History
By 1860, Peterborough had changed from an isolated logging town to a service centre for the local agricultural and lumber industries. At one point, there were even 4 railways going through Peterborough to assist in the transport of these goods. Buildings in Peterborough changed as life became more settled. Houses changed from simple log or frame houses to larger, more complex designs. The various state-of-the-art bridges built at Hunter Street provided an important link between the two growing communities of Peterborough and Ashburnham which would later become amalgamated as East City. The Hunter Street Bridge across the Otonabee River was, at the time of its completion, the longest span of un-reinforced concrete in Canada. By 1884, four railways served the town of Peterborough, allowing the town to grow significantly. A house was constructed for the town’s first physician Dr. John Hutchison, close to the new station built at Bethune and Aylmer Streets, for convenience in receiving supplies and patients alike. In fact, much of the life of the town surrounded the main railway lines which crisscross the downtown area to this day. With the end of the lumber era in Peterborough, and the increased development of highways, the use of transport and passenger trains significantly declined.