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

PAGE wo Si SL shawa's History And The Principle Phases of ' The Growth of the City City of the Twentieth -- Later From the Trading Post of the Eighteenth Century to the Ry C. E. City .and reprinted drom the Greater Oshawa a le Dally Tkaee) The City of Oshawa occupies as proud and strategic a position to- day as she has ever done through- out her remarkable history, With unrivalled rail and highway com- munications, and situated on the shore of Lake Ontario--with the great harbor possibiliiles inciden- tal to this location, the city can- not but continue to advance as a great industrial centre, serving the whole of Canada ard the world with her products. Oshawa now has a population of 25,000 people and communi- cates directly with a population of a million people within a dis- tance of forty miles. As an indus- trial centre the progress of the city, for a great many years, has been continuous, and remarkable even when compared with our largest centres. The present city is indeed a tribute to the hardy pioneers and men of vision and business ability who built the foundations for the success and prosperity of the com- munity, The following brief chronologi- cal sketch may be of interest as a review of past attainment and an indication of future development, Oshawa's Early History About the year 1750 the French established a trading post in the vicinity of the present Oshawa Harbor. The Peace of Paris signed in February, 1763, marked the close of the Seven Years' War and the end of French rule in Canada. Then came settlement by the United Empire Loyaiists. The first family to settle here was that of Benjamin Wilson, who made his home near the present harbor, at the north of the Oshawa Creek-- known in early times as Annis Creek--in 1794, a year after the Kingston Highway was projected by the Government of Upper Can- uda, under Governor Simcoe. So that just one hundred and thirty- four years ago this city was borne into the wilderness of forest prime- val, : Some forty-three years passed by before any definite or perman- ent name was applied to the set- tlement, for it was about 1837 (the year Queen Victoria ascended to. the throne) that the names of Sydenham Harbor and Annis Creek gave place to "'Skeas Corner," af- ter the owner, of the general store at the corner of Simcoe street and the Kingston Road. Shortly af- terwards, or in the year 1842, a Post Office was established on the stage route on the Kingston Road and the present name '"'Oshawa" was first applied to the commun- ity. According to Dr, T. E. Kais- er, author of a hook on our local history, the word Oshawa was sug- gested by Indians--it being their word for a crossing or ford over a stream--on account of the cross- ing over the creek just west of Skeas Corner, Prior to 1847 there were two small schools in the village, but in' that year the settlers deter- mined that a new and more fitting school was necessary and the vil- lage purchased for seventy-five dollars the site of the present Centre street school, erecting the old Centre street school, which was torn down in 1923 to make way for the present beautiful school, From this beginning, eighty-one years ago, our present unsurpassed school system has been evolved, The year 1854 saw the settle- ment enter a new phase as an in- corpora'ed village, with a popula- tion of something less than three thousand inhabitants. Two years later the Grand Trunk Railway Was constructed and gave us our first railway communication, The railway passed through lands then owned by the grandfather of G, D, Conant, whose family settled in the present Cedardale Ward of the eity, 8,500 At Confederation At the time of Confederation, 1867, the village had a popula- tion of about thirty-five hundred, Bo progressive was it that twelve years later it was incorporated as 8 town, It was then possessed of several important and thriving in- dustries ard a populaton of forty- two hundred, The present plant of the General Motors Corpora- tion of Canada, now the largest plant manufacturing motor cars in the British Empire, grew out of an industry (the McLaughlin Car- riage Works) started in Oshawa in ictional Und ; Buildings, Water- {| fi , Sewerage, a Sidewalks rn by W. Chester Smithy BA. So. $ W, C, SMITH City Engineer 1877 by the late Robert McLaugh- in. The Joseph Hall Engine Works was a large plant in those early days and supplied great quanti.ies of high-grade machinery to all parts of Canada and the United States, It may be of . interest to mention the fact that this Com- pany built the engines for the Ot- tawa City Water Works and many other cities in those early times, The Oshawa Creek was a great fac.or then, as it supplied the power for several important fac- tories. ; The year 15881 saw the begin- ning of a wonderful movement for good in the little town when the Provincial Government appointed Dr, Francis Rae to the position of Medical Officer of Health for Oshawa. The doclor was also a member of the first Provincial Board of Health instituted that same year and for several years he was Chairman of the Provincial Board of Health instituted that same year and for several years he was Chairman of the Provincial Board, He continued as the M.0, H. until his death in 1896, For six years the post was vacant, but in 1902 Dr. T, W. G. McKay ac- cepted the appointment, For twen- ty-six years now Dr. McKay has he!d the office and his record of achievement is a proud one, It is to his tireless efforts and the co- operation of the town council and the local Board of Health that Oshawa is indebted for its present unexcelled health department, The Oshawa Railway was built | in 1894 and ever since this railway has meant much in the develop- ment of the town, for it has al- ways served all plants with direct rail communication to the main line railroads and the harbor at the lake. The town gradually grew and in 1900 had a population of 4,564, which was increased to 4,918 in 1904, at which time the progres- sive spirit of the inhabitants dic- tated the necessity of a Waler- Works System and a Sanitary Sewerage System, On March bth, 1904, a by-law was submitted to the people for their approval on an expenditure of $130,600 to in- augurate these important systems. The by-law was endorsed hy 444 votes, while only 68 voted against the measure, Thus ended a long and bitter struggle between oppos- ing factions on the question large- ly centering around the source of the proposed water supply, there being mo controversy as to the need of the improvements, More Recent Progress Before following up in greater detail this interesting phase of the town's initial development of the water and sewer systems, which was probably the most important event (from the standpoint of civic administration) up to tha! time, we may proceed to continue a brief review of the city's his- tory from the year 1904 to date, The McLaughlin Motor Com- pany was organized out of the Me- Laughlin Carriage Company in 1907, This finally grew into the General Motors of Canada we have today. : In 1907 the population of the town was 4,013, but in 1909 (the year the Canadian Northern Rail- way entered the town) the popu- lation was 5,647, and it increased to 6,218 the following year, which saw the birth of our General Hos- pital, Developments now became more rapid. The Canadian Pacific Railway was constructed through Oshawa in 1912 at which time the. population was 7,417, From the year 1914 '1918 the Great War occupied the attentions of old and young in' 'Oshawa, as it did throughout 'Canada -and the Em- pire. Factorle§ were busy largely on military supplies and eivie activities gave place to the emer- gencies of war, The population increased from 8,812 in 1917 to 12,780 in 1922 and to 16,6569 in 1824, On March the eighth of that year the town separated from the County of On- tario and was incorporated as the twenty-sixth city fn Ontario, Osh- awa commenced her cityhood with the s'atus of one of the most im- portant industrial cities not only in the Province, but in the whole Dominion, From 1924 to date the city has set a rapid pace of solid development, having increased in four brief years to an urban popu- lation of 25,000, with a suburban population immediately surround- ing the city of nearly five thous and people, . Chronological Review The following chronological sketch will indicate in convenient form a re- view of the development of Oshawa: Year Population 1780: ivriansisinrasy easton ' French Trading Post, ox ENE eR EI Se Kingston Road projected through Oshawa. 1794 sore voeivnnvinsrsinrnsey . Arrival of Benjamin Wilson, first settler, 1 ER Ce rine ' Erection of old mill on King street, IB37 voevevssveierimnnanienivens Settlement became known as "Skeas 1842 visiivaerrarvinves stiabaress Oshawa's Post-Office first established, J884 oie iii aii vera , About 3,000 Village of Oshawa incorporated. IBS6 we sonenvrsnssnnnrens Je: Grand Trunk Railway (now Cana- dian National Railway) constructed through Oshawa, 1867 " 3.500 Confederation of Canada formed. 1874 ... 4,021 1877 si viavns 4,186 McLaughlin Carriage Works removed to Oshawa, 1879: ss ranssvnsvenssisnssssos 4,200 Town of Oshawa incorporated, 4,119 4,000 Oshawa Railway constructed. 1897 vuuvivives 1903 . 1904... 0. ARN RE RR A 4918 Water-Works and Sewerage System started, 1905 res vanes 1906 ,. ' 1907 1zed, : 6,218 Canadian Northern Railway entered Oshawa, IMO: suri ersnisivninsnnesnsns 6,381 General Hospital established, JOIE deri sinrrinnrerisces 7,417 Asphalt block pavements laid in centre of town--first pavements to be laid, 1012 iin 8,009 Canadian Pacific Railway entered Oshawa, annexed to town, January 2nd. JOH oviriivnrerisiesriinin: 16,659 Gy of Oshawa incorporated, March th, 0028 iiiiiinnrinrnriririninis 16041 1925 ... ver 17,386 102 tsi virteresiirinssnsass 20,609 3028 eri riiririnss (estd.) 25,000 Water Works System Before the Water-Works System, as we now know it, was commenced in 1904, the citizens used well and spring water for domestic use, and for fire protection depended on water terns supplied with water from the Williams Piano Company's springs west of Golf Street, The water was piped to the factory and the over- flow piped on to the first cistern at the corner of Simcoe Street and Richmond Street in front of the present fire-hall 'which then housed all the town departments, A second well was built at the "Four Corners" and a third on King Street east, near Albert Street. Water was first pumped from these wells by hand fire pumper and later by the steam pumper which was sold and disman- tled in 1926, All old residents of the town will remember many thrilling sights at fires when these cisterns were used, Passing mention might be made of the fact that sometimes the springs did not keep the cisterns filled and water had to be hauled from the creck to fill them up, It has heen mentioned that the Oshawa Water-Works System was commenced in 1904 after many storms and bitter arguments, . Previous to that year four years of concentrated BEFORE THE PAVEMENT | H i ! J Looking east on King Street from Four Corners, Spring 1909 ~Photo by Lt.-Col. Chappelt pumped from large underground cis- 4 effort had been put into the securing of the most vital of all civic needs-- water The first Water Com- mission, elected on March 26th, 1904, consisted of W. F, Cowan, chairman; and Commissioners Robert McLaugh- lin, Robert McCaw and Dr, T, E. Kaiser, with Mayor F. L. Fowke, re- presenting the city council. Prior to this date the water problems of the town were handled by the Fire and Water Committee of the Council. This committee and the whole council were tireless in their effort to secure a solution of the many difficult prob- lems involved, Apparently the need of a water system was not debated at all, but endless debate centred around the source of supply. These sources were the Williams Piano Company's springs, north-west of thé corner of Louisa Street and Golf Street, the Raglan springs, and Lake Ontario, Finally, with the assistance of the consulting engineer," Willis Chipman, who designed the original plant, Lake Ontario was chosen and construction was commenced, It might be of interest and recall some memories if mention were made of the fact that a Mr. John Frazer was engaged by the town council on March 27th, 1902, to drill test wells for water in the town,' A few days later, on April 1st, a special com- mittee was appointed consisting of Mayor F, L. Fowke and Messrs, Hezzlewood, Tamblyn and Grierson, Meeting followed meeting until a plebescite was submitted to the people on June Sth, 1903, when one hundred-and-five voters favored Lake Ontario and two hundred and thirty- three favored Raglan Springs as a source of water supply. On December 14th, 1903, a public meeting of all citizens was called, with Mayor Fowke in the chair, Mr, J. F. Grierson moved and Mr, Bors- berry seconded a resolution which was adopted calling upon the town council to present another bylaw to the people on the water and drain- age question, The next night the council decided to do so and met proposed bylaw, which was endorsed by the people on January 4th, 1902, three hundred and forty voters fav- oring Lake Ontario and sixty-seven favoring the springs as a source of water supply. Then followed a vote on Bylaw No. 564 authorizing an ex- penditure of the sum of $130,000 for water and drainage purposes for a community numbering only 4918 people, with a total of considerably less than one thousand homes, Ten- ders were called on May 31st, 1904, contracts were let on June 7th, and the present pumping station and a twelve-inch intake and twelve-inch force main to the town were com- menced in August, Complete in 1905 Work was continued on the initial installation for over a year, and it was not until October, 1905, that water was actually delivered to the town, W, F, Bowden was then Town Engineer and Willis Chipman, con- sulting engineer, The plant consisted of the twelve-inch intake (since aban- doned), the still existing high duty compound duplex pump of eight hundred gallons per minute capacity, two boilers, a water tower which was removed in 1925 from the south-west corner of Simcoe street north and Alexander street, the Engineer's resi- dence at the lake, and 43487 feet of water mains, to which were connect- ed seventy-one fire hydrants, three sprinkler cranes and eighty house service connections, of which the first recorded was under an applica- tion from Dr, T. W, G. McKay for his home on King strect east. The first billing for water was made in January of 1906, The total receipts up to the end of 1906 amounted to $3,615.35, while the operating costs amounted to $3,610.15. During 1906 three fire hydrants were added and 305 new connections were installed, The metering system was adopted at the begiming and has been consis- tently maintained with a resultant saving to the system. The present auxiliary Fire Under- writers' "Snow" pump was installed in 1907 at a cost of $3,317.76, Steam was used entirely for pump- ing until 1915, when an electric cen- trifugal pump was installed. Since then steam has been used only as a standby and as an auxiliary for emergent use. The electric pumps have been replaced from time to time with larger units as required. The present service pumps consist of one 200 hp. and one 150 hp. electric units. The auxiliary steam plant re- mains as it was installed in 1905 and 7 At the present moment serioks con- sideration is being given to the need for new and lager auxiliary equip- ment and larger service pumps, as the demands of the city are increas- ing rapidly, y March, 1916, a temporary chlor- inating device was installed. This was replaced in April of the follow- ing year by a Wallace and Tiernan chlorinating machine, These ma- chines' became absolete and a Wal- lace and Tiernan pedestal type ma- chine was installed in 1926. It is worthy of note that not snice 1914 has any case of water-borne disease been traced to the water supply. Notable Extensions Since the incéption of the water- works system, aside from the con- struction of mains, only three great or important changes of magnitude have been made. The first was in 1917, when the present filter plant was commenced, Then in 1919 By- Jaw No, 1481 authorized extensive and costly improvements involving an expenditure of $279,000. These works were commenced on September 30th, 1919, with due ceremony, the late Robert McLaughlin turning the first sod. They were completed in 1922. Many extremely important improve- ments were made to the plant, the most notable items being (a) the new thirtysinch intake extending 2,700 feet into the lake, with a depth of 30 feet at the outer end; (b) a new screen well; (c) a mew electric ser- vice pump (since replaced); (d) new eighteen-inch force main to the city and other miscellaneous items. The third work of magnitude was undertaken in 1924 when the new 500,000 imperial gallon water tower was constructed in the form of an elevated steel tank, one hundred and ten feet high, along with the instal- lation of further pumping equipment at a cost of $48000. The mew tank provided adequate storage of water and increased the pressure through- out the system of about twenty-five pounds per square inch, giving an average pressure of seventy-five again on December 17th to read the' pounds in the central area and one undred pounds in the southerly part of the city. This water-tower struc- ture weighs two hundred and twenty tons iry steel and contains 2,500 tons of water, The stand-pipe re- placed by the new elevated tank was built with the initial. system in 1905 and was twenty feet in diameter by sixty-three feet high. The new water-tower was officially opened and put into service with appropiate ceremony on November 26th, 1924, by His Excellency Lord Byng, Gov- ernor General of Canada, accom- panied by Lady Byng and assisted by Mr. W. J. Trick, Mayor and Mr, G, D. Conant, Chairman of the Water Commission at that time. Present System The system now consists of some forty-five miles of water mains, very- ing in size from four inches to eigh- teen inches in diameter, with two hundred and thirty-five hydrants and 5.086 service connections, It repre- sents a total value of about $1,000,000 and earns a gross revenue of nearly $125,000 a year, which provides 5 a moderate surplus reserve after meeting all fixed and operating charges, City Pavements For a great many years Oshawa enjoyed the reputation of being rather muddy, as it was built on a swampy area with a soil and sub- (Continued on Page 6) THE SARDEN OF T ME UNFORGOTTEN 3 m 2 Park, Sim i i the the Garden of t nforgotten, erected on Memorial Par! coe aris ictus of the Punilliigoph sun Oshawa's memorial is one of the finest in the country, and contains a stone from most of the battlefields of the Great War in which the Canadian troops were en; "vy EL, Th : im, % 2790), ie I) nen] Phone 500 -- a Salesman Will Call. I'ry It! | co. | LTD. 74 ATHOL St. Attention THE CAREW LUMBER Please! | You are now contemplating either im- P. H ON. ES proving your present buildings or re- 1 2 i AND 1111 placing same with larger and more modern structures. We can assist you in planning and estimating, and can supply materials of the grade you require, THE | CAREW | LUMBER PRICES MODERATE SUPERIOR SERVICE 3 1 tate tan whi site