Photos of Carlaw the Man and Street

These pictures do not fit neatly into any category but they are neat. Major Carlaw is listed as “capitalist”. In those days that was considered a very good thing indeed…at least by the “better half”. The magnificent facial hair that men of the era loved fell out of favour during the great influenza pandemic of 1918-19.Continue reading “Photos of Carlaw the Man and Street”

1909 Township of York Directory

Some of the streets included Applegrove Avenue (now part of Dundas St E), Ashdale, Bellefair, Berkley Ave., Birch Avenue (now Silverbirch Avenue), Burgess, Cassells, Coxwell Ave., DuVernet, Erie Terrace (now Craven Road), Fern Ave., Gerrard Street, Gibson Ave., Hambly Ave, Hiawatha Rd., Hubert, Kenilworth Cres., Kingston Road, Lee Ave., Oak Ave. Reid (now Rhodes Ave.), Waverley  Rd.,Continue reading “1909 Township of York Directory”

Highland Clearances

The Highland Clearances The day will come when the big sheep will put the plough up in the rafters . . . The big sheep will overrun the country till they meet the northern sea . . . in the end, old men shall return from new lands.  The Brahan Seer ( 17th century Highland Prophet)Continue reading “Highland Clearances”

Scottish Soldier

Rogart…even the inhabited land is everywhere encumbered with rock. Thompson, John, The Traveller’s Guide to Scotland & its Isles, 1824 Clan Map of Scotland, Rogart is marked with a star William Leslie was in the Fencibles, but some of these militia men also volunteered for short-term service in the new 93rd Regiment of Foot, knownContinue reading “Scottish Soldier”

Canada’s Johnny Appleseed

  George Leslie’s was Canada’s very own “Johnny Appleseed”, but who was the original Johnny? And how was George like Johnny? The original “Johnny Appleseed” was John Chapman (1774-1845). The myth of Johnny Appleseed has him wandering around America, scattering apple seeds here and there. Like all myths, it has an element of truth. John ChapmanContinue reading “Canada’s Johnny Appleseed”

Morse Street: By The Numbers

Morse Street opens and first house built Globe July 24 1883 Morse Street John Brickenden lived on Morse Street. Toronto Star March 11, 1899 The Brickendens were well known butchers, carriage makers and builders. Alderman Stewart lived on Morse Street and improved his grounds and painted his house in 1894. Toronto Star July 27, 1899 Before theContinue reading “Morse Street: By The Numbers”