Let’s continue our look at the provenance of Ward 3 street names. There are a few streets omitted as I need to do further research, but I’ll tackle them before the end of this series. If you would like to participate by offering some insight into the specific origins of any streets I haven’t mentioned, I…
Tag: History
Many Ward 3 Street Names Honor Original Landowners, Merchants In Newmarket
Let’s return to our series on Newmarket’s street names and the celebration of residents who have been so honoured. We still have a few street names to look at from Ward 2 before we begin looking at Ward 3. Bert Budd Avenue carries the name of the man who for years was “the photographer” in…
Once Mighty Holland River Played A Key Role In Newmarket’s Growth, Prosperity!
While the Holland River has changed considerably over these many hundreds of years, it remains embedded in our historical psyche of the area to this day. The Holland River was originally known as Micicaquean Creek, its Indigenous name. It was renamed by Lieut.-Gov. Simcoe after Capt. Samuel (Johannes) Holland, (1729–1801), the Dutch-born, first surveyor general of British North America….
Ward 2 Street Names Honor Pickering College, Farmers, Merchants, Politicians
As we continue our look at the provenance of street names in Ward 2, we will learn about old merchant families, politicians, doctors and professional people and our pioneer families. We have frequently named a street after someone who has served the community in a professional capacity, such as Robert Alexander (Alexander Road), a teacher at…
Newmarket Founding Families, Sports Heroes, Longtime Politicians Honored In Ward 2 Street Names
This part two of my series on the providence of our Newmarket street names. In the first article, we looked at our street names in Ward 1. Before we get started, I need to add to the criteria and process for the dedication of street names as I forgot to mention another avenue available for getting a…
Accidents, Misadventures Mark Railroad’s Early Years In Newmarket Area
This is the second of my two-part series on the railroad and the part it has played in our local history. Part one looked at the arrival of the railroad, now we will look at the effects of its arrival, including the numerous accidents and misadventures resulting from the rapid growth of this new medium of…
The Lady Elgin Led Fleet Of Locomotives That Came To Newmarket Station
This article is the first of a two-part series on the arrival of the railway in Newmarket and area. Plans to bring a railway that would serve the area between Toronto and Barrie, with stops in Aurora and Newmarket along the way, would begin in 1835 when “An Act to Incorporate the City of Toronto and Lake…
Street Names In Newmarket’s Ward 1 Honor Our Fallen Soldiers
Ever wonder how Davis Drive became Davis Drive, or Memorial Way got its name? This article begins a series exploring Newmarket’s long history of commemorating its heritage through street names. I have examined the process as it relates to the naming of parks and recreational sites in an earlier article. I’ll examine the history behind the naming…
‘Discovery’ Of Remains On Former Newmarket Cemetery Site Unearthed Storm Of Controversy
Let’s return to a story I touched on recently, the Methodist cemetery known as God’s Acre on Garbitt Hill, now Prospect Street, at the former site of Alexander Muir school and now Chartwell Alexander Muir Retirement Residence. I must admit the story invokes a bit of bewilderment within me as it involves, if you can remember, the…
The First Photograph of Newmarket, And Other Fun Historical Tidbits
Let’s look at some of the individuals, places and events that highlight Newmarket’s rich and sometimes strange history. Newmarket’s second brewery (distillery) was located on D’Arcy Street at Church Street and was run by Thomas Jebb. (The first was located on Davis Drive, where the Co-Op was once located.) The building is interesting as it…
