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Whitby Free Press, 14 Jul 1976, p. 7

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Historical Whitby by Brian W inter z DAVIDSON HOUSE This brick house at the cornier of t3rock and Trent Streets is cf a more miodemn era thian thtîse prcviously in this -olunmn but it is significant of bcîîîg the hiome of a man who contribbted luis energies to the develtîpmiiît tif Whitby for more than 50 years. The house xvas built iii 1937 by William Daividsoii, whio servcd on1 the towîi couîîcil for i19 years. aîîd xvas a nieiîber cf aliiî ost every miunic,,ipal huard 'or conîmittee in Whitby diuring hiis lifefimie.1 Mm. Davidson was born rnear Guelphi in 1 889, and carne fo Whitby in 1913 to assist in the construction cf flic Ontario Il ospital, now the Wlitby Psychiatrice Hospital. He was agovernmient engincer, in charge of building the steaîîî installations af the hospital, andI wlicîî tlîis work was finishced, lie liked Wlîitby so miic that lie made the town luis home. Withi just $250 as capital, hie stated one cf tlîe first auto repair shops, in Whifby in a buildiing on Dundlas Street Ea.st, now occupied by Attersley Tire Service. Tlîe business was kîîown as the Central Garage, and later as Whitby Motors. In the wiuter of 1917, Mm. Davidsen made whiat hie considered the most imnportant investnient ini his life by taking a correspejîdence course in salesnîanship. The following year lie sold 65 automnobiles te Wlitby residents, and continued in tlic automiobile business for 49 years, retiring ini 1962. In 1924, Mm. Davidson stamted a municipal career of more thari'30 years by ruîîning for thie town ceunicil -ind winning the electioîî. In tliose days, few people voted and Mr. Davidson receivcd erîly 30 votes. Ibovever, this was enough to get inii a seat on counicil. Once lie was d -q'îuuCil uîeîîîber, Mr. Davidson ttiok a course in public speaking, wlîichi aided lii îinIihis future wvork f'or flic town. Froni I1929 10 I1935 lie was again a meiiiber of couîîcil, anti ret! . ed agin f lor eue year in 1I944. I lis finîal terni as a couric; 'r was froi 1960 to 1964. Mr. DavbdIsoîî served as depî:lty reeve tci' Wliby bu 1936 anîd I1937, and froini I947 to I1949, lîe was nîayor of' Whlitby and a îîîeîîîber cf the Public U titi is (Commîîission. WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY. JULY 14,1976, PAGE 7 Mm. Davidson's greatcst contributions tof0Whitby were made during the post-war era, when as Mayor, lie undertook the. negotiations, which brought Dunlop Tire, the William J. Anderson Company, and several othér *Industries to Wlitby. lIn 1945, the Whitby Chamber of Commerce was revived after the war, witlî Mr. Davidson as its president. In the late 1950s, he served as chairman of the Whitby Industria * Commission, which bogi ute nutyt Wiitby. bogi uie nutyt One of Mr. Davidson's special projects was th,;organizing of trade f'airs for the Chamber of Commerce in the old town arena in 1961 and 1962. Mr. 'Davidson joined the Whitby Public Library Board in 1951 and served as its chairman for eight years. He was aise a member oif the Board of Education, and a founding mcm ber and secretary of the Board of Governors for the Whitby General Hospital. In honor of his many ycars of service te the Town of Whitby, Mm. Davidson was presented with the Peter Perry Award as the ootstanding citizen cf the town for 1957. Mr. Davidson was deeply involved in the Masonie Lodge, being a master of the Composite Lodge, Principal of the Keystoîîe Chapter, Royal Arcli Masons, a charter miember of the David T. Campbell Lodge, and a district deputy grand niaster for Ontario District. He.was aise a iemiber of the Scottish Rite, St. John the Almoner Precep tory, aîîd Raîîîeses Shrine Temple. In addition, Mr. Davidson served as an eider at St. Mark's Unîited Chorch, and assisted in many cemmunity proijects for the beîîefit of Whitby. Ini 1964, lie rctircd from nmunicipal politics because cf bîl lîealth and dbed ai thc age cf 75 on Oct. 26,1965. The adage, " One man 's meat is another's poison"', is proving to be a truisnî. You can c',eck it for yourself. Now that summer has finally aÈrived, a rash of noticesare apparent around the Whitby area. They range frorn Yard S aie to Auction Sale, and in between there is the old favourite, the annual Church Rurnage Sale, White Elephant, Bring and Buy, and Bake Sale. These sales are anl opportunity nlot only te obtain a value (perhaps with a littie hagpling) but also to socialize with friends and neighbours whom you lx saw perhaps Just as the icy fingers of winter were cl-,ing in. One does not have to be an expert to hold perhaps one of the latest and rewarding of the sales ventures, the Garage Sale. Simply look around the homne, in the basement, the bedroom, the spare roomi (if you have one) or in any room, even if you live in an apartnent, including underneath the kitchen sink. You'l1 be surprised at the numnber of items you'îl flind which have sat in the same position ')r months, even k years. .Why not tomn that old knife sharpener into cash-- it could sel] for perhaps S2.00, maybe even S5.00. An old pair of skates that mnay need a sharpening job rnight bring you another SI10.00. And the long since discarded picnic set, table and four chairs which lia , been covered up by CONTRACTOR'Si BIG JOHN ýInsulated Heavy Duty Steel Toe Worlc Boots $3850 MITCHELL B ROTRHEL S Building Supp sLd Broolçlin. 655-4991 50111C old drapes cold bring yoiî Irom S I 5.00 to S20.00. The drapes, depending on cotidition and atra.200 to $50.00. A year ago last spring, we hield a sinall articles ecar . ce sale aI or home. 1 Fie items xvere advertised in the local newspaper. In)ciden tailly, this is an excellent media tu ise, becauise people are constantny searching tor articles every day ut'* the wveek and sonie people have lîccomie experts atii o½kly scrutinizing the Claissif*ied ,.'ctioiis of tlie local pape rs, kn'w)ving tliat is the place l'or bargains. il-ieever, back to my owni experience. We were bomibarded withi people looking for an old dresser we v'ere advertising for only SI 0.00. Now the dresser was walnut veneer and \vas about 25 yeairs old. We could have sold it easily '-0 rimes! The phione rang tlîrouglîouit the first evening and frequently for tlîree more evenings, and we sold a picnic set consisting of an -()'d metal table and four sm-all tolding chairs f*or S20.00. 1 even sold an old fishiernian's net, genuine lobster trap and a paint-by- numibers sea-scape for S35.00! Wherlîer you attend a garage sale or hiold your own apartnient or house contents sale, you can self or boy itemis ait reasoniable and accepted prices. The trick is not to allow you r emnot ions to becomie tîe nmaster. 1 once saw a t a farmier's auction sale ai bunchi of hiand tools, (a shovel, garden rake and hiec), finally knocked down uinder the auctioneer's lianimer for almost S40.00! Xsimlar bunchi of' tools, an hour later. veut tfor S5.00! 1 guess onie of tlhe most pleasurable and pleasaut of all sales is the annual local church bIring-andl(-bI)IY Sale, Wvich Of course mieans y'ýu bring somiething, and donate ilte the churchi, anid you buy somnething, and thee molies are also donated te the chiurch. Thec bake sale is another miost pleasaut secial occasionî. and who cari deny the excitemient and the triuimph uone enjoys at a rumnniage sale. There lias been înîany a rare beok and interesting piece oif brassware picked nip for onily SI .00 ar a rinîmage sale (now don't bie plhoning te ask wliere, you)L'll 'ý ive to go and discover for y ir self'). Almuist everyone lias soiiiething whichi lias becomie If you plan to travel to Britarin or Holland during Ch'-ristmas BOOK NOW to avoid disappointment CA LL &Linda Russe RUSSELL TRAVEIL LTD. Il16 Brock St. S., Whitby 668-5000 Ynur à' rai't-4 /S Our B u Moi) -Sat 9.5 For your protection , rrgisitrL'd- undciî Ontario Governorni '4o. I25998$ discarded by thern -- and could be turned into cash and briiîg pleasure tu soicone else in the ccmmunity. Why neot have a look areund and sce if yeu can organize a yard, garage, li(usc or apartinient sale? But remember', wlîether ycu have a number of items, one bleni or a collector's iteni, an excellent methcd is te use the Classificd sections of yeur community newspapem. Thîe cost is reasonable and you'll find staff who'll be eady and capable of helping you word the ad most s 'table. Goed luck and good hunting whether you buy or self. Thursday dea dl/ne for girls enter/n g beauty pageant Entries are already coming in for this year's County Townî Carnival Qucen contest, to' be hcld July 22 at 7:30 p.nî. at Ficydensliore Pavilion. Any girl aged 16 to 2 1 wlîo is a resident cf Wliitùby, caîî enter thîe contest, which of fers cash prizes, and a hol'day for two for flic win- uer. A qucen aîîd two runers- up will be choscîî, aîd flhc tîueen is otllicially prcseîîted ai thîe Peter Perry Award dinner July 23. Bert H-laver will be acting as master cf ceremnonies for the contest, and music will be prcvidcd by the Whitby Brass Band. Entry fomms are available bu Whitby stores or by calling. John Mclvom at 668-2529 or Carolyîî Allan at 668-5074. Deadline for reccipt cf entmy fornîs is July 1 5. The Carnival Qucen contest is again bcing sponsorcd by the Royal Caîîadian Legion MeMA NUS & STRONACH OPTICAL SUNGLASS SALE I 200/ OFF ALL j SUNGLASSES I SAL E ENDS JULY .3Oth. WHITBY MAIL. 576-4431,

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