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RY: SATURDAY, APRIL. 24, 1948 THE DAILY TIMES-GAZETTE PAGE THIRTEEN ---------- THROUG OSHAWA ... H MATURITY TO CIVIC DIGNITY For The By COL. FRANK CHAPPELL, V.D., Common Weal . (Continued) Steady Growth From the time its status changed to village, one marks the growth of our community almost as clearly as cross-section rings on the trunk of a tree help to ietemuine its age. Some rings it may be recalled are close together but rather thinly traced. Others more clearly marked 'have spaces wide between. Thus, those skilled in such practice can discuss with assurance past sea- sons and probable ( )nditions affec- ting the life of a tree. In the life of our village, existing industries expanded -- sometimes disastrously. Others faded when opposed to newer ideas and pro- cesses. New industries came, some- times to wither away after only a few years of activity; but some there were, whose roots held and they flourished and prospered. New people, both skilled and un- skilled, came - and shared these vicissitudes, Mechanics from* New England, craftsmen from Old Eng- land and wood-carvers and leather workers and cabinet makers from other countries of continental Eu- rope. For some, this place became their home. Others ventured far. ther afield after an industry dis- solved. But there were those who | stayed to change and adapt them- selves and thus became part of the very backbone of a striving, thriv- ing community and the forebears of many of our present citizens. Leaders and Workers Associated with these changing scenes are the names of dominant figures, men who became accepted as leaders in affairs 0f the muni cipality, It was inevitable that some should be mentioned earlier .when dealing with specific inci- dents, since the names of Warren, Gibbs and Fairbanks, occur so often in civic matters during those early formative years. J. B. Warren, the Irish immi- grant, - pioneer farmer, storekeeper, ) miller and bank manager; T. N. Gibbs, the Quebec-born, bilingual, trained businessman, miller, store- owner and politician; W. H. Gibbs, a younger brother with Similar executive ability; S. B. Fairbanks, the Toronto born, well-educated attorney, who apart from his ac- ceptance of civic responsibility, commanded the 34th Ontario Regi- ment and was a sterling factor in church work. Contemporary in community service, but differing in politics, temperament and experi- ence, each played his part for the common weal, There was plenty to do, and plen- ty was expected of those charged with the doing. In those days, most folks were producers. Bureaucrats, as such, were almost unknown and non-producing office-holders less in evidence than in later years: Most "official" appointments were part- time jobs. Even so, one can believe that the appointee was often bur- dened with a pretty heavy load. 'This thought arises as we note an entry in the minutes' of a meeting held on 6th April 1847, when it was "moved by Mr. Fairbanks, seconded by Mr. Ritson, 'Thgt Wm. Bryant be appointed overseer of highways for the present year, provided his salary do not exceed £10%per an- num. His duty to oversee all work done In the Corporation; take charge of all Corporation property; measure all lumber; keep the time of all persons employed by the Cor- poration; keep an account of cost of each work ordered to be done; see that the sidewalks are kept in re- pair and cleared of obstructions of all kinds; and perform all other duties that may be imposed upon him by any By-Law or By-Laws of this municipality?" The motion carried. By modern standards, it is safe to say that Mr. Bryant's fifty dollars for that year were well and truly earned, even 4f he only tried to go through the motions of what was expected of him, Schools and Churches During the first decade of vil- lagedom, the first major project of public expense appears to have con- cerned the building of a school. Ninety years later, we still seem to fahave the same sort of problem. "$However, at that time schools were " conducted in more or less remote parts of the village, within which practically any distance was con- sidered "walking distance". We note moreover, that in 1851 the school committee, consisting of - Messrs. Gibbs, Fairbanks and Moscrip, were responsible for the village being assessed "five pence in the pound for school purposes and five pence in the pound for village needs." One of the schools was at the North corner of Royal and Simcoe Streets, while a similar one-room school was conducted near the South East corner of Simcoe and Brock Streets. There were also private schools, not Wine The Tewn Council of 1897. Back row: Carpus French, Robert McCaw, Chief Constable Hoover, James Ross, A. R. MacLean. 2nd Row: P. H. Punshon, B. J. Rogers, J. F. Tamblyn, His Worship Mayor W. J. Hare, Fred Ellis, E. I. Rowse, O Hazelwood, J. F. Grierson. Seated at bottow is R. S. McLaughlin. MAY 14, 1880. NOTHING NEW BUT ARE YOU. AWARE THAT THE [Oshawa Carriage Works Is the place to buy your Buggies and Waggons. We use only the best XXX American second growth hickory, Norway Iron Bolts -- Bessemer { Steel Tires. We 1un American pure colors, English and French Elastic high priced Var- 8 2 nishes, versus cheap Ca- Faetr Varnishes. Have engaged on Painting, Jo D'SHAND, celebrated as a first-class finisher. We guarantee our Var- nishes to wear ard not scale off. i ies to re If you want to prove the fact, bring along your buggies y pair bi pie and then seeing will be believing. - ga One Door South of Town Hall--Simcoe Street North. R. McLAUGHT.IV An advertisement from the Reformer -of 1880 illustrating the original fac- tory on Simcoe Street next to the present Fire Hall. This may be consider- ed the progenitor of General Motors of Canada Limited. The old "Argyle" enroute to Toronto calling at Oshawa pier about 40 years ago. Water transportation was popular then. x destined later on to be leaders of generations then awakening to life, received here primary instruction and subsequent preparation for uni- versity or advanced business ca- in receipt of public aid. One of them was called after the fashion of the day, Oshawa Grammar School. It was held on the ground floor of 'a two-storey frame build- ing belonging to a temperance, |reers. Many Canadians in positions fraternal order. This faced on Sim- | of distinction and authority in fields coe Street, between John and Lloyd | afar, as well as many who still Streets and wag known as the "Sons | live to serve more directly the mod- Hall". Here it was advertised, ern needs of a mature municipality, "young ladies or gentlemen may re- | secured their early training in the ceive instruction and education; | old school on Centre Street. A roll classical $3 per term, non-classical, of such names would prove an in- $2." ' teresting honour roll indeed, and However, the big project for the [Our town might pleasantly bask in trustees in 1856 was the school on | Such reflected glory. Centre Street, which was erected at During the decade following, 1856- a cost of £1,000 and was undoubted- | 68, the churches became established ly the forerunner of other more |in buildings more permanent and permanent structures within the [in keeping with. the dignity of the village. Built partly of greyish brick, | Faith. ~ The English 'Church, as this first large school occupied the | they called it then, left their early site just across from where are now | Puilding at the corner of King the beautiful grounds of Memorial | Street and Park Rgad ("Jones' Cor- Park. Later it was extended since | ners") and presently the graceful for nearly sixty years fit carried | oden spire and timber structure of the joint functions of both element- | old St. George's rose above John and ary and High School. | Centre Street. A few years later, Many hundreds of young folk, | the Methodist congregation trans- | The Next Installment of This Series Will Appear in Next Saturday's Issue ferred their services from the build- ing on the South side of King at Nassau, to Simcoe and Bagot Streets, where by the year 1868, a taller and even more slender spire pointed;--as it still points--to things far above the village workday world. Citizens of the Roman Catholic Oshawa AAAI Centre Street Public and High School built in 1856 at a cost of £1,000 ($5,000.). 's First Permanent School Building Architect's drawing Mille Female College built on College Hill in 1874 subse. quently . known as Ladies' College, destroyed by fire in 1896. From the loca~ tion of this building College Hill received its name. of De- DeMille orials, long or short, dogmatic or prod that often results in action. A many. Letters to the editor, appear with greater frequency. A citizen with | pronounced views about a public sarcastic, are written to deliver a | matter--and views seem to Navebeen | very emphatic in those days--rush- | spade is called a spade, with caustic ed to pour out his opinion in print. | emphasis. One almost wonders if | Whether over his own name, or the, editor of a village newspaper | that of "Constant Reader," "Ob- Could have any friends. There were | times perhaps when he hadn't | | readers, and justly felt, as was his pforty or- fifty cents for wicks and But despite outpourings of mental light by the Press, darkness is made visible in the streets after nightfall, by the flickering, yellow gleam of oil lamps stuck on posts at certain street corners. Even as late as 1887, server," or "Pra bono publico," he | one notes the monthly payment of aired his views, informed other |around two dollars for coal-oil and he payment of $1800 each to Messrs. F, Patte and Thos. White right, that he too, had made a con- tribution to the common weal. for lighting and caiing for street lamps. 3 More houses were added to the village. The population was grow- ing. The schools already mentioned were crowded out. Two more schools were urgently needed. Discussion went on through 1875-76 with the result that in 1877 both "Albert Street and Mary Street schools wer built. Each was nearly identical in size and with a sort of cupola ou top of the second storey ¥hat hous- ed the traditional bell. After such an expensive outlay in one year, one concludes that everyone took a deep breath. With DeMille Ladies College, (later to be total loss by fire), already partly bonused by the Village, the tax burden was growing. Certainly the schools of Oshawa must have been worked to capacity, because nearly thirty years elapsed béfore newer schools were added. - The Roll of Leaders Grows Though we read of factories and fires and bonuses and bankruptcy, there always appears in the record of the community, strong' leader- ship with a wholesome background. Staple industry, vigorous enterprise and conscientious work was accept- ed on all sides as essential to fufiire welfare, But processes change, new needs arise, markets temporarily fail and a factory closes its doors. At such time it required a very real, personal courage to venture a new stake where others had lost their all. But in our village there were such courageous characters and we of this age can see the result of their efforts in many different ways, es- pecially as reflected in our broaden- ed, corporate life. During the 70's we find more leaders drawn into civic service where they .gave un- grudgingly and helpfully of their experience and business acumen, Few, if any, of those we mention were silver-spoon-fed characters, or inheritors of wealth and position. They were of the people; men of the utmost integrity; their roots were deeply grounded in this vil- lage which was Home. They worked with, and knew, and were respected by their neighbours. Thus to those already mentioned, (Continued on Page 14) faith had worshipped in a pl nt timber building that glistened in white painted wood, since 1841. They celebrated their fiftieth anniversary with plans whereby in 1894 the present St. Gregory's with its bright red brick and stone rose from the same site and took its place in the growing community, New Dominant Figures But back to the beginn f the "sixties". New names a like rising' stars as the village adds to its leaders the names of Whiting, Cowan, Glen and Fowke. Here, we have A. 8S. Whiting, New England salesman turned manufacturer; W. F. Cowan and his brother John, merchants, bankers and manufac- turers; F. W. Glen, manufacturer, and J. W. Fowke and his son F. L., merchandisers and dealers in grain and coal. New ideas are heard. A united cry goes up for improved trans- portation, dettils of which have al- ready been related. Competitiive policies are aired. There is a great- er sense of stability and .so wider room for ambition, Already the feeling is being expressed that Osh- awa should be a Town and steps are taken to secure legal enactment which will ensure such change. But nothing happens and actually, a good many years pass before that much envied status is reached. Per- haps it was as well, for the village grew stronger with the passage of time, Meanwhile there was plenty to do. It was realized that there was little of natural beauty along the streets. It is worthy of note there- fore, that at the Council meeting of April 23rd 1863, it was moved by Mr. J. W. Fowke, and seconded by Mr. D. Burk, "that the council spend $100 in planting and pro- tecting shade trees on Simcoe Street, from King Street south- wards." This motion was carried, and thus began the life of that lovely avenue of grand maples and chestnuts which were so regrettably, but of necessity removed last Fall. We also note the vigorous discus- sion during those tree-planting days in which Mr. G. H. Grierson, Councillor, Police Magistrate and father of our Colonel "Fred", ad- vocated strenuously and learnedly, the suitability of maple and chest- nut as against other varieties of tree available. - A wise control was exercised and trees planted and cared for on other streets. Probably the last of many beautiful black walnuts, was that which had to be removed a year ago, branch by branch from in front of the Times-Gazette office. However, trees are in many respects not unlike people. We grieve to see them go, especially after they have given their best through a long and useful life, _ The Village Grows But while the trees are growing, the village does likewise, though not as imperceptibly. The Press becomes a stronger and more vital factor. Meetings are reported at length, sometimes with comments in brac- | keds as the report proceeds. Edit- size and capacity. HOMIE ly available from WHITBY PRICE YARDS LIMITED NORTH OSHAWA -- PHONE 4310 PHONE 416-419 gan, TIA i a The above photograph shows the front of Price Yards North Oshawa plant. To the left is the well equipped office build. + ing and te the right and directly in front is a view of the huge sheds, These sheds hold over 300,000 ft of lumber, and there are thousands of feet of lumber stacked out in the open. "The Oldest Busings In The World" "LUMB Since the turn of the century this business has serv. ed faithfully an era containing "ups and downs" in South Ontario. It was originally operated by Richard Oke of Whitby, later ty F. L. Beecroft, and purchased by Price Lumber Yards in 1941 who have been oper-- ating and developing the business. During the period of operation by the present owners the North Oshawa Yards were opened under the direction.of E. A. Tat. tersall. The business is today enjoying a greater vol- ume of business than ever, necessitating a huge ex- pansion program which will ultimately double its Co-operating in the business of DEVELOPMENT The foundation of happiness is in a con- tented home, and cohtented homes are developed by structures which are erected with sound materials which are constant- -. ~~. ER"