POST OFFICE.

Then: After the original Post Office on the South side of Lakeshore Rd. West of Navy St., became too small, it was re-located in 1856 to the site of the present Lunau Building at 175 Lakeshore Rd., E. In 1903 it was moved to the new Davis Building at 187 Lakeshore Rd., E. In 1910 it was again moved to 221 Lakeshore Rd., E., where Mr. Louis Cote was ably assisted by Bill Litchfield and Gladys Russell (Mrs. Mickie Forbes). The East wall was lined with small 5" square "boxes" with combination locks and small glass windows so that you could see if any mail was waiting. A new Post Office, designed by Mr. Robert Hill of Oakville, was later constructed at the site of 216 Lakeshore Rd.,E., which later became the Public Library, and now occupied by Prenor Trust at the Town Square.

Now: Dominion Public Building, NW Corner Church & George Sts.; and the many "outlets" at Convenience Stores, Shoppers Drug Mart, etc.

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TRANSPORTATION.

Then: Hillmer' s horse-drawn van used to take to and return from the train station, the several commuters. During the winter months the floor of the van was covered with straw and a small coal-oil stove provided some heat. Why there was never a fire is miraculous. The Electric Radial Line ran from Oakville to Hamilton and used to hall a lot of the local strawberry crop to the market. The cost of a ticket to McCraney Corners (Appleby College) was .05¢. The Oakville Terminal was the building that still stands on the SE Cnr. of Thomas & Randall Sts. The White Star Bus Line was another means of commuting to Toronto or Hamilton. These buses were "stretch-limos" seating 10 passengers. The Oakville Supervisor was Jack Hurst. This bus line was later taken over by Gray Coach Lines. The "White Star" steamer of Oakville Navigation Co. also ran between Oakville and Toronto and carried much of the local strawberry crop to the Toronto Markets. W.S. Davis was Purser of this boat and later Manager of The Oakville Navigation Co.

TAXI CABS - Nat Buchanan had a small office about 113 Lakeshore Rd. E., and about 4 cabs. Bill Bosada had a small office on the East side of Navy St. and just south of Lakeshore Rd. He too had about 4 Cabs. Doug Stewart also had a small office on the West side of George St., just south of Lakeshore Rd and operated about 6 cabs. This company was subsequently taken over by Ed. Devenish, a son of one of the local police constables.

Now: Most families now have cars. GO train and Gray Coach bus are used by commuters. For local traffic, we have Oakville Transit, which started in 1972 with 10 buses and now has 53 buses, 2 Care-a-vans, and 3 "Community" buses. There is also Halton Taxi with 45 radio-equipped cabs.

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FIRE PROTECTION

Then: Before the days of hydrants and watermains, there were large, covered wooden vats or "reservoirs" at each corner of Colborne Street (Lakeshore Rd.) (which were kept full of water and from which the "pumpers" obtained their water supply. The main fire hall was previously located at 181 Church St. Platoon Chiefs (Volunteers) were men who usually worked close to their homes in which were large "gongs" or bells which raised the alarm. The whistle at the local tannery also used to sound the alarm indicating the approximate area in which the fire was located (1 long blast then 2 short blasts, or 2 long blasts followed by 3 short blasts etc.). Communication by telephone was also not always too clear. One day the call went out that there was a fire at the Merry House (corner. of Trafalgar & Spruce). However when the first truck arrived they realized they should have gone to the Murray House hotel on Navy Street!!

Of the many Fire Chiefs, those best remembered are Alf Hillmer, followed by Fred Shaw then Doug Wilson. In the days of Chief Hillmer, a resident of the Township of Trafalgar, adjacent to the town boundaries, could pay an annual fee of $10.00 to have the town respond to a fire just outside of limits. The Chief kept a list of all who had paid their fees on the wall by the phone. One day a call came in from a man whose garage was on fire. The chief noted that the "fee" had not yet been paid and told him so. The man said to send the fire truck and he would bring in a check in the morning. The Chief then told him that the truck would respond just as soon as the $10.00 was received. TOO LATE!!!

Now: The present modern Fire Department became a "permanent" force as opposed to a "volunteer" force Brigade in 1963. The Central Fire Station is at the NW Corner of Navy and Randall Sts. and there are 5 other sub-stations spread throughout the area. There are 24 vehicles and a Force of a Chief, Deputy-Chief, and 130 other personnel. Hydrants and alarm boxes are spread throughout the community.

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ICE CREAM

Then: Ferrah's Ice Cream Parlor at 174 Lakeshore Road E was the place to go for ice cream. It was also a very fine Bakeshop, but to the younger generation the "Soda Fountain" at the back of the store was the most important. Employees who divided their time between the bakeshop and the ice cream parlor were Isobel McPherson, Nellie Durant (whose father was the baker) and Miss Farquharson, who in some way was related to Mr. Ferrah... The driver of the horse-drawn delivery wagon was Jimmy Steed, who, if we ran along behind the wagon for long enough, would reward us with a currant bun or doughnut!

The Paragon located at 167 Lakeshore Rd. E. was owned and operated by the Messrs. Groves & Dixon was another very favourite spot, as was Wilkinson's Ice Cream Parlor located at 184 Lakeshore Rd E. and was owned and operated by Mr. Len Wilkinson, assisted by a lovely young girl named Doris Litchfield.

Now: Now it is Baskin & Robbins, or Neilson's etc. at the supermarkets.

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POLICE

Then: A long cry from the days of Chief David Kerr, with 3 constables "on foot" - William Roser, Jack Barnes and Peter Devenish. The jail was in Milton, but there was a "holding cell" at the Police Station where Court House Cuisine is now, located at 134 Lakeshore Rd. E.

NOW: Halton Regional Police Service No. 2 District (Oakville) consists of 1 Superintendent; 1 Inspector; 5 Staff Sgts/; 13 Sgts.; and 45 Constables. There are 17 cruisers; 2 Sgts. cars; 6 "unmarked" cars; 2 bicycles and 2 boats.

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HOTELS

Then: Those modern facilities are very different from the Royal Exchange which used to be located about 216 Lakeshore Rd. E (Prenor Trust & Town Square), and the Oakville House at the NE corner of Navy St. and Lakeshore Rd. Then there was the Murray House on the East side of Navy St., named after the owner, Murray Williams. Later on there was also the Gibson House (later known as the Halton Inn). It was named after the owner, Ross Gibson, whose wife was Dolly Morden,and daughter, Jean (who is now Mrs. Bill "Santa Clause" Hughes). And then there was The Village Inn - a large frame building on the East side of Howard Ave., just South of Carson Lane. It was burned to the ground in the early 1940s.

Now: Today we enjoy such modern facilities as Holiday Inn, Quality Hotel, Howard Johnson's, etc...

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THE LIBRARY

Then: The first library that I can remember was at 196 Lakeshore Rd. East. The Librarian was a Mrs. Colwell, who also was the lead in the St. Jude's Choir. Her able assistant was the aforementioned Betty O'Reilly. The Library later moved to the building at 216 Lakeshore Rd. East, now the site of Prenor Trust. And then later to it's present location.

Now: Excellent Modern Library at Navy St. and Lakeshore Rd. and several branch libraries throughout the town.

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TELEPHONES

Then: I can remember the telephone on a table in our hallway. An instrument into which you spoke and from which the "receiver" hung. When you lifted the receiver, you also rang a bell in a box on the wall - this alerted the operator who would then ask what number you were calling. Our house number was 26; father's office was 41. The operators must have listened in to many a conversation, I'm sure. One story is that when someone called for Dr. Stead's number, the operator asked the caller if he wished to talk to the Steads or their daughter, Miss O'Reilly (Gordon's Aunt). When the caller said "Betty O'Reilly", the operator said "She's over at Esther Finch Noyes' - I'll put you through there."!!

Now: Modern Automated System with Operator Assistance.

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William Davis, 1993