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10 Bicentennial Edition, Wednesday, October 5,1994 Supplement of The Canadian Statesman Post Office History From Page 9 Solina: An informal delivery of mail from the Hampton Post Office to the Law's Store for pick-up by the residents of die community took place after the opening of the Hampton Hampton Post Office in 1851. In 1869, Solina's official post office was opened in the store of Parmenas Allen, Allen, who was postmaster. With the introduction of rural mail delivery, the office closed in 1926. Courtice: C.W. Lent was the first posünaster in Courtice. The post office was established there in 1882. The post office was located at what is now Highway Two and Courtice Rd., just north of the present Roy Nichols'Motors. Burketon Station: M.E. Quigley was the first postmaster of Burketon Station. The office was established in 1885. Burketon's post office closed in 1969 and the postal service service was. transferred to the new Blackstock post office. Darlington: A post office known as Darlington opened in 1900. It was located in the home of Frank Guy on what is now Base Line Rd., just cast of Solina Rd. The office was short-lived, closing in 1912 with the introduction of rural mail delivery. Darlington Station: a post office called Darlington Station was opened November 1, 1912, in the home of Mr. Franklin, the station- master. It was later moved further west to the home of Mr. Parsons. This Post Office closed in 1920. Port Bowmanville: A summer post office was opened at the Bowmanville Bowmanville Beach in 1911 to serve the local and out-of-town people who built cottages at the beach and spent the summer there. During July and August, the summer post office was opened on Lire east beach. The postmaster postmaster came to the Bowmanville Post Office each day at noon to pick up the mail for the office and bring mail which had been posted at the Bowmanville Beach. Archie Tait was the first postmaster. He was succeeded in 1927 by William F. Depew. The office was closed in 1957. The house shown here is believed to be the first brick dwelling to be built in Bowmanville. It was constructed in 1812. The house was located at the east end of Church St. and was known as the Kings- way Apartments at the time it was demolished in the 1970's. lews si Railway leliwars Economic lee* ami Bust "The change that took place all over Ontario and Quebec between 1848 and 1855 was something marvelous. marvelous. This is not too strong a term to use and it applies with full force to this particular section. Thousands of acres more of land was yearly brought under cultivation. The sound of the axe was unceasing. The magnificent forests rapidly disappeared disappeared for good. The virgin soil this brought under the plough was so prolific that if you only scratched the seed in between the stumps it yielded immense returns. People came teeming into the,country from all over creation. Every available acre, of good land for sale was speedily taken up. It followed of course that the other branches of industry industry and trade kept equal pace with it. Riches were being heaped up by the inhabitants and this was not confined to any rank or class. All shared more or less in the immense immense wealth in which this county abounded. . * The upward life of prosperity continued with ever-increasing celerity celerity so that I think about 1860 the population of Durham reached the highest point in its history. Labor of all kinds brought a high price and any amount of work could be obtained obtained all the year round. The winter was just as busy a season of the year as summer. Wood for sale had to be prepared for market, timber cut and hauled to the mills for making lumber. lumber. But all other matters faded into insignificance compared with the interest interest taken by the general public in the approaching railway age. I remember remember well what an intense enthusiasm enthusiasm was created when it became rumored that a main railway artery was to be built between Montreal There was rejoicing in every home, from the log hut to the most costly mansion. and Toronto, opening up the country which had heretofore been sealed for seven months of the year. When the scheme finally took a tangible shape and the contracts were let, there was rejoicing in every home, from the log hut to the most costly mansion. This generation cannot realize what it meant to those who were so situated, virtually cut off from the rest of the World for so many months in succession. Montreal was nearly as far from us in point of time as England is at the present day. To reach the former took several several days by stage and anyone compelled compelled to go in that way during the cold in winter, really took their lives in their hands. About '52, the mania became general. Everything was on the rush. Building operations went on apace. Such places as the Alma Hotel on Church St. was put up. Brick blocks three stories high, adorned King St.... Large fine private residences were built, many of which are still occupied. Money was plentiful and circulated as freely as water. About die end of 1856, there was a cloud in the sky and premonitions of a coming storm were noted. The outflow of money was stopped. Times were getting harder and harder. harder. The wind was evidently passing out of the bubble. It culminated in the cyclone of 1857, which swept over Upper Canada and our little place did not escape. The bottom went out of the pot and die contents were irretrievably lost. Nothing but wreck followed in tire wake of tliÇ: Continued on Page 11 The above condensed excerpts are from the book, by JJS. Fairbairn, entitled: History and Reminiscences of Bowmanville. It was printed in 1906. George Moore Electric Installations - Repairs Maintenance Electric Heating Electrical Contractor servicing: Oui ' work is guaranteed and Ontario Hydro inspected. © FREE ESTIMATES • Industries • Commercial « Residential • Farms 24-Hour Emergency Service CALL 623=5901 Funnel Tightrope Bats Kao* 1$ Bin Imt lin ii Bemanii . Personalized Service is our way of doing business since 1935 PÜ" 1 Bowmanville was the hometown of a world famous funambulist (rope-walker), back in the 1800s. Signor Antonio Guillermo Farini was the stage name of William Leonard Leonard Hunt, who was bom in Lock- port, New York, to Canadian parents parents in 1838. He adopted the exotic stage- name to ensure that his profession would not reflect badly on his family. family. By 1843, they had moved back to southern Ontario where Bill was educated educated in die log schoolhouses of Hope Township and Bowmanville. Bill spent his formative years in Bowmanville and area, between age seven and 17. Whenever circuses came to town, Bill was entranced by die perfonners -- especially die high wire act. No doubt these performers performers inspired Hunt to a career as a rope-walker. His first public appearance was at the Durham County Agricultural Fair. He also is reported to have made his way along a homemade tightrope stretched across the Gana- raska River in 1859. It is known that lie made two appearances appearances in Bowmanville. One of these involved walking a dghtrope at the main four comers of Temperance Temperance St. and King St. In 1860, Farini walked across titc Niagara Gorge. And lie was. to become become the chief rival of Blondin, the famous French acrobat who also conquered die Niagara Gorge. Farini was known to carry a mtm on his back across die gorge and even a washing machine. But Farini's career didn't end with his rope-walking tricks. His achievements later in his life were at least as. significant as those of his youth. He went on to become a renowned renowned showman, a spy (for the Union Army,) an adventurer, author, inventor, mining engineer, horticul- turalist, painter and licenced medical medical doctor (although he never went into practice.) Farini relumed from his world travels to live in Port Hope. He died there, at age 90, in die same town where he performed some of his first shows. It is believed dial Hunt St. in Bowmanville is named after his father, father, Thomas, who was one of die first reeves of Bowmanville. All your HOME IMPROVEMENT NEEDS under one roof! See us for all your lumber and building supplies and let us give you a FREE ESTIMATE - just bring along the blueprints. 85 Station Street, Orono 1 Telephone 983-9167 I © ' 9 •.«*-* Signor Farini (known as Bill Hunt when lie lived in Bowmanville) is shown on his tightrope at Niagara Falls. Good news travels fast... hurry in! Bowmanville Fabrics 65 King St. W. 623-1241 ©