Author Archives: Leslieville Historical Society

Brooklyn Avenue: The Oldest Houses on the street

by Joanne Doucette (liatris52@sympatico.ca) It was a challenge to sit down with a modern map and old street plans to determine exactly which are the oldest houses on the street. But when the job was done, it made total sense! These houses all stand out as distinct. They have all were built in the 1880’s.Continue reading “Brooklyn Avenue: The Oldest Houses on the street”

Brooklyn Avenue: Stories by the number: 1 Brooklyn Apts #4

By Joanne Doucette (liatris52@sympatico.ca) A Ghostly Voice From his military records:Name:  Reginald Chester Pelham Medhurst Rank:                                    Flying OfficerDeath Age:                           27Birth Year:                             abt 1917Death Date:                          13 Apr 1944Military Base:                        Lissett, Yorkshire, EnglandService Number:                    J23727Unit:                                     1663 Heavy Conversion Unit, attached from 158 SquadronCommand:                            Bomber CommandShip [Airplane]:                     Handley Page Halifax VOccupation:                          Air BomberCasualty:                              Killed whilst flyingResidence Place:                  Toronto,Continue reading “Brooklyn Avenue: Stories by the number: 1 Brooklyn Apts #4”

Brooklyn Avenue: Some Resources from the Early Days of the Street (Updatd October 22, 2022)

By Joanne Doucette (liatris52@sympatico.ca) This post includes: The Owners & Developers In 1884 when the area was still Leslieville there was no Brooklyn Avenue and it is not listed in the 1885 Polk’s City Directory or the 1886 Polk’s City Directory.  A real estate company owned by James Armstrong and John J. Cook sold mostContinue reading “Brooklyn Avenue: Some Resources from the Early Days of the Street (Updatd October 22, 2022)”

Building Leslie Gardens

From 1836 to 1837 workers had straightened and planked the Kingston Road. It became a toll road, providing a reasonably good route for transporting products in and out of Toronto. Here, in 1842, Scottish gardener and tree grower, George Leslie, leased 20 acres of land from Charles Coxwell Small for a 21-year term. George’s landlord,Continue reading “Building Leslie Gardens”

The Difference Between a Local Historian and an Academic Historian

Local history is a very democratic kind of practice, drawing on community histories (e.g., in the local history collections of our branch libraries), family history, genealogy and oral history. The best local history relies on meticulous and careful use of original and secondary sources as well as ongoing discussion with professional historians. But local historians have limited resources. Not everyone has the money to get those letters behind the name. We do not have access to the records, the peer-review process, conferences and journals of the academic historian. We rely on sources and our works are published informally – on blogs, Facebook groups, etc. My peers are those who read my posts and blogs and respond. And I am very grateful to you. But I rely on sources and sources are not always right.