WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JULY i7, 1977, PAGE 7 Brian Winter's Histori Whitby cal WHITBY STREET FAIR This is County Town Carnival Week in Whitby for the 12th year in succession, but the County Town Carnival does not have asIlong a history as the old Whitby Street Fair. From 1926 until about 1940 Whitby had a street fair which in many ways was a forerunner of our County Town Carnival of today. The first street fair was held on Halloween Night, 1926, with Brock Street south of Dundas and Colborne Street cast of Brock closed off for a midway. Games of chance were run at 25 cents a try, in booths constructed of wood. This was an evening event, so the entire street was illuminated with strings of electric lights. The strect fair was sponsored jointly by the Royal Canadian Legion and the Whitby Citizens Band, which divided the proceeds equally. The big attraction at every street fair was a raffle for a car, with tickets selling at a dollar apiece. The car was mounted on a platform in front of the old post office where the Bank of Montreal now stands. The draw for the car was usually made by the mayor at midnight as an attraction to keep people downtown at the fair. In 1929 a parade was introduced, with a grand total of $75 cash prizes for the best decorated floats. There were 21 midway booths in the middle of Brock Street, and at 11 p.m. there was a draw for such-prizes as a chesterfield, a radio, three tons of coal or a load of hardwood. The year 1929 was a fateful one for the street fair, for at the last minute it was rained out and had to be post- poned for a day. Thinking that the weather would be better in the summer, the street fair committee moved the event to August in 1930. In 1933 the town band dropped its sponsorship of the fair and the newlyforrned Whitby Rotary Club joined in with the Legion. Total receipts for the 1933 fair amounted to $1,400, with each organization receiving $650. By 1935 the Depression had cut this amount in half as hard times were experienced by all. In 1935 it was decided to move the midway to the town park, now Centennial Park, but the parade was still held through the centre of town, starting at the old Colborne Street School and ending at the park. In 1937 the street fair showed its biggest profit, and a crowd of 5,000 people, the largest ever, attended. Alex Hall, Mayor of Oshawa, and later Ontario County Judge, maqe the draw for the car and three five-dollar bills were also given away as prizes. A few of the organizers of the old Whitby street fairs are still living today. Among those still in town are John Frost, the treasurer for the early fairs; Art Stanlick, who was street fair chairman in 1929; Harry James who was chairman in 1933 and represented the Legion, and Don Wilson who represented the Rotary Club. Officers of the 1929 street fair committee were Art Stanlick, chairman; E. M. Lomax, secretary; G. W. Kirby, treasurer; and James McClelland, parade chairman. In-the 1930s, Jack Perry, who died in 1976, was treasurer of the street fair. He was manager of the Dominion Bank, which was headquarters for the fair. Some of the costs for the fair in 1933 were $69.50 to ' BROOKLIN RENTALS Equipment Rental For Construction, Form & Homeowner Anderson St. south of Winchester St. BROOKLIN, ONT. 655-3381 STREET FAIR PARADE ON BROCK STREET, 1934 erect and dismantle the booths, and $25 for parade prizes. A total of $621 was raised in the car raffle. With the outbreak of war after the 1939 fair, Jack Perry and a number of the other organizers enlisted and went overseas. The fair was discontinued, as war work took precedence over fun in the 1940s. Publish John Roberts, President and Editor of Plum lollow Press, has announced that he plans to publish a poetry anthology containing selec- tions of the work of Whitby area authors who are pre- viously unpublished. While technical details are as yet unannounced, Mr. Roberts will judge poenis on their merit and attempt to publish a representative selection. !f enough poetry is submitted more than one volume will be published successively. The book will be published through Plum Hollow Press and sold through Plum Hollow Books, and also by mail order. They will be sold at cost and Mr. Roberts plans to offer the books to major Canadian publishers in order to have ter seek poetry them consider individual hours. poets for future considera- AIl subm tion as authors. typed, shou Mr. Roberts wishes to ied by a bri stress that this is not a complete ni contest, but that each poem phone num or group of poems will be evaluated on its individual merits, and that each poet will receive a written critique of his or her work, whether the poenis are Durham accepted or not. Neither will Ashe will op there be any cost to the in Ajax duri poets to have their work of August. published, and the poets who The offic are accepted will receive a north end o number of books gratis. beside a laur Anyoile interested in sub- Mr. Ashc mitting inaterial or wishing will be easilý further information is asked Whitby and to contact John Roberts at long distan Plum Hollow Books, 135 phoning bec Brock Street South, Whitby, exohange. Ontario, LIN 4J9, or phone Hours hav 668h1221 during business- established, expects th The only other event similar to the street fair was a Whitby Fun Fest on the August civic holiday weekend in 1949, organized by the Whitby Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber again came to the fore in 1966 when it started the County Town Carnival. for printing issions must be Ild be accompan- ef resume giving ame, address and, ber; and copies' rather than originals should be submitted. Publication date will be determine d by the availability of material. .e opens office West MPP George en a riding office ng the first week ce will be at the f the Ajax plaza ndromat. says his office y accessible from there will be no ce charges for ause it has a 683 e not yet been but Mr. Ashe e office to he open at least one evening a week. Mr. Ashe also willmaintain a Queen's Park office with a full-time secretary, Sheila Wilson. This office will remain open through the summer even though the legislature is not in session. Anyone wishing to contact Mr. Ashe at his Queen's Park office may call 965-3588. The number of the riding office will be published when it is opened. STEP LADDER EXTENSION Aluminum LADDER Aîuminum Spnng loaded safety lock sure grip rubber feet on senf levefing .afety shoes. 16' 44" 5' 27-%20'"441 20' 5600 8' 48e 24'68-u 28' 76-" 32' 94" MITCHELL BROTHERS Building Supplies Ltd. Brooklin, 66-4991 "W"M"Oqq