Spring and Fall seemed to merge quietly in and out of Summer, so that the change was not as sharp as for the winter season.
Ploughing and planting the market gardens was the first consideration in many places. The deep ruts in the road filled in, and gradually the mud roads were again ready for summer driving.
Store windows took on a fresh look–painting and cleaning up was general.
Street vendors and peddlers again resumed their selling from wagons and curb.
The fruit peddlers shouting, “Strawberry ripe, Strawberry ripe” and selling at bargain prices
Then “Fly Paper John” resumed his calling selling fly paper which he made himself. His cheery chant of “Fly paper all, Fly paper all, catch all your black beetles as well as your flys all” as he walked slowly along; the street, selling from a small wicker basket, was a sure sign of summer.
The Woodbine races started, and on the 24th of May, we always watched the buggies, surreys, cabs and the final thrill when the coach and four would bring the notables down from the city to the races.
Moonlight excursions on the street cars. Victoria Park and the opening of navigation.
The Corinthian and Passport plying from Toronto to Montreal. The Chicora, Cibola, Chippewa, and the Cayuga later on, on the Toronto to Niagara run. The Northumberland and Dalhousie City on the Port Dalhousie trip, and I think it was the Modjeska and Turbinia that were on the Hamilton to Toronto run.
The loads of Strawberries coming by boat and train from Oakville and that district, all amounted to one thing, that summer was here again.
Leslieville Historical Society 