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Who was Elman W. Campbell?
Peggy McChesney was chosen as the winner of an essay contest
sponsored by the Town of Newmarket Corporate Communications division and the Elman W. Campbell Museum. Entrants were asked to write a brief essay on “Who Was Elman W. Campbell?” - a long-time Main Street merchant who served as the Museum Board Chair for many years, until his death in 1991. The winner was selected by the museum curator and the members of the Newmarketh Historical Soiciety Archives Committee. Here's Peggy's winning entry:
Essay contest ad as it appeared in Newmarket This Month
Does a town reflect its people or does the life of its people reflect the town? In the case of Elman W. Campbell, it’s impossible to say.
Best remembered now for his involvement with the Newmarket Historical Society, Elman W. Campbell is credited with obtaining a permanent site for the museum that bears his name. A local man, discovering who Elman W. Campbell was brings the history of Newmarket into sharp focus. Through Mr Campbell’s book “Newmarket Some Early Memories” you feel that you know both the town and the man.
As a child, Elman swam in Fairy Lake and fished off its floating bridge. In 1913 a referendum was held to decide which of several companies would provide electricity to the growing town. Elman and his friends ran between MacKenzie and Mann, and Ontario Hydro to get the free toast that both companies handed out to prove that their electricity made the best. Elman was a pupil at Alexander Muir School when the armistice was signed November 11, 1918. He stood with the other Boy Scouts, hat held out, to receive packages of firecrackers for the celebration. A mischievous boy, he remembered that they received more then their share – probably because the sea of uniforms confused the town officials.
The fireworks display on November 11, 1918 at Specialty Flats was amazing as was the celebration the following May 24th. It seemed that a number of firecrackers didn’t go off due to missing wicks. Elman went November 12th, gathered them up and made new wicks for them. The following May he and his friends had the ‘biggest celebration in town.’
Elman’s life was linked closely with changes and growth in Newmarket. When he started high school in September 1920, the school was small and didn't have indoor plumbing. The school population grew and the afternoon he wrote his final examination for Grade 13 - June 30, 1926 - he was part of the ceremony laying the corner stone for the school expansion. He dropped a penny into the copper box time capsule buried during the ceremony.
In high school, Elman was active in the Cadet Corp and was part of the honour guard for the November 11, 1924 dedication service of the Memorial Pillars for those lost in the Great War. At the University of Toronto, he was active in IOTC. When Elman returned to Newmarket, he became a successful main street merchant and was active in the Chamber of Commerce of the town. An indication of his stature in the community can be seen in the honour he and his wife Betty received in April 1980. They were named Senior King and Queen for Newmarket's Centennial Celebration and were crowned by Mayor Twinney at a dance at St John's Parish Hall.
Elman witnessed all the changes to Newmarket over the years, and was interested in preserving the memories. I think that he was successful. To know who Elman W. Campbell was is to know Newmarket.
