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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMI3ER 19, 1980, PAGE 9 <p uJu Tom McCann, farmer, family mani and wagon builder came to Whitby from Kinsale, Ontario, north of Pickering in 1871. He decided then to get off the land move a few miles to the Country Town and start fresh in a new career as a wagon builder. Like most farmers, Mc- Cann was skillfull with hand tools and he could repair any piece of agricultural equip- ment needed for farming back in those days. He could in fact build a good wagon and be sold some of tbem to well-to-do neighbours from his Knsale barn, when bitter winter weather prevailed there. McCann's forebears came where Bill Calderwood's Earl of Durham Restaurant is now located. Fortunately for the Mc- Canns tbere was tben a commodious*, Victorian, clap board house on the property and a big barni on the corner. It was a gonod location for a wagon builder, because it faced tbe grain and lumber traffic enroute to Whitby barbour in wagons. McCann had some good ideas as to how other tradesman migbt make components for his wagons, making them co-ventures in wheeled vehicles produc- tion. He started with tbe Irish, black-smitb, across the street. Whi*tby's wagon maker Heritage !3%, EUGENEI IINRY There were a lot of iron parts in a good wagon and blacksmitbs then, worked in molten metal, using wooden moulds supplied by buyer. builders like Tom McCann. This was the start of a small Brokc Street industry. As sometimes happens, however, the start of it was somewhat off as to timing. The period of greatest prosperity for Whitby was during the years of reciprocity with the United States in grain and lumber and up to Confederation times., in the 1850's and 60's. Those were the years of growth for Wbitby too, when new residential, commercial and industrial construction was underway throughout the whole area, with the Four Corners of town being the hub of ail the action. Down at Whitby Harbour, dock-side activity reached a peak then as well high lighted by Chester Draper's elevator that got into For those who are more familiar with the two shop- ping plazas that now face each other there, let me assure you, that Brock and Dunlop was the centre of Whitby's industrial section for many years. King Brothers Tannery was just a few hundred feet across the street from the "Buckle" as it was known then. The workers lived nearby and walked to work. It was a noisy and smelly part of town, and so it remained un- tii tbe Tannery disappeared from tbe Brock Street business scene in 1954. Those who remember the good old, old days ini Whitby, say that it bas neyer smelled 50 sweet, since that fateful day. Something to cheer about! SPECIAL BUCKE T $C50 from Country Cavan in Ireland. Ris father came out ] to Canada in 1841 and settled in Pickering. When the time come to :1 marry McCann looked for one of his own and found Mary Anne Sullivan in Newmarket, Ontario. They bad a family of six, long on girls. There were Louise, Catherine, Florence and Bertba. The boys were Frank and Alfred. Bertha and Alfred were twins borri in 1882. Wben Tom McCann came to Whitby he looked for a property that would be suitable for his growing family and also good, for bis wagon building business. He found just what he wanted on the North East corner of Brock and Dunlop Streets, A great way ta feed the gang at your Grey Cup party! A bucket cantains 15 pieces of 'e enale.aes Srvc 66 -131. .. 93 6 8-58 finger ickin' good Kentucky Fried Chicken. Enough for 5 ta 7 hungry sports fans. Xmas tree ]Bazaar' The Brooklin United Churcb Women wilI hold tbeir Christmas Tree Bazaar on Novmeber 22 from 1: 30-4 p.m. There will be boots con- taining Christmas gift suggestions country store ideas, baklng and crafts. A silent auction table and youth group bootb wil also be open. Afternoon tea wil be ser- ved. 011%s ckickenVi~a, [Our Historical1 operation in our Con- federation year - 1867. The Railway Age began for Whitby, in 185 and it was from that point in time, that economic activity went into a slow decline in this area. Ail this is prologue, to my comments witb regard to the timing of Tom McCann's wagon building enterprise on Brock Street. He missed the big years. He got going when tbe market for wagons was declining. Unfor- tunately McCann's health started to goo too at the same time. He sold the big barn and his inventory of hardwood lumber and turned the ground floor of his house into a grocery store. It is possible that Florence and Bertba McCann influen- ced that family decision, most substantially, because it was they who ran the littie store until mid way through the Depression years of the 1930's. It was tben that they sold their property and moved away. After enjoying several good years at the Brock and Dunlop intersec- tion. 1981 Fiat X-1/9 MARIAN MOTORS 25 GRENFELL ST., OSHAWA 728-5179 )urtesy Wate~rloo listori<'al Society THE CONESTOGA WAGON Col Sande pe0 d KtuckyFied Ckicken cm