MBE 141 WEDNE$DAV JUNE 8, 1983, WHITBV FREE PRESS Rotary Club member writes historical book As part of its Sth an- nlversary celebrations, the Rotar Club of Whltby has publlshed a book, The Rotar Club of Whltby - A Hait Cen- tury of Service. Author of the detalled hlstory of Rotaryin Whltby was Rotarlan Neil Murkar, a 30-year veteran of the organization and its historlan. The 230page volume was the result of over three years of re- seh and study of club mernorabilila, news- paper accounts and countless interviews wlth both Rotarlan and non-Rotarlan members of the community. Typ ewriter RENTALS also SALES & Si T 'ERVICE Because the Rotar Club of Whltby was the town's flrst service club and has played such a vital role ln communlty lite since its beglnnlngs ln 193, the book is also a partial hlstory of the town itself and many of its people and non- Rotarlans would also fmnd much of interest la the nostalgic look back through the years. In the Foreward the writer notes that several times in the hait century lite of the club it had been suggested that the club's history be re- searched and written but the proposaIs neyer got much beyond the point of everyone agree- ing it was a good idea. The gathering 0f the information was made particularly difficult because the club had neyer a.dopted any organlzed plan for pre- servlng records for historical purposes, and the search for source mnaterlal had to begin at asolute scratch. An interesting point made by the author at the outset is that ths is a book about people, and a history of the club could only be meaningful by having people as lits essential ingredient, otherwise it would be a bland, sterile account- ing of dates and happen- ings. Although the work contains a mass of detail, describing 5o years of Rotar meet- ings, projects and per- sonalities, the writer tried to make the ac- count one to be read for pleasure and enjoy- ment. In discussing the book, Rotarian Murkar States that the club in its half century hlstory has had 2,500 meetings and nearly that many speakers whose topics ranged trom bee- keeplng to the manufac- ture of embalmlng fluid. "If one were to have attended every meeting of the club during this fitty years, and been able to to retain aIl the information and know- ledge that had been im- parted, he would bave an encyclopaedlc store- house of tacts and wis- dom, " besaid. Another interesting observation made by the author was that some things neyer seem to change. In March of 1938, C.R. Brokinshaw, General Manager of Goodyear spoke to the club and said "the two major threats to the Canadian auto industry are the comDetition of countries paylng low wages, and the U.S."1 On Dec. 3, 193, a young Canadian author, Leslie McFarlane, told the club, " dwe Must establish a national iterature, read Cana- dian books and periodic- ais and support a Canadian publlsbing In- dustry," and nearly fit- ty years later people like Pierre Berton and Farley Mowat are singing the same tune. The pages of the book are filled wlth quotes of many who have ad- dressed the club such as Co. Geo Drew who spoke on Sept. 6, 1938 stating, "Hitler does flot want war"'; Mrs. Kathleen Rowe, Director of Music in a Whitby school, who told a 1949 meeting, "the boys who plays a horn will neyer blow a safe"; Father Vincent Hickey visiting the club in 1949 who told members, "Capital and labour can only solve their differ- ences in the spirit of Christian love' and charity." Along with finally put- ting between two covers a comprehensive bis- tory of the club and a record of Its activities through the lust tltty years, one ot the thinga accompllshed by the book le for the tirstt Ure tW put ln perspective the tremendous contribu- tion that tbe Rotary Club 0f Wbltby bas made to the comrnunlty and its citizens la its halicentury. "lWith thirty years as a member in the club, I myseif didn't realize the magnitude of Rotary's contribution until I Started to seriously put together this record,", said Murkar. l'Rotary has done most of its work quietly and with- out fanfare, and I'm sure everyone who reads this book, club mnember and non- Rotarian alike wiil be dismayed by the extent ot the club's efforts." Copies of the book are available to the public at $10 Per copy and al proceeds go to the Rotary Club of Whitby. Those wishing a copy may cail 668-3671. M I~i~(X tITHE CORPORATION 0F THETOWNOFWHITBY IN THE MATTER 0F THE ONT- ARIO HERITAGE ACT, R.8.0.9 1980, CHAPTER 337 AND IN THE MATTER OF THE LANDS AND PREMISES AT THE FOLLOWING MUNICIPAL ADD- RESS IN THE PROVINCE 0F ONT- ARIO NOTICE 0F PASSINO OF BY-LAW TAKE NOTICE that Council of the Corporation of the TOWN of WHITBY has passed By-iaw 1517-83 to designate the foiiowlng property as. being of ar-' chitectural andfor historIcal value or Interest un- der Part IV of The Ontario Hertage Act, R.S.O., 1980, Chapter 337: The McKay House 401 Centre Street South Whitby, Ontario REASONS FOR DESIGNATION McKAY HOUSE (a> Architectural This red brick wlth yellow brick trim house dispiays many decoratlve elements of Goth- Ic Revival origin including the Intricate bargeboards and the wood trlm 0f the veran- dahs. The windows are of particular inter- est featuring arches, voussoirs and finlals of yellow brick and louvered wooden shut- ters and blgsills supported by corbels of yellow brick. A second storey wlndow dis- plays a decorative window box while the f irst storey, staln-giassed window features a pseudo balcony. (b) Histôrical The house was built by William Dunkley a local contractor, as his private home ln 1874. The house was also the home of Donald McKay, Ontario County Treasurer from 1890 to 1914 and his daughter Emily McKay who succeeded hlm as Treasurer of Ontario County from 1914 until her re- tîreme.nt ln 1947. DATED AT THE TOWN 0F WHITBY THIS lst DAY OF JUNE, 1983. Donald G. McKay Town Clerk The Corporation of the Town of Whitby 575 Rossiand Road East Whitby, Ontario Li N 2M8 I r- r ~- - .-~---*------.-------,- - - M 1 1 m 1