospect, Once Competed For Prominence
In this article, we are going examine the history of one of the main streets in Newmarket, now know as Prospect Street but once called Garbutt Hill. During my research for articles in this series on subjects ranging from York County Hospital, the Srigley Brick Works, the Cane family and first Methodist Church to the provenance of Newmarket’s…
The Cedars Estate Was Renowned For Social Gatherings
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about the historical home affectionately known as Maple Gables and now we are going to examine another property steeped in local history, The Cedars, located on what is now Victoria Street. Just as with Maple Gables, the rich history of the property is forever intertwined with that…
