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1948 PAGE THIRTEEN SATURDAY, APRIL 17, THE DAILY TIMES-GAZETTE OSHAWA ... THROUGH MATURITY. TO CIVIC DIGNITY By COL. FRANK CHAPPELL, V.D. For The Common Weal. oy i 4 8 ; In the Beginning The administration of this area in I, its days of swaddling clothes as. a / hamlet prior to and immediately following 1840, appears to have been by temote--very remote--con- trol. It must be remembered that Toronto was the nearest centre of . officialdom. All registration was done there. For example, while marriages could be given official cognizance by the calling of banns in a church, three times prior to the ceremony, licenses to dispense with this quaint formality could only be obtained by journeying to Toronto. Legal business associated with the transfer of property, regis- tration, major financial transactions and so forth, involved a similar journey--and of course that meant several days of trouble and expense. Generally, municipal administra- tion was effected under an 'rrange- ment of Home Districts, these cov- ering rather a wide area. While geographically surveyed and shown on charts, neither county nor town- ships had the autonomy which now exists. Indeed, it was not until 1854 that Ontario County was organiized as a distinctly separate municipal entity, with Whitby as the county town. Even then, several years elapsed before the arrangement of minor municipalities, op townships, functioned in the manner we now understand. The Busy Hamlet One can readily appreciate there- fore, that during the period when this small hamlet in 1840 received its post office and official designa- tion as "OSHAWA," public business was rather perfunctorily handled. If one relied solely on official . records, few, if any, are available to indicate what, when, or by whom things were done. For this reason, one hazards a guess from knowledge of the type of citizen then living here that probably "each before his own door swept," in an effort to ", keep things going "decently and in 'order." Certainly, they did manage ~~ to keep going and thus established a foundation upon which others could build. _ At this time, the creek was the source of most enterprise. No doubt Centre Street is so called because it was then so nearly the centre of activity. There were two or three grist mills, two or three tanneries, a couple of distilleries and a brew- ery, and a carding mill, probably associated with a fulling mill far- ther along the stream. Though busy, each of these was relatively small, for excepting flour and grain the output of some could not be sent far afield in those days of limited transportation. But there were also thriving, trade shops such as foundries, blacksmiths, tinsmiths and cooperage, industries of this type being indispensable in places where more than a thousand people had gathered together. These are a few of the factors that prevailed in this small com- munity set in rural, not say, wood- land or forested surroundings. But it was a community having much in common, if it' was only the layout of streets, the digging of drainage ditches, the education of the young folk and the spiritual need of all. The Village Organized When at last in 1850, the hamlet reached the short-pant stage of growth and became a village, an air of official reality followed its deli- berations and from that time on, we are able to discern written records "of proceedings. And not alone a written record, for the printed word became available in the form of a weekly presa Thus the "Free- man". eventually became the "Vin- dicator", which equally with its sturdy opposition "The Reformer" worked through a long and- credit- able cycle of Press progress. And following the advent of the "Tele- gram"; these became the "Times" and the "Times" became the *"Times-Gazette", each in their sphere contributing uninterrupted weekly, tri-weekly, or daily publica- tion from 1850 to the present day. ¢ So the village council of nearly 100 years ago, became -an official channel for communication and de- cisions. It had clearly defined responsibility. It was an authorita- tive body within its boundaries and | The first require- | ment now, was for the citizens to | financial means. select from their midst, men willing to accept this responsibility and earry 'on public life of the' com- munity. This meant holding an election. . * Early Elections But in those days there was no such thing as a secret ballot. Voting might take two or more days. The voter simply established his identity to the satisfaction of the presiding clerk and then stated the'names oi those persons for whom he desired ' century. . : How many will remember when the Brook House shown above was located at the corner of Simcoe St. South and Bloor. The above picture, loaned to the Times-Gazette by Mrs. Holder, 737 Margaret St., Oshawa, shows this establishment. which served for many years as a hotel and latterly as a restaurant. This picture was taken about 1912 and Mrs. Holder and her baby son are shown in the centre of the picture, "When The Folks Gathered At The Harbour" lsum jis i Some of the people. in this picture are unidentified but according to William Thomas Morehouse who has loaned The Times.Gazette this picture, the ones identified are, back row, from left to right:. Mabel Thomas, Dr. Kaiser, Jimmie Leake, Ruth Jones, John Cummins, Miss Hyland, Harry Morphy, Miss Carswell, Allie Woon, next from right, Katie Carswell, Gladys Murton, Miss Hyland, Mamie Blamey, Dick Cassels, Gertie Haynes, Miss Trewin, Hattie Woon, Harold King, next below, from left to right.--Fred Warren, Mrs. Carswell, Hattie Hawthorne, Dick Babbitt, Ed. Glenney, Emma Morgan, Dave Hepburn; sitting 'below, the canoe~Will Coulthard, Mr. Kerrison, Mrs. Kerrison, Bob Cusack. Picture taken before the turn of the Mamie Thomas, Go to vote. This wish was duly recorded in a hook provided for the purpose, but which anyone of either party might see at any time, during or after the election, Very simple, no doubt--but equally no doubt, very embarrassing at times. But "them wuz the days" when votes could be bought or sold. Money, liquor or store goods could talk with a peculiar accent at such times, while "the man with the black bag" was an especially important figure dur- ing=elections-of major importance. Somehow, we seem to have drifted into a 'digression at this point. Per- haps it was prompted by the thought that young folk, or even some older folk are inclined to take present day conditions so much for granted. Such regard might be less casual by recalling how compara- tively recent are some of the elect- oral privileges we now enjoy. Strangely enough, while 2,000 sidered a wise provision by ancient Athenians in the so-called cradle of democracy, open voting much as we have described, prevailed throughout the English-speaking world until the middle of last century. The 'secret ballot for public elec- tions was not used in Canada until nearly the middle of the 1870's, and then only in the wake of sometimes desperate struggles that had gone on for generations in the Mother- land. The Village Council Oshawa, Since the last paragraph But to return to the early days in | was a passing commentary on the years ago a secret ballot was con- | o Supplies Limited. t ye _The Old Mill This structure hovsed probably one of Oshawa's earliest Industries and is still standing. (t was originally the Warren Mill, later operated by Robert Dixon Coal Company and is now used by McLaughlin Coal & --Photo by Campbell's Studio "x GR GR ho, Be a i J Above is shown an Orange Parade coming.down Simcoe Street North well before the turn of the present | cemtury. Oshawa has certainly had a "face lifting" since those days. «Photo supplied by John Thompson, Oshawa Post Ofmce. Oshawa Creek Crossing At Mill Street, 1908 In the right background is the house of Major Robert Dillon, Councilior, Manufacturer, Bisley shot and Church 'man.' On the extreme left background are the remains of DeMille Ladies' College. Hence the name College Hill. Certainly a: big development has taken place since the days of this photograph. Mill Street is now one --Photo by Campbell's Studio of Oshawa's almost completely built-up areas. systent in vogue, perhaps it Is hardly necessary to say that we know of no reason wnhy anyone should want to buy or sell a vote in matters affecting the village coun- cil; However, to- avoid misunder- standing, we do offer that assur- ance. Around 1850, the elections were probably: held in the dining room or parlor of Monroe's Hotel, which stood at the Four Corners, where Burns. Shoe Store now stands. It was central and it was big enough and anyway there was no other public building. . The oldest minute book available, has as its first entry the facts of a meeting held in this hotel on "Saturday, 26 January, 1850, at 7% p.m." It records the fact that John Burk as returning officer, made his return to the clerk, whereby out of the village council present, Mr. T. N. Gibbs, J.. B. Warren, S. B. Fairbanks, Patrick Wall and Robert Moscrip, the first named, Mr. T. N. Gibbs was declared elected Reeve. Subsequent meetings were held on each Saturday night for the next four weeks at the same place and time, in order to expedite the seri- ous work of organization. "We note the names of William McMaster as clerk, Peter Dayman as assessor and numerator and Francis Keller as contractor. Later, the names of other officials are designated with their duties, as Levi Fairbanks, treasurer; James Laing and Thomas Dow, auditors, and Hugh Gott, as constable, During one of these meetings, very rigid standing rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings, (quite formal and parlia- mentary in character, by the way) 50 clauses in all, were passed. That | must have been a hard night for | each clause was read and no doubt explained in defail to those less well- informed. One of the"rst by-laws approved, concerned the laying of a plank sidewalk from King Street to South Oshawa, this probably being as far as Quebec Street, We doubt whe- ther Simcoe Street had at that time received its name, since that road formed part of what was then known as the Nonquon Toll Road system, which extended from beyond Port Perry, through Oshawa, down to the lake front. At one of these meetings an official seal was adopt- ed, but of what form, or its present The Next Installment of This Series Will Appear in Next Saturday's Issue existence, this writer has no knowl- edge. The Council Functions In this way then, vegan organized civic administration in our munici- pality. During the next!few years, a reasonably sure foundation was laid for future progress. Those were the days when a court house was built; at least that's what: they called it save when théy referred to it as the Council. Chamber or even at times, the Town Hall. This wooden building stood at the corner of Athol and Centre Streets, where lis now enclosed the lawn of St. George's Rectory. Later, a lock-up was added. or 3 Those were the days when official duties avere only considered a "part time" job. For years, a new clerk was appointed as one of the first duties of a new council. Thus the handwritten records vary. One year, produces the heavy down strokes and faint, barely perceptible up- strokes, as from a long, feathered quill pen. Another year, the free Spencerian' swirls of -g steel - pen, | make clear penmanship but diffi- cult reading. Delightful pages ap- pear in the '"copper-plate" hand of someone who probably had experi ence as law copyist. Then conies & sloughing off for a while, with sparse, meagre entries, ill-written but in what appears to this observer as of a feminine hand. Scanning the brevity and obvious lack of ine terest in the minutes as such, one wonders if the clerk had turned his notes of the meeting over to his wife with the enjoinder "hurry and get these whit up, wiles I tend the calf." It was 1856, before the salary or honorarium of the clerk became £12 for his year's work and it was several years more, before appointe ments of this nature became pere manent. : A further interesting feature (Continued on Page 14) 46. YEARS OF PROGRESS ROBERT W. DIXON--Founder 1902 --- 1948 » On the 12th of July 1902, Robert W. Dixon purchased from Mr. McLaren the old flour mill located on King St. West by the Oshawa Creek. The mayor of the town was F. L. Fowke, and Oshawa boasted two. policemen, one for days and the other for nights. The population was about 4,000 and of course there were no paved streets. Water power and steam was used to operate the Mill until 1911, when electricity was installed. This new power allowed "R. W." or "Bob" Dixon more time for civic affairs, and he sat on the Town Council during 1913, 1914 and 1915 under Mayor Eli Edmondson, and G. D. Conant. In May 1922 R. W. Dixon founded the Dixon Coal Company and purchased the first property on Court Street from John Hall. Elmer Dixon joined his father the same year. Within three years the. property proved too small and the present premises 313 Albert Street were purchased from G. B. C. Sharpe, who a short time before had bought the prop- erty from Mrs. K. V. Mills. This property com- prises most of a square city block, with" under- cover storage and accommodation for several railway cars. In 1927 the Dixon family pur- chased the first of three gravel properties and supplied thousands of yards of gravel and sand for the construction of roads and many fine buildings including the General Motors Office and several factory additions. In 1933 the Dixon Company was incorporated to the Robert' . Dixon Company Limited, and the late Ernest THE ROBERT DIXON COMPANY LIMITED OSHAWA, ONT. « 313 "ALBERT STREET * o DOMESTIC INDUSTRIAL Oil Burners--Coal Stokers Heat Regulators Dixon who had been a partner since 1925 be- came Vice-President and remained in this.ca- pacity until his death in 1940. Dock operations were added in the early thirties in order to bet- ter serve many of the commercial and indus- trial plants of Oshawa and adjacent towns. The company now has in operation a fleet of trucks, portable loaders and clam shovels to facilitate fast delivery. ' In 1946 the Robert Dixon Company Lim- ited was fortunate in securing for the people of Oshawa and eastern Ontario the distributor ship of Delco-Heat Products, manufactured by Delco-Appliance Division, General Motors Cor- poration, and being Delco Oil: Burners, Oil Boilers, Oil-fired Conditionairs and Coal Stok- ers. Top quality stoker coal can be supplied by the Dixon Company in addition to all other. solid fuels, and with twenty years association with Imperial Oil, fuel oil can be supplied for every Delco Oil Burner. R. W. Dixon has now retired from active management but is still available for counsel. The Dixon Company sincerely appreciates the privilege of serving the public of Oshawa and the surrounding districts and will endeavour to merit continued patronage by the supplying of only 'the best available fuels and heating equipment, together. with the best possible service. Our faithful -em- - ployees, many of whom have been" with the company up: to 25 years, are able and willing to serve you courteously and efficiently. TELEPHONE 262