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po J SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1948 1 PAGE NINE ~ cade and shot across the shining- windows, Dear aid Tom Miller, looking at the mess with ghagrin THE DAILY TIMES-GAZETTE in the work at hand in order that service to the community may hold the interest of its citizens at large Since the first articles concern street paving, one recalls the "sea of mud" as other writers have Operated Biggest Store g PETES ww RR ea publishing this series of articles by Colonel Frank Chappell, V.D., one of Oshawa's most popular citizens and form; er Commanding Officer of the Ontario Regiment, The Times- Gazette believes that it is ren- dering a worthwhile service to all those citizens who would like to learn something of the efforts of those pioneers who did so much to make Oshawa the progressive and thriving city that it is today. As a form- er Town Engineer Col. Chap- pell is well versed in many of Oshawa's earlier problems and as an extensive reader he has acquired a fund of information from which he will prepare these weekly features scheduled to be published on Saturdays in The Times-Gazette during the next few weeks. Since leav- ing the Army in 1944, impaired health has prevented Colonel . Chappell from resuming activ ities in public life, but his re- tentive memory and keen obser vation continues to shine, some- times with unusual effect, and during the last few years The Times-Gasette has published -many articles from his pen. The publishers are indebted, and we believe our readers will also be grateful, to Col. Chap- pell for his efforts in trying to bring to life something of the drama that surrounds the growth of this city "Through Maturity to Civic Dignity."-- The Publishers. Earlier Writers "1 other places the historical background of Oshawa and On- tario County has been dealt with in a general way. Exceedingly inter- esting and informative sketches of its people and conditions in the early days, before and since Con- | appearad in vol- | federation, have umes published by the late Thomas Conant, Esq., Colonel J. E. Fare- well, K.C., Dr. T. E. Kaiser and Dr. D. S. Hoig. From data painstakingly collect- ed and variously outlined by them, we have learned of Benjamin Wil- son, "the first settler" in 1795, COL. FRANK CHAPPELL V.D. of Skea's Corners in 1835 and the establishment of a post office whereby the name "Oshawa" 're- ceived official sanction in 1842. From this embryonic state as a hamlet, Oshawa has passed suc- cessively through the phases of a Village in 1850 and a Town in 1879, blossoming into the maturity of City-hood in 1924. With no natural advantages as an asset towards future growth, Our Town. continued around the | turn of the century as a thriving little community. Indeed, it was fater than 1911 before the popula- tion exceeded 6,500 on the As- sessment Rolls. It was small, but busy; busy, because even then sev- eral small, but substantial indus- tries. (some destined to become of national importance) were being soundly developed. Citizens of Substance In almost any small town of fifty or so years ago, the history of de- velopment can be traced to the be- haviour of outstanding individuals. In those days, by reason of close- ness of contact, it was inevitable that the outstanding citizen became a sort of pivot, or source of inspira- tion towards material progress. Oshawa was fortunate in having many such leading citizens imbued with the spirit of the community and friendship of those amongst whom they labouredy Their names are part of our cls/ic record, not merely in their personal capacity as manufacturers, bankers, lawyers or doctors, but as Members of Par- fiament, representative in the Legislature, Mayors, Councillors, or Commissioners. It is well that we gemember them, their - careful judgment and wise deliberation, for By COL. FRANK OSHAWA --- THROUGH MATURITY TO CIVIC DIGNITY V.D. CHAPPELL, HY "% 1848--An artist's conception of "Skea's Corners" looking south (now Simcoe Street South) as it probably appeared in 1848. This sketch is based on a few separate water color drawings by the late Edward Carswell. On the left with its chequered siding appears Edward Skea's General Store from whence "The Corners" derived its first name. It is the site of the present Laura Secord shop and Bassett's Jewelry Store. On the right is shown "Munroe's Hotel" which occupied the site of what is now Burns' Shoe Store. It was in this hotel that many discussions with travellers and Indians took place concerning a suitable name for the community, 1877--Above is shown a picture taken in 1877 from a location just north of King St., looking south . . . devel- opments may be seen that took place during the period 1845 to 1877. Note the improved King Street road as | it crosses Simcoe Street. ~Photo by Campbell's Studio 1948--Above is shown a picture of downtown Oshawa looking south on Simcoe Street as it is today. A much improved appeara'.ce has been achieved. Paved streets are a particular improvement. The store fronts and buildings have also undergone many changes since the previous pictures were taken. 4 they were patterns of citizenship in any day or age. Gone are Victorian days of sculptured magnificence, when gaunt, frock-coated memorials in bronze or stone stood out in park or square of small Old Country Town. In some respects this is to be regretted particularly when at first glance Oshawa would seem to possess few memorials to the past. Nonetheless they are pres- ent, memorials of substance and enduring beauty. They are forever associated with the schools, church- es and hospital. They shine through our parks, our playgrounds and our scholarships. By means of healing, recreation and culture, the names or earlier citizens continue linked wjth consideration for fu- ture welfare. But the population of this busy little town -continued~to be small hovering 'in number between 4000 and 5,500 for many years. For such reason, civic expansion was under- standably slow. With no natural resources, public expenditure was necessarily geared to revenue from local taxes. An enterprising begin- ning had been made in 1904-05 with the installation of a waterworks pumping system and the laying of certain trunk and lateral sewers. This had meant much deliberation and an outlay of around $200,000, after which a breathing spell ap- peared justified before undertaking oth'r major projects involving great expenditures. Such back- ground should be kept in mind when later activities are being considered. No Simple Solution No apology should be necessary for the fact tHat issues which to this generation may seem quite obvious and simple in solution, were in those days matters of great consequence. Then, even as now, life present- The Next Installment of This Series Will Appear in Next Saturday's Issue --Photo by Campbell's Studio ed many complexities. But to most of our older citizens, as years ad- ance and the background of ex- prience grows, comes a realization that no matter what the period, age or era, there is no simple, over- all solution for such complexities. These have to be met and dealt with at face value by the earnest- ness and hard work of individuals. Improved Community Spirit In those days of a quarter of a century or more ago, the commun- ity spirit,--that is, a personal in- terest by citizens in matters per- taining to the community,--was a very real thing. As previously men- ionéd, in many cases the outstand- ing citizen was the pivot. Now that he cycle of years has advanced «nd our city grown to around 30,000 we find a somewhat different, though by no means undssirable condition. Nowadays, it is the actual move- ment or objective that matters, No longer with but one or two capable citizens, we now fortunately have many. Morcover, it can sometimes be seen with what unselfish loyalty, individual identities are submerged Thus, flourishes amongst its citi- zens, that community spirit where- by Oshawa may expect to continue as a thriving, progressive city. Volunteer "Crossing Sweeper" While preparing this brief series of articles on the civic growth of Oshawa around 1909-15, many men- tal pictures have fluttered into view. These if recorded may seem of as little consequence as those wood-cut "vignettes which marked the chapters of old-fashioned books. But they have provided a spur to recollection and may not be entirely without interest, at least to some called it, through which we travel- ed, even within the centre of town. One needed to be indifferent or hard-boiled indeed, not to pick one's way mincingly across the Four Corners. There were many good-looking stores, although not all store-keep- ers were as quietly persistent as Richard Hobbs. "Dicky" Hobbs and his wife kept a =mall vegetable shop near the location of Zeller's Store. Day after day during the' muddy season Dicky voluntarily cleared a crossing from his store to the opposite side of the street. | of the older citizens. Writer ! Late DR. D, S. HOIG "Late DR. T. E. KAISER | Tate THOMAS MILLER ", . . say, do you suppose we'll ever get some paving done?" i i the one place that could he safely i crossed without getting mired to { the shoe tops. Patient Endurance } Just a block North was Miller's | Arcade, possibly the biggest store in town, with fine display windows. : One clear morning after a heavy | downpour during the night, these | windows had been thoroughly !squeegeed and were bright and shining. Tom Miller stood outside in his shirt sleeves, checking the good display of his expert window | dresser. While chatting with this | writer, a wagon with a heavy team, | shying and prancing passed close | by. As the huge hoofs rose and fell, water and mud rose in a filthy cas- and indignation," chewed hard on. the butt of his cigar. Then, accept- ng the inevitable with a shrug and a return of his happy, twinkling grin he said. 5 "Well, guess we got to clean it all over again and then, rie- fully as he looked, at his clothes, 'and I'll have to change my shir too." But as a forlorn afterthou, he added, "Say, do you suppose we'll ever get some paving done" There -- these are a couple oH of many such fluttering piet that rise into view, which unles recorded remain as intangible as; breath on a mirror. # County Favors Province | Taking Education Costs: | Ontario County Council yesterday endorsed a resolution asking the provincial government to ass the total cost of education in order to standardize educational benefits across the province. Such a resolu= tion had been nassed by the county Council also adopted recommens= dations by its education committee that a grant of $500 for agricultur. ! al purposes be paid to the Uxbridge ' High School for 1947, and that the Waitby Board of Education be paid $380.20 for instruction received by Ajax pupils in 1945. W. E. Noble and Dr. N. E. Mc- Ewen were named delegates to the Ontario Education Association con= vention. M. A. Gerrow was appointed as & county representative on the Port Perry High School Board replace ing J. R. Bentley who had resigned, 2" The report was presented by BP. B. McIntyre who has been named chairman of the committee. today. this great city's progress. SERVING 'OSHAWA Since 1873 "TaroucH maturity to civic dignity" Campbell's Studio has also kept pace with Oshawa's progress...for 75 years this studio has been rendering continuous service and it is indeed a pleasure to review the activities of the years gone by and to realize that throughout this long period...three quarters of a century...we have enjoyed the loyalty and splendid patronage of the people of this district ... as Oshawa grew from a "Four Corners" to a thriving city developing citi- zenship and acquiring maturity and civic dignity on the way, so has Campbell's Studio played its role in the development of the arts and sciences of photography from the most primitive type of equipment to the modern facilities which make Campbell's Studio and good photography synonymous We pay tribute to Colonel Frank Chappell, V.D., whose pen will bring to light many of the activities which took place in Oshawa's growth from a small town to a progressive and thriving cit: . . . Campbell's Studio is proud to co-operate in this educational effort by supplying early photographs from its files which date back to 1878, for publication . . . during this long period of time this studio has furnished photographs to The Times-Gazette and its predecessors . . . helping the newspaper to mark the various milestones of CAMPBELLS STUDIO | "Photographers Serving Oshawa For Seventy-Five Years" of Welland. ele