b'Continued from page ??At Bigelows production facility, after apples arrived at theoperated by Messers J.K. Shrouds and T. Noxon, came to town evaporator they were peeled by four power parers before beingand purchased the former Swan Carriage Shop. The property elevated by conveyor to the bleacher, where they remainedHistoric Scugog advertising heavily for large quantities of apples, saying hepower slicer, which processed them before moving on to kilnswas located opposite the Williams Foundry on Perry St. and the for half an hour. The apples next moved on to the power slicer,new owners immediately began work expanding and equipping which processed them before moving on to kilns were they werethe former carriage shop. In September 1905 they opened and spread out, six inches deep, and left there to dry out for eightbegan production under the name, Port Perry Evaporator. hours in a room heated to 150 degrees Farenheit.would pay top dollar for 10,000 bushels of apples suitable forwhere they were spread out, six inches deep, and left there One year later, with a successful season completed, Mr. After this process, the apples were elevated to the secondevaporating delivered to his door. to dry out for eight hours in a room heated to 150 degreesNoxon began advertising heavily for large quantities of apples, floor where they were spread out again and left to completely Its not known exactly when the Port Perry EvaporatorFahrenheit. saying he would pay top dollar for 10,000 bushels of apples suit- dry for five days. Each day being turned over. After the dryingceased business, although it appears they were still operation- After this process, the apples were elevated to the secondable for evaporating delivered to his door. was completed the apple slices were packed into 25 lb. boxesal for the 1909 season. At this time, Mr. T. Noxon announced\x1e and the apples were shipped to the T. Eaton Co., Toronto. oor where they were spread out again and left to completely Its not known exactly when the Port Perry Evaporator ceasedPORT PERRYS APPLE he would open his Evaporator in Port Perry for evaporatingdry for \x1f ve days. Each day being turned over. After the dryingbusiness, although it appears they were still operational for theAll the remaining small apples were then chopped and driedapples, and thanked his many customers in the vicinity, askingwas completed the apple slices were packed into 25 lb. boxes1909 season. At this time, Mr. T. Noxon announced he would and shipped to Germany, where they are made into jelly.continued support for the coming season. and the apples were shipped to the T. Eaton Co., Toronto. open his Evaporator in Port Perry for evaporating apples, and All the remaining small apples were then chopped andthanked his many customers in the vicinity, asking continuedBIG RED APPLE EVAPORATOR dried and shipped to Germany, where they are made into jelly. support for the coming season. DEATH OF JOSEPH BIGELOW Not to be outdone, one of Port Perrys leading businessmen, Joseph Bigelow was 79 years old when heEVAPORATING Joseph Bigelow decided to invest in this exciting and growingDEATH OF JOSEPH BIGELOW opened the Big Red Apple Evaporator, andINDUSTRY new industry. Joseph Bigelow was 79 years old when heBIG RED APPLE EVAPORATOR Port Perrys leading businessmen, while he was not hands-on managing the In August 1907 he erected a large addition to his buildingopened the Big Red Apple Evaporator, and Not to be outdone, one of business, he completely financed and over-on Lilla St., in which he installed an apple evaporator plant.while he was not hands-on managing theJoseph Bigelow decided to invest in this exciting and growing saw the operation of the business, throughThe one storey structure was placed on the south side of hisbusiness, he completely \x1f nanced and over- new industry. the watchful eyes of his superintendent Port Perry enjoyed a very successful, although brief, history with evaporating apples and similar building and measured 12 wide by 60 in length. saw the operation of the business, through In August 1907 he erected a large addition to his building on Mr. F. Shepherd.products during the early 1900s. Evaporating, or simply the drying of apples and fruits, became anChristened as The Big Red Apple Evaporator, Bigelows the watchful eyes of his superintendentLilla St., in which he installed an apple evaporator plant. The oneSeason after season, the business of theindustrial sensation during the late 1800s and early 1900s, a process that transformed the dried apple plant employed 15 workers and was capable of processingMr. F. Shepherd. storey structure was placed on the south side of his building and evaporator grew, and its consumptionindustry into a viable commercial enterprise. 3,000 bushels a day. Over a three month period each fall the Season after season, the business ofmeasured 12 wide by 60 in length. of apples increased to 20,000 bushelsplant would turn out more than 25,000 bushels. the evaporator grew, and its consump- JOSEPH BIGELOWChristened as The Big Red Apple Evaporator, Bigelows per growing season. He enticed farm- JOSEPH BIGELOW Prior to the development of large mechanized apple drying plants, capable of processing largeAs it turned out, the Port Perry Evaporator, operated by Mr.tion of apples increased to 20,000 bushels plant employed 15 workers and was capable of processing 3,000 ers to sell their apples to his evapora-volumes of apples, many farmers evaporated their own fruits on a small scale with small dry-houses, T. Noxon ceased business after the 1909 season, and Joseph per growing season. He enticed farmers to sell their applesbushels a day. Over a three month period each fall the plant tor, paying 35 per hundred pounds for large, good apples, andsome householders evaporated small batches by sun-drying, or drying with heat in their kitchens. Bigelow purchased the Noxon property the following spring.to his evaporator, paying 35 per hundred pounds for large,would turn out more than 25,000 bushels. 15 per hundred pounds for smaller apples.In June, \x1f nding that he needed more space he removed agood apples, and 15 per hundred pounds for smaller apples.As it turned out, the Port Perry Evaporator, operated by Mr.In 1914, a government inspector pronounced Mr. Bigelows The \x1f rst apple evaporator to set up inPortthe Regal Packing Co. Mr. Bigelow suggested the new company shouldsection of the newly purchased property and added it to the In 1914, a government inspector pronounced Mr. BigelowsT. Noxon ceased business after the 1909 season, and Joseph evaporating business one of the best in the province and forPerry was the large Canadian \x1f rm, Regal Packingbe exempted from taxation for \x1f ve years for bringing the large factory torear of his Big Red Apple building. evaporating business one of the best in the province and forBigelow purchased the Noxon property the following spring. In cleanliness it was unsurpassed.Co., which operated plants throughout Canada.town which would provide local employment. cleanliness it was unsurpassed.June, finding that he needed more space he removed a sectionThe death of Joseph Bigelow on January 28, 1917 appears toRegal arrived in Port Perry in July 1903, purchas-Council considered the request and prepared a bylaw which provided The death of Joseph Bigelow on January 28, 1917 ing the Ontario Central Fair Grounds, with plansfor exemption of taxation for \x1f ve years, but would only be approved byPROCESS OF EVAPORATING of the newly purchased property and added it to the rear of his have brought an end to Port Perrys Big Red Apple Evaporator The Big Red Apple Evaporator processed from 10,000 to appears to have brought an end to Port Perrys Big Red AppleBig Red Apple building. business.to do extensive alterations and additions to thea positive vote of ratepayers at the next municipal election. In SeptemberEvaporator business.fair building already on the ground and begin1903, the Regal Packing Co. announced they required 100 girls and 3015,000 bushels of apples each fall. It is estimated that 10,000PROCESS OF EVAPORATINGevaporating apples.men to work at the plant, and would be paid good wages. At the samebushels of apples would yield up to 50 tons of dried appleAt a special meeting of Port Perry council,time they made known they required all the apples grown in the entirestock.The Big Red Apple Evaporator processed from 10,000 toone of the towns leading businessmen, Josephdistrict. Their advertisement in the local newspaper calling for 150,000At Bigelows production facility, after apples arrived at the15,000 bushels of apples each fall.It is estimated that 10,000Bigelow, came before council requesting taxbushels required for processing. evaporator they were peeled by four power parers beforebushels of apples would yield up to 50 tons of dried apple stock.exemption for Messrs. W.J. Bellingham & Co., of Regals venture into the north Ontario market proved to be unsuccessfulbeing elevated by conveyor to the bleacher, where they and after one unsuccessful year the company \x1f led for bankruptcy. remained for half an hour. The apples next moved on to theThe Regal Packing building sat idle at the former fairground formonths, before become victim of vandalism on November 10, 1904,when the entire building, with its equipment was destroyed by \x1f re.Damage was valued at $8,000 with only $2,000 of insurance.THE PORT PERRY EVAPORATOR The demise of the Regal Packing plant provided an opportunity foranother large \x1f rm to step in. In August 1905, a Wellington, Ont. \x1f rm operated by Messers J.K. Shrouds and T. Noxon, came to town and purchased the former Swan Carriage Shop. The property was located opposite the Williams Foundry on Perry St. and the new owners immedi-ately began work expanding and equipping the former carriage shop.The buidling in the centre of this photograph is believed to be In September 1905 they opened and began production under the name,Bigelows Big Red Apple Evaporator, located on Lilla Street.Port Perry Evaporator. The building in the centre of this photograph is believed to beOne year later, with a successful season completed, Mr. Noxon beganBigelows Big Red Apple Evaporator, located on Lilla Street.FOCUS - SEPTEMBER 202251'