Community Park

53 Main Street

The Community Park is located just west of Morton Brothers Garage on the south side of Main Street.  It has an interesting history as told in an article in The ERA Banner.

In the early 1900’s, several of the local citizens decided they would like to have a playground for the community and so they collected money to secure the land.  Once they had the money to buy the land, they tried to decide which land to buy.  One group of citizens liked the site of the present park and another group preferred the site known as the old pond site with the creek running through it, on the east side of the village.  

The two groups could not agree on a site, so the money was returned.

Then, in 1924, the Mount Albert Women’s Institute decided that they would buy land for the park.  The site they wanted for the park, was the land that the park is currently on.  When the Women’s Institute tried to obtain the land, they found that they could not own property as an organization.  Not wanting to give up, the Institute circulated a petition that would have the town buy the land if the petition was signed by two-thirds of the ratepayers in the village.  After much opposition they finally secured enough names and the petition was taken to East Gwillimbury council.  The Council passed the request on July 18, 1924, allowing the town to buy the land that is now Mount Albert Park.

Many people volunteered their time to get the field in shape for the first Sports Day held on June 3, 1925.  The flagpole was donated by Jagger Oldham.  The paint for it was donated by Miss E. Smith and put on by several of the young men.  Mrs. W.F. R. Bohme donated the flag, which was used for many years and was still in use in 1949. 

Many remember the first sports day, one of the hottest of the season, and no grass or trees in the park – what a day! 

However, the crowds came and enjoyed the procession of floats put on by the horticultural society, local businessmen, the Women’s Institute and many others.  The Mount Albert band headed the procession.  Throughout the day there were ball games, horseshoe pitching, races and many other sports.  In the evening a concert was put on by local talent.  It was a minstrel show held in the old mill on Centre Street.  A severe electrical storm put an end to an otherwise perfect day.

The next morning on opening the little homemade ticket booth the Women’s Institute had on the grounds, the box of money, which had been left in it overnight, was still there with all the money that had been collected. 

A meeting was held on July 6, 1925 to organize a Park Board and members were selected.  The East Gwillimbury council approved the Park Board on July 12, 1925.  The following were members: Milton Mainprize, Dr. H.E. Johnson, Wm Robertson, Mrs. W. R. Steeper, Mrs. E. Rowan, Jos. Harrison (Councilor) and Chas. White (Councilor).  The two Councilors were members of the East Gwillimbury Council and represented the township on the Park Board. 

There was, at the beginning, no place for an entrance from the street to the Park so the Women’s Institute purchased a roadway from Mr. Ira Morton.  This roadway was used until the lots in front of the Park were purchased and a beautiful memorial gateway built. 

Both of these pictures are of Main Street, looking east.  The one on the top was taken around 1900.  The picture on the bottom was taken after 1929 because the gates to the park are visible on the right side of the picture, just beside the car.

Location: Main Street South around 1900

Location: Main Street South after 1929

The town hall was built in 1937.  In the picture on the right it is the large building on the right side of the road.  The small building on the left is the old train station that had been moved to this site when the train station closed.  The train station is no longer at the Community Park, but it is not known what happened to it.

Notice that the World War I plaque is on the left side of the entrance.  It was installed on June 3, 1929.  Notice that the World War II plaque has not yet been installed on the right side of the entrance.  That plaque was erected May 24, 1947.  

That means this picture was taken after 1929, but before 1947.

World War I plaque

World War II plaque

Initially, there was a separate board to administer the hall and the park.  In 1950, the Park Board was given responsibility to look after both the park and the hall. 

In 1953 floodlights were installed at the ball diamond.  In 1954 the hall was extended on the west side and washrooms added.  In 1955 bleachers were added to the ball diamond.  In 1966 a new, modern kitchen was added to the hall.  In 1974, the Lions Club added a new addition to the front of the old building.  The addition was officially opened on May 23.

Over the years many trees and flowers have been planted, swings, slides and other playground equipment have been purchased for the children and a tennis court and outdoor skating rink have also been built on the grounds.  And there has been a successful sports day each year since 1925 on the first weekend in June.

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