Ontario Community Newspapers

Whitby Free Press, 9 Aug 1978, p. 7

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"rn'Wliter's Hi.stor4 Whitby cal JAMES WALLACE Whitby in the lUth century was a town of entrepreneurs, wealthy businessmen who became involved in many varying projects in the community. one of these entrepreneurs, who stands out above all others for his-long and varied ca 'reer is James Wallace. He is a man whose life is fascinating as much for wbat we do know as what we don't know about him. Mr. Wallace was born in 1815, we do not know where, and appears to have settled in Whitby as early as 1846, when he is listed as an Ensign in the local militia. H1e was to become the greatest contributor to the military in Whitby's history. Mn. Wallace was a businessman who entered upon many ventures, some of which were successful and some not. From 1857 to 1861 lie was editor and publisher 0f the Whitby Watchman, one of several newspapers in the town at that time. The paper failed because of. heavy competition, but this did not bother Mr. Wallace. In 1858 he operated the Glasgow'Soap Wonks in Whitby, and from 1872 to 1876 lie was proprieton 0f the Canada Clock Company which manufactured dlocks in a factory on the site 0f the present day f ire hall'at Brock and Coîborne Streets. These enterprises also failed,,but, as usual, Mr. Wallace went on to something else. Mr. Wallace had his greateat business success as a contrcton. He was awarded the prestigious contnact for constructing the Ontario County Buildings in 1853, of which the Cour.t House, now the Whitby Centennial Building remains today. <Mn. Wallace also built a large brick building containing two stroes, on the west side of Brock Street, north of Coîborne, in 1859., It stood for 42 years, before destroyed by fire in 1901. Mr. Wallace also built a massive brick mansion on Centre Street South, at Keith Street, which was knbwn in later years Good Day' To show that the young people of our town are interested in helping others, Shannon McCabe, of 36 Ferguson AVenue, is holding a carnival. The carnival is on Saturday August 12 from Sil a.m. to 4 p.m. The carnival is to raise money for muscular ditoh.Everyone is welcome to attend. Come out and show yu care as mucli as Shannon does. Shannon I am proud of you. If more people felt like you the world would be a far better place in which to live. The librany has a whole string of events for August. Starting August 16, Wediesday, at 7 p.m. tilI 8 p.m. there are teen niovies. Monday August 21 and Friday August 25 String Art Classes' will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. More teen movies will be shown on Wednesday August 23 from 7 to 8 p.m. Then for the big event Friday August 25 a puppet play will be held fnom 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Don't fonget the Wednesday trips to the parks, tilI August 23. Every Thursday and Tuesday afternoon, at 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. stories, crafts and movies will be featured. Kinsmen eleet, off icers The Brooklin and District Kinsmen Club and Kinettes recently installed their new executive for 1978-79. The executive for the Kins- men Club consists of Presi- dent Ross Batten, past-presi- dent John Thiebaud, vice- :~presidents Clyde Jolinston and Ray Wagg, secretary John Darling, treasurer Jim cEllistrum, registrar John Harper, bulletin editor Tom Lewis and diifpetorr. Bob Smith, Uoug Wagg and Bob Baxter. The Kinette's executive consista of president Pat Thiebaud, past-president Heather McCrae, vice presi- dent Dianne Batten cecre- tary iris Hmer, treasurer Brenda Mancini, registran Leslie' McCabe, bulletin editorJudy Lewis and direc- torsUinda Death and Lynda Darling. The lIibrary is ciosea on baturaays auring tne summer months. This week's Word is GIGOT - a noun - a leg-of-mutton sleeve. A cooked haunch of lamb, veal, etc. The gigot was a delightful dish for the party. This week there was a holiday so the column had to be in early. Anything I missed will be picked up for next week's paper. Hope everything is okay. in the news! Brown's Drop-off (before .2 Sat. PC's hold luncheon Aug. 16 A business personWs luncheon will be held Aug. ý6 at noon at the Annandale Golf Club, Churcli Street, P«ckering by the Ontario ltding Progressive Conser- vative, Association. Those attending will have an opportunity to meet and, question the Ontario riding P.C. candidate Scott Fennell. VANUTIES completsVWith top Decorator vanities have sturdy con- struction. (Drilled for 4" centres faucet and drain are flot included>. A color and style to blend wîth your need. 000$1591»1 Not exactly as illustrated MITOIEIL IITH BROOKUN 655-4W1 A smile makes things easier.. Marie 655-3061 SALESMEN John Crains Stan Wé stfaII Phll Stevenson -««m WIH as Burr Lodge. This house stili stands today, divided into apartments. It was Mr. Wallace's home at one tinie, and was later the home of Chester Draper, owner of Whitby Harbor. Mr. Wallace's greatest building accomplishment was the construction of barracks and officers' quarters for the local militi, all out of his own pocket. Thess" builidngs still stand oday on Centre Street near Burr.Lodge. The house at tbe corner of Keith and Centre Streets was said to be an -officers' quarters, and the cottage south of it was the commanding officers' home. There were several brick cottages and two sets 0of row housing built by Mr. Wallace on Centre Street in the 1850s as miilitary barracks. One two-storey set of buildings was known in lateryears as the Vanstone Terrace, and south of it is a one-storey row of barracks. Mr. Wallace was responsible for'the establishment of a large volunteer Militia Company in Whitby long before there were any such companies in other communities in thearea. In 1856, following the Crimean War scare, and with the Indian Mutiny about to start, Mr. Wallace founded the Whitby Volunteer' Highland Rifle Company, of which he was Captain and Later Lieutenant. He supplied the uniforms and equip- ment himself for more than 40 men and built their barracks for them. In 1860 the Whitby Volunteer Highland rifle Company, became No. 6 Company of the Second Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles of Canada, which two years later became the Queen's Own rifles of Canada.1 In September 1860, the Whitby Highland Rifle Company formed a guardof honor for the visit of the Prince of Wales to Whitby, and with Capt. Wallace in command, they escourted the prince's carniage from the Grand Trunk Railway station to a waiting boat at the harbor. Capt. Wallace commanded a composite company f0 militia dJuring the Fenian Raid scare in Mardi 1866, and posted his mnen at Port Coîborne. The scare died down, but he and his men returned in June totake _part in -the Ba ttle o Ridgeway. In September 1866, the 34th Ontario Battalion of Infantry now the Ontario Regiment) was formed, with Lt. Col. Sulas B. * airbanks of Oshawa as Commanding officer, and Mr. Wallace, now a Major, as second in command. Major Wallace rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and commanded the 34th Regiment from April 1872 to January. 1874 and August 1874 to March 1880. Besides being a prominent military man, Mr. Wallace was active in politics. H1e served on the town council of Whitby from the town's incorporation in 1855 until 1857, and was mayor in Custom cuting and shaping for women, with remphasis on individuaiity. Cati for an appointment GUIDA & DINfO INSTITUTE '0F'BEAuTY 668-3621 109 BYRON St. S, D "n 668-6031, SALESM EN Bob Archer Tom LaRocce Gord Don.lly The SALE *18 on of '1978 Chevrolef, Oldsmobile & Iight duty trucks. We have over 125 new cars & trucks to sel before the new models arrive. a By Now & Save On The 4% OST. 865-3435 855-4811 tSONST, Chevrolet - OIdsmobIle Hwy. No. 7 Kinsale (4 min Est of lBropugwwham), f» - le5-10 Bank of Nova Scotta Finance Plan Avollable IITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNF.ql>4Y. AUGUST 9. 1978. PAGE 7 Hle was aiso, a prominent Mason, being a charter member ot Joinposite Lodge in Whitby in 1852 and Master of the Lodge in 1858. In 1853 he arranged for the corner stone of the court house which he buit, to be laid with a Masonic ceremony. In 1873, Mr. Wallace was posted for a short time to England as a Canadian immigration agent, and later returned to, Whîtby. Tlhe 1870s were hard times, for there was a severe economic dupression at that time. Mrs. Wallace's dlock factory failed in 11176, and he tried his hand at real estate and other ventures. 1Fina1ly, in 1880, he 'rnoved to Oak Park, near Chicago, following the trend of many Canadian businessmen who were seeking the opportunities that Chicago offered. Here he became involved in railway ventures, and regained some of hist lot wealth. It was at his home near Chicago that James Wallace died suddenly of a heart attack on July 10, 1882 at the age of 67. he is buried at Oak Park, far away from the Town of Whitby which he hsid done so much for 30 years before. DENTURE THE-9RA-PYý CLINIC 1l DUNDAS &Y, W. WHITBY 668-1464 [~&yllngfZ~Ui~ L .

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