The voice of North Durham
Thursday, September 5, 2013 • 11
Town Hall 1873 - 140 years of diverse history BENJAMIN PRIEBE The Standard
A stoic brick building with intricate windows and a large bell tower has stood as a sentinel over Port Perry’s downtown for many years, and will for many more. Built in 1873, the Town Hall has stood on the corner of Queen Street and Simcoe Street for 140 years this September. Its grey square edifice embellished with brick corbeling stands as a reminder of the past. Originally built as a civic building, courthouse, meeting place, and jail,
it has grown and changed with the community it serves. Town Hall 1873 was soon used as Port Perry’s early fire hall, the double doors that let patrons in to see its performances and concerts today, used to house a fire engine. Once upon a time, the historic building was converted into a corset and lingerie factory, sparking the trade routes and industry of the town of Port Perry. Once more prominent rail lines were favoured and
THEN AND NOW: Above, Port Perry’s Town Hall appears as it stood in 1958, minus the extension on the South side. The bell tower was removed in 1939, and was replaced with the replica we see below, in 1975. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Port Perry’s economy shuddered, its spacious wooden floor gave entertainment to many as a roller rink. Troops on their way to World War Two were even put up to stay and rest in its main hall before they embarked to Europe. As a testament to the improving culture being born in Port Perry in the 1950’s, Town Hall 1873 was finally renovated into a movie theatre. In fact, if you stand in front of the stage and look up at the balcony, on the right hand side you can still see the original projection booth for the films. Despite its apparent usefulness, there was a time in the early 1970’s that it came dangerously close to being torn down. This is the time that Town Hall 1873 was given the breath of life that would let it grow into the cultural hub it is known as today. “Theatre is what saved the historic building,” said Dave Ellis, historian for the Borelians theatre group. “If the Borelians had not pushed the Township to save the building for our use back in 1973, an important piece of Port Perry’s history would now be a parking lot.” The Borelians, named after Borelia Hill, are a group of Port Perry High School teachers who re-purposed the abandoned Town Hall and convinced the Township to lease the abandoned building to them for their drama performances and plays, since the high school lacked facilities. The first item on the list for the Borelians and their new theatre was to do some renovations and updating. “When we renovated the building after our first couple of performances, citizens of the town came in and gave us lumber, wiring and their own time to help us get the building up to code and create a stage,” said Mr. Ellis. “It really goes to show how much can be accomplished when a historic building means so much to the community, the hall was virtually maintained in its historic state for two decades. The old jail door is still downstairs by the washrooms.” The inaugural plays the Borelians held inside Town Hall 1873 were Mame and You Can’t Take It With You. After receiving positive ratings on the shows, Mr. Ellis and the Borelians decided to take promoting theatre in Port Perry a step further. “In the 1970’s, there wasn’t very much exciting or new culture in Port Perry,” said Mr. Ellis. “The Town Hall board of directors got in contact with
some actors and performers from Toronto, such as Peter Appleyard and Maureen Forester, and brought them here, as a way to spur the growth of Town Hall 1873 as a cultural centre”. Since 1973, Town Hall has held numerous performances, plays, shows and concerts; orchestrated by the Borelians, the Scugog Choral Society, Cadenza Productions and Choral de Lites. “Town Hall is used for so many different purposes by the community for the past 140 years and even today,” said Mr. Ellis. “People have been married there and had their wake there, the Mayor has historically held his New Years Day levy there. The children of Port Perry have held many concerts and competitions, from dance to drama and choir events.” The old brick tower was one of only a few buildings standing after the great conflagrations of 1883 and 1884, a reminder of Port Perry’s early architecture, which was both economic and elegant. “Port Perry is a good example of preservation, we still have the old library even today and it has been morphed into something different,” added Mr. Ellis, when asked to explain why the preservations of buildings was important.
“People did not want a new library, they loved the old one. Buildings are part of the heritage and character of a town, memories are made around them and inside them.” Town Hall 1873 is reportedly still a big part of the lives of even the deceased, according to the many ghost stories told by the people who spend time in the building at night. “Back in 1981, I saw a ghost in the Town Hall,” remarked Mr. Ellis. “I was the only one in the building, getting ready to leave, when I turned out the lights and turned to look up at the balcony. Standing up there was a lady in eighteenth century garb, just floating and looking right at me. I stood staring at her for a second, and then I turned and ran. I’ve made sure I’ve never been in that building alone since.” Those who would like to learn more about Town Hall 1873, its history, or its ghosts are in luck with upcoming celebrations and events being held later this month. The Town Hall 1873 will be holding a gala and concert featuring Irwin Smith on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 8 p.m. to celebrate it’s anniversary. Check out www.townhall1873.ca for ticket information and details. Lucky viewers may even spot one of the ghosts. Don’t worry, they’re friendly.
Durham food festival DURHAM REGION: Savour the Season, Durham Region’s annual culinary festival featuring fresh local food, returns this year from Sept. 11 to 22. Participating restaurants in Durham Region have teamed up with local farmers and producers to create mouthwatering dishes inspired by farm-fresh ingredients. These restaurants will offer fixedprice lunch and dinner menus for the duration of Savour the Season, giving diners the chance to taste the fall harvest, while at the same time supporting local restaurants and farms. “Durham Tourism is pleased to bring Savour the Season back to Durham Region, giving residents and visitors a chance to experience the taste of fresh, local food,” said Kathy Weiss, Director of Economic Development and Tourism. “This event is an important economic driver for Durham’s diverse agriculture and hospitality industries, and we look forward to seeing it continue to grow every year.” Now in its third year, Savour the Season features 27
casual- and fine-dining restaurants, located across Durham Region. Chefs are preparing these multi-course lunch and dinner menus, starting at $15. The dishes are created using fresh, local food—including meat, fruits, vegetables, and even maple syrup—from various farmers and producers. “This time of year, Durham Region offers an amazing array of diverse culinary experiences,” said Kerri King, Tourism Manager. “It’s great to see farmers and restaurateurs working together to celebrate local food and drink.” Visitors to the Savour the Season website at www.durhamsavourtheseason.ca can sort restaurants by area municipality, view full menus and learn about the farm-fresh products being used. An interactive map makes it easy to locate Savour the Season restaurants in each area. Reservations for Savour the Season are recommended, and should be made directly with the participating restaurant. For more event information, visit www.durhamsavourtheseason.ca or call Durham Tourism at 1-800-413-0017.