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RINGWOODcont. Public meetings were forbidden, the library and pool-rooms ordered closed and warnings were made about the risk of Christmas shopping. The epidemic was serious around Whitevale, Locust Hill, Claremont and here, with new cases being reported daily, yet only one death resulted prior to Christmas. Most of the annual Christmas activities were cancelled. 1922 has shaped up to be a banner year for Ringwood. First, in June, the Christian Church of Ontario held its annual conference in the Ringwood Church. A visiting reverend from Ohio delivered an aweinspiring sermon. A record audience was in attendance, which taxed the building to its capacity. Then in September, Ontario Premier King was met in Ringwood by the 48th Highlanders Band and mounted veterans acting as escorts for a 2 mile parade walk into Stouffville. Pupils from all the schools in the neighbourhood fell in with the march. The year ended finely with the annual Christmas tree and concert at the crowded and cheerful Ringwood School. In 1923 McKenzie, the “canny Scot” and popular garage owner, installed a generator to make his own electricity and light in advance of hydro being available. Ringwood lost to Stouffville in a narrow defeat of 7-8; our hockey hopes were high when we were up by 3 in the first five minutes, but they couldn’t hold the pace. The school has been closed for a few days, owing to the measles outbreak, and the annual school concert was duly cancelled. The first sign of Spring came with the opportunity to buy Choice Gladiolus Bulbs from W.J. Jacobs for 25 cents a dozen. Good news about hydro, its now reported that the rates may be as low as $1.90 per month; we were worried about the earlier report of $3, which is very high. Perhaps soon we shall see some of our homes and business places illuminated with the great white current from Niagara. Hugh Boyd almost lost his brother Alex of Markham, due to the fact that Alex was driving a truck load of cattle up from Toronto which collided with the Stouffville four o’clock train at Unionville Station; he and the cattle escaped with minor injuries, but the truck was a complete wreck. The ice cream social at the Ringwood School proved to be a good program for all those involved, despite the August heat. Chickens! F.A. Bruels’ new model brooder stove is capturing all the talk. The larger of the two models has 1000 chick capacity in a mere 52-inch canopy, burning coal or coke. One of John Fisher’s Plymouth Rocks produced an egg that measures 7 ½ x 9 inches and weighs 5 ½ ounces – it may win largest egg in the province. The chickens were surely shaken by that 9.2 earthquake we felt in March – the dishes were shaking and the pictures swaying. About 60 from around our burg spent the evening at the home of Mr. Kenneth Campbell. We had a very enjoyable evening of games and music; Ringwood Hockey Club of 1915 [courtesy of W-S Museum] afterwards, oysters were served. July brought another sad reminder about the fragility of life when one of our esteemed citizens, Abram Lehman died, at age 76. Mr. Lehman’s parents were one of the early pioneers in this section. He used to run the carriage shop and general store here, before opening an ice cream shop in Stouffville. The 1925 school year started off with 36 pupils, five being beginners. Our school beat Stouffville in the singing contest at the Stouffville fair. It is reported that a young man from here made his first trip to the Exhibition – he stood so long gazing up at the skyscrapers at King & Yonge that the roof of his mouth got badly sunburned. Mark this date – February 4, 1926: we now have bus service available 7 days a week from Ringwood to Toronto. After Ringwood, it serves Stouffville too. 10 trips on the Maple Leaf Bus Lines for $7.00. About 25 passengers were onboard today. Many improvements came to our burg this
spring: the hotel property was electrically lighted under the management of Mr. Sinclair, Albert Pemberton took over the property and blacksmith business vacated by Ernest Watson, and the Ringwood Garage was renovated again – they now have a washroom for ladies! L.A. Brownsberger, the fruit expert, pruned 15 acres of orchards. He says there are good prospects for all kinds of fruit. Sad news came in July – Wellington Stouffer died in the lane from heart trouble while doing his evening chores at his Ringwood barns; few men were more highly regarded in the community. J.L. Grove and sons have 1300 ducks hatched. Under the Corn Borer Act, all stubble must be destroyed or plowed under by May 20. Another large hole washed in Mr. Jones’s mill race during last week’s flood; we’re looking at buying a boat for getting around Ringwood. J.J Rae’s are advertising a lot of Ringwood Cheese for sale. It has been announced that a gold fish farm is coming to a plot one mile north on the 8th Concession. McKenzie’s is selling closed cars, 1928 Chevrolets – winter would be easier with one of those to keep you warm. A great number of citizens attended the Royal Fair. Our trappers are busy these days setting traps for the season’s catch of mink. Five of our hunters returned home this week from the Nipissing District, each with a deer. It is reported that Bruce Stouffer, who went west for the harvest, secured work with General Motors in Regina; he may not be back for a while. The Ringwood Garage is up to 7 hands – it’s a busy corner. April 11, 1929. Considerable damage was done to Ringwood during Friday night’s storm. We were nearly submerged in the flood waters that came from the north. Fences, dams and bridges were wrecked. Of the hundreds of culverts and roads and lanes in Markham and Whitchurch Townships, 90% are damaged or destroyed. A foot of water flooded the floors of Ringwood Garage, while the furnace pit held 3 feet of water. Despite the rains of last spring, the ground is dry in October. The Toronto Gold Fish Company continues the work of sinking wells. Both locals and authorities are watching with more than ordinary interest, as the new wells are being sunken near the Stouffville town wells – the ratepayers may be injured! The most recent well completed gave a flow better than the previous four, but it was a gusher of short duration. In the meantime, the wells on the Mortson and Sinclair farms have dried substantially. There is no law on statute books to prohibit drilling in wholesale quantities. With great merriment, about 50 people gathered for Grandma Hoover’s 90th birthday. Although she has been confined to a chair for the past years, her mind is very alert and she participated in the enjoyment to the full extent. We understand that 8th concession will be surfaced from Ringwood to Baker Hill with tarvia this summer (a tar and gravel substance). With this section built, Ringwood will boast hard surface roads year around! The Gold Fish Supply Company has hired Charles Dadson to guard over the fish ponds, against crows, hawks, gutter snipes, and prowling animals that prey on the fish. On the note of birds, Starlings are coming in such numbers as to turn day as overcast, yet you could kill 17,000 and have a million come to Ringwood looking west [far above]; Ringwood looking east [above] [courtesy of W-S Museum] the funeral. They seem to be driving out the good birds that destroy insects and sing songs, such as the morning doves, swallows and woodpeckers. These starlings carry deathly chicken diseases, they eat our fruits and vegetables, and they bring death to the trees where they roost. Mark this date – January 1939. When winter is at its darkest, the Ringwood School Trustees voted against the installation of electric lights. One farmer said that he would invest if it was growing and worth fixing up. He said that he pays $1,200 a year for only 13 pupils at the Ringwood School - a weak investment. The trustees also voted down a motion to hire a dedicated music teacher. The winter of ’42 has proved rough. The February snowstorm brought 10-foot snowdrifts and closed all roads to incoming food supplies. General store owner John Sinclair said that he was preparing to ration his customers. “Our supply of milk was almost exhausted by the time the plows got here,” said Mr. Sinclair. The former Button Hotel, having operated as the Sinclair Place this past 20 years, has been sold to John Hicks of Niagara. Our population has dropped to about 100. Grove’s Store is about the only business still operating. 5
Page 1 and 2: ANNIVERSARY ISSUE: NOVEMBER 2017 RI
Page 3: RINGWOOD 1800-1950 the essential po
Page 7 and 8: an economic powerhouse The economic
Page 9 and 10: 9 home space Michael Borisko of In
Page 11 and 12: DOWNTOWN for Christmas The 24-Day C

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