When a for sale sign went up on one of Newmarket’s oldest businesses, the community took notice. Luesby Memorial has been operating in Newmarket since 1865, currently at the corner of Main and Queen streets, with heritage protections on the building itself. The sale comes after owner and store operator David Tomkinson passed away in April, with the…
Tag: History
A Brief History of Canadian Thanksgiving
In this article I take a brief look at the origins of Thanksgiving and its celebration here in Canada, given that we will all be celebrating on October 14th. We all learned as children about the American Thanksgiving myth of the first US Thanksgiving but what of the early Canadian celebrations. It is said that…
Glenway Most Significant Development At The Time in Newmarket
Nemarket’s Glenway development was one of the most spectacular projects undertaken in the town’s history at the time, growing out of the sale of two historic farms and re-development of more historic properties. Since our history is always the underlying focus of my articles, let us begin with the history of what has become the Glenway…
ROOTED: History Hound Digs Up Tales of Newmarket’s Past
It was while Richard MacLeod was helping his uncle research local history that his grandmother told him he was a real “history hound.” The moniker stuck. The Newmarket man, known for his depth of knowledge of all things Newmarket and member of the Newmarket Historical Society and local genealogy enthusiast, used that title for the many years…
ROOTED: History Hound Digs Up Tales Of Newmarket’s Past
Richard MacLeod came by his passion for local history naturally, with roots in the area stretching back to 1801, and generations of amateur historians in the family. It was while Richard MacLeod was helping his uncle research local history that his grandmother told him he was a real “history hound.” The moniker stuck. The Newmarket man,…
Saying Farewell To A Dear Friend, Mentor Jack West
While I am no longer doing a weekly column for NewmarketToday, I will be popping up when an important topic arises. The passing of Jack West is such a moment, and this short tribute will hopefully convey how much the community and I will miss his presence. It is funny how we tend to categorize life into…
Were We Really Better Off In The ‘Good Old Days’?
Were the “good old days” really better, or are we just programmed to look back fondly at the past, thinking life was so much better back then? I grew up in the 1950s, and I know I tend to look back nostalgically at that decade, and at times find comfort in that. While the past may seem to…
Were We Really Better Off In The ‘Good Old Days’?
Were the “good old days” really better, or are we just programmed to look back fondly at the past, thinking life was so much better back then? I grew up in the 1950s, and I know I tend to look back nostalgically at that decade, and at times find comfort in that. While the past may seem to…
Davis Drive Had A Vital Role in Newmarket History
Quakers Came To Play Central Role In Anti-Slavery Movement
This column is Part 2 of my two-part series on slavery and the Quaker movement. You can read Part 1 here. An ever-increasing number of free Black Christians prompted the slaveholders to create the concept of white supremacy. We begin to see lawmakers write new laws, redefining citizenship to include the word “white” and “Christian.” This was…
