The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

| h = a? - ll ENTE LV an JT Te v ' " v fi FSR " >. ", por Fl ne 0 A an CS i £7 Pe) > gal 4 LT re => oS ra os £3 - --- ry a Ly - "- Aad Si Co NC x py) pe oa WNT Ti 4 2. ee IA a IRATE Ll ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' y / ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' / ' ' ' ' ' ' ' s ' s 4 J ' Prince Albert United Church 100th ANNIVERSARY -- 1866-1 066 5 | A ICC CCC ECCS SSS SSS 0 ppp CX TE CE CHAO ALA AA SAAAS, SAA, RRR, RRR. | H : i - ' 5 > AAT AA AAAS AA SAA AAA A AAA A AAA ALAA A CAAA ALAA AAA ALARA ALARA RAR Rana ICSC CCS SECS SSS SSS SS YS 2) (SSC CSS Y SSS YSN SSS 0 8 AS SS SS 8 1 i . | ; : LY : } CELEBRATES SE SA Research into the pioneer past is always full of interest and frustration and one wishes for access to the information that lies long buried in the cemetery. Prior to the year 1854, Prince Albert was in York County, which by act of Parliament in 1851, was dfvided into the Counties of York, Peel and Ontario and in 1854 this act took effect and since that time Prince Albert is in the County of Ontario in Reach Township. More than a century ago this township was a land of virgin forest, the vast silence broken only by the sounds of animal and bird life and by the shouts of the native Indians who were monarchs of all they surveyed. After 1856 the two townships of Reach and Cartwright formed what is now Scugog township. A few interesting facts about early days in Reach are noteworthy. Surveyed by Major Wilmot in 1809, first sawmill built in 1831 by Squire Hurd just west of Borelia, first store which was also the. first frame building was built by Captain George Leach who was also the first grain buyer and post- master. In 1821 the first white settler came to Reach from Prince Edward county, Reuben Crandell by name, who settled what is now known as the Christie farm and there the first two white children were born, Lucy Ann Crandell and Benjamin : "Crandell. The story from then on until settlements appeared is the usual one of loneliness, hard work, courage and perse- verance, mosquitoes, wolves and Indians who were not always friendly. t: A settlement of about 300 inhabitants gradually grew up that was named Dayton's Corners after a family of the vicinity. Later this name was changed out of loyal deference to Prince Albert, Consort of Queen Victoria. And so it is known to-day, a quiet village of homes, post office, store, school and one 'church. In importance it has not fulfilled the early ambitions of those who prophesied that it would become a thriving town. This village of Dayton's Corners was first settled by Mr. Abner Hurd in 1824, first store opened in 1833, Post Office in 1836, connected to Whitby and Oshawa and villages to the north by daily stage. In its early days of promise and importance, Prince Albert had a population of approximately 800, a school house, two hotels, two tanneries, three asheries and a patent medicine factory. It is reported that at one time Prince Albert was the largest grain buying centre in Upper Canada outside of Brampton. It seems quite possible that to-day Prince Albert might have been a thriving town had it not been for the com- "ing of the railroad with terminus at Port Perry which marked the beginning of the decline. We are chiefly concerned about the history of the United Church in Prince Albert which is now celebrating its 100th. 'anniversary in the present building. It seems-safe-to-say-that---- ~--gaddle bag preachers served this area in the early days and we even have a iecord of the Rev. Peter Jones who after holding service for thé Indians in a basswood chapel, preached to the white folk in the widow Dayton's barn. ~~ Memos from "The Christian Guardian" tell us that in 1845 Prince Albert was part of the Whitby Circuit, the other preach- ing places being Oshawa, Winchester and Coleman's, the only one which had a place for worship being Oshawa, "Prince "Albert is a flourishing place but without that necessary ap- . pendage to every village, the sanctuary of the Lord of Hosts" -- end of quotation. Possibly service was held in a school house. In 1850 work was started to build a Wesleyan Methodist Church, the site not now known. This was perhaps a log church. The following notice appeared in "The Christian Guardian" in 1852. "The public are respectfully informed that the postponed dedication of the Wesleyan Church to the worship of Almighty God in the village of Prince Albert, will take place on Sunday, Feb. 8, 1852. ! \ 2 \ The dedication sermons will be preached (D.V.) by the Rev. Enoch Wood, President of the Conference at 10 o'clock am. and 2 p.m. and by the Rev. Wellington Jeffers, of the Yonge St. Circuit at 6 p.m. in the evening. In 1855 we read of Prince . Albert Mission made up of "Prince Albert, Port Perry, Borelia, Utica, Epsom and Wright's, Uxbridge, Scott 12th Concession Reach and 14th Con. Reach. Scugog was added in°1861 and the church was known as Prince Albert Schugog (note the spelling) with missionary aid re- quested only for Scugog. And now we come to the momentous year 1866 when the new red brick Wesleyan Methodist Church was built. At this time it is recorded that Prince Albert Circuit was comprised of eight regular appointments and four occasional. The min- ister must have been in perpetual motion to preach at all these appointments and serve the people with no faster means of locomotion than a horse and buggy. According to items from the North. Ontario Observer, a newspaper printed in Prince Albert and preserved in the Ar- chives of the Parliament Buildings Toronto, the site for the new church was bought from Mr. Geo. Currie for $100.00 and the deed registered in Whitby. The names of the Trustees affixed to the deed are A. Hurd, lawyer; A. Ross, merchant; Richard Lund; Geo. Currie, merchant; Joshua Wright, shoemaker and "tanner; Rich Wilson; Jacob Bongard, butcher; W. Brock. From the same source we learn that on Sept. 18, 1866 the 'ladies of the Wesleyan Methodist Church held a bazaar in Currie and Ross's store in aid of their new church building, $100 being raised, surely a large sum in.those days. The total cost of the building was $3627 and we note that there was a 'stone 'wall in front. | From the files of the North Ontario Observer we again give a quotation ; 3 The dedication of the Wesleyan Methodist Church was "held on Sunday, Sept. 30, 1866. Rev. W. Jeffers editor of "The Christian Guardian" was unable to attend but Dr. Taylor of- ficiated. The church. was literally packed, yet the attention _of the entire audience seemed riveted to the speaker during his discourse. His text was taken from last phrase of the 1st verse, Chp. 63 of Isaiah "mighty to save". 7 The preacher took occasion to remark that some disliked the idea of having a fine edifice wherein to worship God. Such people would prefer some miserable log cabin or old barn; but the word of God gave no counterfance to such preferment. That temple, the plan of which God himself had given was unsur- passed in magnificence by any of the building. ancient. or: "modern. After losing their church by fire, the minister said members had shown praiseworthy zeal in having so soon erected a comfortable and commodious house wherein to worship the God of their Fathers. Afternoon and evening services were conducted" by Rev. W. McFadden Chairman of the District. There were large and attentive audiences. The Uxbridge choir added much to the beauty and interest of the service. On Monday i There was a feast of dedication equally sumptuous with its ancient prototype and having this advant- age over it, that it was not winter. The tables were well sup- plied with everything necessary to constitute a substantial dinner. The caterers, cooks and waiters did their part nobly. Everything went off well. The affability and kindly bearing ° "of the esteemed pastor Rev. Stobbs was conspicuous through- out. He may well feel thankful for the success that has at- tended his labours. Within two weeks he has dedicated to the service of God two new churches in his own circuit. We wish our Methodist friends much comfort in their new place of worship. Dinner was followed by a lecture by Dr. Taylor, CNA AN AAA ALAA AAA ARMA AAR AAA ALAR RAR R RAR RA RRR RRR AAA ARRRA RRR RBRRRATRRR RRR R NN