WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1984, PAGE7 Question mark is Whitby's outstandingecitizen By ROY COOPER Some posters seen in different locations around Whitby display a face with a big black question mark. The unknown personage on the poster represents Peter Perry. However, the question mark in the face will be replaced by features belonging to Whtby's 25th Peter Perry when the winner is announced later this week. Who 18 Peter Perry? The man is considered to be the founder of Whitby, who operated a grain business. He had six' outlets between Whitby and Lindsay, one- of which was located at Whitby's four corners where the Bank of Commerce now stan- ds. In 1936, at the age of 44, Perry came to Whit- by'and made quite an impact on the town. In- terestingly enough, he lived here only 15 years before he died at the age of 58.' Had he lived longer, it bas been suggested Whitby might have been the town it is now but many years earlier. In those days, Whitby was a larger centre than Oshawa and Perry was certainly striving to have it rival Toronto in its wealth and progress. A north- south thinker, Perry visualized the develop-. ment of Whitby's harbor for the transportation of goods from New York State up a road to Georgian Bay and on to Lake Huron. Wharves and storehouses were built at the harbor and the construction ofa centre road from Port Whitby to Lake Huron, passing through the narrows at Lake Sim- coe, was begun. Pieces of this plan are now part of Hwy. 12. Unfor- tunately, his untimely death resulted in the fadingof this plan and a railway to be construc- ted north went instead toXoronto. Perry and several others advoýcated the formation of what was known as Ontario Coun- ty - now Durham Region. In the ý1840's, this area of land was part of the much larger Home District which comprised what is now Peel, York, and Durham Region. Perry, as Whitby's representa- tive to the Home District Council, pur- '85's hike low too budget Whitby residents *car look forward to at leasl one more year of low tax increases according tc the town's budget chief . Councillor Gerry Emmn pointed out thata 4.8 per cent growth in assessment paved the way for a',1.9 per cent tax increase this year. He predicts that 1984's growth should at least be 5 per cent. Thai would mean that the town would issue an ex- cess 0f 1,000 -building Permits this year. "That is what we see as being a reality," Emm said, "That should put uîs up over 5 per cent inngrowth." He also dlaims that to be a conservative estimate. "I would expect more but that's a safe amount to say. Y Emm told the Free Press last week that this year's budget, was designed with the an- ticipated growth in mind. "We tried to arrive with a budget that would build some confidence into the economy by being prepared for growth," he said. "We are maintaining the municipality in a Position where it can respond to the surging growth that we expect in, And this, Emm main- tains, wil mean low, if any, tax increase in 1985. "We expect the growth in- '84 should be better than we had in '83 and' there's every Possibiity that the municipality should be able to keep it to low, if any, Jtax increases for 1985." The town is also keeping a solid grip on spending, Emmn says. No major purchases 0f new equipment and facilities wHi be made, this year although some vehicles in the public works department will' be .,replaced using mones from - the municipality's ýreserve fund. This fund -was set up to cover such con- tingencies. The town bas a fairly lengthy road repair and 9 ,n it ehief prediects improvement plan on Emm also si the drawing boards for the town is not1 '84. There Will also be a to spend any m( number of small projec- year on expang ts to improve street Whitby Transit lighting, repair bridges, 'Instead,- the do asphaît overlays, fathers have de improve storm. sewer wait until thE service and perform plans for the e: erosion control in many 0f the GO Tra different and wide Pickering to be]r spread areas of the before taking an town. themselves. The sidewalk con-' "The muni struction program will would be wise to be continued in 1984 with the GO", Em] work slated in both the "We could thon Corridor and Cochrane (Whitby's busi Street areas. in concert with ti said that planning lney this iding the Service. town ecidod to ie exact axtension in from revealed ny action icipality )wait for mn said, .look at service) the GO." sued the division of this overly large area into smaller ones as the ad- minstration of the Home Distric had become un- weildy. He was not destined to see the separation. of Ontario County from the Home District, however, as he passed away in 1851 before the formation 0f the new county a year later.' Hewould have taken pride in Whitby being mnade the county town or seat in 1855. He could also be proud of being part of helping to establish, a Family Library in 1842 in Whit- by, and a grammar school in 1846 on Henry Street - almost where the present R.A. Sennett Public School is located. Perry was a remarkable man for his day. He obviously loved Whitby as he would close his business one week each year and devote ail his time to promoting his town. - In 1955, during Whit- by's centennial celebrations, Judge John Pritchard queried in his centennial speech whether or not thereý were any Peter Perrys still in Whitby. He an- swered his own question by suggesting several prominent citizens. The following year, the Whitby Chamber of Commerce motivated by the judge's speech, undertook to, establish a Peter Perry Award for an outstanding Whitby citizen. Indeed, the precedent for this was established in 1848, t afrl MILrL. 'Erg _ ~~ATTENTION I rue KINGSBORO, ;'I CLOCKS 1 are now ,li MOVING [!i7p to larger premises at the end of the month r.. Ir L ~ALL STOCK MUST GO!Mo $50 OFF "u lion the al ready low price 1 o0f every clock. L JFor more information cali [ 723MO754 P Ph"n, L-1 _~ l-r KING[JSBO -R0 CLOfCKS~ ~ when 800of Whitby's men - in those days women were not seen a t such af- fairs - gathered at Scrip- ture's Hotel situated on the corner 0f Byron and Dundas Streets (where the taxis now park) to honor Peter Perry for his devotion to the town. In 1956, the Chamber only undertood to con- tinue what had been started .136 years before - a Peter Perry recognition night. This year, there will be ten of the former recipients of the Peter Perry Award present *Tor the occassion to be recognized prior to the announcement of the new Peter Perry. Six of the former Peter Perry winners are deceased and the remaining few are either unable to at- tend or have not yet in- dicated their intentions. A special guest for the evening will be John Ham Perry and his wife, Anita. As the great grandson of Whitby's founder, ho has recently donated several in- teresting and valuable items belonging to his esteemed relative to the Whitby Archives. These artifacts and a Peter Perry display board will be on view for people to see during the reception in the Regal Room following the variety show. The Peter Perry Award night scheduled for Jan. 27 promises to be interesting, exciting, entertaining, and fun. Tickets at $5 per person are still available at Middleton's Stationery Store, 113 Dundas Street West. The number 0f people able to attend is limited to the 150 seat capacity of the theatre. Whitby citizens are in- vited to meet old acquaintances, make ,new ones, and learn about this "County Town" in which they live. Much work is done in our community by volunteers. This is a night to honor not only our founder, himself a volunteer, but ail our wonderful people who give 0f their time. The Peter Perry night is a volunteer night recog- mizing one person for 1983 to represent al Whitby volunteers. It is hoped a good cross-section of Whit- by's citizens from ail agencies and organizations Who erigage volunteers will ?FO/R MS REGISTEýRy CONTINU OUSq CARBONUZED & MUSC. 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