The word historic is very appropriate when describing Downtown Newmarket. The story begins with Joseph Hill who emigrated to Newmarket in 1801 with a group of Quaker families from the United States led by Timothy Rogers. The enterprising Hill wasted no time establishing a mill on the banks of the Holland River where Fairy Lake is today. The mercurial Hill then founded a tannery, and general store before unceremoniously returning to the United States after a business dispute. Hill’s competitors; Elisha Beman, John Bogart, Eli Gorham, Timothy Millard and William Roe would pick up where Hill left off making Newmarket an industrial powerhouse and major business centre in the fledgling York County. In fact the name New Market is a play on names in reference to the “Old Market” (St. Lawrence Market) in the City of Toronto.

Downtown Newmarket ushered in a new era of prosperity in 1853 when the Ontario Huron and Simcoe Railway steamed through town connecting Newmarket to the major population centres to the south, all the way to the City of Toronto and north to Lake Simcoe. The impact of the railway led to incorporation as a Village in 1857. Business was booming in the historic district. At the forefront of this prosperity was Robert Simpson whose grocery and dry goods store would years later evolve into the venerable Simpsons Department Store. The historic district centred along Main Street really came into prominence in 1883 when the newly minted Newmarket Town Hall and Market Building opened. This landmark building became the home of the hugely popular Newmarket Farmers Market which peaked in popularity after the Metropolitan Street Railway began to operate in 1899 bringing shoppers from far and wide.

The 1930s marked a downturn in the economy. One casualty was the street railway that ceased operations. The Farmers Market managed to carry on but with dwindling numbers until the 1950s. Today everything old is new again. The Old Town Hall has been extensively renovated and now serves as a cultural hub for the neighbourhood with live theatre, music and arts programs. And the Newmarket Farmers Market has returned at Riverwalk Commons just east of Main Street where the original market was held. The new Farmers Market is true to the original market. Shoppers can buy farm fresh produce, home-made baking, hand-made crafts and meet up with friends just like the old days.