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Cowl EMunsT RAT! DH 0 sume sys i, fo ' OSHAWA CONSERVATIVE RALLY IN 1911 City Incorporated Sat. March 8, 1924 "The "City Edition" of the Osh- awa Telegraph published on the asion of Oshawa's incorpora- n as a city on Saturday, March , 1924, carried an account of the jval of the first Grand Trunk ain in Oshawa . Herein is carried this re- port, it begins under the head- ing: "Wines and Viands Galore Por Visitors Who Came to Osh- awa On First Grand Trunk Train", The opening of the Grand Trunk rallway was one of the greatest occasions in the history of Osh- awa, and judging from the prints of that day the town realized its importance. On one occasion, in August of 1856, the mayor and council of the city of Toronto accompanied the directors and other dig- nitaries of the Grand Trunk on a trial run to celebrate the inaugur- ation of a regular train service between Toronto and Oshawa. The party came to Oshawa and paturally a celebration was ar- ranged. It was some celebration and an account of it makes par- ticularly interesting reading in these days of the Ontario Tem- perance Act and other prohibit- {ve and repressive legislation. Even in those days there was always someone to take the oo out of life, and it is reported that false rumors of postponement even going to the length of fake| telegraphic despatches "sent by some designing persons prevent- ed them from turning out for the in August of celebration when it was actually to take place." FAIR SHOW OF HOSPITALITY In its account of the occasion the Oshawa Vindicator of that day, after a laudatory introduc- tion, says 'that not withstanding the brevity of the notice given a a fair show of hospitality was given." Music was furnished by the Bowmanville brass band and ample opportunity was afforded {for those to whom music did not appeal to gratify their tastes in other directions. Many tables erected in the freight house were loaded with cakes, biscuits and all varieties of liquor. The Red er Fire Company was on hand to participate in the welcome and flagrations. It is not stated where the fire extinguishers were the next day but undoubtedly their services were in demand. Shortly after three o'clock the train arrived. It consisted of an engine and tender as pilot follow- ed by the excursion train itself, two locomotives, four passenger and five platform ears all loaded. |The first nove on arrival was to the refreshment room where the excursionists "were regaled with brandy and champagne in abun- dance". ADDRESS OF WELCOME Thus fortified they were able to listen with a considerable show of patience to an address present- ed by Thomas N. Gibbs on behalf of the people of Oshawa to Bev- to extinguish any incipient con-| erly Robinson, then mayor of To- ronto. "Mr. Mayor -- permit me on behalf of the corporation and eciti- zens of Oshawa to tender our hearty congratulations at meeting you on such an auspicious occa- sion as the opening of this point of the Grand Trunk railway ef Canada. "Upon so interesting an event as the opening of the new line of railway it is impossible to calcu- late the benefits morally, socially commercially and economically, which must ensue to all parties concerned who are brought into close contact with each other. | Distance is now no longer com- |puted by miles -- but moments. Towns and villages sevarated from each other by hundreds of niiles, it may be, are, by the an- closely, as it were the close ties between the mother country and ourseives. The con- sumption of this great enterprise so sincerely desired, taken in con- nection with the line of steamers, will give us an' impertanee abroad hardly eredited by men of today; but which will eventually lead Canada 'to become one the great mations of the earth. 1 trust, Mr. Mayor that it is not anticipating too much for our- selves and the city of To- ronto when the day is not too far distant that we shall witness the great stream of immigration pass over this great highway om its way to the West, instead of the more circuitous and more dan- gerous route it now takes. If our anticipations in iis respect are not disappointed, and I think they will not be, who can estimate the benefit arising from the eomple- tion of this great line. "A more important event tend- ing to the development of the vast resourcer oi our eemmon country, cannot well be con- ceived. To the inhabitants of this ROY BARRAND cil had voted $300 towards a sumptuous "dinner" and would huy a lot in those days village and the surr ing eoun- try who have spent so much tim~ plodding between it and the great metropolis of Canada, it is 8 heor long coveted; and we hail the| rail car in our midst as the har- binger of a brighter future, as bringing into terms of intimacy those who have been too long sep- arated, though by the short dis- tance of 35 miles. Speaking for the interests, commercially and materially, of all concerned, I trust, Mr. Mayor, that the open | ing of the Grand Trunk Railway | to this point will be attended by| those great results that have var-| jously attended similar events ir various positions of the province. "I regret, Mr. Mayor, that the short notice given us of your in- tended visit, among us, preventes our citizens giving you the wel- come they would otherwise have given. In their behalf now I ten- der you their hospitality in the hope that en the comnletion o° this great work, a celebration wil! take place at some point in whi~h the inhabitants generally through out the province may be able to partake." MORE REFRESHMENTS The whole assembly then re- paired to the refreshment room for another bout with the wines and viands. Upen the conclusion of this rite they were in fine shape to listen to the reply of the mayor of Toronte which, the ae- count relates, "was frequently punctuated with hearty ap- plause". The Toronto mayor re- turned appropriate thunks on be- plication of steam engines to rail- roads easily reached hours; and what would, by many of us, a few years since, have been viewed as a long and tedious journey, can now be ac- complished with ease and comfort in a comparatively short space of time. To Canadians, the opening |of the Grand Trunk Railway is |prized, wien looked at, not only |as benefitting localities. but is also valued from a national and a political point of view. IMMIGRATION SEEN "Almost simultaneously with the opening of this great work, the establishment, successfully, of in a few| half of the corporation and the citizens of Toronto for the kind reception they had met, and ex- |pressed pleasure at being con- veyed to Oshawa for the first time by rail. Cheers were then in order and it is not on record that anyone escaped, They cheered the mayor and the municipality of Oshawa, the corporation of To- |ronto. the Grand Trunk officials, collectively and individually, the success of the railway, the new cars, themselves and the refresh- ments. The party then dispersed to get in shape for the evening encore. ingly there were some slight difficulties in the transportation arrangements for the Vin. dicator's relegates that "by dint 0 paper on Sal 1924, an editorial referred to pro-| hibition as "protibitive and re- pressive legislation." of some economical stowing some|'r 40 or 50 of the citizens of Osh- awa, including ouy editorial staff, obtained standing room in the ex- tremely crowded ears and enjoy- ed a first trip on the Grand Trunk as far as the Whitby station." The distance from Oshawa to Whitby was made in 12 minutes. Decorations at Whitby station were elaborate and once more people listened to addresses, The artists on this occasion were the mayor of Whitby and J. H. Perry Esq., who spoke for the Mechan- ics Institute. The formalities over arpournment was made to the freight house where two rows of tables capable of seating 500 were immediately surrounded. Mayor Wallace presided and the menu was a woider. Delicacies offered fcr the entertainment of the guests included stuffed porkers, game of all varieties, pies. cakes and other fixtures, while brandy champagne and fine wines *'flow ed far more freely than water. an article by the way so cheap as to be almost overlooked." August 1856 describing in the quantity and type of and liquors consumed at a reception of that period distinetly nostalgic and what envious air. RED LETTER DAY May 10, 1956, was a red letter day in he history of General Motors, for on that day the 8,000, 000th antomebile rolled off the assembly lines of the plant, a re- markable record of car produe- tion. 100,000 POPULATION IN 25 YEARS If Oshawa can maintain an in- crease of ten per cent in its population each year it will be a city exceeding the 100,000 mark in the next twenty five years. The city has plenty of room for expansion, it is in one of the finest agricultural areas in the province of Ontario and with the many splendid lines of railways that enter it's gates it is unsur passed as a shipping centre, When it's new modern harbour, Then came the speechmaking. At first formal and dignified, then|is completed it will be one of increasing in warmth and cordial-|the largest and most progressive ity until "by the influences of centres in the Dominion. CERN 00000000 R00 R000 RRReRReRasaRRARRReS We are proud | of the story concrete was poured fs ¢ proud of, For they write of all the 50,000 people, "old" and "new", whe now call this shared in its steady growth inte one of Canada's leading communities, And on this, the 55th anni y of Osh as a city, we extend our heartiest congratulations and best wishes and look forward to helping write many more ch of our sidewalks' stirring tale of progress. ' BANK oF MONTREAL Canadas Fos Bank Oshawa Branch, 20 Simeoe S¢. North FRANK BEDFORD, Manager Oshawa Shopping Centre Branch, King St, Wests NORMAN McALPINE, Manager WORKING WITH CANADIANS IN BEVERY WALK OF LIPR SINCE YORI? EVENING DOINGS a line of steamers from Great Britain to Canada via the St. Whitby was the scene of the! evening doings. The Town Coun-| We Sell ADMIRAL w MOTOROLA ® MARCONI % DUMONT TV. and RADIOS ® ALLIANCE AERIAL ROTATORS EXPERIENCE made up 306 KING WEST it's FOWLER'S for TELEVISION between our FULL TIME TECHNICIANS in the Radio, Television and Radio Telephone fields. We have designed and installed Aerial Systems in the Oshawa District for. V.F.H. RADIO AND TELEVISION USE SINCE PREVIOUS TO 1946. All our installations WE ARE ELECTRONIC SPECIALISTS . . . With over FORTY-FIVE YEARS COLLECTIVE are put in with SAFETY AS THE FIRST CON- SIDERATION. Our records prove this. We are equipped WITH THE BEST SERVICE EQUIP- MENT and carry the LARGEST STOCK OF T.V. REPLACEMENT TUBES, PICTURE TUBES AND PARTS, IN THE DISTRICT. WE SERVICE ANY T.V. SET. We Try To Do The Best -- Others The Rest FOWLER RADIO an: TELEVISION "The Television Specialist" OSHAWA D THE MEN TO ASK FOR: @ "EARL" FOWLER ® RON LOVELOCK , JACK SNIDER IAL 5-1685 Congratulations. . . . CITY 1924 The TOWN of Oshawa 1959 The CITY of Oshawa of OSHAWA ON ITS oth ANNIVERSARY We are proud to have played i small part in the tremendous growth of the City in the last 15 years. During this period we have con- structed 11/3 miles of main streets. W. B. BENNETT PAVING LTD. SIMCOE ST. NORTH RA 8-8132