Cookstown History & Heritage
In the mid-nineteenth century, a tiny hamlet called Perry's Corners sprang up out of the bush. After spending some time as Dixon's Corners, the village settled on Cooke's Town in 1847. Thomas Cooke's stately home still stands on the west side of Highway 27, just south of Highway 89. Cookstown was home to Emily Murphy, the woman known as Janey Canuck, who served as Canada's first female Police Magistrate in the British Empire and a judge in the Alberta Juvenile Court. Murphy was part of the Famous Five, who took the issue of women's rights to the highest courts in Canada and England, securing their status as legal persons in 1929.
Cookstown's post office holds the record for the longest continuous operation by a single family: the Colemans provided local service for one hundred years between 1873 and 1973.
A railroad line running through the west end of town allowed the growing village to flourish until the 1960s; lately it has been converted into a piece of the Trans-Canada Trail, bringing hikers and bikers from across Canada through town. Today, new business ventures have the town bustling once again, with modern growth balanced against a strong respect for our history.
Come enjoy our small-town hospitality and join in our yearly events. The Wing Ding has been running for Over 30 years and is the Largest Community yard sale in Ontario.
We're waiting for you to visit!
Cookstown is now a Heritage Conservation District, to find out what this means Click Here
Cookstown has a Community Improvement Plan, Click Here for more information on FINANCIAL incentives
This Chamber CHAT commitee offers an Advice and Incentive Program - Funded by an Inspiring Innisfil Grant. You may apply for an AIP grant, that will help offset a consultation fee, with a professional, to get you started. To apply please email the Cookstown and District Chamber of Commerce CHAT Committee c/o Roger Johnson, CookstownCHAT@outlook.com and outline what you are planning. First come first serve. To read about the CHAT initiative Click Here
Cookstown Heritage Action Team (CHAT) is a committee of the Chamber of Commerce and was formed to promote the Cookstown Heritage District.
GET YOUR HERITAGE SIGN
To order a sign email or phone Roger Johnson at r.m.j@Bell.net 705-440-8431
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$41.50 tax included.
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Please input:
1. Your name 2. Your phone number 3. Your email 4. Address of building for Plaque If known: Name of first owner, their occupation, and the year it was built. Let us know if you need assistance finding this information. |
CHAT SEMINAR
A one day seminar was held on January 16th 2016 and close to one hundred people attended. The seminar was funded by a grant from Inspiring Innisfil.
Videos and speakers:
Bruce Corley brucecorley@sympatico.ca
Bruce is a Heritage Consultant with an extensive background in helping with heritage projects. His qualifications include a MBA from Western, Certificate in Architecture from Ontario Real Estate Association and Real Property Administrator, Ryerson Politechnic University. His expertise covers all aspects of heritage conservation and development. He is also an internationally acknowledged expert in documentation and measured drawings of historic buildings.
Regan Hutcheson rhutcheson@markham.ca
For the past 26 years Regan Hutcheson has administered the heritage planning program for the City of Markham as Manager of Heritage Planning. He has degrees from Ryerson in urban and regional planning public administration. In 2003 he was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for outstanding stewardship of the built heritage. Markham has developed four heritage districts under Regan’s leadership and has been awarded the Heritage Canada’s Prince of Wales Prize and the Ontario Lieutenant Governor’s Heritage Award for Community Leadership.
George Duncan gduncan@markham.ca
George Duncan is Senior Heritage Planner for the City of Markham. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from York and is a graduate of the Urban and Regional Planning Technology Program at John Abbott College, Quebec. He has received awards for his work in heritage related activities and is a published author of several books including his most recent, Historic Unionville – A Village in the City.
Jeff Harvey jeff@harveyhomesandinteriors.com
Jeff is a carpenter by trade who grew up in Gilford and went to school in Bradford. He is the President of Harvey Homes and Interiors and now lives in a heritage home in Toronto. He is the General Contractor for the addition and renovation of the heritage home at 12 King St South in Cookstown.
Neil & Jane Cameron neil@heritageheartwoods.com Jane.c@lifehomedesign.com
Jane Cameron, BES, MAATO. provides Planning, Architectural and Construction Overview Services through her company Life Home Design. Neil is a builder and owner of Heritage Heartwoods. Both Neil and Jane are passionate about heritage homes and have hands on experience in the design and building of additions and the renovations.
Kevin Jacob kjacob@innisfil.ca
Kevin Jacob has been the Assistant Clerk for the Town of Innisfil for the past five years and is the town’s representative on the Innisfil Heritage Committee. He went to school in Cookstown and later to Humber College and York University.
Tim Cane tcane@innisfil.ca
Tim Cane is Manager of Land Use Planning at the Town of Innisfil. After graduating with an Honour’s Bachelor of Science degree from University of Toronto and a Master’s Degree in Regional Planning from the University of Waterloo in 1997, Tim began his career as a planning consultant in Melbourne, Australia. During his 6 years there, he was involved in a wide range of development projects. After moving back to Canada in 2003, Tim became a Partner at the Jones Consulting Group in Barrie to continue his private sector experience. Tim joined the Town of Innisfil as Manager of Land Use Planning in 2012. Since then Tim thoroughly enjoys working with residents and developing community partnerships that move Innisfil forward.
View Videos (below) in order from the CHAT Seminar on January 16th 2016 at the South Simcoe Theater.
(click on the titles)
1. Cookstown Meet & Greet
2. Welcome / Introductions
3. The Vision for Cookstown- Bruce Corley
4. Ingredients for a successful Heritage District- Regan Hutcheson
5. Q&A Bruce and Regan
6. Cookstown Heritage Conservation District
7. Tim Cane
8. Q&A Tim and Kevin
9. A Cookstown Success Story - Jeff Harvey
10. Successful Heritage Districts - George Duncan
11. Q&A George
12. How to measure what we have - Bruce Corely
13. How to achieve successful Renovations/ Additions - Jane Cameron
14. Neil Cameron
15. CHCD & CIP Incentives - Tim Cane
16. Q&A Tim Cane
17. Seminar follow up & Closing remarks
Roger Johnson, the Chairman of the CHAT committee, took part in a Rogers TV program, View Point, that discussed the importance of a Heritage Conservation District.
A one day seminar was held on January 16th 2016 and close to one hundred people attended. The seminar was funded by a grant from Inspiring Innisfil.
Videos and speakers:
Bruce Corley brucecorley@sympatico.ca
Bruce is a Heritage Consultant with an extensive background in helping with heritage projects. His qualifications include a MBA from Western, Certificate in Architecture from Ontario Real Estate Association and Real Property Administrator, Ryerson Politechnic University. His expertise covers all aspects of heritage conservation and development. He is also an internationally acknowledged expert in documentation and measured drawings of historic buildings.
Regan Hutcheson rhutcheson@markham.ca
For the past 26 years Regan Hutcheson has administered the heritage planning program for the City of Markham as Manager of Heritage Planning. He has degrees from Ryerson in urban and regional planning public administration. In 2003 he was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for outstanding stewardship of the built heritage. Markham has developed four heritage districts under Regan’s leadership and has been awarded the Heritage Canada’s Prince of Wales Prize and the Ontario Lieutenant Governor’s Heritage Award for Community Leadership.
George Duncan gduncan@markham.ca
George Duncan is Senior Heritage Planner for the City of Markham. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from York and is a graduate of the Urban and Regional Planning Technology Program at John Abbott College, Quebec. He has received awards for his work in heritage related activities and is a published author of several books including his most recent, Historic Unionville – A Village in the City.
Jeff Harvey jeff@harveyhomesandinteriors.com
Jeff is a carpenter by trade who grew up in Gilford and went to school in Bradford. He is the President of Harvey Homes and Interiors and now lives in a heritage home in Toronto. He is the General Contractor for the addition and renovation of the heritage home at 12 King St South in Cookstown.
Neil & Jane Cameron neil@heritageheartwoods.com Jane.c@lifehomedesign.com
Jane Cameron, BES, MAATO. provides Planning, Architectural and Construction Overview Services through her company Life Home Design. Neil is a builder and owner of Heritage Heartwoods. Both Neil and Jane are passionate about heritage homes and have hands on experience in the design and building of additions and the renovations.
Kevin Jacob kjacob@innisfil.ca
Kevin Jacob has been the Assistant Clerk for the Town of Innisfil for the past five years and is the town’s representative on the Innisfil Heritage Committee. He went to school in Cookstown and later to Humber College and York University.
Tim Cane tcane@innisfil.ca
Tim Cane is Manager of Land Use Planning at the Town of Innisfil. After graduating with an Honour’s Bachelor of Science degree from University of Toronto and a Master’s Degree in Regional Planning from the University of Waterloo in 1997, Tim began his career as a planning consultant in Melbourne, Australia. During his 6 years there, he was involved in a wide range of development projects. After moving back to Canada in 2003, Tim became a Partner at the Jones Consulting Group in Barrie to continue his private sector experience. Tim joined the Town of Innisfil as Manager of Land Use Planning in 2012. Since then Tim thoroughly enjoys working with residents and developing community partnerships that move Innisfil forward.
View Videos (below) in order from the CHAT Seminar on January 16th 2016 at the South Simcoe Theater.
(click on the titles)
1. Cookstown Meet & Greet
2. Welcome / Introductions
3. The Vision for Cookstown- Bruce Corley
4. Ingredients for a successful Heritage District- Regan Hutcheson
5. Q&A Bruce and Regan
6. Cookstown Heritage Conservation District
7. Tim Cane
8. Q&A Tim and Kevin
9. A Cookstown Success Story - Jeff Harvey
10. Successful Heritage Districts - George Duncan
11. Q&A George
12. How to measure what we have - Bruce Corely
13. How to achieve successful Renovations/ Additions - Jane Cameron
14. Neil Cameron
15. CHCD & CIP Incentives - Tim Cane
16. Q&A Tim Cane
17. Seminar follow up & Closing remarks
Roger Johnson, the Chairman of the CHAT committee, took part in a Rogers TV program, View Point, that discussed the importance of a Heritage Conservation District.