from The Independent  Wednesday March 7, 1984
Mr James W Quinlan made an offer to the Council of the Port Hope Corporation July 14th, 1885 to supply the Town with Open Arc Street Lighting at the rate of 30¢ per night per light.
An agreement known as Bylaw 533 was entered into November 3rd, 1885, and 13 street lights were lighted Saturday night, November 21st, 1885. They were located at Ridout and Bramley, Walton and Church, Walton and Pine, Brown and South, Walton and John, John and Augusta, John Street near GTR Viaduct, Walton and Mill, Queen and Hector, Mill and Peter, Ward and King, Ward Street on brow of College hill, Ontario and Bloomsgrove Ave, and were to burn from dusk to midnight at 30¢ per night per lamp.
Although a lot of controversy developed a vote of the people showed that the ratepayers were in favour of the electric lighting.
November 22nd, 1886, Bylaw 550 for three years was passed being an agreement with Dr R A Corbett, President of Port Hope Electric Light Co, for the addition of the following lights, William and King, William and Hope, Ontario and Hope, Smith and Dorset, Sherbourne and Bramley, Augusta and Sherbourne, Julia and Charles, North and Seymour, Cavan and Bedford, Ontario Street north of the bridge. The rate to be 25¢ per light per night from twilight to midnight.
The Corporation of Port Hope purchased the Beamish property, October 15th, 1888. This was a consideration for the Electric, as they had leased the water power of the dam until November 21st, 1889.
Bylaw 608 dated November 19th, 1889 for three years added the following lights, Williams Street opposite the GTR, Victoria and Bruton, Walton and Queen Streets. The lights to burn all night were, Ridout and Bramley, Walton and John, William and Hope, Cavan and Bedford, Williams Street opposite the GTR. Station, and Walton and Queen. This totalled 26 Arcs at 20¢ per night, twilight to midnight, 300 nights per year, the six Arcs from midnight to daylight for an additional 10¢ per night.
Bylaw 659 dated December 2nd, 1892 added six more lights, namely, Cavan Street, east side opposite Dodd's Lane near Brewery, Walton and Brown, Victoria and Sullivan, Dorset Street near west line of Judge Benson's dwelling, Hope and Bloomsgrove, on east side of Hope Street midway between Mr Goheen's house and College Street, also Hope and Dorset; in all 32 lamps at 15¢ per lamp, 300 nights per year from twilight to midnight. This agreement was to be in force for five years and six months, with the option of cancelling the same in four years and 6 months by either party giving three month's notice. Four lamps to burn all night - Walton and John, Ontario Street north of Bridge, Walton and Queen, John near Viaduct from May 1st to October 1st, Peter and Mill from November 1st to May 1st. The Walton and Mill Street light was to be moved opposite the steps, and Queen and Hector light to be moved south of Colonel Williams Monument, to Queen and Dorset. A longer pole to be put in at Peter and Mill, and the North and Seymour street light to be moved to Pine Street, opposite Bruton. A sum of $300 was granted for extensions and additional lights. Dr Corbett said it would cost $10 to move the pole at Walton and Mill Streets, as it cost $5 for the Queen Street relocation.
October 30th, 1893, two incandescent lamps were authorized for Jacob's Ladder.
December 3rd, 1894 the Council sanctioned a light at Victoria and Trafalgar Streets.
February 23rd, 1897 Dr Corbett gave notice to cancel contract June 22nd, 1898. April 12th, 1897 Dr Corbett agreed to carry out the balance of the contract for the year ending June 22nd, 1898, provided the council give him $100 which was accepted. After entering into the contract a Duty of 2½¢ per M was placed on Carbons, and the government passed an Order-in-Council levying a License Fee of $25 per year; in the four years the extra amounted to $258.58, these expenses were entirely unforseen. September 22nd, 1898 Bylaw 781 was passed for 35 good and sufficient Arc Lamps at 17½¢ per light, the two additional lights to be placed at Brown and Bedford, and Brown and Walton. The term was for five years, and the Guide reported October 4th, 1898, 'After a lengthy discussion the contract was finally passed, signed, numbered and sealed.' 'This was the finale of the Electric Light Agreement which had become venerable through months of discussion and weighty argument.'
November 17th, 1903, Dr R A Corbett entered into an agreement for 36 Arc Lights @ $18 per night per light from dusk to 1 am. Six incandescent to be located by Mayor and Fire and Light Committee, were not specified, the added Arc Lamp was placed at Ridout and Victoria Streets. By the lights burning until 1:00 am, it allowed passengers from the midnight train to get home while the streets were still lighted. Terms - to run indefinately, either party to give six month's notice.
Agreement dated June 1st, 1908 between Dr R A Corbett, President and the Port Hope Corporation, Mr W H Giddy, Mayor.
Lights from early twilight to dawn.
Lights from early twilight to 1:00 am, the service to be discontinued on bright moonlight nights with the consent and approval of either the Mayor or the Chairman of the Fire and Light Committee.
$50 per year for each Arc Lamp all night
$45 per year for each Arc Lamp until 1:00 am.
$10 per year for each 32 CP Incandescent Lamp from twilight to 1:00 am.
$5 per year for each 16 CP Incandescent Lamp.
There were to be 25 Arc Lamps, seven to burn all night, and 110 Incandescent.
Said company shall furnish 8-16 CP Incandescent Lamps at such places on said limited circuits as such corporation may direct without extra charge in line of each Arc Lamp so dispensed with. Terms - five years from the 1st of June, 1908, and the corporation shall have the right to extend the same for a period of five years from the 1st of June, 1913, if they so desire by giving the company six months previous notice of intention so as to extend the same prior to the 1st of June, 1913. To pay to said company $2,050 each and every year monthly $170.83 at the first day of each month commencing July 1st, 1908.
Seymour Power and Electric Company Limited agreement dated July 28, 1913. Schedule 'A' referred to in the Bylaw being a schedule of the location of 6.6 Amp, 60 candlepower tungsten lamps in the Town of Port Hope as shown in detail on accompanying map filed in the office of the Clerk of the Municipality.
The company agrees to maintain and efficiently operate the said plant for street lighting for a period of 10 years from the date hereof and hereby grants the Municipality the privilege of renewing this agreement at its option in five year periods consecutively should it be so desired to do. Notice in writing shall be given to the company by the municipality at least six months before the end of the contract in force over each additional period.
The lights to burn from sunset to sunrise.
The Seymour Power and Electric Company Limited, J G G Kerry, President, Samuel D Fowler, Assistant Secretary.The Municipality of the Town of Port Hope. H T Bush, Mayor. J W Sanders, Clerk.
Cement poles were used in the business section of the Town, and from the Bell Telephone Office on Walton Street to Mill Street, two cast iron brackets were placed on each pole. The square cement poles were set with diagonal corners parallel with the street thus giving each lamp a 45° tilt to the roadway, and producing a pleasing effect, on the Walton Street section.
Opal glass globes with six inch fitters, and a small hole in the bottom were placed on each bracket of the cement poles throughout the business section of the town.
Wide flat-shaped rippled blue enameled shades with the undersurface white enamel were attached to the extension arms of the wood poles of the street lighting system.
At the regular monthly meeting of the Port Hope Hydro Electric Commission, held November 22nd, 1949, a letter was read from the Port Hope Town Council, which read in part, 'That the Port Hope Hydro Electric Commission be granted authority to take necessary action to modernize the street lighting on the Business Section of Walton Street, to remove and replace 23 of the existing poles and any other necessary work to make the said changes to the street lighting system effective.'
With the approval of the Port Hope Town Council and the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, the local commission began to execute the work of removing 150 15-watt coloured light bulbs of the decorative street lighting which had been installed from a private subscription of the merchants, and a couple of wires that had been used by the Police Department.
To replace 22 cement poles and 44-1000 Lumen 6.6 series bulbs, with 14 powerlite devices, octagonal 30-foot steel standards with eight foot arms and modern luminaires, and 15-10,000 Lumen 6.6 series bulbs, equipping the wood pole at Walton and Mill Streets to correspond with the new installation. The new steel standards to be placed on embedded mounting stools in the sidewalk at the positions recommended by Mr George G Cousins, Supervising Lighting Engineer of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario.
The old system was disconnected and the new system connected November 16th, 1950.

from The Independent  Wednesday March 7, 1984
A blending of past and present cast the image of the John Nisbett Men's Shop, the newest and most up-to-date men's shop in our town. On Aug 3,1967, the Mayor of Port Hope, Mike Wladyka, John Nisbett and family cut the ribbon and officially opened the new men's shop.
A small band played out front of the store and drew large crowds of well wishers from all over Ontario and Quebec. The town police were out in force directing traffic as the crowds flowed out on to Walton Street. It was a great day for John and family. He remembers the band who played their hearts out. The band boys were from Port Hope being Dan Wladyka, Phil Strong, Ron May and Dave Gerioux. Refreshments were served to all well wishers and no sales were allowed that day. It was one of the grandest store openings Port Hope had enjoyed in many a year.
After the opening the work began to build the business. It was no easy task as John had to compete with many of Port Hope's well to do merchants. John and wife Mary worked 14 to 16 hours a day to survive.
This meant they had to be sales people, bookkeepers, stock purchasers, credit managers, window displayers and many other things to the public.
The men's shop was up-to-date with quality and style. It was never meant to be a store of more, but rather up to a standard not down to a price.
Disaster struck three months later when John Nisbett's Men's shop was robbed on a Sunday morning. John and family were on their way to church that Sunday morning and remember seeing a group of men in front of the store. His wife Mary remarked, "You must have done a nice display window, with all those people looking at them before church." We felt real good until 10:30 that night when the police called and said your store has been robbed and cleaned out. Thank God for the late Frank Long. He had stopped by the store two days earlier on Friday and insisted John should have insurance.
Nisbetts did buy insurance from Frank and Tom Long and were back in business a few days later and going strong. Six months later, the robbers were caught. They had robbed stores from Toronto to Montreal and stolen one and one-half million dollars in men's clothing. As far as we know, Nisbetts Men's Shop was the largest single store robbery ever in Port Hope.
John Nisbett is no stranger to Port Hope as John states he enjoyed 13 or 14 years working with the late Lyall N Carr until his death in Feb of 1967 and knew the wants and needs of the people of Port Hope and area. Nisbetts is still giving the people quality and good service at reasonable prices.
Nisbett's Men's Shop has always done their share in supporting the community of Port Hope. They have been involved in all kinds of sports, sponsoring teams, local charities, service clubs, etc.
Nisbetts Men's Shop continues to grow in Port Hope and is firmly rooted as one of Port Hope's most prosperous enterprises.
John Nisbett is seen only on occasion in the store. He turned the business over to his son-in-law, Phillip Watts, and son, Greg Nisbett, in 1981, who continue to operate with the same good service and top quality merchandise the people have always expected from Nisbett's Men's Shop.
John has often been asked why he retired. The reasons he gives are that many of his older friends and customers have passed on, the red tape from the government demands too much of a small business man, the whole clothing market is changing very fast, plus the new measurement and conversion laws that have been forced on the merchants. These are the main reasons. Also John wanted to give the younger members a chance in business, something no one ever gave him. John is very happy to see the customers and people of Port Hope are also supporting and giving the new owners of Nisbett's Men's Shop the support they gave him.

from The Independent  Wednesday March 7, 1984
People in the towns of Port Hope and Cobourg have very strong attitudes towards the dominance of the big city of Toronto which is not only the financial and commercial capital of Ontario, but also the seat of the provincial government.
People in the small villages of Bewdley and Gore's Landing have similar feelings towards the dominance of Cobourg and Port Hope. Furthermore, there is a traditional friendly rivalry between Port Hope and Cobourg which expresses the feeling that one town is not like the other. Often there has been a measure of cooperation between the two towns but they have always carefully guarded their sense of being separate.
Local political leadership has been an important factor in guiding the urban centres towards good community. This has been true historically and it is true today.
People are well aware of the historical roots of their communities. A lot ofpeople, in all walks of life, know their local history in great detail and are proud of it.
People in both town and country have a sense of the value of preserving what isgood from the past. Many citizens have a very real understanding of the forces at work which threaten the kinds of communities they have enjoyed. People are not openly against growth; they are aware that growth needs to be controlled if it is not to destroy the fabric of the community. In the past, they have seen branch-plant industry arrive in their midst with plants employing 300-400 people. While this may have provided employment opportunities, people now see the strains this puts on community services, on housing, on the very nature of the area and on the people who live there. They have seen speculators buy up prime agricultural land and developers put up undistinguished housing tracts which take no thought for the character of town or countryside.
They have seen government, at the provincial level, produce plans and proposals affecting their future which do not adequately take into account the nature of the communities or the wishes of the people. They have expressed themselves very strongly on the need for broad citizen participation in all future planning for their area.
As might be expected in an area with such strong historical, cultural and educational roots, there are many well-established families. Some have played a significant role in Canadian affairs. The Port Hope-Cobourg area also has attracted a lot of people as a place to retire. Many people have moved into the area from large cities in both Canada and the United States drawn by the style of life available. A number of writers and others in the arts have made their homes here. There are vocal spokesmen for the community, for the preservation of the community fabric, for historical conservation, for sane growth, for preservation of the natural environment.
There are some differences of opinion about both industrial and residential growth, but in general it would be fair to say that a majority of people want to see 'sane, controlled growth' which would not rapidly change the enjoyable elements of life in the communities as they now are. Change can be accomodated but it must be desirable change. Most people reject the idea of Port Hope-Cobourg becoming dormitory towns for Toronto-Oshawa.
Once, there was a tendency to believe that nothing could be done to control the developers, to stop the speculators, to halt the proliferation of gas stations and garish advertising but in the last few years there has developed a growing feeling of confidence that citizens can have some control over their own affairs and can obtain the kind of community they want.
Most people in the area enjoy the kind of life they have and they want to maintain its quality. They want to maintain some of the sanity of smallness, of human scale. There is a fear, not always expressed, that any kind of change could destroy the whole character of the area. In the mind of almost everyone lurks the question whether any kind of expansion should be allowed.
In recent years, the older rivalries between the towns of Port Hope and Cobourg have been tempered by the existence of outside pressures.