Bowmanville

Settlers were attracted to the area by the farmland, and creeks for water mills. The lands which would later become Bowmanville were first purchased by John Burk, who began to clear the forest.[3]

Mills were built first on Barber's Creek (now called Bowmanville Creek), including one still standing, now called Vanstone's Mill, at the present-day intersection of King Street and Scugog St. More mills were built on nearby Soper Creek, including another mill still standing as the municipality's Visual Arts Centre which has been designated as an architecturally protected historical building.[4]

Charles Bowman, the namesake of Bowmanville in the only known painting, with his family.

Burke later sold his land to Lewis Lewis. Lewis opened the first store in what was then called Darlington Mills. The store was purchased in about 1824 by Charles Bowman (for whom the town was eventually named) who then established the first post office.[5] Its first postmaster was Robert Fairbairn, who ran the post office from 1828 to 1857. Bowmanville incorporated as a town in 1858.[6]

By 1866, Bowmanville was a town with a population of about 3,500 in the township of Darlington, County Durham. It was a station of the Grand Trunk Railway. It was established on the north shore of Lake Ontario. It possessed a good harbour and there was extensive water power in the vicinity. The surrounding country was fertile.[7]

The success of the Vanstone Mill, fueled by the machinery of the Crown's land grant program, led to the rapid expansion of the Bowmanville settlement in the early years of the 19th century. Under the generous yet discriminate eyes of wealthy local merchants such as John Simpson and Charles Bowman, small properties would often be sold to promote settlement and small business. The town soon developed a balanced economy; all the while gradually establishing itself as a moderate player in shipping, rail transport, metal works and common minor business (including tanneries, liveries, stables and everyday mercantile commodity exchange).

By the time of Confederation, Bowmanville was a vital, prosperous and growing town, home to a largely Scots-Presbyterian community with all manner of farmers, working, and professional class making the town their home. With local economic stability and accessible, abundant land available for the construction of housing, the town soon sported several new churches, each designated to house both Free and Auld Kirk, Anglican and Nonconformist congregations, including the Bible Christian Church, later to be a major stream of Canadian Methodism.

At present, St. John's Anglican Church. St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, St. Paul's United Church and the impressively ornate Trinity United Church (site of an old Auld Kirk church) still serve the community. All of these edifices, appropriately, lie on or are in close proximity to present-day Church Street.

Postcard of the former Post Office, circa 1920s. The Town Hall building is visible to the right.

In the 19th century, in 1857, the Ontario Bank was founded in Bowmanville, with local resident John Simpson as its first president. The bank, while appearing to be a local enterprise, was primarily controlled by 16 Montreal businessmen. The Ontario bank eventually opened local branches including locations in Whitby, Oshawa, and Port Hope. In 1874, it was moved to Toronto, and would later become insolvent as a result of investing in speculative stocks in 1906.[8] The historic Ontario Bank building at the intersection of King and Temperance was demolished in 1971 [9]

In 1884, Scottish immigrant John McKay opened the Cream of Barley Mill next to Soper Creek to manufacture a cereal of his own creation. "Cream of Barley" was shipped throughout the British Empire.[12][13]

Aerial photo taken in 1919. Vanstone Mill and pond can be seen, along with the Vanstone CPR bridge.

Local business organized and modernized in the 20th century, with the Dominion Organ and Piano factory, Specialty Paper Company, the Bowmanville Foundry, and the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company (1910) all providing steady work for Bowmanville's ever-growing working populations. Goodyear even went so far as to provide affordable housing for its employees, and present day Carlisle Ave. (built by Goodyear president W.C. Carlisle) in the 1910s still stands as one of Ontario's best preserved examples of industrial housing. The land on which the Bowmanville Hospital was built was donated by J.W. Alexander, the owner of the then-prospering Dominion Organ and Piano factory.

Formal education evolved in-step with Ryersonian philosophies of the day, and the advent of the Central Public School (1889) and the Bowmanville High School (1890), (both designed by Whitby architect A.A. Post) were the finishing touches to the town that was a model of then-Ontario Premier Oliver Mowat's philosophy of education, expansion and innovation for the citizens of the province.

The 20th century saw a steady rise in the construction of area schools, with Vincent Massey P.S. (1955); St. Joseph Catholic Elementary (1962, 2000 at present site); Waverly P.S. (1978); Dr. Ross Tilley P.S. (1993); St. Elizabeth Catholic Elementary (1998); John M. James P.S. (1999); Harold Longworth P.S. (2003); and Holy Family Catholic Elementary School (2007), all accommodating gradual population increases and building developments in specific demographic areas of the town. The local school board was amalgamated with neighboring jurisdictions to form the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board in 1997. The Catholic schools are part of the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board which had already merged four counties in 1969 (at that time it was named the Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Durham Separate School Board).

As the town grew and prospered, so arrived Bowmanville's grand era of architectural building and refinement. Many excellently maintained specimens of Italianate, Gothic Revival, Colonial Brick and Queen Anne architecture remain in Bowmanville's older central neighborhoods. Much of Bowmanville's residential and commercial architectural heritage was either lost or threatened by demolition and modern development from 1950 to 1980, but a 25-year renaissance in appreciation and awareness (led largely by local historians and LACAC members) helped to preserve the precious remnants of days gone by.

Bowmanville was incorporated as a village in 1852 and as a town in 1858. In 1974, the town was amalgamated with neighbouring Clarke Township and Darlington Township to form the Town of Newcastle which in turn was renamed the Municipality of Clarington in 1994.

Subdivided housing developments first arrived in the 1950s, with a significant increase in housing development through the 1980s and 1990s. The population rose to about 10,000 in the 1970s, about 20,000 in the 1980s, about 25,000 in the 1990s and today is about 35,000. Transportation improvements in the 1980s included a widening of Highway 401 (first built through Bowmanville in 1952) to six lanes and of Highway 2 to 4/5 lanes. Many have referred to this as the "Lane Era" of Bowmanville.

Prisoner of war camp

Camp 30, the Lake Ontario Officers' Camp-Bowmanville, held captive German army officers from the Afrika Korps, Luftwaffe aircrew and naval officers from the Kriegsmarine. Farms surrounded the camp that had been a delinquent boys' school prior to the war. In several accounts by former prisoners of war (POWs), the prison was represented as very humane, in that the prisoners were well treated and well fed.

Among the German officers transferred from England to Bowmanville was Korvettenkapitän Otto Kretschmer, who was the top U-boat ace of World War II. Kretschmer assumed the duties of the senior naval officer, sharing the command with the senior Luftwaffe officer Oberstleutnant Hans Hefele and the senior army officer General Leutnant Hans von Ravenstein.

Camp 30, circa 1930.

The Bowmanville boys' school had been quickly turned into a POW camp by surrounding the existing school buildings with a barbed wire fence. The facility, which had been designed to house 300 boys, was cramped and undersized for grown men. Two 12-foot-high (3.7 m) fences with electric lights every twelve feet and nine guard towers surrounded the 14-acre (57,000 m²) site. The fence had sixty miles of barbed wire looped around the small perimeter. Lieutenant Colonel R.O. Bull M.C. had a support staff plus the Veterans Guard of Canada, consisting of nine officers and 239 other ranks under his command to guard the prisoners.

When the naval prisoners arrived at Bowmanville, there were no recreational facilities. The naval officers quickly transformed the camp. Flower and vegetable gardens were planted, sports fields, tennis courts and a swimming pool were built. The quarters were expanded, giving the prisoners better living conditions. The prisoners received money from home or earned extra money by manufacturing wooden furniture. They were able to purchase beer, cigarettes and dry goods from Eaton's mail order catalogue. It was an ideal life except that there were no women and no freedom. For some there was the urge to get back to the war and defend their country, and for others a desire to remain POWs for the duration of the war.

A daily routine of exercise, sporting events and work assignments was established. As well as English being taught, professors from the nearby University of Toronto gave lectures for university credit classes. A school was also formed, which taught midshipmen seamanship and navigation courses.

Current movies were shown each week. National and religious holidays were observed, and music concerts were given regularly. Elaborate stage plays were produced. Extraordinary puppets were designed and fabricated for puppet shows. Although the conditions were good in the Canadian POW camps, there was very little to do, and the routine was always the same.

Bowmanville is surrounded by rural areas on three sides, and Lake Ontario to the south. Farmland formerly covered central Bowmanville until the population increased, thus establishing a nascent downtown core by the early 19th century. There is a harbour to the south of Bowmanville in Port Darlington.

Starting in the 19th century, Bowmanville has served as the home of many diverse manufacturers[16] including the historic Bowmanville Foundry, the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police regional office, Goodyear conveyor belt factory (recently sold). There is a marina on Lake Ontario at Port Darlington, south of town. Bowmanville was a finalist for the ITER project. Southern Ontario's GO Train commuter rail service is to be expanded to Bowmanville by 2024.[17] This will increase the efficiency of public transportation to nearby cities such as Oshawa, and beyond. Currently, Darlington Nuclear Generating Station is the largest employer in Bowmanville.

In 2017, Toyota Canada Inc., announced plans to open a new parts distribution site, known as "Eastern Canada Parts Distribution Centre", to replace the current plant in Toronto, Ontario, at the intersection of Lambs Road and Baseline Road. Toyota also plans to add a new nature trail known as the "Toyota Trail" that will connect the Soper Creek Trail to the new plant. The facility is planned to open in 2019.[18]

An outlet mall was planned to be built in Bowmanville near the Highway 401/Waverley Road interchange, but the company abandoned the project shortly thereafter due to "cost prohibitive complexities".[19]

On June 10, 2019 it was announced that Ontario Power Generation would have its corporate headquarters relocated next to the Darlington Energy Complex.[20]

Former Bowmanville Zoo, seen in 2016 prior to closure.

The Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (formerly Mosport International Raceway) which hosts both minor grand prix races and major racing events by CASCAR, the SCCA, NASCAR, and the United SportsCar Championship annually is located about 25 kilometres north of Bowmanville.

Bowmanville was home to the oldest private zoo in Canada, the Bowmanville Zoo until its closure in 2016.[13]

The Bowmanville Santa Claus Parade has been held annually on the third Saturday of November since 1961.

Ice rink at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex.

In the 1960s the Oshawa Generals and Bobby Orr played hockey in the old Bowmanville Arena on Queen Street while awaiting the Oshawa Civic Auditorium's completion.

The Bowmanville Eagles were the most recent local hockey team to play in Bowmanville, but were merged with the nearby Cobourg Cougars in early 2010 by the CCHL and OJHL.

The Bowmanville Eagles were reborn in 2011. The hockey team was admitted as a Junior C Hockey Club playing in the Central Ontario Junior C League. The Eagles were a Junior C team in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. The Eagles applied and were accepted to the Junior A level in 1995. The Eagles were a powerhouse team in the 1980s winning the Charles Schmalz Cup (Provincial Jr C Championship) in 1982. They won the Central Ontario Championships in 1981, 82, 84, 85, 92, 93 and 94.

In their final season as a Jr. C team before moving to Jr. A, the Eagles went to the Schmalz Cup Final. The Eagles did not have success at the Jr A level until approximately 2004. They had moderate success from there until 2010. The Jr. A league decided it needed to contract some clubs and unfortunately the Eagles were one of the clubs on the contraction list.

In their inaugural season back as a Junior C club, the Eagles won the Central Ontario League Championship. The Eagles won playoff rounds over Uxbridge, Little Britain and Lakefield. In the Provincial round of the playoffs the Eagles went up against the Campbellford Rebels of the Empire Jr C league where they lost out in seven games.

Bowmanville is the home of the Clarington Tigercats - Durham Knights Football Club which was founded in 1999.

In 1997 the Oshawa Green Gaels lacrosse franchise moved to Clarington. They play out of the Garnet B Rickard complex. Since relocating to Clarington in 97 the Gaels have been one of the most dominant lacrosse franchises in the Jr B loop. They have never had a losing season to date and have won 4 Founders Cup championships as the best Canadian Jr B lacrosse team in the Country.

Policing in Bowmanville is handled by the East Division of the Durham Regional Police. The new police station in Bowmanville opened in February 2016, which includes the DRPS forensic identification building.[21] The provincially maintained highways near Bowmanville are under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Provincial Police.

Bowmanville was formerly home to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Toronto East Detachment under "O" Division. The detachment was closed in May 2017 because it was the smallest detachment in the Greater Toronto Area, and was identified as being appropriate for closure.[22]

There is one fire station in Bowmanville, located at 7075 King Street East. In 2014, the fire station underwent significant renovations to accommodate growth and to meet accessibility legislation.[23]

Lakeridge Health Bowmanville is a fully accredited hospital located in Bowmanville, which is run by the Lakeridge Health Corporation. A significant redevelopment and expansion of the Hospital was announced in January 2018, which will allow the Hospital to provide greater patient programs and services and an improved health care experience.[24]

Bowmanville High School, 2019.

Public elementary and secondary education in Bowmanville is operated by the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. There are eight public elementary schools in Bowmanville: Central Public School, Charles Bowman Public School, Dr. Ross Tilley Public School, Duke of Cambridge Public School (French Immersion), Harold Longworth Public School, John M. James Public School, Vincent Massey Public School, and Waverley Public School. There are two public secondary schools, Bowmanville High School and Clarington Central Secondary School.[26]

Catholic elementary and secondary education in Bowmanville is served by the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board. There are three Catholic elementary schools in Bowmanville: Holy Family Catholic Elementary School, St. Elizabeth Catholic Elementary School, and St. Joseph's Catholic Elementary School (French Immersion). There is one Catholic secondary school in Bowmanville, St. Stephen Catholic Secondary School.[27]

The Clarington Centre for Individual Studies (CCIS) is an alternative secondary school in Bowmanville, operated by the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. CCIS offers flexible programming for students looking to graduate high school, and is geared towards students who are young parents, have personal commitments that make attending regular school difficult, have been unsuccessful at completing their education at a traditional school, and/or prefer to work at an individualized pace.[28]

Blaisdale Montessori School has a campus located in Bowmanville, which looks after children from when they are toddlers until Grade 3.[29] Knox Christian School and Durham Christian High School are religious private schools located in Bowmanville.[30][31]

• Josh Bailey, NHL player for the New York Islanders
• Declan Chisholm, NHL player for the Winnipeg Jets
• Eleven Past One, band
• The Great Farini, famed acrobatic performer of the 19th century.
• Sir Sam Hughes, Minister of War
• William Humber, Baseball Historian, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee
• G.B. Jones, film-maker/musician/artist
• Mike Keenan, Former NHL coach, won Stanley Cup in 1994
• Chris Kelly, NHL player for the Ottawa Senators
• Lee Mellor, author and musician
• Erin O'Toole, Canadian Member of Parliament, former Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada
• Lindsey Park, Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament
• Meghan Patrick, country singer
• Garnet Rickard, First mayor of the municipality of Town of Newcastle; now Clarington, from 1974 to 1985
• Paul Robins, Bible Christian minister
• Alfred Shrubb, a world record holding distance runner from the turn of the 20th century
• Ava Stewart, artistic gymnast
• Elvis Stojko, figure skater[32]
• Albert Ross Tilley, WWII burn surgeon and Order of Canada recipient

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bowmanville, Ontario.

• Clarington Municipal website