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PAGE AoMOWITBY FREE PRESS, The Heritage Edition, SEPTEMBER Ï1",198£. T E, .,HERIT.AGE 'DTO Ol1d library pioneer B inits tiýme By Trudie Zavadovie For 60Oyears, beginnin~ in das §tWhouegWhtb's ars public library. Whtysis Since then it bas been used as government offices, a school for ,ited children and now as offices or lawyer and owner Murray Miskin and, for Heia Rlt World. eiaeRat Mie buil.,ding was designated a, historical building in 1984. Miskin's wife bought it -for a purchase price of $450,000. Since then, they have invested about $200,000 into the building resto- ration. "The building was rundown and empty when we bouüht it," says Miskin, who says the exten- sive renovation workc was begun because "We believe ini historical preservation .» The Old Girl's Association of Ontario County bought property for $500 and the people of Whitby got a grant to build the hibrary. The library, one of the first public libraries in Ontario until it moved locations in 1973, was built in traditional style accord- ing to the specifications of Andrew Carnegie who designed most of the libraries during the period of 1900-1915. The cornerstone was laid by Mayor Willis on June 9, 1913 and the Iibrarv was officially opened May 1, 19 14. When the library moved to its existing -location in 1973, the building was leased to Canada WHrr7BY LflRARY9 1914 Whitby Archives photo Manpower which stayed there until 1983. "A lot of damage was done by Canada Manpower," says Miskîn. «That took away a lot of character." In 1983 it was vacated by Canada Manpower and occupnied by Quest School, a private scéhool for gifted children, until 1987. Nancy Miskin bought the building in 1988. By 1989 a fairly complete restoration had been carried out on the main floor,' and most of the restoration bas now been completed. "Last year, on Heritage Day, the historical society beld its tea here,» says Murray Miskin. In June, 1988, tbey bad a ceremony celebrating the 75th anniversary of the latying of the cornerstone with period costumes and Tom Edwards acting as mas- ter of ceremonies. "Times bave changed," says Murray. «.People are more sensitive to the work of restpring buildings." Hle sýays that be might restore a missing concrete canape at the side of tbe building and has plans to restore tbe flap1e and put up a Canadian flag. The number 132 on the front of the building is done ini gold leaf. .The building is now estimated to be worth more than $1 mil- Fourcornrs:hub of t rade and traditio PR OM PAGEA1 (later amalgaznated with the Bank cf Toronto te become tbe Toronto-Dominion Bank in 1955).- It was the first branch opened this aide cf Toronto. As you look south on Brock St. tewards the four corners, the Dominion Bank structure almost comnpletely dominates the inter- section. There is a jog to the west along Broc St. as one goes south. ne explanation for the jog is that the surveyor's chains were not pulled taut. However, this mistake does much te increase the visibility cf this bistorical landmark, and to make Whitby's,, four corners unique. On the northwest corner is Gerrie's Block, built in 1873 to replace a sinillar building wbich had burned down in 1873. Prior te tbis were several wooden buildings that burned in October cf 1857. The building (c. 1873) now houses the Van Belle Floral Shoppe on the ground floor. The site was used as a drug store for 98 years (1871-1969). Inx 1971 the first flower sbop went in. The Whitby Brass Band used te, practise upstairs in Gerrie's Block. Gerrie's Block is one of only two cf the four original buildings tbat stili remains on the four corners. Although Gerrie's Block has seen many visual changes, its general structure bas remained the saine. Finally, the soutbwest corner once supported the old post office building. Tis building stood eut because it had a bigh dlock tower, the only one other than the Al Saints' Cburcb spires. Inx the 1840s, Cherry Smnith's Hotel stood on the southwest corner. The naine later cbanged te the 'Albian Hotel' and finally to 'Armstrong House.' The frame hôtel was demoisbed in 1907. Construction cf the post office started in 1908, and it opened in September cf 1910. It closed inx 1956, and the post office moved te its present location. The building remained empty until 1959 when it was demolished and replaced by the Bank cf Montreal j building wbich teday sta.nds at the corner. The Bank of Montreàl building is flush with th~ streetscape, whereas the post office was recessed, creating a diversion for the Dominion Bank acrçss from it. The pId post office was a popularrmeeting place for Whitby citizens Who set their watches by its dlock. Earl Pascoe, a local dlock collecter, bas thep worIng parts cf the old dlock as part of bis collection. Both tbe Dominion Bank building and Gerrie's Block lend architectural and bistorical character and importance te the four corners in Whitby and even allows first-time visiters and passers-by a glimpse cf the heritaze that Whitby bas te ctYer. The four corners and the downtown blocks also serve as an example cf wbat tbe Town cf Whitby was in the 1800s. Stock takes stock j» visual arts and history Several articles in tis issue cf ~ <;~M~X< te Wh-'tby Free Press on the role of thé Local Architectural Conser0ation Advisory Commit- ~ sses in AC)and on heritage written by Jill Stock, a sunimer student employed by the Whitby LiACAC'working out cf the Town PlannnXdepartmnent. A htby resident al ber life, ~ Stock ie a vis!ual.arts student at York tJlniversity in Toronto. She is also studying art history and arcbite4ture as part cf tbe visual ~,arts prcogramn. old anadan Bnk o Com erSHer interest in architecture builingandtheOddell*s beide n 164j pror o, emoiti,,,stems fiom design and structure- T U o d an dx n an o C m m r e es dean 19 4, pr or to de oi tA cion. Ot related studies such as sculpture, builingand the Oddfllos Hll hltb Arhlvu poto fashion design., and communi- cati d . j .4 4,ng tct as, w'been updatirjg the LACAC's files on Whitby>s designated buildings and preparing designation booklets on each. She bas also supplied the pictures and text for the I Spy" heritage photo contest that appeared in the Whitby Free Press througbout the summer. As Weil, work on displays in preparation for the annual Heritage Day display and celebration in September bave been completed by Stock. The LACAC's sunimer student position is partially funded by the Ministry of' Culture and Communication's "Experience '89" prograni. This funding is in the forin cf a provincial grant. The purpose cf the summer project wilI be te improve public awareness cf -Whitby's beri tage resourtes tùid thd.i LAGAC's role in preserving Ohen a