An army town

In August, 1940 Newmarket Mayor Dr. S.J. Boyd, a Main St. doctor, told Ottawa the town was willing to provide a site for a wartime army camp. Within six weeks, the Newmarket Basic Training Centre had been built – 36 buildings including a large drill hall, barracks, cookhouses, messes, guardrooms, recreation halls, and canteens. An infirmary, churches and other buildings were added later. Thousands of soldiers were trained for overseas action at the Newmarket base and the camp payroll and supply purchases kept Main St. prosperous during the war years.

Today, the drill hall is the York Curling Club, and many of the barracks and other buildings which were converted to peacetime uses can still be seen on nearby streets.

- Terry Carter