Whitbyisa vibrant town By HIS WORSHIP MAYOR JAMES GARTSHORE The Town of Whitby is celebrating its 125th anniver- sary as a growing vibrant and vital community. We are a strong, proud community, whose history as an incorporated town is older than that of Canada as a nation. Whitby was 12 years old when Canada was formed as a nation in 1867. We have, since that date, seen our country grown to one of the most successful and great nations of the world and as a town we have been proud to be part of that growth and success. In our own 125 years we have also grown from a hamlet to a small thriving city. The political and ad- ministrative ' headquarters of the Regional Municipality of Durham. We have, as a community, in our 125 years, seen the world move literally from man- power to atomic power, from the ox and horse to jet propulsion. Our town has lived through wars, depressions, good times and changes in society that our forefather would not have dreamed of. We have been able to live and grow through the turbulence of changes in these 125 years because of the work and faith of our forefathers who have given us a base and a heritage on which to grow as individuals,as a town and as a country. For that they have given us we must be thankful. Based on our past, we should look forward with every hope and faith in the future. If we do look forward with strength, pride and faith, and build on the base and the heritage given to us by our forefather, we can be assured that on our 250th anniversary, we will still be a proud, growing successful town, in a proud, growing successful Canada, and the genrations of the future can be as proud of us as we are of those who built our town and nation for us. Rowe gave Whitby its early prosperity CONT D FROM PG. 4 schooners and sailed them. He lived in a fine white house on the harbour. He was in the process of having. a large family six boy and six girls. With money in the bank, with good health and the need for new challenges in life he devoted more and more time to local politics. Mayor Gartshore has what seems to be a deman- ding routine of meetings, public events and ribbon cutting affairs that leave him little time for peace and quiet at home. Just imagine what it must have been like to cover the Whitby area of 1855 without good raods or a car. James Rowe's routine in office caused for the promotion of Whitby Har- bour as an export centre. the improvement of roads leading to the Town of Whit- by and the harbour. But most importantly, he had to keep the newely created municipality's rights nailed down at the county level and concurrently keep the funds rolling from the provincial government for their part of the proceedings, locally. Rowe was not only a natural for the job, he could do it all confident that it was all good for his various enterprises down at Whitby Harbour. He served as mayor until December, 1861. James Rowe lived to his seventieth year, and died in 1869. He left no conspicious monuments behind him, no great fortune or treasures other than his children. With this short sketch are a few illustrations that might give some life to him who is now gone and part of our local history. WHITBY FREE PRESS, "OUR HISTORICAL HERITAGE", WEDNESADY, JUNE 11, 19S0, PAGE 5 Whitby's first inhabitants left behind our heritage i their homes By EUGENE HENRY Some of the first farmer settlers of the Whitby area, became prosperous town dwellers during that period of economic growth and prosperity between 1850 and 1870 and it was this affluence that stimulated the con- struction of fine urban houses, churches and in- stitutional buildings in those days. Fortunately , some of the best of these structures in our architectural heritage survive today in a remarkably good state of repair and those that we have used to illustrate this special issue of the Free Press are just a few of the many that combine historical significanse with architectural merit in the Town of Whitby. The Whitby Heritage Committe (LACAC) has developed an inventory of more than 100 heritage struc tures, some of which may be designated as historic buildings under the Ontario Heritage Act later this year. As a graphic supplement to the inventory, some of the most familiar buildings were photgraphed for a heritage exhibition that was held in the Whitby Pulbic Library on April 9, 1980 (Whitby Heritage Day). Most of Whitby's heritage buildings are clustered in three areas of town: in the centre of town, south of the four corners and between the centennial building and Trafalgar Castle School. In the old Port Whitby community around the har- bour and in Brooklin. The Whitby Heritage Commit- tee is investigating ways to mark these buildings so that citizens on foot or in cars can identify them easily for heritage walks. Whitby's heritage buildings are in a sense an unexploited municipal resource that should play a CONGRATULATIONS and BEST WISHES for continuing your growth on your 125th Anniversary WE ARE GROWING WITH YOU! - The only computerized indoor golf system endorsed by the professional golfers association (P.G.A.) of America mComplete pro shop a facilities at discount prices.-'It's the golf equipment centre. mProfessional advice and instruction GOLF-O-TRON 1450 Hopkins St. Whitby 668-9671 Fireplaces, Woodstoves, Accessories. Chimney Brushes, Glass doors, Fireplace Inserts, Smokepipe & chimney Brick and Stone Facings and more... The Fireplue 900 Hopkins St. at Burns WHITBY. Ontario 668-3192 - -- l Plus 668-3192 ______ CHARGEX STORE HOURS: Tues. 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