Brooklin Heritage Society

The Balfour Building

The home of the Whitby Dance Academy at 58 Baldwin Street was once known as the Balfour Building. Since its construction in 1878, it’s been a cornerstone of Brooklin’s history. Built for prominent merchant Robert Balfour (1848–1898), it became a central hub for local commerce, not only

58 Baldwin St N house — Balfour’s house next door

providing goods and services to the community but also playing a significant role in the economic development of Brooklin. At the time, it was the largest store in the village, showcasing impressive brick arches above the windows and doors that combined structural integrity with visual appeal. Immediately north of the store, Balfour built his two-story brick home which was demolished in 1995.

On September 8, 1881, the Whitby Chronicle reported: ‘The large and handsome new store of Mr. Balfour is completed and occupied. It has quite an imposing appearance.’ From its construction onward, the main floor was used as a dry goods and grocery store. In December, 1950, high winds damaged the brickwork, necessitating the complete removal and rebuilding of the third floor’s front facade.

Various owners

Balfour operated the store for only four years. From approximately 1884 to 1912, the business was subsequently run by various proprietors, including

Thomas J. Holliday, William Holliday, William Lawrence, Fred Ormiston, artist and sign painter Harry Lade and his son, butcher Arthur Cook. Merchants Wes Piatti, and Fred Brown (Brown’s Marketeria) both occupied the building at separate times during the 1950s and early 1960s. Another business, Kennedy’s, was in operation there around the same time. In the mid-1960s, Mrs. Bibeau and her mother, who both lived on Way Street, operated a Stedmans store at the location, then Brooklin Pro Hardware, followed by The Video Image.

The building’s upper floors also had an interesting history. In 1884, it became home to the Beethoven Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), which used the space until 1954, when they constructed their own building on Bagot Street. Those floors also housed the Whitby Council Chambers and Municipal Office prior to 1920 and the Patterson sisters operated a dressmaking and millinery shop. Eventually the upstairs rooms were renovated into apartments.

Heritage District

The building is situated within the Brooklin Heritage Conservation District, established by Bylaws 6085-08 and 6086-08 and is recognized for its historical significance. It is listed in the Town of Whitby’s Municipal

Heritage Register, which includes both designated and non-designated properties of cultural heritage value. This district designation, enacted in 2008, aims to preserve the unique heritage character of Brooklin’s main street and surrounding areas. While the Balfour Building itself may not have an individual designation date, its inclusion in the Brooklin Heritage Conservation District provides it with heritage protection under the Ontario Heritage Act. Today, it reflects Brooklin’s deeply rooted commercial heritage with the architectural style and community spirit of the late 19th century.

The Last Tinsmith

In the late 19th century, many tradespeople began their careers through open apprenticeships. This type of vocational training involved learning a trade directly from an experienced master tradesperson. For some apprentices, this journey often began in their teenage years, as was the case for Roy James Delong, Brooklin’s last licensed tinsmith. Delong apprenticed at Pedlar Products, a manufacturing company in Oshawa known for producing tin products for the building and construction industries. Over the course of several years, he honed his skills until he was able to work independently.

Various goods

After completing his apprenticeship, Delong set up a shop in a building he purchased from the Brooklin train station. When the ‘Nip and Tuck’

railway line was abandoned in 1941, he moved the building to his property at 150 Baldwin Street North. There he produced tin roofing sheets for residential and agricultural buildings. His work also included making decorative and functional tin shingles for weather-resistant roofs, gutters and flashings, chimney linings, stovepipes, chimney caps, ductwork and vents, embossed ceiling panels, and decorative trim such as cornices and moldings for both interior and exterior use. He also provided tin sheets to his older brother, Clifford Delong, a house painter and artist, for use in some of his oil paintings.

Several tinsmiths worked in Brooklin before Delong. These include Richard Brennan, who operated a tin and sheet metal shop on Baldwin Street in the late 19th century; James Griffith, who served the local farming community with tinware and stove repairs in the mid-1800s; George Leith, who had a shop in the downtown area in the late 1800s; and John McFerson, active in 1880. Other tinsmiths include Albert Mills, Frank Robinson, and John Samuel Jephson, who owned the hardware store at 47 Baldwin Street.

Local roots

Delong was born into a family deeply rooted in Brooklin, dating back to as early as 1836 with James A Delong. His father, John, born in 1861, married Jessie Colby in 1904, and together they established their homestead on the Baldwin Street property. Their sons, Clifford, born in 1905, and Roy, born in 1908, grew up there. In 1933, Roy met Reta Whitney, who ha

d moved to Brooklin from Uxbridge to be a childcare provider for this author’s father, Eugene Bailey. The Baileys lived in a house across the road on Baldwin Street. Roy and Reta married in 1934 and their son, William (Bill) was born in 1936. Tragically, Bill passed away at the age of 26, leaving behind his wife, Joan, and three young children, Patsy, Gary, and David. The couple were active members of the Brooklin branch of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) known as Beethoven Lodge #165 and Rebekahs, located at 42 Bagot Street. Both are interred at Groveside Cemetery with their son Bill.

Due to the changes in manufacturing and construction practices the tinsmithing trade in Brooklin came to an end, though throughout North America the trade hasn’t entirely disappeared. It has become a niche profession, with some tinsmiths continuing to work in restoration, art, and specialized metal fabrication, often focusing on heritage and traditional techniques.

The History of Brooklin’s Post Offices

The Town of Winchester decided to have a post office, but as there was already a Winchester in Eastern Ontario, “our” Winchester wasn’t able to have one. To fix this problem the residents held a public meeting on August 11, 1847 where they decided to change the town’s name to Brooklin. Brooklin post office 1964

At this time the postal service in Canada was under the control of the British government. It was assumed that Brooklin and Columbus opened co-jointly in order to make the one route profitable. Mail first reached Whitby by stage coach on a route that ran from Toronto to Kingston, which was then delivered to Brooklin’s post office three times a week by the first carrier Mr. Thomas, who was paid the princely sum of 15 pounds a year for his troubles. The charge to customers for this delivery was paid at a fixed rate as postage stamps weren’t used until 1851.

In 1847 the first Brooklin Postmaster was E.J. Ware, who was followed by Reverend Robert Darlington in 1853. The Post Office in 1854 was the Hunter-Darlington House, at 42 Cassels Rd. This building has been designated under the Ontario Heritage Act and is possibly the oldest house in Brooklin. (see photo) The building housing Brooklin’s 2nd Post Office, located at 55 Baldwin St., was built in 1860

In 1881 Mr. R.T. Harrison became Postmaster, who was then followed by Mr. A. Somerville in 1888. From 1888 until 1928 it was operated in David W. MacDonald’s Store (see photo). G.W Rodd was Postmaster until 1929, followed by his son Stanley Rodd until 1968. The Goodberry store is in this location today. Roy. D. Connell in 1968, T.I. Riley until 1973, Milton E. Spears in 1973, Mrs. M. Peacock until 1974. R. Walker is the last recorded name.

On October 10, 1908, rural delivery began with A. Hannom as the first mail carrier, who was followed by M. Ross. In 1947 B. Hannam took over the route, then in 1962 Mr. and Mrs. Wilman delivered mail until 1978. By this time RR#1 Brooklin encompassed a 60 mile drive for the mail carrier who delivered to approximately 565 customers.

Brooklin’s 3rd Post Office was built in 1964 at 2 Price Street. Before Community boxes arrived residents would meet at the Post Office to chat and catch up on the news. Although Brooklin now has numerous postal codes, residents may still remember the first one, L0B 1C0.

W. J. Medland and Son Feed Store

William John Medland was a true native son of Brooklin. He was born October 24, 1900. On April 20, 1927, Bill married Etta Pearl White, a country girl born December 17, 1903. Together, they lived at 26 Queen Street, where they raised their son, John. Once grown, John, his wife Jean and eventually their children worked with Bill in the Medland family business.

Starting out as a painter, Bill was later employed by Patterson Dairy. He worked at the creamery until 1941, when he purchased the livery stable at 6 Campbell Street, beside the Brooklin Hotel. The hotel eventually became the present day Royal Canadian Legion #152. From this location, he operated W. J. Medland and Son Feed Store.

Local farmers bought their seed from Bill and homes were heated using his coal. He made a point of ensuring that families who couldn’t afford to pay did not go without heat. In 1970, Bill sold the coal business to Dixon Fuels in Oshawa. The old building was eventually demolished in 2001 to make room for a small plaza.

Bill and Etta were loved by many and highly respected in the Brooklin community. In 1948, Bill was named Master of Mount Zion Masonic Lodge #39 and was later presented with a 60 year pin. Etta herself was a Master of Contract Bridge. After 58 years of marriage Bill passed away on August 21, 1985. Etta followed shortly thereafter on May 20, 1986. The couple are buried in Groveside Cemetery.

Barb Medland won the Jody Edwards painting at our 2019 annual homecoming
/reunion we host at the Legion. Jean Medland drew the winning ticket. A perfect way to end the day!

The Brooklin Concretes softball team

The Brooklin Concretes softball team, whose successes created a sense of pride for the community of Brooklin, was to be inducted into the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame last April until COVID postponed the event for a year. A Shout-Out to Nancy Mitchell who worked hard to put together a full history to secure their nomination!

The Concretes were born in 1963 when players from the Brooklin Stevenson Motors team joined with players from Mount Zion. This new team, which played to exuberant crowds who filled the Brooklin Memorial Park stands, joined the Oshawa City and District Softball League and developed a reputation for strong performances.

In their second season, the Concretes advanced to the league semi-finals. However it was at the regional and provincial levels where the players accomplished their most outstanding achievements. Competing in the Ontario Amateur Softball Association (OASA) Intermediate C division playoffs, the Concretes captured Southern Ontario titles in 1964 and 1966, earning the right to play for the All-Ontario championship. In both years, they played a team from Capreol.

The 1964 squad, coached by Dib Little, advanced through four playoff rounds to capture the Southern Ontario championship. The Concretes eliminated Elmvale, Markham, Selkirk, and Tweed, recording eight wins and just two losses. Their crackerjack pitchers were so skilled that in 10 games, the opposing teams scored just 26 runs.

The 1964 All Ontario championship was a best-of-three series with all games in Brooklin. After they dropped the ball, losing 2-1 in the opening game, the Concretes bounced back to win their first provincial title by securing the next two games with scores of 3-1 and 4-2.

Two years later, with Coach Bill Harper at the helm, the Concretes faced a tougher challenge in the OASA Intermediate C Finals: they had to win six playoff series to become the Southern Ontario Champions. They accomplished it with wins over Battersea, Bridgenorth, Fisherville, Markham, Merlin and Minden, winning 12 of 15 games and with a combined score of 127 to 28. Five of those wins were shutouts! Brooklin defeated Capreol in the provincial finals, winning 2-1 and 5-1 to capture their second All Ontario title.

Photo Courtesy of Scott McLellan.

Grand Opening of Cullen Gardens

(May 30, 1980), Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village opened. Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village was Whitby’s largest attraction from 1980-2006, featuring expansive gardens, a miniature village, restaurant, entertainment stage, gift shops and historic homes that were moved to the property to save them from demolition. What are your memories of Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village? Click below to see what happened on that day. https://youtu.be/brRFI7S6XeM

Sesquicentennial of Brooklin (1997)

(Excerpt from 4 SEPTEMBRE 1997 ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE DE L_ONTARIO http://hansardindex.ontla.on.ca/hansardeissue/36-1/l224.htm at about 1:30 pm)

Mr John O’Toole (Durham East): On September 6, 1997, the village of Brooklin, located in my riding of Durham East, will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its naming.

The village, located north of Whitby on Highway 12, was founded in 1840 and was previously named Winchester. When residents of the village went to apply for a post office, they discovered there was already a Winchester post office elsewhere in Ontario. On August 11, 1847, the 300 inhabitants of the village met and agreed to change the name to Brooklin. No one is certain why they chose that name, but perhaps it’s because of the little brook that trickles through the town.

Throughout the day on September 6, several events have been scheduled to commemorate the heritage of this village, with horse-drawn carriages, entertainment and self-guided tours. Visitors to Brooklin can see some of the historic buildings, such as the old Brooklin Mill, which today houses a hardware store and small engine repair shop, and a former stable currently being used by the W.J. Medland and Son Ltd business.

Like so many Ontario villages, Brooklin is no exception in its contribution to this wonderful province of Ontario. At one time, Brooklin was known as being the smallest town in the world to have a senior A lacrosse team. In 1968 the Redmen senior A lacrosse team won the esteemed Mann Cup, and again in 1969, and the team went on to win the cup again in 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990. The Mann Cup: Morley Kells would like to forget about this.

Recognition should also be given to community leaders such as Dr John McKinney and John Dryden.

I would like to ask the members of the Legislature to join me in congratulating the residents of Brooklin on their 150th celebration.

It’s a Gas!

On June 25, 1995, the Consumers Gas Company in Whitby, along with their authorized dealer, Advantage Air Care in Brooklin, was pleased to inform Maureen and Gord Stevens that they were the winners of the draw for a brand new furnace installation to the value of $3,500.00. The arrival of natural gas to Brooklin was announced on July 20, 1995, at the lighting of the torch ceremony in front of the Luther Vipond arena, where Maureen was given the honour of “throwing” the switch. Mayor Tom Edwards attended the ceremony, along with Consumers Regional General Manager, Paddy Davis. Because Maureen and Gord were one of the first 100 natural gas customers in Brooklin, the happy couple also received a coupon from Uxbridge Nurseries Ltd. for a free 2 ft Spruce Tree. This tree was planted in the back yard of their house on Queen Street and is now a 30 ft beauty! Maureen and Gord were sorry they couldn’t take the tree with them when they moved to Kimberly Drive.

Brooklin’s First Pharmacy

By Jennifer Bailey Hudgins

Russell (Russ) Short graduated from the University of Toronto School of Pharmacy and his first place of employment was with Jury and Lovell in Oshawa. In the late 40’s he moved to Toronto to work for Hoopers Drug Store at Bloor and Sherbourne where he partnered with Bill Burgess, son of the owner.

1950’s saw the introduction of discount retail making retailing by the smaller service providers more challenging, so Russ made the decision to relocate to a town that could support a Pharmacy. This was at a time when Brooklin was growing with a new residential subdivision and the community supported a medical centre as well as doctors offices.

Russ purchased 65 Baldwin Street and moved with his wife Bernice and sons Bob, Jim and Gary to Queen Street in Brooklin. Construction of Short’s Pharmacy commenced in 1959 with the grand opening in May 1960. Brooklin’s first Pharmacy! The family then purchased a home on North Street.

In the early days the store was open 7 days a week with extended hours on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. ( 9 to 9 ) and new jobs were brought into the village when Russ employed locals. The pharmacy served an area well beyond Brooklin, as flyers were regularly distributed to residents as far as Locust Hill in the west, Hampton to the east and Greenbank to the north.
In 1971 Russ was joined by Bill Burgess who re-located from Toronto to live in Ashburn. In 1980 Russ suffered a stroke and was not able to return to the Pharmacy. His partner Bill Burgess continued on with the business, and at his retirement, Bill’s daughter Peggy Frankovich took over. Russ passed away in 1984 and is buried in his home town of Bowmanville.

The Booth, an old time concession stand

By Jennifer Bailey Hudgins

In 1936 my Grandmother, Hattie Bailey opened a concession stand in the orchard between her house at 149 Baldwin Street, N and my Grandfather Jerry’s Sunoco service station at 157.

Baileys Sunoco with Gene Bailey and friends.

This stand was referred to as “the Booth” and it was from here that Hattie sold sandwiches, beverages, baked goods, candy, cigarettes, ice cream and paintings by local artist Cliff Delong.

Grandma Baileys booth 2

Grandma Baileys booth

It was here that Verna Sonley Hodson began to work at the age of twelve in the summers before her marriage to Ray. A neighbour, Mrs Pengally baked pies Hattie sold by the slice and local women brought flowers from their gardens. Members of Rebecca Lodge had their tea parties in the orchard and the UCW held quilting bees.

Grandma-and-ladies-in-Brooklin

Before closing “the Booth” in 1953, Hattie also operated a concession stand for many years at the Brooklin Spring Fair.