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4 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, March 9, 1999 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Unlocking history of Port After seven years of research, Paul Arculus is set to launch his local history book - "The Merchants of Old Port Perry" By Heather McCrae e Port Perry Star The book we've all been waiting for, The Merchants of Old Port Perry by local historian Paul Arculus, is hot off the press this week. The official launching of the 200-page book will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (March 11) at Town Hall 1873. Several dignitaries will be present that evening to celebrate the publication of The Merchants Of Old Port Perry, as well as recognize various people who have helped preserve the heritage of the town. "We want to make it a celebration of the history and her- itage of our community, not just the launching of the book," said Mr. Arculus. The Merchants Of Old Port Perry started as an idea many years ago when the retired English and History teacher began writing historical articles for the Port Perry Star. Five years ago the concept came into focus when Mr. Arculus began writing his month- ly Sketches of Scugog for the Port Perry Star. With all the information he collected from various archives, libraries and museums, Mr. Arculus discov- ered there was too much material to be put into one book. The Merchants Of Old Port Perry will be the first of a series of volumes. (A second book, written by Port Perry Star publisher, Peter Hvidsten, is slated for release this fall, in time for the Millennium). , Initially, Mr. Arculus thought he might write a revised, updated version of Samuel Farmer's book On The Shores of Scugog, but realized he had enough new information to write his own. Starting with the arrival of the Iroquois, and later, the Mississaugas, the first half of The Merchants Of Old Port Perry is a summary of the history of the Scugog Township area, while the latter part is a "lot by lot" study of the downtown core of Port Perry. Port Perry, named in 1845 after its founder, Peter Perry, is still 'home to many descendants of the original settlers. named 'after early settlers and pioneer hant » Many of the streets' in Port Perry are of the ib J. PETER HVIDSTEN / PORT PERRY STAR Paul Arculus is seen here with one of his new books, The Merchants Of Old Port Perry, which was hot off the press last Friday. Mr. Arculus has spent the past seven years researching and writing the local history book. The official launch of the book takes place this Thursday at Town Hall 1873. and Mr. Hvidsten spent a day with George Emmerson, a long-time insurance man, Phil Orde, who started his career at Parrish Hardware (now Luke's Country " Store) and later became an important boat builder in town and Bill Carnegie. "It was a wonderful.day when Peter and 1 record- ed their memories as they reminisced about the good ol' days of Port Perry," Mr. Arculus said. He's received information from other sources, too. Through his monthly column, Sketches of Scugog, Mr. Arculus has received valuable information from read- ers across the country. While presenting an interesting historical account of the town, The Merchants Of Old Port Perry also has tales of deception, honour and, heaven forbid, notable scandals that hit the new back then. One interesting section of the book tells of how Samuel Stoutt, an escaped black slave, made his way - to Port Fay by the under, nd r way in the became a sttled and ° marrie It's published by the Port Perry Star and printed by Citizens Communications Group in Newmarket. Throughout the process many people have proofread and edited the book, "including Bill Brock and Diane Lackie, a former PPHS English teacher.". Writing a book is a very expensive proposition. Excluding the hundreds of hours of research and com- pilation, the cost of publishing the book is $25,000 for 1,200 copies. "There's no money to be made in writing history, unless you are Pierre Berton," Mr. Arculus contends. The book's jacket features 'buildings before and after the great fire of 1884 and merchants of Port Perry, including founder Peter Perry, Joseph Bigelow, Jessie Hope, who ran a smoke shop in town, Samuel Stoutt, al the way up to Howard Hall, the former -mayar of Scugog. The author will be signing books the night of March 11 and at Settlement House, the weekend after the gala launching. Now that the Sak ready for distribution, Mr. before stprtigih eamost ( on ho said, k abot. the Fog el