© Copyright 2009 Brampton Library Acknowledgements Through Our Eyes – History, Community, and Diversity is a project designed to document Brampton’s local history through the eyes of the people who have lived it and are living it still. In this booklet, seniors share their memories of growing up in Brampton, or moving here from near or far away. They talk about the changes they have seen over the years, and of the highlights that stand out most in their recollections. From floods to flowers, Dick Smith’s pond to the Brampton Mall, from fishing to tobogganing – the stories are here. Brampton Library would like to thank all of the authors who submitted their stories for inclusion in this book, as well as all of the seniors who told their stories on camera in the Through Our Eyes video interviews, which are available through Brampton Library as well as being viewable online (for more information see www.bramptonlibrary.ca). Special thanks go to Brampton Library staff members Pam Martin and Elizabeth Patterson, and to the volunteer project committee for their contributions: Swetha Christabel, Everton Dixon, Tristan Irvine, Francine Labelle, Vera Macdonald, Saniya Tariq and Madonna Vas Rodrigues. This project was made possible by the financial support of the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program. Sincerely, Chanda Gilpin and Sarala Uttangi Information Services Coordinators Brampton Library
Table of Contents Stepping Stones ...... 1
South from Timmins ...... 1
Remembering My Childhood ...... 4
Brampton Business and Industry ...... 6
Volunteers Make the City ...... 8
Winter Wonders ...... 11
The Dale Estate ...... 13
The Rose Theatre ...... 15
1940s Brampton ...... 16
McHugh Public School ...... 18
Three Generations in Bramalea ...... 20
The Brampton Cardinals ...... 21
Bramalea: Satellite City ...... 23
Brampton Citizens’ Band ...... 25
Early Memories of Brampton ...... 27
Brampton Clown Band ...... 30
The Heritage Theatre ...... 31 Carabram: A Horticultural Perspective ...... 32
Home Again ...... 36
The Home Front ...... 38
The Vivian Family Businesses ...... 41
Peel Memorial Hospital ...... 42
Down Memory Lane ...... 44
To Our Nurses ...... 46
Gage Park ...... 48
The Brampton Mall ...... 48
Brampton on Parade ...... 51
How Do You Say “Bramalea”? ...... 53
Calvert-Dale Connections ...... 55
Sources / Further Reading ...... 59 Stepping Stones Ken Cuthbert There is a saying that you are not a real Bramptonian until you know where the Brampton “stepping stones” were located. So let me tell you that before the river diversion channel was built, the Etobicoke Creek flowed under the Church Street bridge to the foundation banking of the C.N.R. railway, running parallel to the tracks. Big stones (the “stepping stones”) were placed in the creek for people to get to Queen Street. E. without going all the way around Main Street. So now you know the story and you are a real Bramptonian! South from Timmins Irene Black (Based on a Brampton Library interview) We moved to Brampton from Timmins in 1952. My husband, Lloyd, worked for Armbro—they built everything. We came to Brampton because the company moved. My husband was a sales clerk, I guess you’d call it. He did a lot of things.