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She had her first piece, a poem, published in the paper when she was seven years old. rThe‘ foreman was her friend, and he contrived to publish her poem without her father knowing. By MlLLlE STEWART Liberal Staff Reporter I asked Mary Dawson for an interview in the editorial office at the Liberal. She was sitting at her desk with a volume of historical issues of the paper open in front of her. She was called on to take her brother‘s place catching leaflets as they came down a shute. When her dad found out about it. it was too late, and he was angry. In all her years with the family paper, she worked in every job there was. She sold ads, did linotype work, wrote copy and edited other people’s copy.’ Mary celebrated 30 years with the Richmond Hill Liberal June 4. She said, “I came to work at the Liberal June 4, 1948 to give Jack Smith a hand as a linotype operator for a few weeks." Her grandfather was editor of the Hamilton Spectator. Her father, of course, was owner- manager of the Parkhill Gazette, her mother was the second woman editor of a newspaper in Canada, and her brothers and sisters all worked in the business. Somehow, that’s a fitting setting for her. After Mary came to The Liberal, she worked for 14 years as a linotype operator before she moved to another department. Mary‘s move was accidental as well. The editor at that time, Ed Murphy left the paper to follow Lester Pearson on the campaign trail taking with him the only other reporter on the staff. Mary didn‘t come to the Liberal inexperienced. Her family owned and operated the ‘Parkhill Gazette' in Parkhill, Ontario, and Mary’s training in the newspaper business started when she was only four. Sam Cook was the managing editor at the time, and he put Mary in the editorial departrhent. He hired another female reporter, He was born in 1831 in Dunbar, Scotland, emigrating with his parents at the age of 10. The family settled at Elgin Mills. but William settled in the village in 1857. starting his own business. In 1878 he completed renovations of his plant on Yonge Street at Lorne Avenue. Besides serving as reeve for seven years he was a school trustee for several years. DRJAMES MILES LANGSTAFF Who started the practice of medicine in Richmond Hill in 1849 was the son of John Langstaff, first teacher in the area and grandson of Abner Miles, one of the earliest settlers in the Hill. He built Homewood as his residence and office in 1849 and in 1878 advertised in The Liberal: “Dr. James Langstaff is usually found at home at 9 am." He also served one year as reeve of the village. Richmond Hills 1878 council was composed of Reeve William Trench and Councillors Dr. James Langstaff, P. G. Savage, William Powell and Benjamin Redditt. WILLIAM TRENCH Was a blacksmith and mangfacturer of carriages. Some few weeks Richmond Hill’s I878 council Our authority on Richmond Hill MARY DAWSON She is considered the resident expert. on . Richmond , Hill,- and justifiably so. She wrote the History of Richmond Hill in 1967, and was awarded the Town of Richmond Hill Pin for her efforts. Her book is available in the Rich- mond Hill Library. She did it so well, she had people in historical costumes, historical vehicles, that it was termed ‘A success’. In 1977, Mary was a recipient of the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal. Town Council nominated her for the award. Mary intends to be part of the newspaper staff at the Liberal for a long time yet. After all, once that newsprint gets to you and the smell of printers’ ink finds its way into your blood stream, you’ve had it. In 1966, she was appointed by Tom Broadhurst, the Mayor of Richmond Hill, to the Centennial Committee. She was asked to arrange the ‘Homecoming Weekend’ which was to include a parade. In 1974, she revived her column, but changed the name to ‘Yesterdays’ which it still is. Mary is known for her ‘Flash- backs Column’ which she started in 1962, and which lasted until 1967. I asked her what her favorite job was with the Liberal, and she said, “I guess my favorite duty was covering Richmond Hill Council, especially the Planning Depart- ment. I guess I always wanted to know what they were planning to do with the town." Mary officially retired as a full-time employee December 1, 1975, but printer’s ink was in her veins, and she’s still on the staff. She continued, “We answered the phones, took ads, did our writing and just about everything else. We even had to answer the phone for Toronto Launderers. That was part of the job.” Her duties in the editorial department were varied and in- teresting. She wrote editorials, features and covered all kinds of functions and meetings. She recalls that only a few months later, a young sports writer joined the staff. His name was Fred Simpson. Only, he didn’t just write sports. He, like everyone else, did everything. Anne Smellie, and another linotype operator to take Mary’s place‘ WILLIAM POWELL A native of Beverley, Yorkshire, England, he was born in 1814 and came to Canada in 1830. He worked for Miles Langstaff for three or four years then rented Col. Moodie‘s farm for four years. He then farmed in Whitchurch for two years, returning to Lot 47. Con. l, Vaughan. In 1835 he married Margaret, daughter of Col. Bridgford and after her death married Elizabeth Chamâ€" berlain. His family totalled 12 sons and three daughters. He was a member of Capt. Gapper‘s troop of horses during 1837. Owner of a brickyard, he sat on council for seven years. BENJAMIN REDDITT We have not been able to get any information on Redditt except that in the 1890‘s he acted as village auditor for the sum of $5. PETER GOULD SAVAGE Was born in Dundee. Scotland in 1846. In 1878 he had a grocery and general store. In 1911 he became Richmond Hill‘s postmaster, a position he held until 1917 when he was suc- ceeded by his son. He was reeve from 1897 to 1905 after serving 14 years on council. When the Church towers arrived to form Richmond Hill’s skyline By 1894 the fourth tall tower on Yonge Street was added. Arrangements have just been completed to move the original Presbyterian Church Manse,,built in 1876, to Black Creek Pioneer Village. DIFFERENTCOSTS In 1880 the present structure was erected at a cost of $17,000 (which must have been a large sum at that time) and again, the steeple was erected a few years later. The present Presbyterian Church building, beside St. Mary’s was completed in 1880 also, at a cost of $6,366, for some reason much less than the United Church. The construction of this church added the distinctive four pinnacle tower to Richmond Hill’s skyline. But, the distinguishing spire was not added until 1881 when a committee was formed to obtain subscriptions to pay for materials and labour. In December of 1879 a catastrophe overtook the methodist congregation, the forerunner of the present Rich- mond Hill United Church, when flames consumed the frame structure they had been meeting in, one block south of their present location, at Centre 'and Yonge Streets. Anglican formal service has not changed much since those days, but the time of service has. Meetings were held at three Sunday afternoon to allow farmers to tend to their chores before going to worship. The congregation of St. Mary’s, on the north-west corner of Yonge Street and Major Mackenzie Drive, met in what is now known as St. Mary’s Chapel, which had been constructed in 1872. There were at least five other religious groups meeting in Rich- mond Hill 100 years ago, but only one other building still exists with its original use. Many a traveller used St. John‘s Anglican Church, located in the area known as Jefferson, below Bond Lake on Yonge Street, as a landmark since it was built in 1848. When The Liberal was established in 1878 the skyline of Richmond Hill would not have been dominated as it is now by the distinctive church towers. North of the old town limits a small, less conspicuous congregation was well established and still flourishes. The parishioners of St. Mary 1878â€"1978 SAVE 20% TO 50% Reg. 2499 - 950° FLORSHEIM MCHALE - DACKS - CLARKS â€" HUSH PUPPIES SHOE SALE SHIELDS FOOTWEAR LTD. MEN'S $1 19% $7999 South Block 0 Richmond Heights Centre 884-5341 SANDALS $899 To 31 499 Reg. 1299 to 1999 STARTS THURSDAY, JULY 6th (2 WEEKS ONLY) Entire Stock HANDBAGS â€" 20% to 50% OFF Immaculate Roman Catholic Church, consisting of six families in 1894 and meeting in a frame building on Mill Street, pooled their talents to build a church and manse at Yonge and Dunlop Streets. In 1967 this fine old red brick building was demolished to make room for the modernistic new church now on the site. The soaring white spire was put in place by a great crane in 1967. N0 . churches were built in Richmond Hill for almost 60 years. In the 505 and 605 at least six new churches were added, as well as additions made to existing churches, to serve the growing population of the town. 17 PEOPLE In May of 1955, seventeen people met in the Masonic Hall behind the United Church and decided to organize the Richmond Hill Baptist Church. The church building was constructed in 1958. In that same year, the United Church added on their Christian Education Building to complete the present complex. Until the present St. Matthews was built on Crosby Avenue in 1957, the congregation met in Walter Scott Public School. Even with this addition to the United Church, with the rapid population increase St. Matthews was set up in the eastern portion of the municipality. St. Gabriel The Archangel followed in 1959 to serve the new subdivision east of Yonge Street. The church built in the sumâ€" mer of that year was intended to be the parish hall with the church added at a later date. However, the parish did not grow as anticipated so the congregation uses this building as a church. In the 19605 three churches, Our Lady Queen of the World, St. Paul‘s Lutheran and St. John’s Baptist, grew in Richmond Hill. Congregations for Calvary Pentecostal; Richmond Hill Seventh Day Adventist, Free Methodist, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Church of the Latter Day Saints also followed. ,asiuthe population exploded. SPECIAL PLACE Emmanuel Anglican Church in Richvale has a special place in many peoples hearts, including a The present minister at St. Gabriel’s, David Metcalfe, said, “This explains why the floors are marked out as tennis courts, under the pews." OLD FASHIONED NATURALIZER LA VALLEE - CLARKS - HUSH PUPPIES SANDALS $699 To $2399 $999 TO $2999 WOMEN’S Reg. 1599 - 2999 Reg. 2299 â€" 4999 The congregation, then meeting in Charles Howett Public School, built block footings in 1964 number of people living in Toronto The historic Emmanuel Church at Hanlon's Point on Toronto Island, in effect became the new Emmanuel Church on Mackay Drive in Richvale. Richmond - Hi/l landmark SAVAGE BUSTER BROWN STARTRITE $549 TO $1799 CHILDREN’S $349T0 $999 SANDALS Reg. 1099 - 2499 Reg. 599 - 15“9 5 â€" THE LIBERAL‘S HUNDREDTH The first service wés held in April of 1965, using all the old furniture and fixings in the original church. One hundred years later, Rich- mond Hill is well served by its many churches of all denominations. and then set the old church building dismjntled in 1959 on top. CHARGEX