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 at thehistoryhound@rogers.com. I grew up the grandson of George W….
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Newmarket’s First ‘Moving Pictures’ Theatre Opened In 1909
The Roxy? The Strand? The Film Factory? Tweak any memories? In this week’s Remember This, History Hound Richard MacLeod recalls Newmarket’s movie theatres. The cinema — known as moving pictures in my Grandma’s era — has long been a major source of entertainment around the world. This weekend, we will explore the history of the…
One Of Newmarket’s Oldest Shops Built Before Confederation
One of the oldest stores on Newmarket’s Main Street is the William N. Starr Building, located just south of the old Central Hotel, and later, the McCauley Block, which was destroyed by fire in 1968. It is a pre-Confederation building, constructed in about 1863, replacing a frame structure on the site. You will remember in…
One Of Newmarket’s Oldest Shops Built Before Confederation
One of the oldest stores on Newmarket’s Main Street is the William N. Starr Building, located just south of the old Central Hotel, and later, the McCauley Block, which was destroyed by fire in 1968. It is a pre-Confederation building, constructed in about 1863, replacing a frame structure on the site. You will remember in…
Ontario’s First Female Apothecary Had Main Street Store
One of the casualties in the debate over the future of the Clock Tower building in downtown Newmarket on Main Street was the historic building to the south, known as the Charles Hargrave Simpson building. Boarded up and neglected, and with a demolition company’s sign now posted on it, this building was once home…
Ontario’s First Female Apothecary Had Main Street Store
One of the casualties in the debate over the future of the Clock Tower building in downtown Newmarket on Main Street was the historic building to the south, known as the Charles Hargrave Simpson building. Boarded up and neglected, and with a demolition company’s sign now posted on it, this building was once home…
Salvation Army’s Arrival Turned Staid Newmarket’s Head
As a young child growing up in Newmarket, I loved that the Salvation Army had its church just down the street from our home on Queen Street. Many a night our family would gather on our porch to listen to their band play at the corner of Queen and Niagara Street and I was intrigued…
King George Hotel Remains ‘Grand Old Lady’ Of Main Street
Given the excitement about the renovations being undertaken by Mike and Donna D’Angela, owners of the historic King George Hotel on the southwest corner of Main and Timothy streets, I’m sharing a little of the history of this incredible Main Street treasure. Said to be the oldest operating hotel in York Region, the iconic King George…
Newmarket Chosen As Site For The County Poorhouse in 1883
In this week’s article, I want to return to the subject of the history of our local health facilities. During the early 1800s, it fell upon friends and relatives to provide food and shelter for the unfortunate and destitute. But as it came to be a burden on local municipalities and townships, York County Council…
Newmarket History Buff Worked Tirelessly To Found Museum
This week, let’s look at the story behind the Elman W. Campbell Museum, which eventually found its home at the former County Registry Office on Main Street in 1991. Prior to 1862, all local documents were registered in Toronto, however, in 1863, a Registry Office was erected in the Village of Newmarket at the corner…
