10 FOCUS - NOVEMBER 2017 Peter Perry was born on November 14, 1792, the son of Robert and Mary (Ham) Perry, Loyalist settlers who lived near Napanee, Ontario. Perry is responsible for laying the foundations of Port Perry. Although he was not the first to settle here, he drew up the first street plan in 1845 and established the first business here, a trading post at the waterfront where the Remax building is today. The first settler in Reach Township was Reuben Crandell who settled east of what is now Manchester in 1823. Elias Williams, son of another Loyalist, bought 400 acres of waterfront on the southwest shore of Lake Scugog in 1831 and built a log cabin somewhere near Simcoe Street. William’s Creek beside Jester’s Court is named after him. Peter Perry bought 80 acres from the Williams family in 1843 and named the settlement Scugog Village. This was renamed Port Perry after his death in 1851. Perry drew up a town plan naming the streets after his family: Perry Street; Mary, after his wife; John after his oldest son and Cinderella after his daughter. Cinderella was later changed to Casimir Street. Included in his street plan were North, Queen and Water Streets. Perry persuaded a number of Whitby businessmen to set up their enterprises here including five lumber mills at the waterfront, and the building of the first steamboat on the Kawarthas, the Woodman, built at the Port Perry waterfront over the winter of 1850-1851. It is fitting that in this month of November we remem- ber the heroism of those who fought against tyranny in its many forms. Peter Perry’s father Robert belongs in that category. He was a devout Loyalist and fought against the American Rebels in the American Revolutionary war and was wounded at the battle of Bennington on the New York/ Vermont border. Having fought for king and country, he was among the tens of thousands whose land and property were con- fiscated by the Americans after the War of Independence and fled north to Canada. It should be pointed out that the Loyalists were not only of English descent, a large number of the Loyalists were Germans. Dutch, Swiss, Swedes, French, Blacks and Native Americans joined them as well. They all declared November 14 marks the 225th anniversary of the birth of Port Perry’s namesake, Peter Perry. peter perry happy birthday presents the 2017 Santa Claus Parade Saturday December 2nd, 5pm Reach Queen Water Simcoe Fair Grounds Parade Route Starts at the Fair Grounds Info: Scugog Chamber of Commerce - Come see us at our new location: 84 Water Street 905-985-4971 www.scugogchamber.ca CHRISTMAS IN CANADA 1867 This year’s theme: (CANADA’S 150)