FOCUS - OCTOBER 2018 53 Adestructive storm that made its way through Scugog Township in May this year, doomed the future for one of Port Perry’s oldest building. High winds during the midsummer storm ripped a large section of roofing off the junior fair building, located at the local fairgrounds. Despite concerns about saving the heritage building, which was constructed more than a century and a half ago, the estimated $500,000 cost to repair it was too ex- pensive. Deemed too dangerous to leave standing, it was dismantled in July. The building, originally known as the Mechanics Institute, was constructed at the corner of Queen and Rosa Streets in 1858. The auditorium of the building was used for public meetings, special events and entertain- ment. The institute was also the location for the town’s first public library. The building was purchased by the Baptist Church congregation in 1866. At that time there was no tower on the building, so work began right away on the construc- tion of a 70 foot tower and steeple which was built by lo- cal contractors Robert MacGregor and William Robinson. When the builders were at the top of the scaffolding, used for the erection of the tower, it was reported they could see all the way to Lake Ontario. The Baptist Church boasted of forming the first church choir in town, and were the first church to have an organ. In July 1904 the congregation had a special social even- ing when they opened a new vestry. Despite the strength of the church during its earlier years, by the 1920s their congregation began to weaken and the church was closed for lack of support. In October 1925, the municipal council of Port Perry authourized a $1,000 debenture, enabling the Port Perry Board of Education to purchase the Baptist Church prop- erty. The building was used by the school board as an area for physical exercise and household sciences for the students. In December, just two months after the Board of Educa- tion took over ownership, the large tower was removed amid fears that in a very big wind storm, the underpin- ning might have given away with disastrous results. With the anticipated opening of the new Port Perry Public and High School in May 1927, the Board of Education no longer required the old Baptist property. W.A. Christy, secretary of the Port Perry Board of Education published a tender in April 1927, requesting bids for purchase of the Baptist Church property. The ad stipulated it included the” frame building known as the mechanics building, frame building known as the old school, frame outhouse, metal clad outhouse”. Who the next owner of the property has not been de- termined, but it has been reported that the old Mechanic’s Institute building was sold to the Reach, Scugog Agri- cultural Society and moved to the fairgrounds about 1930. It has undergone a number of improvements and reno- vationsovertheyears,includingbeingraisedthreefeetand placed on pillars to allow air circulation under the floor. At the same time, a ramp was constructed at the entrance. For the past 80 plus years the building has been an integral part of the fair, being used as an exhibit building for crafts, baking, vegetables and many other displays. After being damaged in the May 2018 storm, an en- gineers report determined the building was not stable enough to be repaired and the difficult decision to dis- mantle it was made. Members of the board of the Agricultural Society agreed to dismantle the building systematically so that windows, doors and other histori- cally significance fixtures could be preserved. So it was, 160 years after it was constructed, the build- ing was completely dismantled, just in time for the an- nual Port Perry Fair on Labour Day. By J. Peter Hvidsten, Focus on Scugog TragicendingforPortPerry’soldestbuilding The Mechanics Institute provided a comfortable place for religious services, educational teaching and agricultural displays for 160 years After the church was moved to the fairgrounds about 1930, it was used for displaying a variety of agricultural products. Lt: The Port Perry Baptist Church, circa 1885. The tower and steeple were added to the original Mechanics Institute building about 1867. Rt: The church, circa 1915 on the north-east corner of Queen and Rosa St. GARY’S CUSTOM EXHAUST & AUTO CORRECTION We had an error in Gary’s Custom Exhaust & Auto ad in our September 2018 issue on page 54. The ad stated Gary’s was celebrating their first anniversary and that is incorrect. Gary’s is in its 3rd year on Reach Street, Port Perry. We apologize to Gary and Heidi for any inconvenience or confusion, this may have caused.