Trenton Town Hall - 1861 Home of Trent Port Historical Society

13/09/2026

55 KING STREET FILM CLUB
WEDNESDAY September 16 at 6:30 pm

This month's film:
DEAD END (1937)
A crime drama starring Humphrey Bogart. This film
was also the first appearance of a group of young actors known
as "The Dead End Kids". In later years, they would be re-named
"The Bowery Boys".

55 KING STREET, TRENTON
FREE ADMISSION/WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

10/09/2026

1955

This aerial view of a large section of Trenton in 1955 stretches out to the water tower at the air base.

It shows many buildings which no longer exist including The Gilbert Hotel on Dundas West with the Quinte Hotel behind it on Murphy Street , the Fire Hall on King Street, St. Peter's School on Queen Street, the arena on Quinte Street, the Benedict-Proctor Silverplate Factory on Ontario Street, and the library where the cenotaph stands today. And, of course, the swing bridge and the coal piles!
Although trees block some of the residential areas, many houses are still recognizable on Queen, Victoria and Henry Streets.

A "wall-sized" copy of this photo can be seen at Quinte West Public Library. Thanks to librarian Kim for her help.

06/09/2026

LET'S TALK LOCAL HISTORY
An informal gathering to discuss local history of Quinte West
over coffee and cookies.
Join us THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 at 7 PM
Trent Port Historical Society
55 King Street, Trenton

This photo from 1957 shows the lunch counter at the newly opened Woolworth store. It was located at 83 Dundas Street West where Shopper's Drug Mart is today. Those fountain drinks on the counter were orange, lime, grape and fruit punch - 10 cents for small and 15 cents for large.

31/08/2026

To go along with the previous post, here are two pictures continuing the view from Mount Pelion looking southwest around 1907 and showing the amount of farmland. The population of Trenton was around 4,000.

The large house in the left foreground is at the SW corner of McClellan and Spring Street. By 1960, the population was just over 12,000. Among many other buildings, businesses and neighbourhoods, this area now contained two elementary schools (Dufferin 1909 & Calvin Christian 1956), a golf course (1921}, a church (Ebenezer Christian Reformed 1949), a hospital (1951), a high school (Trenton High 1956) and a curling club (1958).

When the Trenton Golf Club was built in 1921, it consisted of 40 acres of rugged, mowed pasture land. Streets were not paved until 1923.

29/08/2026

Looking south from Mount Pelion around 1907

Dufferin Avenue stretches to the bay and the group of trees known as "The Grove" or "The Pines". In the distance,"Indian Island" can be seen.
At this time, "Indian Island" was owned by Randall and Margaret Cronk. The Cronks were market gardeners with a farm on the island. They took their produce to Trenton market by boat.

The two houses in the foreground on either side of Dufferin Avenue
are still standing today. The three storey house on the left, at the corner of Dufferin and King Street, was the home of Mayor Jesse Funnell.
He established a business as a dealer in coal, apples, tallow, hides and wool.

On the right side, the large white house at the SW corner of Dufferin Avenue and Spring Street was the residence of Chester Wilder, his wife Cecilia Hampton Wilder and their three sons.
Chester worked as a carriage maker in the days before automobiles.

At one time, Dufferin Avenue was named Rear Street as it was the last street in Trenton with mostly farmland past it. Over time, as more streets were added,
the town limits would change. By 1924, the town limits was the east side of Catherine Street.

25/08/2026

22/08/2026

Born in Trenton, William Bleasdell Cameron gained fame and infamy in the Canadian West

22/08/2026

By 1920, autombiles were a common sight in Trenton although the streets would not be paved until 1923. A livery stable that had burned around 1910 was eventually replaced by the modern "Trenton Garage" seen on the right. It would remain a garage until 1939 when it became the "Century Theatre". Today, Bruinix Jewellers is in this location.

Houses that once stood west of the garage have been demolished and replaced by a large brick building containing a ticket express office, a shoe repair and a pool hall. This building still stands today and is the location of "Career Edge".

The men's clothing store at the corner of Dundas and Albert Street would have several owners until torn down and replaced by the Bank of Montreal.

Although those are some rather fancy vehicles gracing the downtown area, notice the scene on the left. A car has broken down in front of the Gilbert Hotel. Meanwhile, a horse-drawn grocery delivery wagon easily passes by in the middle of the street.