6 Friday, May 3, 2024 brooklintowncrier.com Help The Town Select Playground Equipment We are working to build a new park in West Whitby at the southeast corner of Barkerville Drive and Limoges Street, and we want to hear from you! Take a survey about the playground equipment you would like to see by May 20. Learn more at connectwhitby.ca/Parks Just Mow And Go Did you know: grass clippings are not accepted in any of the Town's waste collection programs? When you mow regularly, if you leave clippings on your lawn they quickly decompose and release water and nutrients back into the lawn. whitby.ca/YardWaste Thinking Of Adding An Accessory Apartment? Putting in a basement apartment or secondary suite? The Town now offers incentives to help lower the cost and support these additional housing units in the community through its Housing Accelerator Funding. Learn more at whitby.ca/AccessoryApartments Community Selects the Tulip Tree as Whitby's First Official Tree More than 200 people participated in our Connect Whitby survey to declare the tulip tree as Whitby's first official tree. See if this tree is right for your yard and learn about the LEAF subsidized backyard tree planting program. whitby.ca/LEAF whitby.ca P: 905-430-4300 E: info@whitby.ca What You Need To Know This Week In Whitby There was a time in the 19th century when the tanning industry played a crucial role by providing essential leather goods for farmers, businessmen and families in both Brooklin Village and surrounding areas. Employing as many as 30 local men full-time, the local tannery operated diligently to tan cow hides soon after skinning, preventing them from decomposing and attracting pests such as rodents and insects. On January 4, 1884, the local newspaper, Whitby Chronicle, reported that an impressive 15,000 sides of leather were treated in the year 1883 alone. Modern equipment The sole tannery was located on what is now Cassels Road East, a short distance west of the Brooklin Flour Mill (today's Montessori School) and on the back lot of the original Wesleyan Methodist Church which became the Brooklin United Church. Built in 1854 by Moses Bartlett, this large woodframed building measured 102 by 56 feet and boasted state-of- the-art (for the time) machinery powered by steam. Its imposing 70-foot brick smokestack helped disburse the fumes from the tannery, generally preventing them from reaching surrounding buildings. However, on windy days, greasy soot and fumes had the potential to settle on nearby houses, much to the irritation of homemakers. Because tanneries relied on ammonia content in human urine to aid in softening animal hides, it's possible that local families facing economic hardship turned to selling their urine to the tannery as a means of increasing their income. This gave rise to the phrase "piss poor." Bartlett later sold the business to tanners John and Edward Cole and then W. J. Murray acquired the tannery in 1876. Types of leather The tannery produced three types of leather catering to various needs within the district. Buff leather, processed to have a slightly roughened surface, was used in belts, shoes, and occasionally in farmers' boots. Harness leather was prized for its sturdiness and thickness and was essential for making harnesses, reins, and other equipment for horses and draft animals. It required durability to withstand the strain of pulling loads. Upper leather, utilized for the upper part of shoes, boots, and various footwear, was valued for its flexibility, comfort and appearance. The tannery's success was brought to an abrupt and tragic halt when, on June 5, 1890, a severe thunderstorm swept over the village, culminating in an unusually brilliant flash of lightning that struck the building. Due to the interior being heavily coated with oil from the animal hides, the ensuing fire spread rapidly and burned intensely, engulfing the building within minutes. Huge losses Long before fire trucks were available, a bucket brigade of local men was hastily formed. They managed to contain the flames to the burning building. However the damage was extensive, resulting in approximately $30,000 in losses, with insurance coverage limited to only $10,000. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but the owner, Mr. Murray, and three assistants narrowly escaped while attempting to rescue several horses. Overnight the Brooklin Tannery was completely destroyed, leaving the company crippled. The fire had left the employees jobless, with all hopes of working in the tannery gone up in smoke. The Tannery By Jennifer Hudgins Dear Doug, Spent any time in the emergency ward at Lakeridge Oshawa? It's a bit crowded. 10 hr. waits are common. Wouldn't be so bad if we had another proper hospital. Any chance you could address that - as you promised?