Historic tulips tell Markham's legendary story

Yorkregion.com
May 30, 2022

Did you happen to see the new cluster of red tulips bloom in Carman Lewis Park this spring? They are new residents in the park, but they are by no means ordinary guests.

Last summer the Markham Lions Club dug up hundreds of daffodil bulbs and over a thousand tulip bulbs, as part of a public service in collaboration with the city of Markham.

The bulbs were later transplanted to Carman Lewis Park last fall. The Lions Club wants to help nurture the environment and provide a home for these historic bulbs as a way of preserving and telling their story in perpetuity.

The bulbs have now sprouted and there is a spectacular display of colours on the north end of the park. John Webster, who is the Town Crier for Markham, donated them to the Lions Club in honour of his uncle, Carman Lewis.

The park in the village of Markham was named after the late Lewis, who was the last living chartered member of the Markham Lions Club. Lewis joined the Lions in 1943 and was the heart and soul of the club until his passing.

Webster, the nephew, explains that these bulbs were acquired by Lewis in the late 1920s and 1930s.

As a youth Lewis used to deliver milk to families in Markham, and during the Great Depression when times were tough financially for so many families, people would often barter for their essential goods in lieu of scarce cash.

The Schouten family was one such family that lived on Rouge Street on the other side of Vinegar Dip which is now Highway 48 just south of Highway 7.

"Uncle Carman's job was like a paper route," said Webster. "Times were tight during the depression, so Uncle Carman traded milk for tulip and daffodil bulbs. Barter was common since there was not any social safety net."

In those days, Lewis spent his mornings delivering milk to families on his way to attend Markham High School on Albert Street. He founded and ran the Markham Dairy during the depression and delivered milk with his horse and wagon.

Lewis would deliver milk from his father, Albert Lewis, who had a farm where Parkway Avenue is today. Lewis' milk route grew until it became his job.

Lewis once said, "I had the audacity to paint 'Markham Dairy' on one of my father's wagons, and I was in business." Eventually, Lewis bought out the competition, Maple Leaf Dairy.

Nick Schouten ran and owned a flower greenhouse on Rouge Street in Vinegar Dip. The Schouten family had six children and they drank a lot of milk. To pay for the milk, Schouten traded thousands of tulip bulbs in exchange for milk which Lewis supplied to him.

As a result, Lewis received thousands of tulip bulbs over the years and they grew on his property for decades before the property was left to his nephew Webster.

Lewis died in 2008 at the age of 96 and shortly afterwards the lovely park was named in his honour. The land in the park area was actually once part of his farm.

The bulbs have been looked after and divided when necessary and they have been flourishing in recent years. However, since houses are soon going to be built on the last bit of what was once the family farm, Webster has been moving some bulbs each year to safe ground.

"These are historic tulips and are a part of the heritage story of Markham," said Webster.

The Lions Club hopes to celebrate the local history and legacy of Markham's past through the beauty of these tulips for all in the community to see.

"The tulips will be a reminder of what beauty there is in helping other people during tough times because that was the spirit in which they were received," said Charles Herriot of the club.

"Whenever people walk by the park, they'll know the story behind them and enjoy the flowers."