WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1977, PAGE 7 Briaii Wintei's H istorical CENTENNIAL PARK ,With the announicenient last week that preliminary plans for the devetopment of Centenrijal Park were approved by couincil, it is a good timie to take a look at what part tlîis park hias played in the history of our town. Centennial Park, until 1 955, was simply known as the "Town Park". When the Town of Whiitby celebrated its centennial of incorporation, the park received its officiai naine. At that tie a large lighited archiway with the words "Centennial Park" on it, was placed over the brick f gateposts at the entrance, but for reasons tinknowvn, it was remnoved some I15 years ago. Centennial Park was the first and for mnany years the only public park in Whitby. It was created by one of the first town bylaws in I1855 as a public park and market place for the new Town of Whitby. The Town of Whitby was experiencing a boom of development in the mid 1.850s, and this location was considered to be central te the growîing town. The first tewn hall was built on the south west corner of Brock and Trent Streets, at the north endi of the park ii 1855, and the park wvas therefore the logical place fo-r the town's open-air market. In the 1 850s, '60s, '70s, and '80s, the South Ontario Agricultural Association hield its annmal faîl fair in the park, k and in I1867, the local regiment, the 34th Battalion, erected a frame drill shed there. The park was a focal point for the activities of the towvn, but this was net to remnain the case forever. Economic problems retarded the expected growthi of the town after 1 860, and the park ended Up being too far rernoved froni the real centre of teovn, which was the Four Corners. One by one, the uisers of the park left for other sites. The first to go wvas the market place. It ioved tiptu'mv in 1 867. In 1879, the town hall nved fromn the park te the corner of Brock and Coîhorne Streets, where the fire IELDORADO~ CHEESE & DAIRY BAR 102 COLBORNE ST. Whitby - 668-1621 1Iocated behînd Bowman and Gîbsonl Cheeses direct f rom the Eldorado Cheese Fa Hours: Mon. 10:30-6, Tt &Thurs. 9-6 Fni. 9-9 ctory ues. Wed. Sot 9-6 THE MOMENT 0F TRUTH When you open a CVI can, you neyer have to worry about the quality of the paint inside. You know it's the best.. and you can also be sure that we have taken great care to provide you with the riglit paint for the job. That's why CVI can guarantee your satisfaction . . . or offer your money baik. So put the tid on painting worries- open a can of WEÀTH ER MASTER- it outweathers them ail. ACRYLIC LATEX GLOSS HOUSE HOUSE PAINT PAINT W~AT4~R~ ~ ~"WEATH0fi Suggested Retail $15.35 Suggested Retail S15.95 SALE $1Ov95 wvhte or pastel Brooklin PRO Hardware 58 Baldwin Street,.P.O. Box 101 HORSE SHOW IN CENTENNIAL PARK, 1913 hall is now located. The original town hall finishied its days as a vinegar and apple cider factery, and burned down in tlhe early I1900s. The faîl fair mnoved te a site at the corner of Dundas and Gardern Streets in 1 888, and the drill shecd was meved also te the new fair grouinds. Sub)sequently tlhe fair nieved to Oshîawa in I1906. Altlîeugh the park c5ýsed to be the central area of trae, governît, and exhibitions, there werc still a few days of glory left to it. In 1913 anld 1914 it was the site of the Whi tby Heorse Show, a very successful event, whiclî xas tériîinated by the First Werld W;i' In 1926, the WVonîICn'S iîStitUtC erectcd the brick gate pests at the entrance te tthc park. Tliese wvere prcseîîted te the townin i an officiaI cercnîeny iii August cf tliat yeair. In 1928, the proerty at the inICLudilg the old town hll IIsite, Editar's Quote Bookj Fwthings care inipos- sible te diligenice and skill. Samuel JohnsonJ RENT A CARI We accept Chargex, Mastercharge American Express 668-8000 opposite Brewers Retail iîerth end cf the park. wciît oiithec market , and the newly-tormed Whitby (ihamber of Commerce urged theX town council to buy land to extend the park to Trent Street. The proposai was incorporated in a bylaw which was voted upon by the ratepayers, and they turned it down. Thierefore the town lost a change to make the park a bigger attraction for its citizens. 1The intervening years have seen Centennial Park become a popular place for athletics. The old V!hitby high school held its field days there, basebaîl teams have played on its diarnonds for more tlîan 50 years, the County Town Carnival started out in the park, and the park was the focal neint for numerous celebrations such as the 1937 Lecion drumiheacl service, 1953 Coronation celebrations andtfle tewn's centenniial celebrations in 1955. ThreuIgh the years, Centennial Park lias been the one Iinik \ith the tewn's incorporation which, in size at least, lias remaiîîed the saine, and it has been the scene of most of the town's ma-,jor events over a period of 1 22 years. precast concrete MM steps Wardair's Popular 747 Service to Tampa & Miami for Winter 77/78 Now Avoulable Day Or Night Flights From $9900- $15900 Contact RUSSELL TRAVEL 116 BROCK ST. S.,, WHITBY Surnmer Hours Mon-Fri 9-5 Saturday 9-12 rioon BROOKLIN, Ontario LOBi 1UiCO PANEL Continousty vented. Fits a ny soff it width. Apply directly to f raming or over old soff il. Soffit Fack and Evostroughs ALUMINUM SIDING Reduces maintenance Et repaintiflg çosts. Lightweight. Culs with hand saw. Cil us for FREE ESTIMATES MITCHELL BROTHERS Building Supplies Ltd. Brooklin, 6954991 11