Reminiscences of Dr. Langstaff
Everyday life
Panels
Lacrosse in the old daysEveryday lifeStreet lightingChristmas timeHorse and buggy daysAnecdotesAdvent of horseless carriage”The Liberal” July 27, 1957.
Dr. Rolph Langstaff, one of Richmond Hill’s well-known senior citizens was among those participating in the recent ceremonies marking the official opening of the new Town Hall. In his address Dr. Langstaff briefly reviewed life in Richmond Hill during a bygone era. “The Liberal” has reproduced Dr. Langstaff’s talk.
“Mr. Chairman, and Fellow Citizens: I have been asked to give a brief talk on Richmond Hill as it was in the early days.
I have been chosen to do this not because of any ability I might have as a speaker, as I have no such ability, but because of my seniority.
I was born in the house now occupied by Dr. James Langstaff and his family on January 1869. One of my early recollection, When about 10 years old, was the driving of the cows to the pasture. There was no milk delivery in those days, a number of people kept cows. They used what milk they needed and sold the rest to neighbors for 5 cents a quart. As time went on a farmer delivered milk. He had a horse and light wagon with a 20-gallon can of milk which had a brass tap. Josh would drive around and the people would come out with pitcher or pail. Josh carried a large hand dinner bell, the same as the hotels used to call the people to meals. Next would come the butchers with covered wagons containing all cuts of meats. These men used bugles to call the people out. One could play a tune, another could just play "Bull beef, bull beef”. Then came the baker with team and wagon. He blew a whistle similar to a policeman’s whistle. About twice a week the fish pedlar came calling out “Fresh fish all alive”. At 7:30 a.m. each week day morning a van left Elgin Mills for Toronto. The man blew a tin horn to warn the people to be ready. When this van got to Thornhill there was waiting a large stage coach with four horses attached. A quick transfer was made and the coach started for Toronto. The journey took about three hours then there was six hours to shop and the return journey was made taking another three hours. This went on for years. Mr. Thompson drove the stage coach for 26 years. After this our liveryman contacted the railway and made arrangements whereby he ran a van three times a day to the Maple railway station and the train made a quick and comfortable trip to Toronto. This went on until 1895 when the electric cars came to Richmond Hill.
If a person would waken up about two o’clock in the morning in the fall a dull roaring sound could be heard. This was caused by the roar of strings of farmers’ wagons going to Toronto. These wagons came all the way from Mount Albert and north of Bradford teaming grain, pork and other produce.
Richmond Hill was a village in those days of about 600 people. We had two carriage factories. One of these took the medal at the Toronto Exhibition for the best display of fine carriages. The other specialized in platform spring wagons. These could be seen all over the country. We had two saw mills a sash and door factory a large brickyard, a tannery at Elgin Mills and the Patterson implement plant which employed about 200 men. We had two large general stores, a long counter on one side of the store handled the dry goods and another on the opposite side was used for groceries. “The Liberal” office was already established when I was a small boy. It came on or about 1878 and is still going strong. Across the road was the Conservative paper. We had some hot debates around election time.
Taxes Were Really Low
Just north of the McConaghy school was the post office. Mr. Matthew Teefy was postmaster here for 60 years. He was justice of the peace, the village clerk and kept a liquor store. Speaking of taxes, the lot where Dr. James Langstaff now lives, three acres, was taxed in 1896 for $18.96. At the bottom of the bill was printed. “No indebtedness against this municipality.” Speaking of liquor outlets, there were in the mile and a quarter from the Elgin Mills to Markham Road, five hotels and three liquor stores.
Just one more item, fire protection. In the early days we had a bucket brigade, and then came the first fire engine, a hand pumper, a bar on each side where five or six men could take hold of the pump, quite a nice little squirt gun. Later we got a large hand pumper, 15 or 16 men could work each side. It threw two good streams. When one stream was on it would throw a stream about as high as the United Church spire. Water was supplied from wooden cisterns placed along the streets and in line with the ditches, to be filled with surface water.
We have had for many years a volunteer fire brigade. We owe a great debt of gratitude to these men, who go out at once at all hours when called. They have been known to go out on Sun-days when in their best clothes, coming home with their clothes about ruined. Thank you all very much for listening so patiently to my heterogenious remarks."
Dr. Rolph Langstaff, one of Richmond Hill’s well-known senior citizens was among those participating in the recent ceremonies marking the official opening of the new Town Hall. In his address Dr. Langstaff briefly reviewed life in Richmond Hill during a bygone era. “The Liberal” has reproduced Dr. Langstaff’s talk.
“Mr. Chairman, and Fellow Citizens: I have been asked to give a brief talk on Richmond Hill as it was in the early days.
I have been chosen to do this not because of any ability I might have as a speaker, as I have no such ability, but because of my seniority.
I was born in the house now occupied by Dr. James Langstaff and his family on January 1869. One of my early recollection, When about 10 years old, was the driving of the cows to the pasture. There was no milk delivery in those days, a number of people kept cows. They used what milk they needed and sold the rest to neighbors for 5 cents a quart. As time went on a farmer delivered milk. He had a horse and light wagon with a 20-gallon can of milk which had a brass tap. Josh would drive around and the people would come out with pitcher or pail. Josh carried a large hand dinner bell, the same as the hotels used to call the people to meals. Next would come the butchers with covered wagons containing all cuts of meats. These men used bugles to call the people out. One could play a tune, another could just play "Bull beef, bull beef”. Then came the baker with team and wagon. He blew a whistle similar to a policeman’s whistle. About twice a week the fish pedlar came calling out “Fresh fish all alive”. At 7:30 a.m. each week day morning a van left Elgin Mills for Toronto. The man blew a tin horn to warn the people to be ready. When this van got to Thornhill there was waiting a large stage coach with four horses attached. A quick transfer was made and the coach started for Toronto. The journey took about three hours then there was six hours to shop and the return journey was made taking another three hours. This went on for years. Mr. Thompson drove the stage coach for 26 years. After this our liveryman contacted the railway and made arrangements whereby he ran a van three times a day to the Maple railway station and the train made a quick and comfortable trip to Toronto. This went on until 1895 when the electric cars came to Richmond Hill.
If a person would waken up about two o’clock in the morning in the fall a dull roaring sound could be heard. This was caused by the roar of strings of farmers’ wagons going to Toronto. These wagons came all the way from Mount Albert and north of Bradford teaming grain, pork and other produce.
Richmond Hill was a village in those days of about 600 people. We had two carriage factories. One of these took the medal at the Toronto Exhibition for the best display of fine carriages. The other specialized in platform spring wagons. These could be seen all over the country. We had two saw mills a sash and door factory a large brickyard, a tannery at Elgin Mills and the Patterson implement plant which employed about 200 men. We had two large general stores, a long counter on one side of the store handled the dry goods and another on the opposite side was used for groceries. “The Liberal” office was already established when I was a small boy. It came on or about 1878 and is still going strong. Across the road was the Conservative paper. We had some hot debates around election time.
Taxes Were Really Low
Just north of the McConaghy school was the post office. Mr. Matthew Teefy was postmaster here for 60 years. He was justice of the peace, the village clerk and kept a liquor store. Speaking of taxes, the lot where Dr. James Langstaff now lives, three acres, was taxed in 1896 for $18.96. At the bottom of the bill was printed. “No indebtedness against this municipality.” Speaking of liquor outlets, there were in the mile and a quarter from the Elgin Mills to Markham Road, five hotels and three liquor stores.
Just one more item, fire protection. In the early days we had a bucket brigade, and then came the first fire engine, a hand pumper, a bar on each side where five or six men could take hold of the pump, quite a nice little squirt gun. Later we got a large hand pumper, 15 or 16 men could work each side. It threw two good streams. When one stream was on it would throw a stream about as high as the United Church spire. Water was supplied from wooden cisterns placed along the streets and in line with the ditches, to be filled with surface water.
We have had for many years a volunteer fire brigade. We owe a great debt of gratitude to these men, who go out at once at all hours when called. They have been known to go out on Sun-days when in their best clothes, coming home with their clothes about ruined. Thank you all very much for listening so patiently to my heterogenious remarks."
Langstaff house in King City Details
