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 on Facebook or at thehistoryhound@rogers.com. The pursuit of local history…
Tag: History
Private Library Club Became Public And Free To All In 1903
Newmarket Public Library has its roots in the Mechanics Institute Hall, still standing as an apartment building on Millard. One of the topics in my local history lecture series at Newmarket Public Library centres on the history of Newmarket’s own library system. For those who were unable to attend this presentation, I have written an article…
Constant Threat Of Fire Prompted Town’s First Fire Brigade In 1858
Fire and the threat of fire was the scourge of life in our town since its beginnings in 1801. One of the first things we did as an incorporated village was to form our own bucket brigade. Consisting of a small hand pump with which we could draw water from the various wells or from…
Radial Railway From Toronto To Jackson’s Point Flourished Until The 1930s
Reminders of the once flourishing all-electric Toronto and York Radial Railway Co. Metropolitan Division that connected Newmarket with Toronto and Georgina are scattered about town The old adage “location, location, location” is most certainly true when we consider the growth and prosperity of any urban centre in history. This is most certainly true of the…
Legacy Of Stickwood Brickyard Visible In Town’s Yellow Brick Buildings
During the early days of Newmarket, fire was a constant threat as nearly every structure was made of wood. There were at least four major fires on Main Street alone before the 1890s and businesses were repeatedly forced to rebuild. This was the case with many a home in the village, as well. The answer…
Radial Railway From Toronto To Jackson’s Point Flourished Until 1930s
The old adage “location, location, location” is most certainly true when we consider the growth and prosperity of any urban centre in history. This is most certainly true of the village, soon to be the Town of Newmarket. Newmarket has been blessed with a perfect location within the developing transportation structure of the province and…
Henry S. Cane One Of Town’s Most Progressive Mayors
Last weekend, we took a look at William Cane, our first mayor and an early community leader. Today, in the second part of our series on our town’s prominent family dynasties and leaders, we will take a look at Henry S. Cane, William’s son and also a mayor and perhaps more of a community leader…
Cane Family One Of Newmarket’s First Dynasties
Newmarket has had its share of family dynasties over the years, the Cane, Davis, Widdifield, Playter and Denne families being but a few. Over the next few months, I shall examine many of these historic families with an eye to their civic and political contributions to Newmarket. The first family I shall attempt to do…
Moving Town Hall To Tannery, Mulock Caused Controversy, Angst
We’re continuing our trip back in time to look at the various locations that served as our Town Offices. As the town grew, so did the need for bigger and better facilities to house our council and town departments. This is part two of a two-part series that will provide you with short descriptions of all…
Take A Historic Tour Of The Town Offices
With a municipal election pending Oct. 22, let’s take a trip back in time to look at the various locations that served as our Town Offices. As the town grew, so did the need for bigger and better facilities to house our council and various town departments. This is part one of a two-part series…
