Bowmanville and Darlington History

HISTORY OF BOWMANVILLE

Part 29

By Mr. J. B. Fairbairn, P. M.

A matter most difficult of solution and settlement lay immediately before the citizens and called for prompt action. This was the question of better facilities for transporting merchandise for sale as well as to bring from other places the supplies required for the use of the settlement. All goods not brought by water during the summer had to be teamed during the winter from Toronto. That city was gradually becoming the centre of distribution for quite a large section of the Province. However Montreal being the enterport of Navigation, the larger portion of the merchants in Ontario resorted there to get what they required in the way of stock to supply their customers. They went in large numbers in the fall of the year for this purpose. They had to provide for the long winter months and until the opening of navigation in the spring and here again in the man with money had the advantage. It took capital to operate any fairly large concern in the face of the length of time to realize fr om sales and to re-purchase but the lucky man who had it took full advantage of the circumstances and the consumer had to pay a big interest, in the way of increased charges on what they bought. Human Nature is about the same at all times and number one was as closely looked after as now. I know from what I saw as late as 1848 that fifty per cent was about the usual amount added to the cost and on many special things higher rate. There is no doubt but the people were under a heavy burden of taxation. The local roads through the township were a fright. There were portions of them during the rainy season that were almost impassible and then the farmers had a mighty hard time to come to the village for the purpose of trading. Only those who had to battle with the mud and mire can duly appreciate the change to comparatively good roads. I remember coming through the swamp on the Tyrone road passing by the farm of my good friend Mr. Edward Rutledge, late in the fall of the year, on horseback, being ne arly submerged, the poor horse being twice mired.

In passing I would make short reference to the Rutledge family. They have lived on this particular farm since a very early period. The father was from the north of Ireland, a quiet intelligent citizen. Of the sons other than Edward, Col. James Rutledge, barrister, lives at Whitby and John, not far from where he was brought up near Salem in Darlington.

About 1846 an important onward movement was made. The government of the day passed a bill which was known as the municipal Loan Fund Act, by which municipalities were enabled to borrow money at a low rate of interest, for the purpose of improving the roads through their different townships. The counties of Northumberland and Durham took advantage of the opportunity and went largely into the making of excellent macadamized ones. They were constructed on the leading thoroughfares in this section from Clarke to Whitby and from Bowmanville to Caesarea. After the abolition of toll gates they were handed over to local control. It is a matter of regret that the township councils interested did not keep them in proper repair. This they could easily have done. For years they were a great comfort to those who had to use them either for business or pleasure. The trade of Cartwright was retained for us largely on account of the enterprise shown in this connection by Bownmanville. How very litt le do the present population know what hardships we had to encounter when compelled to take a long journey by land. Even to reach Toronto required faith and courage. The merchants of that day had nothing to fear from competition with such places as Eaton’s. All you want now is sufficient of the where with-all. You step into a luxurious car comfortably seated and heated to a proper degree. After a pleasant ride of two hours you step off into a street car and in a few minutes reach your destination. Contrast that with the following. The first time I went to Toronto, I was a youth about 15 years of age. I started early in the morning, my conveyance a horse and cutter. There had been no indication of rough weather, it looked as if I would have a clear bright day. Before I reached Skacs’ Corners, now Oshawa, it came on a towering north-west storm accompanied with snow. It looked as if the demon of the north had been let loose, piling up the beautiful into great drift. I plodded on at a slow pace, time and again I upset tumbling out into the snow half frozen I had to gather up the robes and face it again. It was pretty well on in the afternoon before I reached the hotel kept by Hood of Pickering. You may put it down that I enjoyed the meal I got there. It was quite a noted stopping place. "No man can tether time or tide." I had again to face the storm. I fought on, reaching the Don river at about ten p.m. The bridge over his stream had been carried away in the fall by a flood. To meet the necessity arising from this accident the authorities had strung two cables across the river upon which planks were placed. This constituted the roadway over. The wind had completely obliterated the track. I had not passed or met a soul on the way for miles this side of it. There was not a house to sight. It looked as if I must perish from exposure. All at once I found myself on the bank, a few feet farther would have percipitated all over onto the ice below. The instinct of the horse saved this dis aster. I got out took the bridle rein and at last struck the bridge. On passing over the horse caused the water to gush up between crevices of the flooring. If ever a poor beggar was glad it was I when I saw the street lamps which held the light of hope for rest and sleep.

In 1828 the absolute necessity for utilizing the great waterways by the Lake and the St. Lawrence, forced itself on the attention of the villagers and became the one important subject of discussion, resulting in an application for a charter, which was granted. The leading spirits of the movement then met at Hindes’ Tavern in May 1839 and a company was formed called the Port Darlington Harbor Company with the following officers: H. S. Reid, President; John Simpson, Treasurer; John Smart, Secretary. The shares, were 10 pounds each. They had no difficulty in floating them. The necessary funds wee speedily forthcoming and building operations were soon undertaken and inside of two years things had made such progress that vessels could load and unload at the pier which had been partly finished. This was a most important departure from the old order of things thus opening up the markets to ports on and across Lake Ontario as well as to Montreal. This naturally gave a gre at impetus to the commerce and trade of the place. Up to the opening of the Grand Trunk Railway the port became the centre of an ever increasing volume of business and the large quantity of merchandise that found its way over the wharf soon made a great addition to their available funds. The charges were high in comparison with what they are now. It was not long before they were able out of the surplus earnings to pay a dividend on the capital stock. The shares rapidly increased in value and were sold at a large premium when they were disposed of. One source of revenue arose from the purchase of cordwood large quantities of which were gotten from the farmers and re-sold by the Company to passing steam boats. They made a handsome profit in handling it. The laboring men who re-piled it on the wharf in a convenient place for putting on board became such adepts at it that a cord before it reached the stoke hole on the boat had grown to a cord and a half or somewhere near it.

Everything went on with great acclaim and for many years the holders of the stock felt that they had an unfailing spring from which the gold would continue to flow. Unfortunately, the Directors did not see as far ahead as they might have done. Some evil influence struck them and visions of a future Liverpool distorted their sight. They went into an elaborate scheme to enlarge the docks, open up the inlet to the marsh so that vessels could get entrance to it. They also increased the storage accommodation, etc. But the opening of the Grand Trunk Railway, knocked the bottom out of all their speculations and so dry docked the enterprise that it has never floated to any extent since.

Port Darlington was for years a great centre of attraction during the summer. Many resorted there to get the invigorating breezes from the lake during the heated term. Picnic parties and pleasure seekers of all kinds assembling in such numbers gave it quite a lively appearance. There was a good hotel and the arrival of the steam boats was quite an attraction. What a change has come over the scene! Were it not for the large number of handsome cottages that have been erected as summer residences by our hustling citizens, a sign board might be put up with the words, "It’s glory has departed," written on it. The first warfinger that held the fort was Wm. Mitchell who got 30 pounds a year salary. He also kept the hotel and was the first landing waiter at the port. He was a Highland Scotchman a hearty whole souled individual. After he resigned John Milne succeeded him in 1847 at an increased salary of 50 pounds. This gentleman deserves and must have a chapter to himself when the time comes.

Next - Bowmanville and Darlington History Part 30

Search the Ontario (Upper Canada) Genealogy Website - Make sure to use all known variations of a family name in your search!

index sitemap advanced

site search by freefind

Historical Tales From the Archives - A Selection of Stories, Recollections, Reminiscences and Travel Experiences in Times Gone By  New Site 2021
20th Century Ontario Genealogy Newspaper Notices Index New March 2020
Upper Canada Ontario Surrogate Court Estate Files and Will Database New March 2019
Ontario Canada Historical Map Site New December 2018
Ontario Place Locator - 19th Century Ontario Town and Village Locations and Inhabitants
Upper Canada (Ontario) Pioneer Settler Land Locations, Census Records and Property Descriptions
Historical Visits to Ontario Villages and Towns  Take a trip back in time to the late 19th century and explore the towns and villages where your ancestors lived, loved, laboured, laughed and played.
Ontario Images of the Past Thousands of Images of City, Town, Village and Country Life
Ontario Land Registry Records Research Thousands of your ancestors and where they lived in Ontario
Upper Canada (Ontario) Newspaper Notices Database
Ontario Genealogy Newspaper Notices Database

Ontario (Upper Canada) History and Pioneer Family Research
Queen's Own Rifles - Old Photos of Members
Upper Canada District Maps (Circa 1800)
Upper Canada (Ontario) History Books On-Line Index
Ontario County Directories Victoria, Haliburton, Hastings, Peterborough, Durham, Northumberland, Muskoka, and Old Ontario County
Central Upper Canada (Ontario) Marriage Database 22650 Marriage Records Indexed
Central Upper Canada Baptism Database 25000 Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic and Church of Scotland Marriages indexed
Upper Canada (Central Ontario) Burial Database 4500 Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist and Church of Scotland Burials indexed

Eastern Upper Canada Marriage Database Anglican, Roman Catholic and Church of Scotland Marriages indexed
Eastern Upper Canada Baptism Database Anglican, Roman Catholic and Church of Scotland Baptisms indexed
Eastern Upper Canada Burial Database
Upper Canada (Western Ontario) Marriage Database
Upper Canada (Western Ontario) Baptism Database
Upper Canada (Western Ontario) Burial Database

Upper Canada Land Petitions 51000 Records Indexed
Upper Canada Land Leases and Miscellaneous Petitions 10000 Records Indexed
Upper Canada (Ontario) Sundries Database

Upper Canada (Ontario) Toronto Insane Asylum Database
Upper Canada (Ontario) Kingston Insane Asylum Database
Upper Canada (Ontario) London Insane Asylum Database
Upper Canada (Ontario) Malden Insane Asylum Database
Upper Canada (Ontario) Hamilton Insane Asylum Database

Ontario Genealogy Historical Newspaper Collection Historical Newspaper Files from various regions of Ontario
Newspaper Genealogical and Historical Records - Thousands of entries
Ontario (Upper Canada) Map Collection Great site for locating your ancestors in Ontario
Ontario Genealogy Postcard Site - Great old-time landscape views
Upper Canada and Ontario CRIMINAL Database
Ontario Genealogy Database Index Site 500000 Genealogy Records Indexed
Need HELP With Your Family Research?

Northumberland County Genealogy and History
Victoria County Genealogy and History
Durham County Genealogy and History
Haliburton County Genealogy and History
Peterborough County History and Genealogy
Newcastle District (Upper Canada) History and Genealogy
Ontario County History and Genealogy
Upper Canada History and Genealogy
Echoes of the Past - Ontario Genealogy Home

Search the Ontario (Upper Canada) Genealogy Website - Make sure to use all known variations of a family name in your search!

index sitemap advanced

site search by freefind

Contact Ontario Genealogy