The Lampoon - 1930
For many years prior to 1930, the Lampoon was a monthly publication. It was first published to serve as the yearbook for the Markham High School in 1930. The 1930 publication contains 40 pages of articles and advertisements.
Pages 18, 19, 22 - The Village of Markham - by Murray Wilson
The village of Markham is located in the southern portion of the township of the same name, on the line of the Canadian National Railway No. 92. Settlement in this neighbourhood was commenced at almost as early a date as in the Town of York (now Toronto). The pioneers followed the banks of the Rouge River, which for some time formed their readiest means of access to new territory. The village is pleasantly situated and on entering it the charms of its’ natural surroundings are at once apparent. The soil in the neighborhood is rich, and the farmers prosperous and wealthy, and consequently the village as a centre of local trade is a thriving and comfortable community. The population has suffered owing to the centralizing tendency of our modern industrial and transportation system, which builds the larger cities and towns at the expense of smaller places. In 1851 “Smiths’ Canada” described Markham as “a considerable village, containing between eight and nine hundred inhabitants, pleasantly situated on the river Rouge. It contains two grist mills with three run of stones each, a woolen factory, oatmeal mill, distillery, foundry, two tanneries, brewery, a temperance hall, and four churches – Episcopal, Presbyterian, Congregational, and Wesleyan Methodist.” The population given by the census of 1881 was 954. The village was incorporated by the by-law of the County Council, passed on the 20 th day of November, 1872, to take effect on the 1 st of January, 1873. The following were the members of the first Municipal Council, which held its first meeting on the 20 th of January, 1873: - James Speight, reeve; Captain Thomas A. Milne, John Jerman, Henry Tane, and Hugh McGill, councilors. Henry R. Corson was appointed clerk and treasurer.
Long before the time of paved roads, travelling was necessarily difficult on all but main routes. About the year 1850 we find a company called the Markham Plank Road Co. owning a plank road running from Markham straight south to the Kingston Highway, then west in “muddy York.” The company was sustained by the use of toll-gates. The sidewalks were also laid with planks running end to end and about a foot apart to keep jay-walkers separated.
The village was divided into two sections about the year 1850. The lower section, now called Vinegar Hill, was originally the main business part of the village and went by the name of Reesorville. Many houses dotted the fill-side on the southern bank of the Rouge. Later on Vinegar Hill was noted for its’ Irish aristocracy. Thomas O’Hara carried on a soap factory of considerable importance, just west of the bridge leading to Milnes’ Pond. The eighth concession detoured, at this time, to the east and skirted the steeper part of the hill. The hall and lock-up used to be situated where the Anglican rectory now stands and a large distillery stood behind it. Across the road on the south-east corner of Main and Wellington Streets stood the well-known Wellington Hotel run by the late Captain Wm. Armstrong. The north-eastern corner was the site of a house and store occupied by the late Sinclair Holden. The house is still standing. Mr. Holden carried on a thriving drug business and in addition to tending to his store, would occasionally fill the Methodist Church pulpit, visit the sick and sorrowing, baptize the village youngsters, and conduct funeral services.
The central part of the present village was, in 1850, rapidly growing from south to north. There were quite a large number of stores, four hotels, carriage shops and tanneries. A stage left Markham daily and travelled via the plank road to Toronto where connection could be made for other points. Markham at this time boasted a band who would “accept engagements for Nic-Nics, Tea Parties, Processions, etc.” Cricket was the chief game played at that time and Markham boasted a good team. Amusement was provided annually by circuses which went from place to place and Markham would hardly ever be passed by. Milnes’ Pond was used for various kinds of aquatic sports featuring boat racing. Markham Fair, held in the latter part of October, drew large crowds of spectators who came to see the live-stock exhibits and ladies’ work, which was kept in a large tent. Many Toronto merchants displayed their wares but the chief display was that of the Speight Wagon Works.
The Economist was established in the year 1852 by Senator David Reesor. In 1866 Henry Corson, who had purchased the old German Tannery north of Markham and had in 1851 married Nancy Reesor (sister of Honorable David Reesor) procured the Economist from his brother-in-law. In 1879 Robert Corson, who had worked as a reporter on the Toronto Globe, was taken into partnership with his father and the firm called Corson and Son. In 1909, Henry Ryan Corson died, leaving his son sole editor and proprietor of the Economist. In 1915, Mr. Corson purchased the “Markham Sun” from Mr. O. S. Hicks and carried his publication under the present name of “Economist and Sun.”
In 1856 Markham Grammar School, the first in York County opened, in the Old Temperance Hall in George St., in the site now occupied by the Markham Lawn Bowling Club. The first teacher was E. T. Crowle, L.L.D., for many years considered one of the best classical scholars in Canada. He was an Englishman, an Oxford student and was principal until his retirement about 1878. On account of the limited playground and the proximity to the Public School there were frequent fights between the scholars of the two schools, for in those days many grown-ups attended the public school during the winter months. Because of this rivalry a new site, the present one, was secured about 1850. The teachers salary averaged around one hundred pounds a year. The staff consisted of one teacher for twenty years when another was added; than a third and fourth until at present the staff comprises six teachers. The main part of the present building was added to the old read part in 1892. In 1885 the attendance was seventy and it has been increasing rapidly until now it has reached one hundred and seventy.
In 1870 the first train ran from here to Toronto and back. The first trip took the form of an excursion which was instigated by James Speight and Henry Tane. (The return fare was $1.00) The large station grounds were for the purpose of storing wood and fuel for the engines. Wm. Goodram was the first president of the road, and in 1871 he was killed at Markham. The track was narrow-gauge and the terminus was Coboconk. A few years after construction a third rail was added then the old gauge disappeared. In the eighties the Grand Trunk took the railroad over.
In 1870 a large fire started one night in a small barn and spread northward from the corner of Main and Church Streets. It swept through a large hotel, similar to that of the present Tremont and spread from building to building but after a very difficult fight was stemmed at the present site of the new Presbyterian Church. The fire claimed one life (that of an elderly gentleman sleeping in an upper room of the hotel) and caused a great deal of damage. Most fires resulted in a complete loss to the owners in those days because insurance rates were too high for the ordinary pocket book.
Mount Joy contained, up till 1880, only two building, then Jonas and Simon Ramer threw open the fronts of their farms and broke them up into lots.
Markham could boast only of quite efficient bucket brigades before 1875 when a new band pump was purchased. In 1890 the council submitted a by-law to the people to put in a $20,000 electric-light-and-water system. It was carried by a majority of six and was protested and brought to court. Judgment was given in favour of the by-law. The Council who had enough foresight to see the need of this system comprised: G. R. Vanzant, reeve; Dr. Robinson, Mr. C. S. Billings, Mr. Frederick Washington Ash, and Mr. M. White, Councillors. The present water system is in every respect a great asset to the community.
(Some of the dates given may not be exact.)