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'wn 10- PORT PERRY STAR - Wednesday, August 7, 1996 re Sketches of Scugog Cy by Paul Arculus Sketches of Scugog is a historical column awritten by local- resident and historian Paul Arculus and published in the Port Perry Star the first issue of each month. A LJ LJ FTER THE FIRST major fire in _ Port Perry in November 1883, a number of villagers had expressed their concern over the lack of fire fighting equipment. In response to this concern, the Port Perry Council set out to develop a new set of building codes for the community, par- ticularly for the most vulnerable part of the community; the downtown core where the buildings were built so closely together. The new building codes were actually established in April 1884, just months before Port Perry's major fire. The Port Perry Council met on Monday, April 7, 1884 at the Town Hall. Council member Parsons introduced a Fire Limit By-law "... prohibiting the erection of wooden buildings on either side of Queen Street from Water Street to John Street, and on either side of Perry Street from North Street to Mary Street and on the west side of Water Street from Queen Street to Mary Street. That all main walls shall be built of brick, iron or stone within a distance of at least sixty feet ~ from the line of the street." The motion passed unanimously. Most of the buildings on the north side of Queen Street were destroyed by the 1883 fire. Unfortunately almost all of the buildings in the remainder of the area defined in the by-law were well estab- lished and built of wood. The disastrous fire of July 1884, cov- ered in last month's "Sketches of Scugog", eliminated the problem and the village was able to get off to a fresh start with the new building regulations now 'in place. Within a week of the disastrous fire, workers were busy removing debris in order to begin the rebuilding of the commercial centre of the community. The rubble was cleared and, like the Phoenix of antiquity, new buildings arose. When the new Town Hall was built in 1873, the community's lone fire engine, a hand operated pumper, had been kept in a shed on Mary Street. For some strange reason, the shed was sold and the fire engine left outside. In December that year, the engine was found frozen solid sitting outside. The Observer reported "It is hoped that immediate will be ww to put the Port Perry 985-0800 Uxbridge 852-3510 tonemoor % Core pong Non-profit organization Contact Dianne 985-0800 the new Town Hall. In September 1884 town buys a steam powered fire engine Stonemoor Day Care We NOW have DS engine in a condition for work and ah it hauled off the public streets." This fact was brought to the attention of the coun- cil. A decision was made to keep the fire engine in the basement of On September 5, 1884 an un-named reporter from the Whitby Chronicle visited Port Perry and commented: "... as we go from block to block down Queen Street and back again...we see confusion giving place to order...and taking definite shape the Port Perry of the future with its fine brick blocks on each side of the main street, its largely increased facilities for all kinds of business...as we look at the brightening prospect we cannot but feel that, everything con- sidered, the fire has been more of a blessing than a blight to the spirited and enterprising village of Port Perry... After the serious lessons of the late fires, we have little doubt our friends to the north will take such steps by way of securing a good steam fire engine... The reporter from the ~~ Lea£x37o0: Whitby Chronicie was cor- Engraving of the Ackermah Block as it appeared in the Oct. 2, 1866 edition of the Mail. This building is now occupied on the left by Village Decor and the right by rect in his assumption, in fact the Port Perry council was already considering the purchase of a"good steam fire engine." On September 11, 1884, a by-law was passed by the council to issue debentures to allow them to buy a steam powered fire eggine. On Thursday, September 5, an enterprising John Ronald of the Brussels Fire Engine Works brought one of his Steam Fire Engines to Port Perry. At a well attended public meeting he demonstrated its cap- abilities. It could project 400 gallons a minute at a fire. In order to keep affairs in a legal state Port Perry's council called for tenders for a fire engine. But Mr. Ronald had done his job well. In spite of dn impressive bid by Mr. LaFrance of the LaFrance Steam Fire Engine Works of Elmira, New York, Port Perry bought the Brussels machine. Mr. Ronald attended the meeting and agreed to offer a five year guarantee for the engine. Mr. LaFrance's company, the loser in the Port ; pal and most famous manufacturek of fire ii : ROBERT J. GOW : 1-800-267-1522 RICHARDSON GREENSHIELDS ivestment saviors to Cand nlerpre 40) nlerpring CADAGans 111 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa, Ont. L1G 454 Perry bid, later became one of the princi- engines in North America. The town also bought two reels and 1,000 feet of cotton covered rubber hose at $1.10 a foot, including couplings. As the town was being rebuilt unofficial races took place. On Sep! Shi 4, the North Ontario Sarvs gave "First 3 Honours" for completed call to the Thompson House. F The Ackerman Block was al and the Ross store third, fol- lowed closély by Jonathan Blong's block. The Thompson House was the hotel at the north ic corner of Queen and Water Streets. It later became known as the Sebert House and was eventually - torn down to be replaced by the present C.IB.C. The Ackerman Block is the building presently occupied by Village Decor and Lishman's. Ackerman came from England in 1878 and opened a highly a leather goods manufa business here. He eventually expanded to produce horse collars for the Ee trade at the rear of the building. He also had a shop in Blackstock. Ross had started business in Prince Albert in 1844 as a grain merchant and simultaneously operated a boot and shoe 6°/:% 5 Year Government Guaranteed 434-7156 or that saw Port Perry in the town was rebuilt ast