A popular Christmas tradition with its roots in antiquity is the exchanging of gifts. Even though trends and tastes in gifts may change, the gesture of acquiring, preparing, and bestowing something of value to friends and family is a time-honoured tradition in celebration of the festive period and has been for thousands of years. Today,…
Tag: History
Your Photos, Videos Help Keep Our History Alive
One of the essential elements of historical preservation is the photographs taken of people, places and things. This has been joined in the last few years by the taking of videos. The hobby of photography and videography can be very rewarding in the present, but few people consider that these photos or videos will provide a tangible…
The Issue Of Homelessness Has Evolved Over The Years
Often a topic for my column will come about from a conversation or comment I receive during one of my local heritage walks or presentations, which has prompted me to explore the issue of homelessness from a historical perspective. Someone insisted that homelessness in Canada was a modern phenomenon and that we did not have the problem…
Longtime Newmarket High Teacher Shaped Many Students
One of the longest-serving teachers at Newmarket High School was William Stoddart Elliott. Elliott was born in Copper Cliff, raised in Parry Sound and eventually made his home on Elmer Avenue in the Beaches area of Toronto. One would generally call him “sir” when speaking to him but “Wild Bill” when speaking among one’s classmates. Elliott…
Best Friends Play Vital Role In One’s History
I recently explored the importance of our ‘childhood neighbourhood’ and how, historically, we are all shaped by the neighbourhood we called home as a child. This column examines what I consider the second half of this exploration, the part best friends play in our personal histories. Just as I did when I examined childhood neighbourhoods, I shall share my personal…
Neighborhoods Of Childhood Conjure Up Emotions
In this column I want to focus on our childhood neighbourhoods and examine the part our early environment played in colouring our development. Our childhood neighbourhood often remains deeply ingrained in our psyche to this day. Throughout this article I will be sharing my personal memories of my own ‘childhood neighbourhood’ which consisted of the area of…
Newmarket’s Radial Arch Earliest Of Its Kind In Canada
Whether I am conducting one of my heritage walking tours or giving a historical talk, there are always people who want to know more about that “hunk of concrete” under the Queen Street bridge. Here’s a brief explanation of what it represents and the reason why it has been designated historic by both the Ontario…
Newmarket Quakers Paid Price For Pacifism
This column examines the Quaker pacifist influence in Ontario, its origin and effect on our history. Quaker or Friends pacification has become one of the known facts in our rich local history, so I wanted to examine it further. Quaker pacifism finds its roots in 17th-century England, but it continued to flourish and expand once the…
Avro Arrow Conspiracy Theories Abound
This column wraps up my four-part series on the Avro Arrow with a look at the various conspiracy theories that arose from the abrupt cancellation of the Arrow project. It seems it is a foregone conclusion any historical event will spawn any number of alternative facts, which then lead to a review of our understanding of…
Newmarket Historian Dedicated Years To Sharing Town’s Past
This column highlights the life and contributions of an individual who I believe is ‘the mother of Newmarket history,’ Ethel Willson Trewhella. If you have followed my columns, presentations, or videos over the past 40 years, you know her work is the foundation on which I and other local historians have built our narratives. She,…
