. . Bank Started Here Also 50 Years Ago, Records Show A MAJOR FIRE GUTTED THIS NW CORNER OF SIMCOE-ATH OL JANUARY 10, 1961 Five Or Six Adjoining Buildings Were Also Destroyed In The All-Night Blaze Industrial Base Growth --Oshawa Times Photo OSHAWA HEAD OFFICE OF BANK OF MONTREAL AT ATHOL AND SIMCOE INTERSECTION Photo By Ireland Studie 20A THE OSHAWA TIMES, Tuesday, February 28, 1967 By JAMES McCANSH Manager, Main Office Bank Of Montreal When I came here in 1959, Oshawa with a population of 57,000 was already being hailed the fastest growing city in Can- ada, yet with a brief seven years behind us, here we are stepping forth into our country's second century 77,000 strong and al- ready planning for a population of 100,000. As a banker, I must view Oshawa's progress over the longer term rather than in the growth and development of the immediate past and I suggest that a significant measure of our city's progress may be gleaned from even a_ super- ficial survey of the investment in the community by its various financial institutions. Possibly more important than the in- vestment itself is the faith in Oshawa's future thus evidenced. Closest to home is, of course, the Bank of Montreal, whose local progress reflects well the development of Oshawa. When the Bank established here almost 50 years ago it was already 102 years old and it is interesting to note that before Canada's centennial year is over, the Bank of Montreal will be celebrating its 150th year in business. 11,000 CITIZENS But back in 1919, Oshawa boasted 11,000 citizens only and the Bank established in a small tailor a few doors north of the Four Corners. A brief two years later more commodious quarters were required and the Bank moved to a converted store at the southwest corner of Simcoe and Bond. shop formerly occupied by a These served well until 1930 when a growing customer re- quirements made the. transfer to 20 Simcoe St. North a necessity. In 1961 the Bank purchased property for a new site at the northwest corner of Simcoe and Athol Streets and after a spec- Bank Of Montreal Growth Reflects. City Expansion tacular fire destroyed the stores occupying the land, plans were laid to erect. the attractive building with its outstanding facilities which now stands there. In May, 1964, Mr. R. D, Mulholland, then executive vice- president of the Bank and Mr. E. A. Royce, general manager for Ontario attended the open- ing ceremonies while Mayor Lyman Gifford cut the ribbon in the presence of a _ repre- sentative group of citizens. In addition to the growth of the original branch, a second Bank of Montreal office was established 10 years ago in the Oshawa Shopping Centre, bring- ing into focus the development of another sector of the city. The Bank of Montreal's ex- pansion here is only an indi- cation of the growth of the business community as a whole, designed to meet the develop- ing needs of Oshawa and to provide to some extent for its future expansion. Transportation Provided Link Settlement in the early days of the Oshawa district always followed the means of transpor- tation. The first settlers arrived on the lakefront and made their home there. In 1793 Gov- 'ernor Simcoe started construc- 'tion, primarily for military pur- poses, of the road between "Muddy York" and Kingston. Later known as the Kingston road, it was long known by the ipeople of the district as the Old 'York Road. The portion of it which ran through Oshawa is now known as King street. GUARANTY TRUST 32 KING ST. E. Open To Serve You Mon. - Thurs. 9 to 5 ) Friday 9 to 9 Saturday & fe { McLAUGHLIN COAL & SUPPLIES LTD. 1,500 PEOPLE More than 1,500 people tour the new GM of Canada plant in|Athol street car barn of the Ste. Therese West every month.|CNR here. FIRE CASUALTY In 1896, fire destroyed the Started Three Years Ago 'The real drive to broaden Oshawa's ifdustrial base started some three years ago. A survey shows that since then, 18 new manufacturers and service - type industries have settled here. The latest to ar- rive is API Instruments, the American corporation which se- lected this area in preference to the Niagara area. During this same area, 61 in- dustries increased production space by more than 3,000,000 square feet. The City of Oshawa now has about 100 different manufactur- ing firms, new and long-estab- lished, and several of these now employ between 500 and 800 people. The city's approach to indus- trial expansion is best summed up as total, rather than piece- meal development of the civic enviroment. One of the noticeable: new trends was the decision of the incoming board of control and city council to attempt to put "new life' into the downtown area, which has been suffering from neglect. Oshawa is bent on making the most of its location as the east- ern end of the Golden Horse- shoe (the industrial belt be- tween Toronto. and Niagara Falls). The city's road and rail trans- port systems are well developed Major new developments are also promised in the realm ne| the city's harbor world. The harbor could be developed to| accommodate St. Lawrence Sea- way shipping. Much of the land adjacent to it is suitable for warehousing and shipping facill- ties. " The Oshawa Harbor Commis-| sion has been promoting the port | to encourage traffic. The Osh- awa Airport, also, will proba- | bly soon be included in an ex-! pansion plan - both of these| facilities are vital in an expand-| ing economy. | As an aid to its industrial de- velopment, the city is improv ing certain aspects of Educa- tion. For instance, the new Com-} munity College will be opened in| September; and, by upgrading technical skills, the city hopes to bring in corporations requiring sophisticated labor. | In addition to its four estab-| lished hotels, the city can cater) to the convention trade with two |new motels which offer service | comparable with any in larger) | metropolitan areas, | There seems to be no doubt about the city's future growth. There should be no shortage of skilled labor in the foreseeable, future. Oshawa's population is expected to increase from. its| present 77,700 to about 88,000! by 1970, according to Ontario government forecasts. LEWIS | OPTICAL | Established for over 30 years 1 10% King Street West 725-0444 ALUMINUM OSHAWA FREE PARKING Aluminu Awnings Combinetion Storm /Sereen Windows -- Doors Ne Prime Windows C.M.H.C. Accepted Sliding Gloss Patio Doors Shelters for --Ges Pump Islands GL Jalousies . Aluminum Siding WINDOWS modelling Your Old One PRIME AND STORM-SCREEN GLAZED, HARDWARE FITTED SEALED -- INSULATING FOR YOUR w Building or Re- ALUMINUM IN WOOD FRAME DELIVERED AS 'A UNIT SS FOR PICTURE WINDOWS JALOUSIE WINDOWS C.M.H.C, and ELECTRIC HEAT ACCEPTED » Inserts for Aluminum Doors end Windows Boked Enomel Finishes Optional SHOWROOM & FACTORY 93 ATHOL ST. £. -- OSHAWA PHONE 728-1633 OSHAW, LLEANERS RUG 5 . A a CD . * | ¢ + a € & a e + a s ¢ a ) ¢ a @ % a s fs a * # a 6 OO s 6 O s S % ) ¢ * a a = ------ | as = "At Our Plant J Srrrvnen spi @ Loose Or In Your Home" * OSHAWA'S COMPLETE CLEANING COMPANY RUG, BROADLOOM UPHOLSTERY Specialists. In @ Wall to Wall Broadloom @ Upholstery @ Alterations @ Mothproofing and CLEANING | | £, Free Estimates Rugs @ Binding @ Walls @ Repoirs OSHAWA RUG CLEANERS Division of Oshawa Cleaning Contractors 1700 SIMCOE STREET NORTH PICK-UP & DELIVERY 725-9961 6 #*% . Automatic Delivery 24-Hour Service Parts Insurance Plem Accurate Metered Delivery building supply business in supplies were added in 1923. Satistying Os & District R C$ NaWad e dents Or over 45 Years. é @ Budget Payment Plan Available @ Prompt Fuel Oil Delivery @ For Oil Burner Service by radio- dispatched service trucks Phone 723-3481. t Firm Lecated In Oshawa In 1922 ...45 Years Ago! McLaughlin Cool and Supplies Ltd. storted ifthe coal, coke, wood and Tile, Lime and additional building 1922. During all these years in Oshawa this eompony hos always kept abreost of the times and with the advent of ail heating, the firm made arrangements to handle the famous lines of oi! burners. foet. THIS YEAR AND EVERY YEAR ENJOY YEAR ROUND CLIMATE COMFORT CONTROL Why not? Everyone wants the most out of their present heating system without a lot of messy changes, s0 if you are one of those people with an oil furnace in really good shape you too must have the complete comfort of year round climate control. Let us install for you at a reasonable cost AUTOMATIC HUMIDIFICATION for central summer cooling, air filtering and perfect air circulation. See us soon. McLaughlin's use @ lorge fleet of radio equipped fuel oi! and service trucks to provide'prompt service ! The company hos goined a wide reputation for "Quality and Service' and thousands of Customers who continue to deal with the firm attest to this @ TOP QUALITY ANTHRACITE @ CAVALIER STOKER COAL WE ARE ALSO PROUD TO BOAST WE ARE... Oshawa's Largest Suppliers of @ BUILDER'S SUPPLIES AND INSULATION @ FUEL OIL AND STOVE OIL @ FIREPLACE WOOD AND CANNEL COAL @ CONROY OIL BURNERS @ GARWOOD OIL HEATING EQUIPMENT LIMITED 110 KING STREET EAST, OSHAWA McLaughlin Coal & Supplies PHONE 723-3481 1 SERRE