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: Main Street
Look For ‘Historical Gems’ Of Gabled Roofs In Newmarket
Whether I am conducting a heritage walk, doing one of my talks or just mentioning a specific heritage property on social media, the term gabled house comes up frequently. While I know what a gabled home is, I always wanted to know more about this architectural feature so that I could provide a better reason for why…
The Newmarket Legion Soap Box Derby
For this weekend’ article on Newmarket Today I turn my attention to an annual event which captured the heart of the whole community for generations and in which many of us participated in our youth. That event is the Newmarket Legion’s annual ‘Soap Box Derby.’ The Newmarket Legion ‘Soapbox Derby’ was a beloved annual event…
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…
Mills, Foundries Powered Early Newmarket
I am going to take the opportunity to answer some of the questions I have received from you, the readers. I have mentioned several of the earliest industries in Newmarket in my earlier columns, which are available at newmarkettoday.ca/remember-this. In today’s column, we shall examine early mills, foundries, cabinet manufacturers and the Canadian Family Sewing Machine Company….
Once Sleepy Newmarket Village Became Thriving Town
Anyone who has engaged in the pursuit of history, particularly our local history, will have quickly learned change, sometimes rapid, sometimes occurring over time, is inevitable. This column will look at some of the changes that took place in our business scene and the consequences they had on local employment. Change intially took place slowly in Newmarket,…
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…
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…
Post-War Newmarket Boomed With New Subdivisions, Businesses, As Vets Returned Home
I have been looking back on pivotal years in our community’s history over the past 2-½ years, specific years that I felt were worthy of re-examination. Let’s go back to the years 1945 to 1948, post-war Newmarket. It was on May 3, 1945 that our mayor, Dr. L. W. Dales, made the official announcement locally…
Renowned Retailer Robert Simpson Got His Start On Newmarket’s Main Street
Robert Simpson, who became a household name right across Canada, got his start right here on Main Street in Newmarket. His story is one of the most requested during my heritage presentations. Let us take a trip back to 1855 and the arrival in Newmarket of a young Simpson. Robert Simpson was born Sept. 17,…
