As a 'police village,' Cookstown couldn't even collect taxes in its early days (4 photos)

Editor's note: The following story is shared from the Innisfil Heritage Committee regarding the town's early villages and settlements.

The village of Cookstown is situated at the intersection of four townships: Innisfil, Tecumseth, West Gwillimbury and Essa. 

In 1905, it was incorporated as a police village and held its first election. As a police village, it did not have the power to collect taxes.  Although the trustees were responsible for setting a budget, they had to submit their budget to the four individual townships, which then paid the expenses for their particular part of the village.

It wasn’t until 1962 that Cookstown became an incorporated village, a status which entitled the reeve and council to collect property taxes in order to meet budget requirements.

The first settler in the Innisfil part of Cookstown was John Perry, who operated a tavern at the intersection and who gave the settlement its first name – Perry’s Corners. A plan of Innisfil township shows lots surveyed in the village in 1847 and registered in 1859 as belonging to the Perry Estate. 

Perry also owned the farmland on Lot 1, Concession 2, which was later purchased by George Fisher; land on which the Anglican church and cemetery now sit was donated by a daughter of John Perry in his memory.

Later on, a dwelling and shop owned by T. R. Ferguson, as well as a paint shop, were built at the corner.

Early records of the Ontario Department of Agriculture show that the Cookstown Agriculture Society (originally called the South Simcoe Electoral District Agricultural Society) was established in 1855. Land was purchased from the Col. T. R. Ferguson estate at a price of $100 an acre. Both spring and fall fairs were held there.

In 1884, board meetings were held at Gregg’s Hotel in Churchill, as well as hotels in Cookstown and Thornton. 

An entry in the treasurer-secretary book describes that year’s fair: “The entries of 1884 in the several classes of horses were superior to any ever seen exhibited in the County. There were entries in swine and poultry, seeds and grain and fruit. Buggies, carriages, wagons, harness were improvements over the past, the display of farm equipment was grand and imposing. The leading manufacturing firms of the country were represented by intelligent agents. All the requirements of the farmer were exhibited in profusion from the massive self binder down to the single horse rake. The ladies’ work displayed in the Drill Shed was both ornamental and useful, displaying neatness, cleverness, and artistic skill.”

In 1892, seven more acres were purchased from Mrs. Isaac Ferguson at a cost of $80 per acre. This allowed for the building of a half-mile track on which races were held up until the 1960s.

The attractive gateway to the fairground was constructed in 1957 to mark the centennial of the fair. Mrs. Henry Couse, Cookstown's oldest citizen and only centenarian, cut the ribbon to officially open the gates. Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and Mrs. Diefenbaker officially opened the centennial fair and led a parade long remembered in the community.

The Fenian Raids resulted in the building of a drill shed in 1866. This was located on property adjoining the fairgrounds and was later used as an exhibit hall. After a number of years, it was purchased for a dance hall by John Gilhenny, followed by Henry Reed. It remained in use until 1951, when it was destroyed by fire.

In 1928, a committee was formed to raise money for the Veterans Park and cenotaph, which was unveiled in 1935 by the Honourable W. E. Rowe.

The first Women’s Institute meeting in Simcoe County was held on July 2, 1901, at the home of Mrs. Wm. Phillips of Cookstown. Mrs. Phillips became the first president and Miss Christina Sutherland (of Innisfil Township) became the first secretary-treasurer.  Seventeen women attended the meeting. Fourteen of them joined the organization.

'Some Mistakes in our Education' was the title of a paper given at the second meeting. Mrs. James Allan of Churchill, who had attended the first meeting, gave a paper on 'Breadmaking,' which was then discussed by those present.

Emily Murph, daughter of Mrs. Isaac Ferguson who lived on the northeast corner of Church and Elizabeth streets, gained fame as a result of her 13-year battle, along with four other Alberta women, contending that women must be considered persons under the British North American Act.  As a result of a decision of the Privy Council in England, women gained entrance to the Canadian Senate.

The Alberta government honoured Emily Murphy by naming her its first woman magistrate, and the first women magistrate in the British Empire. Judge Murphy also became the first president of the Federated Women’s Institute of Canada in 1921.

Joan McLean, Cookstown

W.I. Tweedsmuir History Curator

Township of Innisfil, Historical Review – Ontario Bicentennial  Edition 1984 p. 242-243

Copies of this publication can be obtained by contacting the Innisfil Historical Society at [email protected].