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reconstructed as a solid roadway. In December 1873, Mr. Sexton announced that having been requested by a large number of ratepayers, he would run for the office of Reeve of Port Perry, but lost in his bid to Joseph Bigelow. In November 1874 he sold 800 acres of his Springwater Farm on Scugog Island, to Reach Twp. Reeve James Graham, and moved to Port Perry. Just a few years later, in 1877, he sold his lakefront saw mill property to Joshua Wright. Mr. Sexton lived in his commodious house on Water St., behind the Sebert Hotel until 1877, when due to financial problems it was taken over by the Ontario Bank. He continued to live in Port Perry for a number of years, but in 1883 he and his wife moved to Brooklyn, New York. Before leaving he was honoured at a banquet, and was presented a fine gold headed cane and an expensive pipe by his many friends. The town was saddened to learn that W.S. Sexton, passed away in Brooklyn, N.Y., on September 3, 1893. His body was returned by train to Port Perry, and was laid to rest in Pine Grove Cemetery. Is hia About 1879 the Ontario Bank sold Mr. Sexton’s former properties and homes Map of where the home of William and to Louis A. McLean. It appears Mr. McLean also ran into financial problems, as Amanda Sexton was located on Lot $6. he offered the properties for sale on the market by auction in February 1882 and described them as being a “valuable property for sale with three houses and lots on Water St., within a few rods (1 rod is 5.5 yards) of the Port Perry Station and the railway. The property consists of three fine lots with the late Sexton family residence and two smaller dwellings. The location is healthful, convenient and pleasant.” Mr. McLean was unsuccessful in selling the properties and in July 1883 his buildings were destroyed by a devastat- ing fire which swept along the north side of Queen St. In July 1884, as the town was rebuilding, he sold the property to Mary A. Thompson, whose husband James V. Thompson operated the Port Perry House hotel just to the south of the Sexton properties. The hotel was also destroyed by the fire of 1883. Over the next few years there were many changes in ownership of the properties. Some of these owners included Jacob Brooks, James Carnegie and Louis Sebert. Mr. Sebert sold the Sebert House hotel, along with the adjoining former Sexton properties to Robt. John Weir in July 1923 and the next change didn’t take place until August 1949, when the former Sexton property was sold to the Village of Port Pes In 1950 plans got underway for building a new arena and recreation centre on the property and on January 12, 1951, Premier Leslie Frost cut a ribbon to officially open the Port Perry Memorial Gardens Arena. Other dignitaries on hand for the gala celebration were Maple Leafs Captain Teeder Kennedy and teammate Sid Smith. The arena operated on the site until 1980, when it was torn down and the former Sexton property has since that time been used as a municipal parking lot. Plans for the future of this piece of land are to enlarge the parking area to help address the ever increasing need for parking. cL by Peter Hvidsten and Paul Arculus This picture of the former Port Perry arena, located on the Sexton property, Reprinted with revisions from shows it just before it was torn down in 1980. Historic Homes & Estates Take advantage of the “Home Renovation Tax Credit” «Windows » Doors Siding « WINDOW STORE Siding « Sunrooms 905-985-6665 For. Alt Vour Window Needs Serving Port Perry, Uxbridge & ES 182 North Port Plaza, Unit #7 - Reach St. at North Port Rd. FOCUS - NOVEMBER 2009 37