In this week’s article, I will give you an overview of how the school system in Newmarket got started and grew, and a little background on each of the major phases of this development from the early 1800s to 2000. Formal education in most of Ontario in the early part of the 18th century usually…
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Names Of Founding Fathers, Prominent Citizens, Local Heroes Live On In Our Parks
his is the second article in my series chronicling the history of some of Newmarket’s parks and recreational facilities. Many of our parks are the result of gifts by prominent citizens. Mabel Davis Conservation Area is a 17-acre woodlot for walking, biking trail and is a bird sanctuary bordering the east side of the Holland River, north…
Ever Wonder Who Your Local Park Is Named After?
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…
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…
The Best Entertainment Was When The Circus Came To Town
I am often asked about the entertainment our ancestors enjoyed when they were children, so I thought this week I would highlight the travelling circuses and the magic they brought to town, and next week, I will discuss fairs and the chautauqua. The travelling circus became a major attraction in the surrounding area about the…
Newmarket Long Battled, Banned ‘Demon’ Booze
With the debate over whether or not Newmarket should allow the sale of recreational cannabis in retail locations being front and centre over the past few months, I was reminded of Newmarket’s history with the other major regulated substance in its past: alcohol. When people asked me if I thought council would permit marijuana shops, I answered with…
Prohibition Comes To Newmarket
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. With the debate over whether Newmarket should or…
Famed Forestry Magnate, And Author Had Roots In Newmarket
This week we return to our look at some of the “historic characters” from our community who you may never have known were from Newmarket. I am profiling two people who, while they made their contributions elsewhere, got their start here. I would like to think their time spent in Newmarket contributed to their successes…
