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HomeMy WebLinkAbout170Duotang bound study paper, 22 x 29 cm., by Maureen Raetsen, 1996, 16 pages plus appendicies. Pickering Village is located in the Town of Ajax. It was originally located in the County of Ontario, in the Township of Pickering. It was first called Duffin's Creek, which is a creek that runs through the village. The Township of Pickering was first settled in the early 1800s when land grants were handed out to servicemen. It consisted of a number of different villages at various crossroads between the concessions. Duffin's Creek was one of the villages located near Lake Ontario. In the early 1970s, Pickering Village became part of the Town of Ajax. The local citizens continue to fight today to keep the distinct heritage of the Village alive. Development is very important to the Town of Ajax. Historical buildings occasionally get caught in the way. As will be discussed in this paper, money is an important aspect to any town and through the years, on this specific plot of land in Pickering Village, education and historical heritage were destroyed to make way for new residential developments.Religion was an important aspect in Pickering Village as was the case for most rural towns in the late 1800s. Religion had a large role in the early settlement of the Village. An early pioneer, Timothy Rogers, was a Quaker and was commissioned by the government to settle families. In 1807 he moved to Pickering Village and brought with him twenty Quaker families. Rogers had hoped that Pickering would become the centre of Quaker meetings in Canada.1 Little did he know that a much larger Quaker institution would be located in Pickering where future generations would benefit from a worthwhile education.One of the most prominent buildings in Pickering Village was located on Conc. 2, Lot 13. Situated on the southwest corner of the lot on a hill overlooking the village, was a four storey building that was called Pickering College. This was a co-educational boarding school that was erected by the Quakers in 1877.Pickering College was a non-denominational school and it received students from all over the continent as well as from Japan, Russia, China, Persia, Armenia, Australia, Central America and the West Indies.2 The school had gained a worldwide reputation. The reason that the Quakers built the college was that they believed that an institution was necessary for the education of both sexes.3 The school was a new development to the Village and it was hoped that it would enhance the area surrounding the building while proving to be a valuable resource to the local businesses. The contract for building the college was given to an Oshawa contractor for $24, 300.00. 4 It was built on the top of a hill overlooking the Village and it began to keep a watchful eye over all the houses down below by Duffins Creek.The building was an architectural delight. It was built with red brick and was four storeys high. It had a bell-tower on the centre section of the slate roof and elegant arched windows, headed2 "Pickering College", Kindred Spirits: Ontario Genealogical Society, Fall 1993, Vol. XII, Issue 4.3"Pickering College," The Pickering News, July 27 1883, 4.4"Pickering College", The Pickering News, July 27 1883, 4. with buff brick. 5 It was located on four acres of Lot 13. It was a large building and housed many students and staff. There were parlours and rooms for the teachers, principal and superintendent. Two wings were built which ran eighty feet back and it was here that the students' dormitory rooms and laboratory were located. The building housed 75 resident pupils. 6 The school was heated by stove until 1883 when steam-heating became the main source of heat. 7 Plumbing only arrived at the college around 1905. A former student, Arthur Dorland, recalls:About the time I arrived at the school, inside plumbing had been installed and toilet accommodation had been modernized and enlarged. An adequate supply of water was also ensured by the erection of a windmill at Duffins Creek...which delivered some eight thousand gallons of water daily. This was in addition to the reserve supply in the main well and cisterns at the school. Nevertheless, we still used pitchers and basins in our rooms for washing and we filled our own jugs at a tap in the bathroom." 8Electricity was not yet available at the College. There was still no hydroelectric power. "Consequently, coal-oil lamps were used throughout the school for illumination. This presented a serious fire hazard; for oil lamps were used throughout the school for illumination. This presented a serious fire hazard, for oil lamps5 Archie Macdonald, ed., A Town Called Ajax, (Ajax: Ajax Historical Board, 1995). 286.6 "Pickering College Fire," The Pickering News, January 5 1906, 1.7 "Pickering College", The Pickering News, July 27 1883, 4.8 Arthur Garratt Dorland, Former Days and Quaker Ways: A Canadian Retrospective, (Picton: The Picton Gazette, 19 65), 142. 4were always liable to be knocked over, and many a glass chimney was smashed to smithereens in a pillow fight or similar fracas.9 Later on, an acetylene gas plant was installed in the school replacing the hazardous coal lamps. Pickering College attempted to provide the best facilities to its students with the least amount of cost. It was an institution that was an example for others across North America.The Quaker religion believed in providing the best education for their children while placing them in an environment where they could learn to be better persons.The object of Pickering College [was] to secure to its students as thorough an education as can be obtained outside of a University or of a professional school, and at the same time to surround them with all the moral influences and guarded care of a well-conducted home.10It was hoped that the students would be able to interact with both male and females and enable them to become better marriage partners in the future especially for those within the Quaker religion. Pickering College was a preparatory school for students planning to enter University or just looking for an alternative education in business or the fine arts. Tuition for the school per year in 1893 was $165.00.11 Therefore the type of students attending the college would be from middle-class families. Students from farms would not likely attend because they did not need the extra education as9 ibid.10 "Pickering College," The Pickering News, July 27 1883, 4.11 "Pickering College", The Pickering News, July 21 1893, 5. 5their life was destined to work on their family farm.The business program was world-class at the College. It was the first school in North America to offer a course in typewriting.12 The fine arts program flourished as well. Every week during the school year the Pickering College Literary Society met. Their meetings consisted of musical recitals, poetry readings, discussions and debates on current issues. There was a weekly column in the Pickering News discussing the meeting and inviting the public to attend to special meetings when the Society had a speaker. The curriculum at the College was extensive. It gave the students a resourceful education which would prove be valuable in the future.Pickering College was also a valuable asset to the community. It provided education to many students living in the Village. In 1905, fifteen students from the Village and vicinity attended the College.13 It was the only preparatory school within forty miles of the Village. Local businesses also prospered. They provided the supplies and materials for the College. Everyone in the Village felt the effect of the College: From the various churches which provided Sunday services to the students to William Peak, who ran a "taxi service" from the Grand Trunk Railway station to the College transporting students. The College was located on twelve ACRES of spacious grounds which offered space for recreational12 "Enterprise", The Pickering News, December 8 1882, 8.13 "Pickering College Fire", The Pickering News, January 5 1906, 1. 6activities for both the students and the inhabitants of the village. Various sports and activities were held on the college lands such as cricket and football.It [was] the chief aim of... the teachers to encourage in students a love of outside exercise, and no pains [would] be spared by the [Friends] Committee to make this a prominent feature of the institution, so that the health of the students may be secured in the best possible way, viz. by fresh air and outdoor recreation.14Various sport clubs were formed at the College and during the sport seasons the College played leagues against other teams from other towns. Recreation was an important part of the Village because it was a way to get together and meet friends and neighbours.Pickering Village welcomed the new development into their town as the Quakers paid for the construction of the building. They realized that it would be a valuable asset to their village. Therefore development was used to enhance the educational system in the Village. In this case development gave positive results because the entire village benefited. In a small agricultural town where major events do not have an effect on the town, the College provided a valuable resource which put Pickering Village on the map. Everything that Pickering College had given to Pickering Village was destroyed in the fire that occurred in December 1905. It was called the most disastrous fire in Pickering. The main14 "Pickering College," The Pickering News, July 27 1883, 4. 7building was completely destroyed. All that was left standing was the gymnasium. The fire occurred over the Christmas holidays so no students were in the building. The fire had started in the principal's apartment and spread to the rest of the building due to strong winds. The actual cause of the fire was not determined. Damages were extensive. The principal, Mr. Firth lost all his possessions and just his library alone was worth $4000.00. The total loss was estimated at $50 000.00. To re-build the structure would cost probably $75 000.00 to $80 000.00. The building was only ensured for $12 500.00.15. Fire fighters from Pickering and Whitby attempted to save the building but it proved to be impossible. It was easy to determine how much the College meant to Pickering Village because a large number of people from the Village came to assist in any way possible. They realized what a disaster this could mean for the Village. After the fire the Village attempted to determine its losses. There were no immediate plans from the Quakers to rebuild. The College committee was looking at offers from other towns. The Pickering News reported that the committee was swaying towards Pickering but "that feeling may be overcome by the great inducements offered by other towns and the indifference of the people of Pickering."16 Apparently not all the people of Pickering realized the impact Pickering College had on their small town. It15 "Pickering College Fire," The Pickering News, January 5 1906. 1.16 ibid. 8was estimated that the village would lose $1500.00 per year due to the loss of the college. 17 Everyone in the Village would be affected. Property rates would be depreciated and rents would decrease thereby influencing people to move away and population would decrease. The effects would hurt the Village both economically and socially. The College committee eventually decided not to rebuild in Pickering and instead move to Newmarket. To this day the college remains Pickering College in Newmarket.The only structure left standing after the fire was the gymnasium. This was built in 1899 through donated funds from Samuel Rogers, a Quaker descendant of Timothy Rogers. The Pickering College lands were sold after the fire to Ernest L. Ruddy. In the land deed records of Conc. 2, Lot 13 the first time Ruddy is mentioned is on September 23, 1911. There was a consideration of $4320. 00 for thirty-six acres of the south half.18 The college lands were priced as a derelict property; eleven dollars per acre amounted to $550.00 for the fifty-acre property.19 Ruddy, who was from Toronto, bought the gymnasium and converted it into a lavish summer home. Ruddy named the house The Hermitage. The additions that he added were designed in the Greek Revival style. A mezzanine floor was added in the back two-thirds of the room. Here, a central hall contained four bedrooms, a bathroom and17 ibid.18 Land records for Township of Pickering South, Lot 13, Conc. 2.19 Macdonald, 286. 9a rear staircase. There was a kitchen to the rear of the house and two large brick fireplaces were added. About ten yards from the house there was a well which was made of fieldstone and had a wooden roof. 20 The Hermitage was an example of the many places in Pickering that became summer residences for the upper class from Toronto. This development in Pickering Village did not have as large an effect as Pickering College did, yet it demonstrated that there was still money to be spent by the rich and the economy was doing wel1. Ruddy and his wife lived there for over forty-five years. He was a fine example of the elite in the Village. On July 15 1922, Ruddy's stables caught on fire. It was discovered by his Chinese cook who was about to prepare breakfast for Ruddy and his guests. Ruddy held expensive horses in the stables. He lost a Kentucky saddle mare which was valued at $1000.00. 21 Other horses in the stable were injured. This was also the third fire that had occurred in the past year. Fortunately Ruddy had sufficient funds to rebuild the stable.Through the next decades, nothing significant happened to Conc. 2, Lot 13. As was the case for the whole Township of Pickering people were mostly concerned with getting by in the rural agricultural township. The Depression did not affect the Ruddys. They continued to summer at their home while others around the20 Sandra Lucci, "Hermitage last Quaker link", The News Advertiser, May 30 1987, 8.21 "Localisms", The Pickering News, July 22 1922, 8. 10Village had to deal with the lean times. Both World Wars had little effect as well on the Ruddys. In the Village, some families had to deal with sons who had gone overseas to war and some who did not come back. The Township of Pickering was dealing with new developments while still attempting to maintain its agricultural base. Things did not change for the Ruddys until the 1960s when they sold the property. In 1964 the executor of the estate of Ernest Ruddy sold the property. 22 After that The Hermitage was abandoned. Near the building, there was a farmhouse built where a family lived but no one ever lived in The Hermitage again.The former lands of the Pickering College became a place to go exploring for the Village children. There was this big old building which was the setting for many ghost stories. The Hermitage remained untouched and was basically left to rot away. The newly formed Town of Ajax did not have any plans for it and would ideally be looking for developers to make an offer for the land. In 1982, the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee designated the building a heritage property. They reported to council that restoration was feasible, worthwhile and reasonable. Ajax LACAC opted for a temporary investment that would stop further erosion of the structure and protect it for future development. 23 Unfortunately Ajax LACAC was working with a town22 Land records for Township of Pickering south, Lot. 13, Conc. 2.23 R.S. Wright, "Loss of Hermitage needn't have happened", The News Advertiser, October 28 1987, 5. 11council that was more concerned with new residential developments than restoring the few historical buildings that were still around. The Hermitage fell victim to many vandals. Vandals had recently tore out the oak staircase and ruined the plaster on which stencils had been placed by Ruddy. 24 The Hermitage's days appeared to be numbered.In 1983 the interior of The Hermitage was discussed in a report by architect Spencer Higgins. He said:the original gymnasium structure [was] in good condition and 'could be saved at moderate expense'. However, he added there [were] serious problems with foundations and drainage due to the alterations of the building. 25In 1981 it was estimated that $400 000.00 was needed to restore the building and because of the high cost it was believed that Ajax council would have it demolished. 26 This was convenient for Town council because as the years went by, Runnymede Development Corporation put in a proposal for a residential community of 1 157 dwellings on a 23 acre site which included the Hermitage. 27 Mainly because of the money, town council felt that they could not save The Hermitage. The town councillor responsible for the area, Rene Soetens said:It's my feeling that [The Hermitage will] be24 ibid.25 Lucci, The News Advertiser, May 30 1987, 8.26 Lucci, The News Advertiser, May 30 1987, 8.27 Kevin Hann, "Mammoth subdivision for Village," The News Advertiser, May 30 1987, 8. 12demolished. . .The cost, based on work done two to three years back, seems rather prohibitive...And, it's not useable for the people of the community because there are no services on the site. 28Ajax town council was not keen on restoring The Hermitage. The new houses that Runnymede were proposing to build were designed as "move-up" housing for people living in the village who were ready for something else. 29 Town council were more likely to accept the Runnymede offer because throughout the 1980s the emphasis was on creating new developments, not restoring old ones. Discussions continued between town council and Runnymede and public meetings were held. Then, in the fall, the problems of The Hermitage were resolved for Ajax Town Council. On October 4, 1987 The Hermitage succumbed to fire. The building was completely destroyed. Arson was suspected to be the cause of the blaze. And so ended a legacy in Pickering Village. The object of controversy had been extinguished. There was never any suspect arrested for the fire. But there were still feelings of loss throughout the Village. R.S. Wright wrote a letter to the editor in the News Advertiser. He said:With the help of the fire department who regarded it as 'just another fire', The Hermitage was utterly destroyed. To them, its fate was written in the wind...To our town fathers, its preservation was a matter of dollars and of no real concern-certainly not enough to justify spending a few bucks. To Runnymede...it was a liability, a damned nuisance or, at best, a contractor's bargaining tool. But to most of us, the silent majority, it was28 ibid. 29 ibid. 13a fragment from another era. Its loss represents a tearing away of a part of our heritage. 30Wright spoke for many villagers as he expressed the loss of The Hermitage. It was just another building that eventually would have succumbed to residential development had it not been for the fire. Runnymede was allowed to go ahead with their development plans after many discussions with town council. Now the Pickering College lands are filled with residential homes, meant for upper middle-class families. There is no longer one significant structure on the hill looking down on the Village. Instead there are hundreds of homes watching over the Village. In 1990, Ajax Council designated part of the lands for recreational use. A park was created and it was called Hermitage Community Park as a reminder of what had previously been there. Town council also erected a replica of the well previously located on the Ruddy's property. Ajax LACAC continues to fight for restoring historical properties against new developments. They have become more successful as town council is realizing that preserving the town of Ajax heritage is just as important as preparing for its future. 30 R.S. Wright, "Loss of Hermitage needn't have happened", The News Advertiser, October 28 1987, 5. 14There were various primary resources used for this assignment. The Pickering News was a local rural newspaper that catered to the Township of Pickering. The paper contained gossip, news of accidents and fires and advertisements. It proved to be a valuable resource to this assignment because it was the only primary source describing the fire of Pickering College. There was little bias in the articles. The editors did have the opinion that the College was beneficial to the Village. The picture postcards of Pickering College and The Hermitage are also valuable because they give a visual description of the buildings. They are beneficial when the structure of the buildings is described because the reader can visualize what Greek Revival architecture really is. The postcard of the burnt college demonstrates the devastation and ruins of the co-educational school. Words cannot explain how it looks. Only photos can give the historian a visual depiction of how it actually was. The land records for Lot 13, Conc. 2 were not totally beneficial to me for the assignment. I found it difficult trying to understand what the terms meant and how they related to the plot of land. Because the 100 acres is divided up, there can be a number of owners for the plot of land and I found it to be too much information, although I was able to determine exactly when E.L. Ruddy bought and when his estate sold the land. Generally, in local history research, land records are used as a resource for names of those owners of the plot of land. 15The descendant of The Pickering News was the News Advertiser. It also proved to be a valuable resource because it was an actual account of the saga of The Hermitage. There seemed to be little bias in the articles because they gave the opinions of both Ajax Town Council and Ajax LACAC. The News Advertiser also allowed a letter from R.S. Wright who was upset that The Hermitage was gone.Other primary sources such as the Pickering Tweedsmuir History were not included because they had the same basic information as the newspaper articles. The fire insurance plan from 1891 did not cover the area that Pickering College was located on. The Diary of Timothy Rogers was beneficial because it gave an actual account of the plans for the Quakers in Pickering Village.The secondary sources were worthwhile to this assignment because they gave a general view of the history of Pickering. The account of Arthur Dorland was equally beneficial because it was a first hand account of life at Pickering College thereby making it a primary source. He had nothing but praise for the College. The Local History Room at the Pickering Public Library was where I located most of my materials. I worked there for two summers so I was quite familiar with the sources available. I also went to the Land Registry Office in Whitby to obtain the land records. I enjoyed researching this assignment and plan to donate a copy of my report to the History Room because there has not been a thorough examination of this plot of land until I began researching it. 16 BIBLIOGRAPHY Dorland, Arthur Garratt. Former Days and Quaker Ways: A Canadian Retrospective. Picton: The Picton Gazette, 1965."Enterprise", The Pickering News, December 8 1882.Hann, Kevin. "Mammoth Subdivision for Village", The News Advertiser, May 30 1987.The Journal of Timothy Rogers, 1756-1827.Land records for Township of Pickering South, Lot 13, Conc. 2."Localisms", The Pickering News, July 22, 1922. Lucci, Sandra. "Hermitage Last Quaker Link", The News Advertiser, May 30 1987.Macdonald, Archie. A Town Called Ajax. Ajax: Ajax Historical Board, 1995."Pickering College", Kindred Spirits: Ontario Genealogical Society, Fall 1993, Vol. XII, Issue 4."Pickering College", The Pickering News, July 27 1883."Pickering College Fire", The Pickering News, January 5 1906.Wright, R.S. "Loss of Hermitage needn't have happened", The News Advertiser, October 28 1987.