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Bowmanville's story started with the arrival of the first settlers in 1794. The Conant, Burk and Trull families traveled from the United States of America and personally selected this area to call home. They were attracted to this land by its rich soil for farming, thick forests for hunting and many creeks for water mills.

By 1817 the Kingston Road was completed making passage from Kingston to York possible. This highway also made it possible for a village by the name of Darlington Mills to evolve. By c.1830 locals began referring to the village as Bowmanville, fondly named after store/land owner and money lender Charles Bowman of Montreal.

Bowmanville was incorporated as a village in 1852 and as a town in 1858. Since then the population has steadily grown reaching 10,000 in the 1970s, approximately 20,000 in the 1980s, 25,000 in the 1990s and is today over 30,000 residents strong.

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Aerial photograph of Downtown Bowmanville
early 1960s
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Clarington Museums and Archives

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View of the Downtown
early 1960s
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Clarington Museums and Archives

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The area of the downtown on Temperance Street between Church Street and King Street was known as Market Square. Bordered by the Town Hall, the post office and the fire hall people met here to debate, and celebrate. It was here that the residents celebrated historical events such as Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee on May 24, 1897 and later the Coronation of her son Edward VII.

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Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee
24 May 1897
Temperance Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee
24 May 1897
Temperance Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Clarington Museums and Archives

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The Coronation of King Edward VII
1902
Temperance Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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Since the beginning of Bowmanville's history parades have travelled up and down King Street. To this day King Street continues to be the main passage through town and the centre of activity.

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Parade on King Street
early 1900s
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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Sons of England
early 1900s
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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Early parades were staged for military men embarking to or arriving from war, as a way for the community to thank the men and women involved. Parades were also used by the town to signal the beginning of a community celebration, such as Victoria Day, or a Street Fair.

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136th Battalion Parading
circa 1916/17
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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Homeland Parade
1890s
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Clarington Museums and Archives

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Woman's Institute Float
August 1937
Wellington Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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Bowmanville's Royal Canadian Legion Band
circa 1938/39
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Shaw Photgraph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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Canadian Statesman in Parade
15 July 1931
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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Winter parade through town
1940s
Elgin Street, Bowmanville, Ontario


Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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Ontario Training School Band
circa 1955-60
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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The first Santa Claus parade was held on King Street in 1962 and remains a popular event for those young and old.

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Santa Claus Parade
1967
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Clarington Museums and Archives

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The King Street parade route has figured prominently in all of Bowmanville's anniversaries as well. The Centennial parade of 1958 is still fondly remembered by many locals as being the highlight of the celebration. In 2008 the sesquicentennial committee organized a parade down the same popular route to begin the week-long festivities.

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Parade on Main Street
Summer 1858
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Bowmanville 150th Committee
Clarington Museums and Archives

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150th Parade
Summer 2008
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Bowmanville 150th Committee

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150th Parade
Summer 2008
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Bowmanville 150th Committee

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150th Parade
Summer 2008
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Bowmanville 150th Committee

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The tradition of holding street fairs in downtown Bowmanville originated over 100 years ago. Schools, shops, churches, bands, and factories would all come together to make the street fair an event to remember. Music and theatre were always a part of the festivities as was a parade and several friendly competitions.

Started as a way of involving residents in the well-being of their own town it soon became popular with surrounding communities as well.

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Street Fair
1922
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Gordon Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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Little Nurses preparing for the Street Fair
1918
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Gordon Collection of Photographs, Clarington Museums and Archives

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Street Fair
1918
Division Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Gordon Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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All dressed up for the Street Fair
1910-1920
Church Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Gordon Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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Ladies dressed in Japanese costume for a Street Fair
1910-1920
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Gordon Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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Street Fair
1910-1920
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Gordon Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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Street Fair
1918
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Gordon Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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Today the tradition continues with street festivals organized by the Historic Downtown Bowmanville Business Centre. As before, these events are quite popular with the locals and attract several non-residents each year. Annually this group hosts the 'Easter Egg Hunt', 'Maplefest and All That Jazz', 'Fabulous Fifties', 'Moonlight Madness' and the most well-attended of all, 'Applefest'.

Street vendors sell their wares as music plays from a near-by stage. Demonstrators and buskers perform for the crowds as the local businesses enjoy increased sales. Street Fairs have always been a great backdrop to our celebrations and a great way to celebrate our unique downtown.

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Downtown Busker festival
early 2000s
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Municipality of Clarington

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Midnight Madness Street Festival
Summer 2006
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Municipality of Clarington

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Fabulous Fifties Street Festival
June 2006
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Municipality of Clarington

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Vendors during a Street Festival
early 2000s
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Municipality of Clarington

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Annual Applefest event
October 2007
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Municipality of Clarington

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Dancing on the street during the Band Bash
Summer 2008
Temperance Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Bowmanville 150th Committee

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Another important part of the downtown that is no longer in existence is the 4 1/2 acre Bowmanville Fair Grounds. Established in 1867 between Liberty and Centre Streets it was an integral part of early community life. A 'drill shed' was built on the sight as a permanent base for the 45th Batallion of West Durham that soon came to house many non-military events such as political rallies, skating carnivals, hockey matches, baby shows and fall fair exhibits.

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Bowmanville Fairground
1910-1912
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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The Fair Grounds also acted as a gathering place for residents to celebrate historical events and anniversaries. During Victoria Day, 1889 the Fair Grounds hosted several athletic events for residents to watch and participate in and the evening saw a gala band concert held in the drill shed.

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Bicycle Racing on Victoria Day
Victoria Day 1897
Liberty Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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Track Race on Victoria Day
Victoria Day 1897
Liberty Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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By 1907 the original fairground property was sold for housing and moved adjacent to King Street East between St. George Street and Simpson Avenue. Fairs continued there from 1909 until 1929 when financial losses caused owners to sell.

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Bowmanville Fairground
1910-1912
King Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Shaw Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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An outdoor skating rink at the south end of Temperence Street was a greatly cherished meeting place for the youth of the 1930s and 1940s. Music was played to entertain the crowds of skaters, many of which were dating for the first time.

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Spare Time
Summer 2008
Bowmanville, Ontario


Credits:
Bowmanville 150th Committee
Clarington Museums and Archives

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Memorial Arena was later built on the site of the outdoor rink to provide an indoor venue for fairs with games and amusement for the community. Various service clubs such as the Lions and the Rotary took turns hosting these popular events.

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Carnival at the Arena
1950-1960
Bowmanville Arena


Credits:
Rehder Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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Bowling Green
1950-1960
Temperance Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Rehder Photograph Collection, Clarington Museums and Archives

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The Memorial Arena unfortunately no longer exists and today the site is called Rotary park. In the summer Rotary park hosts several outdoor concerts enjoyed by residents and visitors.

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Concert in the Park
Summer 2008
Rotary Park, Queen Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Bowmanville 150th Committee

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Since 1961 the Bowmanville Museum has been an important part of the downtown. Locals and tourists visit this Historic Edwardian home to learn more about the past and celebrate our present. Canada Day continues to be the museum's busiest day, often hosting more than 500 people. Visitors enjoy wagon tours of Historic Bowmanville, musical entertainment, barbeque and much more throughout the day.

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Canada Day Historic Wagon Tours
Canada Day 2002
Wellington Street, Bowmanville


Credits:
Clarington Museums and Archives

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Canada Day at the Bowmanville Museum
Canada Day 2004
Bowmanville Museum, Ontario


Credits:
Clarington Musuems and Archives

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Popcorn on Canada Day
1 July 2008
Bowmanville Museum, Ontario


Credits:
Bowmanville 150th Committee

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As Bowmanville expands to the north, east and west we can only hope that the downtown area continues to act as an anchor. As a central meeting place, a place of business and a venue for community celebrations, downtown Bowmanville keeps us all connected.