b'Historic ScugogBY J. PETER HVIDSTENand the BAND Bandstand was moved to the centre of the lakefront park, during 1945, one year before it was dedicated as Palmer Memorial Park.played on! The Rotary Gazebo in Palmer Park, circa 2010.the towns newly developed park, with concerts being held regularly throughout the summer months. about building a new bandstand. In September About 1942, after the railway tracks had been Port Perrys bandstand provided a torn out, and the station buildings removed, plans1984 the Port Perry Rotary Club approached coun-venue for concerts in the parkgot underway cleaning up the park in preparation tocil with the idea of constructing a gazebo-styled dedicate the park to one of the towns most famousbandstand in Palmer Park. The idea received enthu-residents.siastic support from council and the Rotary Club wasThe bandstand was lifted from its foundation dur- authorized to move forward with plans.ing the summer of 1945 and moved into the centre ofLess than a year later, in June 1985, a large crowd the new park. One year later, on August 14, 1946, thegathered in Palmer Park to witness the official open-Gazebo at corner of Queen St. and Water Street lakeside park was dedicated to Daniel David Palmer,ing of the Rotary Gazebo. The $28,000 facility was before it was moved into the centre of the park. the founder of chiropractic. A bronze statue of Palmerthen turned over to Scugog Township.M USIC was erected, looking north with a cement path leadingFor more than 35 years, the attractive bandstandplayed a big part in the social has stood as the centerpiece of the park, being usedlife of Reach Township and Portto it from the street, and it was named Palmer Memo- throughout the summer for concerts, weddings and Perrys early settlers, and as early as 1859rial Park. many other celebrations. a Brass Band had been organized in theThe bandstand continued to be the centre of com- Like bandstands before it, the Rotary Gezbo re-fledgling village of Prince Albert. It wasmunity activities, celebrations and concerts for anothermains the most recognizable feature of Palmer Park.almost another ten years before there iseight years, before a tremendous hurricane struck the evidence of the existence of a Brass Band inThe Port Perry Band, circa 1925,community on October 15, 1954. As Hurricane Hazel Port Perry. raged through the district, the 25 years old bandstand It is written that no gala occasion fromlikely have been a small raised platform on whichcollapsed under the strain of the high winds and rain.a public parade to a garden party wasthe band memebers could be elevated. It would be another 30 years before talk began complete without the band in attendance.Serious talk about building a town bandstand The bands played concerts in town halls,started during the summer of 1925, when council churches, political events, steamboat excur- began investigating sites, plans and cost for the sions, temperance gatherings and districtstructure. One year later they announced a band-fairs, often travelling to neighbouring com- stand would be built just east of the town weight munities to add their musical talents to theirscales. The structure to be octagonal in shape, and celebrations. 17 feet in diameter.The first mention of a bandstandTrue to their word, a bandstand was constructed being used in Port Perry was in July 1912,on the southeast corner of Queen and Water Streets, when a visitor to the town commented,and was officially opened on August 20, 1926. The The Town Hall stands at the corner of adesign was similar to the Oshawa Park bandstand pretty park, in which is a bandstand andand it was built by William MacGregor and Charles many fine trees. Powers, who were a members of the local band. The official ribbon cutting for the new Rotary Gazebo took place The bandstand mentioned would mostThe bandstand stood proudly at the corner ofin 1985. Present for the ceremony are; from left, unknown, Rotary The old bandstand collapsed in October 1954 when Hurricane President Michael Fowler, Mayor Jerry Taylor, William Bill Beare Hazel made its way through Ontario. and Carl Herder, contractor for the gazebo.Please turn to page ?? FOCUS - MAY 202365'