QUEEN'S HOTEL, This building at the corner of Brock and Colborne Streets, which everyone today knows as the Corner Store, is probably the oldest building in downtown Whitby. It was built about 1840 and served for more than 70 years as a hotel. The building was first called the Commer- Corridor Capers 'Tis the Season to be jolly! By the time you read the Column, the election hoolla will be over. May i take the opportunity to congratulate the 1977-78 Whitby Council. It was a difficult task for the electorate to choose among the excellent quality of candidates offering their services. It is hoped that ail the people, who put so much time and effort into their campaigns, will keep abreast of the issues and assist the Council. The talent and experience should be utilized not left dormant until another election comes cial Hotel, and in 1875 its name was changed to the Queen's Hotel. This hotel was the location of an historic meeting which nearly destroyed the first Masonic Lodge in Whitby. On July 21, 1842, Unity Lodge met at the Commercial Hotel and proceeded to elect Ezra Annes as its Master. His brother, Dr. Alva Annes had been elected Master the previous December but he was not present at the July meeting. When he found out his brother had been elected Master he, disputed the ruling, and both men refused to give up the office. The lodge split into two sections, with the Ezra Annes branch meeting at the Commercial Hotel until the end of 1842. The lodge was not united again until 1845. Over the years, numerous men kept the Commercial (later Queen's) Hotel. Among them were John Miller, E.M. Caldwell, a Mr. O'Leary, William Foy, a Mr. Colwill D. W. McGaffin, A. A. Gates, J. B. Perrin and Arthur Stevenson. A partnership of Tà ylor and McCann changed the hotel's name in 1875 and m4de several improvements. Taylor was from Toronto and McCann was a local man. In 1904 the Queen's Hotel did not get a liqnor licence "because it did not supply adequate accommodation to the travelling public". In 1905, D. W. McGaffin took over the building and made considerable improvements, enough to regain the hotel's licence. Mr. McGaffin, who came from Bond lead, Ontario, covered the outside of the old frame hotel with brick, installed a metal roof, and provided new furniture and electric lights. Ther otels of Whby di 8a booming business in the period of the 1 840s and 1 880s, but with the death of the along. We al need to pitch in and voice our opinion if we are to keep Whitby for the people. This week-end in the Corridor marked a memorable occassion. Irene and Dick Hall, on Bradview Drive, celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Froi all your neighbours, Dick and Irene, congratulations and many more years of happiness. The Senior Citîzens and handicapped will be happy to learn that the Ratepayers received verbal confirmation supporting the plan to subsidize them with transportation. The sections of the Municipal act that allow assistance will be forwarded to the operations committee for further study. We hope they will be able to help at least this segment of our population. The implementing zoning by-law for environmental areas within the Corridor will be a priority with the new Council. This should help alleviate the many concerns over lot sizes for severances as well as new development. Existing citizens and land owners should then have. the ýY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8,1976, PAGE 7 grain trade at the harbor, Whitby became a small retired farmers' town and the hotel business began to decline. One by one, the old hotels closed, and the Queen's met the fate of most. The only old hotels left are the Royal and the Whitby House, . The First World War meant the end for the Queen's Hotel. In 1916 it became the headquarters for the 182nd Ontario County Battalion, and was used for storing guns and ammunition. After the war it did not reopen as a hotel. The building was then. divided into two stores. The store on the corner became a confectionary shop for Charles Tod after the war. He was succeeded a6out'f955 by Miss Annie Stockhill, who kept a variety store for about 20 years. She was followed in the 1950s by Wilf Riegler, and later by Harvey Citron and Kelly Kleren who called the place "The Corner Stone". The south store was operated from 1913 to 1933 by William Meeker as a giocery store. He was succeeded by a man named West, who in turn was succeeded by Joe Shields. From 1956 to 1963 Gord White kept an IGA store there, which was succeeded by the Corner Pizza. In the 1940s Art Patterson kept a diary on the Colborne Street side of the building, and since 1954 he has operated an electronics shop there. The old Queen's Hotel has altered.considerably over the years, but is one of the few remaining links with the days when "Perry's Corners" was the major trade and business centre north of the harbor, and wagons of grain were lined from the third concession to the harbor waiting to be > unloaded. While the wagons stood in line on the road, the farmers stood in line at the bar of the Commercial Hotel to get some liquid refreshment. After a long wait, it was often fortunate that the farmer's horse knew the way home. same advantages afforded developers. It really shouldn't make any difference whether you own two acres of land or 200 acres. The entire area is protected by the same zoning by-law. The owners of the lands should be bound by the same restrictions. Just a reminder to finish your Christmas Shopping. Water and sewer bills have been received within the last week. I have been informed by Mr. George Ashe that he will notify the Regionof the non-existing sewers in the Corridor south of highway 2. If you received a sewer charge on your water bill, and you do not as yet have the sewer connected, just deduct the charge from your water rate. Until such times as you actually have the sewer connected, you will not be responsible for a sewer charge. Sure hope that will clear up the confusion until the computers decide who have and who haven't. That's ail for this week. M. McEachern 725-8967 I write this colunn on the eve of the election. That being the case, I arn not aware of the winners and the losers. Come what may, I would like to congratulate ail the candidates on their efforts. Certainly, individually and collectively, they brought their names and the issues before the people, and did more to fan voters interest than I would have thought possible. The local press did their part too. The coverage was thorough, and complete, and afforded all the candidates ample opportunity to express their views and articulate their positions. Il you recall a previous column, you will remember that I placed the blame for voter apathy in municipal elections in part upon the candidates and the media. They did their part in the three weeks leading up to Decenber 6th, and, at this point, I can only hope the voters did their part. With the threat of a postal strike once again confronting us around the Christnas season, word has it that the greeting card companies are calling posties' chief Joe Davidson "Canada's Grinch that stole Christmas". Word has it that they were vondering what to do with Davidson, and one wag suggested that lie be taken to Hull and mailed, first class, to Ottawa. Given the state of the postal service, Christmas would be over before lie arrived at his destination. This coming Saturday is the second Saturda of .December, and therefQre, is the day for the Boy cout Paper Drive. The organizers ask that you get your bundles of papers out by nine o'clock in the morning. A short week with very little to report on. Next week sone post - election observations. Sec you then. Santa Claus is coming Santa and his reindeer are in Durham Region...in fact they're in Whitby. We obtained an interview with Santa after hearing that his reindeer were down with a cold. Santa told us that he used a new sleigh when he came down for the Whitby Jaycees Santa Claus Parade. Santa said "The new sleigh is hard to pull and I think the boys caught a cold because they were exhausted". Santa explained that new sleighs often require adjust- ments and this one was being worked on to get it in shane for the trip back. Meanwhile Santa will be at 131 Brock Street North in Whitby, just north of the Brock Theatre. Santa will be in on December 9th, 1Oth, 11 th, 16th, 17th,18th, 20th, and 21st. Times are all day on Saturdays and evenings on weekdays. The Santa House is organized by the Whitby Jaycees with the help of donations from local busi- nesses. Watch for a progress report on Santa's Sleigh next week. Hearing is believing Infinity makes it perfectly clear for MTJ $218. The 1001 A speaker system by Infinity has a most transparent natural sound quality. Naturally! That's what Infinity is about: to get you back to the music itself, with no artificial coloring added. A 12-inch woofer and two 2½.inch tweeters-one mounted in the rear for ambience-produce exceptional clarity. Infinity know-how produces exceptional value. Come hear. We get you back to what it's all about. Music. Butt Radio & TV 1 year exchange option at full purchase price Studio 118 Sound Room 1l8 Brock St. S.-668-3707 (South Of 4 corners> 1 4e 1-1