'Our Sesquicentennial', Whitby, Brooklin, Ashburn, Myrtle
The book Whitby's Sesquicentennial.
The young ladies, from left to right, Sarah, Devon, and Charlotte are pictured in costume on the front cover of
'Our Sesquicentennial', Whitby, Brooklin, Ashburn, Myrtle -
book with research calendar.
The picture was taken in the Music Room at the Whitby History Museum with the award winning Rainer grand piano.
Whitby Dunlop
Hockey Team
Team members - Peter MacKeller #8 and
Matt Armstrong #11 are pictured on the reverse side of the book. Pictured on the ice at Whitby Harbour.
Visit Whitby History Museum and see an original Dunnies uniform! A page inside the book is devoted to Whitby's beloved 'Dunnies'.
The Story of How the Book,
'Our Sesquicentennial' was made.
15,000 books were printed - only a few are still available for sale at The Museum. Most were sold as a successful fundraiser and 9,000 books were given as a gift in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, II 's 80th birthday in June 2006, to every school child in Whitby in grades One through Six. The book was entirely funded through through advertising sales to the Whitby Business Community and together with a grant of $3000. from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
The Whitby Historical Society sincerely wishes to thank all those who supported this book, and all the volunteers who worked many hours on content, getting ready for pictures, editing, and selling the book.
The Story
As well as being a fundraising vehicle the calendar was to help publicize the Whitby History Museum. Along with giving a grant for the restoration of many of the artifacts, the cataloguing on computer of the collection etc.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation had granted a request to fund this project at a cost of $3000.00 in order to pay for the production of the calendar. A study was conducted as to how best to proceed with the project and it was found that the $3000.00 allotment would not cover costs of production.
The costs of printing alone would far exceed the allotment. However, Breck Stewart of Astor Holdings Inc., Project Managers, created a plan ascertaining, that if enough Whitby advertisers could be found to support the project, it could go ahead. A test market was conducted and many Whitby businesses very generously purchased ad space.
Somewhere along the way the simple calendar became a book that included historical information, pictures taken of Whitby street-scapes, homes and castles ... all during its Sesquicentennial. Plus a research calendar with many important dates in Whitby History from 1792 to 2005. Pages were also included for Brooklin, Ashburn, and Myrtle.
Approximately 4,500 Pictures were taken between January and July. A whole week was booked for photographing inside the museum alone. Models, WHS volunteers graciously posed in costume and gave permission to have their photographs used for the book.
Many volunteers assisted with the set design, arranging for costumes and decorations. Margaret Boyce, organized sets, arranged costumes, people, timing, did hours of research, worked extensively with Trina in the lay-up process, and many other things that one can only imagine that goes into a book of this kind. Carol Wood-Keston, participated in several photo shoots, and made props for the Pioneer Kitchen set. Jane Snyder, of Snyder Construction was instrumental arranging sets and promotion for the book. Ruth Holdsworth decorated the table for the Sobeys’s Thanksgiving shoot.
Photographer, Trina Astor-Stewart cooked food for various sets, including a full turkey dinner, for the Sobeys set, so that it would look real in the photographs. It was a big city production, with small town heart!
There is a funny story about the specially decorated sugar cookies Trina made for the pioneer kitchen set. Having brought them a day early to use in two shoots, when she arrived the next day for the shoot in the pioneer kitchen, she looked at the platter and there was only one left. They'd been eaten ! Fortunately everyone had a good laugh and as Trina had more dough at home in her fridge, she quickly went home and made another batch. None of the food went to waste as you can see, it was enjoyed by those on the set after long hours of posing and sitting under the hot lights.
Several major photo assignments were also done for advertisers. For instance Breck and Trina took a twilight shot for Gerdau AmeriSteel, standing for hours on the bridge one night shooting scenes and waiting for just the right moment. Trina went into the plant for a day of shooting inside. Marguarida Wagner, of Gerdau AmeriSteel was a massive help. the massive Gerdau AmeriSteel plant. It was amazing to see all the scrap being smelted down. There was also a special opening held at Gerdau AmeriSteel, at which photographs were taken,when a new area in the plant was opened.
Many different aspects of Whitby during its Sesquicentennial year are included in the book.
Whitby, Ontario Canada, has a wonderful history, a rich and varied past ...a lot to be proud of in the present as well.
Whitby Historical Society is proud to have presented this book commemorating the Sesquicentennial. It is the only book published about Whitby History and the Sesquicentennial, to our knowledge, during this important year.
Trafalgar Castle is an important Whitby landmark and for the Trafalgar Castle School spread many photographs were taken inside the castle as well as in classes and on the soccer and baseball fields at a tournament. Many design elements in the book were taken from the stain glass windows or other ornate embellishments in the castle and used in the graphic design portions of the book. Everything in the book, pictures, history, design elements, all are part of Whitby History.
Margaret Boyce and Trina Astor-Stewart worked together for many, many hours on research and editing of the copy in the book as well as the layout and design elements.
After the graphic designer resigned because the project became too large, Breck and Trina had to learn how to use new software with help from Whitby graphic designer, Andrea Katelaars. She was too busy to do the project, but very graciously assisted in the learning process so that Trina and Breck could do the lay-up and design themselves as well as the hundreds of hours of photo editing in preparation for the printer, local company,
General Printers in Oshawa.
"We had three computer crashes during the production of the book, and when it was finished the computer needed to be replaced entirely, says Trina." Also included were hundreds of hours of ad design and consultation with the over 90 advertisers.
All in all, many volunteer hours were spent in regards to this book. After all cost expenditures were accounted for in the printing of 15,000 books, the book was entirely funded by the advertisers and the Ontario Trillium Foundation grant.
A successful fundraiser and promotion piece for Whitby as a whole, the advertisers and The Society. ...and it is will be a valued memento for many years ! Newcomers to Whitby will no doubt want to have a copy as well as those who have since moved away. Many school children will be able to use this as a reference guide to the past and possibly be inspired to follow in the footsteps of some of our illustrious citizens.
A special page was devoted to the wonderful older homes, castles and estates that make up some of Whitby architecture and history.
Gardens, poetry and volunteers who both help out and act as tour guides are represented. .
A book launch was arranged and presented at Sobeys on Heritage Day, September 19, 2005.
Along with being a forum for a presentation to WHS by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, it was attended by Jim Flaherty MP and members of the Whitby Dunlops hockey team. It was well attended by WHS volunteers and members of the public.
Please support our advertisers who made it possible to have this book published.
Whitby Historical Society is always grateful to those who support our endeavours.
Sincere Thanks
Alion, Carlo March
Anderson Collegiate
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Astor Media
div. of Astor Holdings
Inc. & affiliates
Astoria
Magazine
Astor
Studio
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May 18th 2006 -
80th Birthday Celebration for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
9,000 copies or $135,000.00 worth of ‘Our Sesquicentennial’ books, were given to school children in Whitby, grades 1 to 6, in honour of The Queen.