WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 16,1979, PAGE 9 Histoncai *Frvs Whitby WILLIAM SINCLAIR Many of our readers will likely have watched the television dramatization of "A Man Called Intrepid," last week. One of the places featured in that program was the secret spy training base, Camp X, located on the Oshawa-Whitby border on the shore of Lake Ontario. The story of Camp X was told in this column in the- winter of 1978, when plans were proposed for a war museum on that site. This week, we look at the history ofthe Sinclair family, whose farm was purchased as part of the land for Camp X. William Gladstone Sinclair was born near Biggar, Lanark- shire, Scotland, on July 11, 1810. In 1833, he married Margaret Prentice and sailed to Canada where he settled in Whitby Township, near the farm of a friend frorn the old country, James Tweedie. For some years after his arrivai, Mr. Sinclair hired himself out as a laborer at various farms in Whitby, and for 14 years rented a farm near Almonds at the west end of the township. In 1861, Mr. Sinclair purchased lot 18, Broken Front Concession, east of Corbett Creek, where he established a large farm he called Glenrath. He built a modest frame farm house which was later stuccoed over. This farm house was eventually destroyed as a training exercise for the agents of Camp X. The Sinclairs had 12 children, seven daughters and five sons. They also had fourt~en grandchildren and seven great-grand- children at the time of William Sinclair's death at the age of 88, on June 30, 1899. Shortly before Mrs. Sinclair's death in 1893, the couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. The Sinclair family was well-known and quite important in Whitby's history. John Sinclair, the third child and second son, farmed on lot 24, concession 40of Whitby Township, and donated the land for the Sinclair School which is still in operation today. This brick school house was built in 1874. William Sinclair (known as W.E.N. Sinclair), a son of John Sinclair, was a well known Oshawa lawyer who became the youngest mayor of that city. He entered provincial politics and during the 1920s was the leader of the Ontario Liberal Party in the Legislature. At the time of his death he was a Liberal member for Ontario Riding in the Mackenzie King Government. The original William Sinclair who settled in Whitby in 1833 was a stauch Reformer (Liberal) and was a reader 'of the Toronto Globe, George Brown's Liberal newspaper since it was founded in 1844. The Sinclairs were devout Presbyterians and when there was a disruption in the church in 1843, William Sinclair joined the Free Church party. His son John became an elder in the Free Church. One of John's sons Norman, became a Presbyterian minister, and was honored as Moderator of the Synod of Toronto and Kingston. The last of William Sinclair's children, Alex Sinclair, died in 1934 at the age of 80. His nephew, Robert Bravener, operated the original Glenrath farm from about 1910 to 1935. It then passed into the Sinclair estate, which was acquired by the British Government as the site of Camp X. We are told that all that remains of the original homestead are two brown porcelain door knobs given to members of the Sinclair family by the commander of the camp before the house was destroyed. EDITOR'S NOTE Copies of.A Man Called Intrepid are available at M.B.M. Publishing & Photography, 131 Brock Streef North.• Water study planned A recommendation will go to regional council today that Simcoe Engineering Ltd. be retained to prepare a study for centralized control and automation of the Oshawa- Whitby water supply system at a cost not to exceed -$16,000. An amount of $20,000 was provided in the 1979 water supply system budget to carry out a study to centra- lize the control and automa- tion of the water supply system for the two municipalities. It is anticipated that cen- tralized control and automa- tion will have a significant impact on reducing future operating costs. By provid- ing computer facilities to control processes, pump selection, etc., the costs for power and chemicals can be reduced, says the region's public works commissioner. In addition it is intended to review the staffing in conjuc- tion with centralized control with a, view to possible reductions. One of the terms of reference of the proposed study is to investigate the reduction, on a scheduled basis, of the full-time mann- ing of the Whitby water supply plant. Firestone starts employees' suggestion program On May 1, a new sugges- tion program went into effect at Firestone Canada Incor- porated, which c Ild make employees up to $25,000 richer. Under the new efficiency suggestion program, prizes ranging from $20 to $25,000 will be awarded to emplo- yees whose suggestions are implemented by the com- pany and reduce costs or waste or improve the quality of work, work conditions or work safety. The contest is open to all of the nearly 700 employees at the Firestone plant in Whitby, except plant manager Fred Patton and co-ordinator of suggestions William Roka. Suggestion of the month and suggestion of the year prizes will be awarded. Workers who save $721 in award money will become members of Club 721, named School is broken into Anderson Collegiate and Vo'ational Institute was the scene for unusual activities May 7. It was the centre for the all candidates meeting and police report that the school had been entered sometime after closing hours. The school custodian reported to the police that an unknown person had been in the school building. It is not known how entry was made but. there was. "very little damage done. There was the window or glass partition between the office and the hall broken. Nothing appeared to be taken; police said. in honor of Firestone's 721 tires. Club 721 members and their spouses will be treated to dinner with the plant manager, given certificates of recognition and lapel pins, and have their accomplish- ments published in the in-plant newsletter. Last year the Firestone corporation awarded over $400,000 to employees under its suggestion program. INEM IHTB 668-3618 I Ev.nings 7'.m. 9p.m. ISot, Mai... i:30p.m.e FRESH PRODUCE SPECIALS FLORIDA ORANGES 125's I CANNED POP PEPSI - CRUSH -COKE $,5,29 per case FOR YOUR GARDENING PLEASUR WE NOW HAVE A FINE SELECTION OF REASONABLY PRICED BOX Chile Canada No. 1 GRANNY SMITH APPLES 0.59 lb. CABBAGE :.59 SPARTAN APPLES CAULIFLOWER MUSHROOMS .99.,...... .99. .99 GARDEN FR, 848 BROCK ST. N. (CORNER OF STAR AN' M M ET ~ACk' %il