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

The change that took place all over Ontario and Quebec between 1848 and 1855 was something marvelous. This is not too strong a term to use and it applies with full force to this particular section. Thousands of acres more of land was yearly brought under cultivation. The sound of the axe as unceasing. The magnificent forests rapidly disappeared for good. The virgin soil thus brought under the plough was so prolific that if you only scratched the seed in between the stumps it yielded immense returns. People came teeming into the country from all over creation. Every available acre off good land for sale was speedily taken up. It followed of course that the other branches of industry and trade kept equal pace with it. Riches were being heaped up by the inhabitants and this was not confined to any rank or class. All shared more or less in the immense wealth in which this county abounded; one want created another which had to be met. Our little village with those around us ere filled with mechanics of all descriptions, prosecuting their various callings. The world at large was beginning to realize that Canada was no small country only fit for Indians to occupy. The upward lift of prosperity continued with ever increasing celerity so that I think about 1860 the population of Durham reached the highest point in its history. Labour of all kinds brought a high price and any amount of work could be obtained all the year round. The winter was just as busy a season of the year as summer. Wood for sale had to be prepared for market, timber cut and hauled to the mills for making lumber. When a man took service with a farmer it was generally for the whole year. During this period many of the more intelligent and progressive farmers, including such men as Mathew Joness, Hon. J. Simpson, Robert Beith, of Darlington, Mr. John Wade, of Hope, and others, gave special attention to the improvement of their heads of cattle and commenced importing good strains of stock from the old la nd. Indeed the heart of the country was so sound that the blood of prosperity flowed through every channel, giving increased life and vitality to every part of the social structure; but all other matters faded into insignificance compared with the interest taken by the general public in the approaching railway age. I remember well what an intense enthusiasm was created when it became rumored that a main rail way artery was to be built between Montreal and Toronto, opening up the country which had heretofore been sealed for seven months of the year. When the scheme finally took a tangible shape and the contracts were let, there was rejoicing in every home, from the log hut to the most costly mansion. –This generation cannot realize what it meant to those who were so situated virtually cut off from the rest of the world for so many months in succession. Montreal was nearly as far from us in point of time as England is at the present day. To reach the former took several days by stage and any one compelled to go in that way during the cold in winter, really took their lives in their hands. It was day and night without rest just catching what sleep they could in the coach. The appearance of the engineers who surveyed and placed the line, were hailed with delight. It spoke a tangible language to the expecting populace and the years that intervened before it was ready for traffic had a wonderful influence on all the material interests of the country. When I look back I am astounded at the idea of the future greatness of Bowmanville that took possession of the people’s minds. About ’52 the mania became general. Everything was on the rush. Building operations went on a pace. Such places as the Alma Hotel on Church St. was put up. Brick blocks three stories high, adorned King St. as far east as where Mrs. J. K. Galbraith resides. Large fine private residences were built, many of which are still occupied. Money was plentiful and circulated as freely as water. The value of everything that people own ed was so inflated that three fourths of them thought they were wealthy.

About 1852, two brothers named Asley and Thomas Fox came to Bowmanville and opened up a brickyard, the first place to make brick with which to supply the market. They were in great demand and the new concern turned them out in large quantities and while the inflation lasted, made money for themselves and gave employment to quite a number of hands. Asley went to Victoria, B.C. and Thomas to Lindsay; one of his sons has risen to prominence there. (He represents one of the Victorias in the Leislature.) The town spread out in all directions and grew like a gourd in the night; land went up to unheard of prices. Town lots even in the South Ward were looked upon as worth untold value. In looking at it now it seems inconceivable that level headed shrewd business men could be so completely carried off their pins. I remember asking a man what he would take for a lot up on the hill; there was an old ruined frame house on it. He asked the modest price of two hundred and fif ty pounds and did not care to sell at that. It is to-day worth about one hundred dollars. To show how crazy many became, James Mann, who owned the farm now belonging to John Elliott, laid out the whole hundred acres into town plots and sold large quantities of them at high figures. The proportional payments he received gave him ample means. Such long headed men as the late Colonel Cubitt and George Haines, Esq., bought and surveyed a farm which was outside of the Corporation for the same purpose and although so far from the centre of the town, they were enabled to sell some of the lots but most of them came back upon their hands. The last named gentleman acquired the property and upon which he continued to live until his death. It was owing to the fact that the G. T. R. railway contractors expected to make money by the sale of lands along the route of the railway, that led to our station being so inconveniently placed and which has entailed and will for all time to come heavy annual taxation in the shape of fares paid by passengers and the cost of freight to and from it. They bought a hundred acres upon part of which the depot stands from Mr. Edward White, one of the old settlers. (He was a most estimable man and was at the time well known and esteemed by all.) This was also laid out for sale. Just imagine the kind of boom that prevailed. They called an auction sale and offered lots on the Base Line east of the station road and sold some at fifty dollars a foot. Mrs. Puley now owns the estate. What puzzled me at that time and has ever since, upon what they based their calculations. They must have expected that it would make a city equal in extent to Montreal or Toronto. I reasoned with many of the enthusiasts against any such hopes, stating that this was not a terminus and would result in side tracking us. It was no use. All arguments were unavailing. I only got in return the reputation of a croaker. I will give one instance among hundreds of the disast erous consequences that followed this insane speculation in real estate. Zabina Fraser the grandfather of Mr. Edwin I Carr, sold his farm on the town line to William Crago, (It lies immediately opposite the beautiful fertile lands of Richard Osborne and this one I refer to was equally good.) for a larger figure, I think a hundred dollars per acre. After he moved into town he consulted me as to the advisability of investing the proceeds in mortgages on town property. I tried my very best to persuade him against it, but all to no purpose. The high rate of interest which was offered 9 per cent, over came all his scruples and I think he lost most of his money by bad loans. One case I knew; he advanced one thousand dollars on an acre of land away out on Scugog St.. There was on it an old frame house. The whole thing was never worth more than two hundred dollars. About the end of 1856 there was a cloud in the sky and premonitions of a coming storm were noted. The outflow of mo ney was stopped. Times were getting harder and harder. The wind was evidently passing out of the bubble. It culminated in the cyclone of 1857, which swept over Upper Canada and our little place did not escape. The bottom went out of the pot and the contents were irretrievable lost. Nothing but wreck followed in the wake of the gale and when the public awoke from the dream or stupor in which they found themselves and were able to take in the results, a feeling of depression so prevailed that all hope for the future prosperity of the place was in the most cases abandoned. For a long time even the wreck was left untouched. Houses and other structures that cost large amounts of money, were allowed to decay and for many years the town looked like Goldsmith’s deserted village, the grass growing on many of our streets. One fortunate thing was in our favour, we were surrounded with a rich farming country and enjoyed the growingly increasing business of Cartwright, Manvers, Clarke, and Darlington. Customers fr om those outlying townships came here to purchase their supplies. Some years afterwards matters began to improve, the debris left by the terrible boom was being gradually cleared away and since then our course has been one of steady sensible growth.

Next - Bowmanville and Darlington History Part 31

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