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From First Local Baby Born “The Liberal" Looks At ‘What Made News In 1963 In memory of their father, the late James H. Robson, a former Vaughan reeve. the Robson family in Maple piesented York Central Hospital Board with a $1,300 c eque. Bayview Avenue was on the agenda when Richmond Hill Council and Toronto and York Roads Commission met February 12. William Miller was named to head the Richmond Heights Merchants’ Association at their annual meeting. Original member of Richmond Hill Planning Board J. M. Brown retiring after an 11 year term was guest of honour at a surprise party by past and present town plan- ners and staff. Five area people were hurt in the second major ex- plosion at Superior Propane’s company workshop in Maple January 15. Six months earlier, one man was killed and three homes destroyed in, an explosion. David A. Stephenson, Yonge Street North won his seat on the Richmond Hill Public School Board in a special election decided by one vote cast for the first time in 21 years by Town Clerk Russell Lynett to break a tie. Richmond Hill’s first baby of 1963 arrived at 12.25 a.m., a bouncing baby boy born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Madeley, Woodlane and given the name Thomas Gordon. Clarence Davis added “Warden of York County” to his title as reeve of Aurora in a 26 to 21 vote defeating the first woman candidate for warden (Carolyn Ion of Newmarket) in the county’s 103 year history. Building figures for Richmond Hill for 1962 were announced January 31 as having “skyrocketed” a million dollars from $1,655,640 in 196] to 32.656.020. Richmond Hill town office employees were hearing good news to the effect beginning their sixth year of employment they would enjoy an annual holiday of three weeks in the future. Employees beginning their 22nd year of employment were told they would be granted four weeks annual holiday in the future. Estimated costs of renovation to Richmond Hill Arena were set at $50,000 by town council. Derek ,Wallbanks, Axminster Drive, held a winning ticket for $150,000 on the Aintree Grand National Sweep- stake and Mervin Standing, Browndale Crescent. had a $60,000 ticket on the second place horse. A Hill entry from Wilson~Niblett Motors, entered in the British Empire Motor Club’s international Canadian winter rally lost out by one point in the 1.700 mile test entered by 152 cars. John Addison (Lib.) Stanley Hall (NDP.) Charles Hooper (Cons.) and John O’Brien (S.C.) faced off for the April 8 federal election for the job as York North riding representative in Ottawa. Mr. Addison was elected by a margin of more than 7,000 votes over Mr. Hooper. York North voters turned out in force with 80.05 per cent of those eligible casting their ballots. Oral French for Vaughan Township was authorized by the Department of Education. The condition was pa- rents ‘must approve and it must be taught by qualified people. March started off with what is becoming a usual trend these days with announcement by York Central District High School Board there would be a 3.29 mill increase in the school budget in 1963. Reasons given included installation of a language laboratory and increases m teachers’ salaries. Mayor William Neal and members of the 1963, town council were displaying no anxiety about getting involved in the controversial proposal of a distinctive national flag for Canada. The matter came up via a communication from the Native Sons of Canada suggesting a resolution from council would have considerable influence. “We have plenty of problems of our own and I think we may well leave this one for our members of Parlia- ment,” said Mayor Neal. Public utilities and education loomed high in a five year capital budget forecast accepted by Vaughan Town- ship Council. Cost of water and sewage facilities in the next five years was forecast at-about $2,396,000. Reports were saying. the County of York United Hospitals Appeal would go down in local history as another success story. Richmond Hill ratepayers were informed school costs would increase 9482- mills for 1963. Somebody was suggesting that Bayview Avenue needed paving. Markham Police Chief Clarence Jacob Wideman, who had served on the force for 16 years died at Sunnybrook Hospital after a lengthy illness. The date was March 2. Markham School Area Board ‘9 but its budget totalled $501,575, A Church Was Blessed . . . A World Beauty Queen Was Crowned . . . York Central Hospital Was Opened ‘ e . And Of Course There Was Bayview Avenue! â€" JANUARY â€" And in Richmond Hill, taxes went up 3.33 mills with Petite Donna Cattermole, 17, was named Rose Queen _ OCTOBER .__‘ Minna- m“: -,..._L.. gunman“. u“ 1.1....“ m rau'n‘n 0+ Hm Man-..“ n-“ 0L.... 1..-- an _..4.__A__AJ FEBRUARY ~ APRIL MARCH ‘3 mill rate was down an increase of $47,000. Thornhill Secondary School’s “On Stage Players’i copped top awards in the Collegiate Drama Festival with their “Diary of Anne Frank” and best actor and actress awards went to their Keith Corkill and Alita Wise. The play was entered in competition with 21 other Metro school theatrical groups. “Site plan agreements” became fighting words at Richmond Hill’s town council when area land developers. agents and property OWners called for the agreement propOsals to be scrapped. Vaughan Council managed “to hold the tax line” when it brought in a budget of $481,000 not including the high and public school rate. Residential mill rate was 8.8 mills with a commercial rate of 11.5 mills. In King City, a ban was placed on all lawn watering except for one hour in the evening. That cars could be washed prompted one ratepayer to jest, “I’ll wash my car on the grass, the driveway stones don't need watering." On May 5, King City United Church marked its 92nd anniversary by turning the sod for a new $125,000 church at Elizabeth Grove. And in Richmond Hill, taxes went up 3.33 mills With schools and county shouldering the blame. Richmond Hill Hornets lost the Ontario Minor Hoc- key Association playoffs on home ice in a thrilling game that in total points left them behind 5 to 4. Richmond Hill Lions Club received its charter in April, 1938 and marked its 25th birthday with a special meeting, five of the 20 charter members are still active in the organization. King City’s 110 year old railway station was put on the auction block despite a colourful service as central depot for a. bustling farm community and an April 3 whistlestop by the then Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. Council’s reduction of its parks board budget from $27,000 to $20,000 raised the ire and eyebrows of parks board members who claimed the $20,000 was actuallv money saved by the board from past budgets. Richmond Hill Planning Director Harold Deek’s pro- posal for a 1,500 foot tunnel under Yonge Street to divert traffic caused a flurry of excitement. May turned out to be a “dry” month for Vaughan Township when voters turned down both liquor stores and licensed dining rooms in a vote which fell just short of the 60 per cent required to pass the plebiscite. Vaughan School Board reversed earlier decision to allow Oral French in its schools on a “postponed inde~ finitely” basis. Richvale citizens in a bid to save an abandoned com. munity hall which Vaughan Council was ready to demolish decided to form 3 Lions Club. The Royal Canadian Legion’s Branch 375 was stymied in its bid to get a “use and occupancy permit” for their new premises by virtue of Bylaw 1000. I Elaborate and detailed plans for the Canadian Na- tional Railway’s multi-million dollar marshalling yard in Vaughan Township’s southwest corner were outlined to ratepayers’ representatives at a special meeting. On June 3, Vaughan Council put the wheels in motion for a $710,000 waterworks program to boost its industrial area. A proposed $700,000 sewage system for Maple \qu met with the cold shoulder from Vaughan councillors. And in Richmond Hill, May was the month for the 114th annual fair which attracted about 3,500 people, “the best attendance in five years" according to one fair official. It was a big night for Richmond Hill Arena Associa- tion when the last debenture was paid off on the building and plans for expansion considered. Water in the Hill was a sticky problem with one day’s consumption up to 1,200,000 gallons... something of a. record. The town was busy developing its No. 5 well to take up the slack. King City Composite School’s $915,000 trades trainâ€" ing addition was officially opened by Ontario Minister of Labour Leslie Rowntree. Dr. James Langstafi, a member of a. medical family which has been in the area for about 110 years. was named chief of staff at the York Central Hospital. The first alcoholic drink to be purchased by a cus- tomer in Richmond Hill since 1906 took place May 29 when “Pop’s” Restaurant opened for business although under a Bylaw 1,000 cloud. Otfsite parking for the downtown business area. was a moot question for both council and planning board in Richmond Hill. Hoisted aloft at the new Our Lady Queen of World Roman Catholic Church on the east side of Hill was an 85 ton bell tower reportedly the tallest heaviest in North America. And Bayview was brought up again with the news it had been approved as a county road. “This did not mean that it would be paved immediately,” said a “Libe- ral” story. JUNE MAY the the and Petite Donna Cattermole, 17, was named Rose Queen to reign at the National Rose Show June 22 sponsored by the Canadian Rose Society, first time the show had been held outside a large metropolis. The parade and show attracted about 3,000 visitors to Richmond Hill. It was a case of two parades in one week since three days before the rose show parade, the Sixth Annual Sportsmen’s Parade saw thousands jammed up and down Yonge Street and in the town park to watch the little leaguers. pretty girls and an all star baseball game. Richmond Hill Council began a probe for costs and location for a swimming pool. King housewife Mrs. Sue Powell named her' Irish Sweepstakes draw ticket after her black cat, a lucky move since it won $60,000 for her in the annual classic. Seven hundred children applying for summer swim lessons at Thornhill Pool were turned down by Richmond Hill Red Cross who said there just wasn’t enough room. Water consumption of 1,500,000 gallons in the Hill one Sunday put restrictions on watering and egged on hasty development of the fifth well. And in King, June 22 was “Eva L. Dennis Day" when the popular teacher for 33 years in King City and 47 years as a teacher officially retired and was honoured at a community reception. A Bayview church delegation threatened to go to “higher authority” if Richmond Hill didn’t solve its road problems. Markham Township had its water problems too when ratepayers complained of not having enough to make a cup of tea and being forced to share communal bath water with their families. Three Thornhill track stars, Carol Martin, Bill Gaird- ner and Cliff Nuttall, won honour at Toronto and Canadian meets. Vaughan Township firemen in a tribute to Maple propane gas explosion victim Herb Joslin launched a memorial fund to equip a three bed ward at York Central Hospital. The hospital’s fall opening was delayed by a strike of terrazzo tile workers. ‘ ‘ Jim Grainger, Al White, Ed Lane and Russell Lynett, members of Richmond Hill Lawn Bowling Club won the Ontario Lawn Bowling Championship in Belleville. In a four way contest September 25 for York North riding member of the Ontario Legislature, oldtimer Con- servative “Lex” Mackenzie led the field with 18,225 votes, his nearest opponent Liberal Donald Plaxton of Richmond Hill with 11,992 followed by NDP nominee Robert McVey of Markham with 5,983 and Independent William Fuller Richmond Hill’s Industrial Commissioner Robert Langford was dismissed by a recorded vote of 4 to 3 by town council following a report suggesting his job be replaced by an industrial committee. York County was a step closer to having its OWn courthouse when a chambers court was organized in Newmarket. York County Council also remained silent on any plans for Bayview Avenue construction. York Central High School Board awarded a $1,404,608 contract for a high school in Langstaff on 18 acres near Yonge Street. Markham Township’s new official plan approval was deferred by the Ontario Municipal Board “to a later date". On September 8, Our Lady Queen of the World Ro- man Catholic Church was dedicated by Archbishop of Toronto James C. Cardinal McGuigan. A 20 page report by Richmond Hill Planning Director Harold Deeks urging sweeping changes in parking and downtown development was brought before planning board and town council. Markham’s “Stage 2” development plans for its township called for 1,400 homes to be built and a 750,000 gallon sewage disposal plant to service the area in the next few years. The Old Order Mennonite Church in Edgeley held its first church service in 40 years in a building dating back to 1824. Richmond Hill Council reluctantly passed a new anti- noise bylaw to supplement the bylaw passed in 1873 despite problems of definition of “noise and nuisance”. York County Medical Oflicer of Health Dr. Robert King recommended fluoridation for all county municipal water supplies. Twenty acres of Markham land was purchased by the Ontario Rugby Union for a $50,000 rugger stadium to hold 10,000 fans. eligible i1 On S of a bee York Cm 3K Ridges est opponent Liberal Donald Plaxton of Richmond h 11,992 followed by NDP nominee Robert McVey :ham with 5,983 and Independent William Fuller Ridges with 851 votes. About 58 per cent of those in the county turned up at the polls. September 26, Markham Reeve Wilfred Dean died tart attack. He had been reeve since 1960 and m senior commissione â€"~ AUGUST SEPTEMBER â€"-- JULY . . .. To December Political Change THE LIBERAL, Richmond Hill, Oqtario, Thursday, Jan. 2nd, 1964 'l Ontario Municipal Board approval was given for a $600,000 sewage system in Vaughan for the C. N. R. mar- shalling area and a proposed industrial site. And in Vaughan, council authorized purchase of 71 acres for an industrial park on Keele Street in another step towards their aim of $4,000,000 worth of assessment by 1965. Bayview Avenue was included in a. York County five year plan for redevelopment of five county roads with a 3,4, mil] extra levy on county's road budget to pay for the work ‘7 The one and only ratepayers group in Richmond Hill was formed by Elgin Park area residents with an initial membership of 100. Dynes Jewellers softball team brought home the Southern Ontario Intermediate “A” title to the Hill 0c- tober 5 and on October 12 won the All Ontario finals against Elliot Lake. Thornhill United Church October 27 celebrated its 160th birthday; its history dating back to church services held on a pioneer’s farm on Highway 7. Dynes Jewellers baseball team added “Metro Major Fastball Champions” to their numerous titles October 17 after a 1 to O victory against Gazzola Allen. On November 7, threatened by a raid, Richmond Hill Lions Club cancelled its annual $5,000 cash draw to be held during a dance in Woodbridge. The club had sold about $13,000 worth of tickets to a dance usually attended by 1,000 people. Money was to have been used 'for service club commitments to York Central Hospital and commu- nity swimming pool. And in Richmond Hill, the parks board admitted it was about $2,000 overspent in its budget. Richmond Hill Police Chief R. P. Robbins picked up a copy of an 18th century English novel “Fanny Hi ” and sent it to the Attorney General’s panel on obscene literature for a ruling on its contents. The panel termed the novel “historic and artistic". Richmond Hill Lions Club volunteeg'ed to lead a $150,000 canvass for funds to build a community’swimmâ€" ing' pool, thus shelving an earlier proposal to hold a public plebiscite on huilding the pool by taxes. Elisabeth Barker of Gormley won the “Queen of the Fun-ow” contest. at the World Ploughing Match in Ca- ledon. Richmond Hill Council at its November 4' meeting called for a vote on fluoridation and one week later can» celled its decision by a 5 to 2 vote in the face of rate- payers’ protests. As an aftermath, Richmond Hill Deputy-reeve Stan Tinker called for an amendment to the criminal code to legalize lotteries for charitable reasons. ‘ Equestrian Christalot Hanson of Lake Wilcox‘won the Junior United States Dressage Championship by a. margin of 45 points in Washington, D.C. First water from Richmond Hill’s long-awaited No. 5 well was turned into the system November 19 to add 750,000 gallons a day to the present supply which in a. normal day is about 1,200,000 gallons. A Richvale boxer made the news by winning best of breed at the International Champion Dog Shows in Bermuda November 2. The dog “Fireside Chat of Blos- somlea.” is owned by Jean Grant of Yongehurst Road. And November 28, a historic phase in York County’s community life was passed when Lieutenant Governor Earl Rowe opened the $2,000,000 York Central Hospital at Richmond Hill town limits and 6,000 toured the new building. Thornhill Women's Institute presented $1,300 to York Central Hospital for a two bed room. Three local men, G. R. Francis and Joseph McCor- mick, Richmond Hill, and Donald Anderson, Oak Ridges, were among 118 victims of a DC-8 jetliner which crashed on its way from Montreal to Toronto. Charles Hooper, acting reeve since the death of Markham Reeve Wilfred Dean won the township’s De- cember 2 election by 40 votes over challenger Stanley Patterson. About 30% of those eligible voted. December 7 former Richmond Hill Deputy-reeve Tom Broadhurst swept into the mayor’s chair defeating Wil- liam Neal and former Mayor James Haggart defeated incumbent Reeve Floyd Perkins in 3 election result which brought five new faces to the 1964 town council. Markham’s official plan was finally okayed after a three months’ wait for Ontario Municipal Board approval. First patients were admitted into York Central Hos- Markham Township assessment was noted as being increased $945,274 over 1962 assessment. Six hundred canvassers were being marshalled for a pool fund blitz in the Hill. King City United Church's. "revolutionary styled" $125,000 building was opened. Markham’s oflicial plan was three months’ wait for Ontario M First patients were admitted First patients were adm pita! December 17. Assessment and welfare was deferred until 1964. â€"~ NOVEMBER - â€"~ DECEMBER â€"~ Fifi: on a York county-wide basis