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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1976, PAGE 7 by Norm Mealing Well, here we are back again for another week. Day- light saving time is with us once again, and, surprise of surprises, so is the snow. One wonders how, given our unpredictable weather unpredictable and often intemperate weather, any of us retain our sanity. Probably we don't, but since we're all affected by the weather, no one really notices. At any rate, this is a short week for news and views. Only a few second reminders to pass along to you good folk. .The issue of Whitby's police station is the subject of a general public meeting to be held tomorrow night, April 29th, beginning at 8 at Denis O'Connor High School. You are reminded of the importance of this meeting, and enc- ouraged to do your best to be there. bHi yrsWtorical Whitby by Bgrian Winter 1' ~ 9 I liE 1i~ JAMES ROWE HOUSE This white clapboard house at the corner of Victoria and Charles Streets deserves special mention in the history of Whitby,.for it was the home of the town's first mayor, James Rowe. Captain Rowe, as lie was often called, was born on Oct. 20, 1799 near Montreath in Queen's County, Ireland, and emmigrated to Canada in 1824. He settled at Port Whitby and several years later formed a partnership with James Cotton in a contracting business. When the Government of Upper Canada built piers and warehouses at Whitby Harbor in 1843 and 1844, the partners were awarded the contract for dredging and building storehouses for grain. In 1849, James Rowe formed another partnership, called James Rowe and Company, with his associates being John Welsh and John Watson. Mr. Watson acted as manager of the company and took it over after Captain R(>we's death. James Rowe and Co. operated the warehouses at Port Whitby and exported grain and lumber to Canadian and American ports on Lake Ontario. In 1852 the three partners formed the Whitby, Lake Scugog and Huron Road Company and purchased the harbor and Centre Road (Highway 12) from the government. The Centre Road, built in 1845, extended from Port Whitby to the Narrows Bridge at Lake Simcoe. The company spent $30,000 improving the road as far as Manchester and another $15,000 on the harbor. Tolls were charged for all goods passing along the road and through the harbor, in order to pay these expenses. In 1863 the road company ran into financial difficulties and the Sandfield Macdonald government resold the road and harbor to Chester Draper of Whitby and Joseph Gould of Uxbridge. In the 1850s Captain Rowe built and sailed several schooners constructed in a shipyard at Whitby Harbor, on the site of the McNamara Marine property. One of these schooners he named after his partner John Welsh, and another he called the "Prince of Wales". Captain Rowe participated in the political life of Whitby and Ontario County for more than 20 years. In 1848 he was a member of an executive committee which sought to divide what is now the Durham Region from the old Home District. Captain Rowe travelled throughout the eastern townships of the district, distributing petitions and appealing to the settlers to support the planned division, which resulted in the formation of Ontario County. In 1852 the United Counties of York, Peel and Ontario were formed from the Home District, and Captain Rowe served on the first provisional county council as reeve of Whitby Township. In 1853, after a political squabble with the Oshawa representatives, he was elected provisional warden of the county for a short time. When Whitby was incorporated as a town in 1855, James Rowe was elected as its first mayor, and The Group Committee governing Scouting activities for the 5th Whitby Troop will be the subject of a meeting to be held on May 2nd at St. John's Church. If you are int- erested in knowing more about scouting and the function of this Group Committee, give Stuart Drew a cal] at 668- 9915. Last Sunday, we attended one of the banquets put on by the Brooklin-Whitby Minor Hockey Association for the boys who participated in hockey over the past winter. It was a good affair and a fitting.finish to the 1975-76 hockey season. The 250 boys at the banquet had a noisy, good time and we would like to join with those who have al- ready voiced their thanks and offer our thanks to the hard- working men and women of the Brooklin-Whitby Minor Hockey Association. Two columns ago, April 14th, we spoke out on the iss- ue of a community centre for the West Lynde area. Jud- ging by the lack of reaction, we assume all are in agree- with our position. If you don't agree, we would certainly like to here from you. This past week saw a first. At our usual spots- the Post Office, Mac's in the West Lynde plaza, and Checker's in the new plaza- not a Free Press was to be seen. AIl had been taken, it would seem. A good omen, n'est-ce pas? Well, there it is for this week. Next week, the final sco- res in the W.L. Mixed Bowling and a look back to what was happening a year ago at this time. represented the south ward on the town council for 13 years. Many times he was reeve or deputy reeve, and when Mayor Ezra Annes died during his term of office in 1857, Capt. Rowe was selected to fill the remainder of his term. In 1861 Captainî Rowe contested the riding of South Ontario in the general election for the Province of Canada. His opponant, Oliver Mowat, who later became Premier of Ontario, easily defeated.him. At the age of 69, Captain Rowe prepared to make one of his regular visits to the County Council, but died of a heart attack on January 28, 1869, before he could leave his home. le was buried in St. John's cenetery at Port Whitby. The date of the James Rowe house is not known, but it was probably built in the nid 1840s at the heigh t of his prosperity in the contracting business. Captain Rowe was described as "a man of honesty and purpose", and was known as one of the landmarks of the comiunity when the Town of Whitby was in its infancy. BIKE RODEO I SUNDAY, MAY 2,1976 9 a.m. 8'x8' 3ABY BARNS 3 Colours $275.o0 On Display & In Stock MITCHELL BROTHE S Building Supp sLtd. Brooklin. 655-4991 OPTIMIST. CLU WHITBY a a IROQUOIS PARK ARENN "PARKING LOT" (if rained out to be held May 15, 1976) AGES 5 - 14 Boys & Girls WIN 3 GRAND PRIZE "BIKES" 3 RUNNER-UP "TROPHIES" APPLICATION BIKE SAFETY RODEO BIKE SAFETY WEEK Name Address TEST YOUR BIKE RIDING SKILLS Fill in and bring with you May 2, 1976 May 22 & May 9, 1976 Age Phone Open 7 daets a week Mapleleaf RESTAURANT 120 BROCK ST. N. wHITBY - TEL.: 668-9461 Delicious Conodion ond lsolian Dishes