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HIGHLAND CREEK • HILLSIDE
OrNot to xtaken PORT UNION• WEST HILL
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PICKERING PUBLIC LIBRARY
CENTRAL BRANCH
LORE
HICHLd:4U UiLLK • HILISIU6
PONT ONION•WESSIHILL
John IL SPilsWry
.Skrrmae by — Nell LaMarsh
PICKERING PUBLIC LIBRARY
CEDARWOOD CITY
YOU ARE NOW IN THE
DAVIS EANDGRAB REGION
A word or two about this book
Under normal Chromosome of time and camellia. this book would Probably
Bove taken another wen years to complete. But, with the new Airport, Cedarwood.
Expressways, ROZoning signs, fires and the naNml enemies of man and buildings,
it became motivative to do it now, before them, was nothing left of our four
communities but apartment buildings and pavement.
Governments and Developers are having their now will' us In the name of
progress, and they say it is good. Maybe it Is, and maybe our forefathers sold the
me thing in the Indian 150 yearago as they rnrved their James out of the
virgin f sts. Perhaps we should stop and think about where we beer been and,
where we are going. This book will tell us a little of where we have been. Where
we are going will take a doannce repaving immensely more wisdom than it
took to publish this on
And speaking of this document, its preparation has been a ftseinaHngaMenture.
There were no early newspapers to content Fires have destroyed many family
records. The principle source of Information wasfrom the memories of the people
who experienced rite history themselves or had a relative or Fend who did.
Memories are fallible, so wherever possible other people who had knowledge Of
faca were consulted for ver(pmllmt. Where rorynct of memory occurred, the
majority opinion this prowlled. But rarely a rernrd of a hacy memory a better
than no record at all
Bemuse of the above reason; b was not possible to publish a history along the
.mal chronchadcal Innes. Thu book, for the mot part A a collection of short
stories, about buildings, people and events, dheirmled with ee many photographs
mloud be accommodated And while we are on the subject Ofphotogmadho there
m lots of pictures of people and events up to about the first may, and men some
reareat people seemed to have lost interest m asking pictures Pity Many of the
Interesting buildings of the twenties and thirties wen not recorded on Pim For
die benafrt affvdwasomadmu', lets all take pictures ofourrespxsve areas, moral
There will be errors in this book Pik ir inevitable. There will be oohslons
because of the loquirea s of spare, 67 rmadpn, time and poor judgement on the
author's part To those people who may be offended, my apologies, it was not
instrument.
So, on with the story. I hope you like It.
]Lis is the Just book beer published which deals
escusively with West Hill, Highland Geek. Port
Union and HNside. These communities, add par
Heatedly the Highland Geek arca a almost as
old as Scarbomagh itself.. For thisr. I believe
the book ie worthwhile and will provide interesting
reading for those of us who are interested in aur
hismayl can delighted that Mr. John Sp166my
has fndiv put our past on raper.
As one of your present Canoeists and a former
Alderman. I am particularly pleased that the borough
Government It= seen ft to purchase an Initial fairy
cables of kis book. Local government should be
interested it or hWtory and encourage people to
record It.
K L. Mornsh
nln, ar Inn, nMm wuenN Imm
ars rem,. W Cm+mnn nos.n en One you.
Before The White Man
It is not tie pa@me of the author in document the history
of the Indians in our area. This has already been done by people
considerably mom qualified.
But there were Indians, in substantial numbers and for the
reasonarms a
that the white m settled Item, Goal soil, trees
=it water provided the amenities sustain life.
Indian artifacts have been found dating from 1500 A.U_ to
1500 O.C. Arrowheads, knives, access and primitive agricultural
implements. Some made by skilled people, others by wskilleQ
me by ICD -handed people, some right-handed. Each implement
tells a Rory to the Aimed reader.
The early Indians were nomadic hunters following the game
along die waterways. Around 1500, more sophisticated nations
from New York State moved in, bringing thew skills in agriculture
and better hunting techniques.
No one nation w a permanent resident, Even the Indian
berme nomadic because they learned that the name crop
n the same land year after year destroyed it. They would move
on to another site and perhaps come back yeas later when the
sail had regenenCed Itself.
Al lent two Indian villages been, been located on the shores of
Highland Creek. One in \est Hill near the Aida Motel, and the
other on the east bill on the Helliwell property. Both Mages
were way from the crack, out of sight of other perhaps unfriendly
Indiana, Them Is a huge beech tree behind the Silver Dragon in
West }till. Indians for generations came to that tree every fail to
collect beech nuts.
The Cionand the Hehemils bath have substantial collections
of Indian artifacts collected by their anceators, over the years
Indiana still inhabited the area until the late ISN's. But these
people bad become
senni-permarrint, Being form the white random
however they could. Their historic famdag and hunting lands had
been taken aver by the white man. They had nowhere to ga. Itis
a matter of record that they came gentle people.
Then The White Man Came
When the white man started solving in 1800 he found a land
that, with a little bard work, could provide the enversonment to
mrtsin an acceptable greaten". There were huge stands of immense
pine and assorted hardwoods. Them was game. There were trout and
saMo s in the rivers. And sod of every description. Rich black humus,
clay, loam Wed. And if that wasn't enough, them was atone, gravel,
clay and sand for the builders.
What mom "uta a asterwant! The transportation was relatively
easy. There wag rhe lake and two later rivers to provide saes to the
northern puts of the township, The Highland Crack was sac big in the
183tls that a schooner of 95 tons could navigate almost one mile
op the creek. lames Pearse brought his treaty and belongings up the
Rouge River by boat in 1843, dot to the homestead.
The settlers Came in force in the 1830's with their deeds, hour
hold belongings and discs. Saw mills spring; up like mushrooms. The
laces wen levelled. Homesteads, bans and Nos were mated out
of a primeval wilderness. A very moving Impression was written
by Catherine Per Train in 1832.
"on nrst damage to this industry, norhingsurpveed me more than
Nm total absence of meas dead( site dwelling houses and cleared
lands. the site of the chopper relentlessly leve& all before him Man
s
e�lobnoxious tcontend
with the
hSj r of laze forest as they were
h
pares nester teyouregmptlng
in i& greeness nor the ancient rrvnk In its handle pride; he wgges
war agaVmt the forest with Prg and steel"
When the forests wen gone, the Sawmills shut down, to be
replaced wish Grist Milk that ground the grain that grew where the
forests did. A flourishing cordwaod trade with the indeed and
Toronto fireplaces want op in smoke.
When she rivers lost see tea that sustained them, except for e
brief flutter of activity in the spring, they withered to a miserable
polluted trickle.
The pioneers indent replace what they took. To them the loges
would last forever. They wen wrong. thoroughly we have learned
a valuable lesson from history.
They Paid a High Price
for Their New Life
11 is clear that Ilia in Europe anJ dia United States in the early
I800'a was intolerable. Why else wmlld a family leave for Canada,
&offer through a miserable, uncomfortible seven to ten week se
either. Travel another one thousand miles by boat, wagon and foot
to amve at a parcel of land coveted with trees? It's not that they
didn't know what they were getting into, because any number of
books and letters had been published on the hardships of the new
But they came because of a dmam, a dream of owning then own
land, and to escape whatever form of persecution they were subjected
to. Some people bought a package deal. Twenty-five pounds But
their passage. and parcel of land, cow, , shovel and aced for
the first crop.
The Iwdships w earned,s. The trip was bad earned, but
arriving at their homicide covered by trees must have been a caul
destroying sight A house had to be built. Land cleared quickly to
get a crop in to get the family through the first winter. This during
osquito and black fly season,which they would have had no
perience with. The men had no exoenence name an axe_ If on avrv.
Must people arrived with little money. Acquisitions of necessities
like household pods, livestock and clothing was on the barter
&)stem. This created a victims circle. To acquire thmmi meant clearing
them land to grow mrylus caps, to trade. This required more labour.
That's why there were large families. The more sons and Simmons,
the bigger and more paspeam the farm.
There were risks. A tour of any old graveyard illustrates it. Disease
and accidents hung over the pioneers head like the executionials
see. Too many babies didn't reach two months. Too many men and
woman died at the peak of their life. Them was no medical aid.
It is auncle that they survived. But they did, and their progeny
haveinherited a strength of physique and character which is remnne.
able consilting the roulades they endured.
Barns
More Important Than The House
The importance of the barn to the auceddeful establishment of
the settlor, indead any bemoq is often overlooked
When the writer arrived at his nationwide parcel, there were
priorities, First, he had to build a cabin for his family and shelter
for whatever livestock he was stimulate enough to pts
s ess. Second,
he cleared sufficient land for a crap to we the familythrough the
first winter. Thin[ came the barn win more livestock W put in it.
A quotation from the excellent pending book "The Barn", by
Arthur and Witney illustrates the point. The retention it to
the observations of visitors foam overseas on seeing pioneer forma
'some (visitors) art ved at a time when the bans could be described
as big a "pallingunit the hones by comparison, diminutive and
cramped. On enquiry, the farmer would tell his visitor that after
s
en harvests, some said nine, a porterhouse would be built".
The barn was vital to the family's survival. The farmer built his
n house, but the barn — that was different. Neighbours fmm
muss around would help him rawa bad, and the ladies would
schemes the food to feed them. Building a barn and feeding the
en that built it required skills long gone from our wenn. The men
knew when they fit in the master plan. The jab got done with a
minimum of iNers, confusion or decedents and barn raising was
very dangembe work.
The ladies bore also train years of exps, prepared the food
for a hundred hnriSry men, with no organization problems. Men too
old to work on the barn set up long tables in the shade and the
womenserved the food. Hundreds of pounds of it,
Ithe pressure was
ee barn could be raised in two weeks
because the community train mita around would drop everything
to help. That's the way they worked in those days.
It was a social event too, Most bans in this Part of the country
were wised with the aid of u few barrels of beer and a barn dance
to warm it up when it wasfinished '
a ith ones and Pike Poici, I link ranks M to da,V
I ammimbou Pat up w seamen the xuwwiea oma laws wvua
The Post Office
Surprisingly Efficient
To the settlers the post Office was the Irak to their
families seems the ocean. Families that they probably
would n sea again. The radial of a letter from
home was m event of bread Gmlly significance. The
feel that the letter arrived at WI was significant too,
considering the distance, the roads, or lack of them
and the vague addresses. Like, Mr. A, Mrs. Jahn IIDe,
Upper Canada! But arrive the➢ did. The numbers
of letters in public and private archives am apt
testimony to this,
On Wook of remark, M . dean ollw
wave to Is how TaaxoM There Or. dottysop, a, Wee sHHaacrd
Mariana C .. k to, p4aup ad dealer me died r he add d
Toronto in 1790 got one mail delivery a year! An arrangement
with the United States postal eufinencee in 1792 improved winter
delivery in Canada. Wring the winter months, overseas mail would
be landed at Boston or New York and carried overland to Canadian
Placed of entry. The postage was good only to the Canadian border
and was called "paid to the linea". From that paint on, the receiver
paid the protan Presumably if the receiver didn't like the look of
the mail he didn't bother getting me letter out of "hock".
In 1851 the Provinces took over the administration of past
offices from London. The number of post offices were greatly
expanded and stamps were issued to the irritation of many people.
Their view, and with some logic, too, was — why should the sender
Pay the protobe when the receiver might never get me letter.
The new postal administration resWhd in Highland Creek getting
a post office m 1852 at HeWwell's Hold in the valley.
Port Union gat meirs in 1865 and West Hill in 1879.
By the 1850's, Scarborough had twice -allay, mail delivery, thanks
to the improved rends and stage coach service. Strangely enough
when the Grand Trunk started carrying some of the mail in 1858,
the service deteri0mhd in many parts of Scarbomugb, form two
deliver a day to one.
Being apost msster wasn't the way to ^"et rich. We had to provide
the Besides extra staff if necessary, equipment and six days labour
a week, all for a paltry salary.
When Oumfmte took over the poet office in West Hill in 1927,
they receivl $40.00 a month. Believe it or not some post masters
in this country only get 31,300.00 a year in 1973.
Low pay or not, rite pmt office has, over the years, provided a
vital service with asbttishing efficiency.
Inns and Taverns
Were Tightly Controlled
Until 1852 the licensing of Inns and Taverns
s
wa a Federal affair,
an evidenced by the license Issued to operate thehotel awned by
addition Helliwell In 1847.
%an Scarborough became a Township with its own government
in 1850, licencing of establishments of this type passed from federal
to municipal jurisdiction. A by-law was passed in 1852 based to a
large degree on the loosely enforced federal laws with the odd local
option thrown in for good ractioures.
If the Inn was on Kingston Road the licence was 10 pounds
sterling. Off Kingston Road it was 6 pounds 10 shillings. Toot the
license the Innkeeper had to provide the fallowing ac ommodatiom
5 comfortable beds with clean linen
3 private bedrooms
• 2 comfortable sitting rooms exclusive of the taproom or bar
good stabling for not less than 8 horses
tent diving shed for the convenience of transition and
patron's horses
In addition they had to observe the following rules of operation.
• no alcohol could be corned to anyone under 15
• no alcohol could be served on Sunday
• no people of 'Real disposition" or ladies of "tint name could
frequent the Inn No Innkeeper could induce ladies of evil
me to frequent the house
• no Innkeeper amid allow any parer to remain "tippling" for
more than one hour except on business
• alcohol could not be served to anyone already
under the influence
• alcohol could not be served to anyone, who
upon notification of friends, was addicted
• no gambling, Pines or swearing
The Inns were inspected grounds. Failure to
comply with the rales meant Erne of not leas than
10 shillings or more than 5 pounds. The law allowed
for sibutive of chattels to pay the grow, or failing
vailability of chattels, a prawn tern or not more
than 20 days.
There was no evidence indicating the requirements
for sanitation or lire quality of food and beverage.
Transom Round, mew 11 amet�n4
est
Nallutnlin louland (role
ads ai4eMs Nl&2 NVII1wIL con n adv`elanms In
11. Iss me 11 It InIlk. disk, ekkL 1.1 .1y' If sit I as fishk
had askink 11
eal ala ut a
n, mesa as
wm m :law t.weaa .f In,
Rena. nm i. aAti:ey kind
ailing I nui,�`
Transportation
Then and Now
The Indiana travelled the waterways and paths that connected
one diver to another. Rivers sere their roads that allowed them
to communicate with friendly it or take them to new funding
grounds or tarn lends. A means of transportation was just as
important to the Indian as the white man.
The early settlers in Markham Township would go dawn the
Highland Luck by boat to Port UNon, and then to York 25
mBes by water, Is miles s the crew flied H was
or that way.
When the settlers stetted owning in great n rmers in the
early 1830's mads became almost as important as clearing the
land for heir farms. Most of the mads were built by the pioneer and
certainly all were maintsim l by them.
A goad example of the need for large numbers of able bodies
to keep the roads in satisfactory eondlHan can be found in We
arrangement that Asa Danforth made with the Legislature of
Upper Canada in 1799.
When he command to build the road form York to the Bay
of Qwide, 40 of his best men were receiveto200 gamble
at strategic intervals along the ronM. Theacro gamble
was not
philanthropic. It was to keep the road in repair. The government,
by virtue of complaints by William Chewetq Acting Surveyor
General and others, reneged on the deal. The result as you would
expert, sees 120 miles of wretclsed road, not 0t for man nor
beast. Much of the land along the road was owned by absentee
government favounted new just weren't enough settltts to
maintain the mad.
Government learned and a Statute Labour Act was passed,
whereby every able bodied man between 21 and 60 bad to
perform a certain number of days road building and maintenance
each year.
In Scarborough in 1859 all mewith property assessment under
S200 had to perform 1-Ij2 days work. As the property assessment
Increased so did the number of days work required. The maximum
recorded for that year was nine days labour for a property uses-
ment of $4,000.00. The labour had to be performed between
May and November, die busiest time of the year for a fanner.
The law had teeth in it loo. It was enforced by 94 Parameters.
Their jab was to make arm each maconformed to the law in
his district. If a man didn't, he asfned rive darlings for each
day he didn't labour. If lie refusedW pay, his chattels would be
seized and sold. If he had none, he was put in jail for 5 to 20 days.
Fined or jelled, he still had to perform Itis Statute Labour. Such
was the importance of transportation to Ne survival of the mappers.
In 1817 there was a stage servicau from York to Montreal
during the winter months. The fawas $18.00 with a baggage
allowance of 28 lbs. It took three days with unbelievable hard
ships to man, beast and equipment over the road that Danforth
built.
By the hand's many of fie vacant parcels wave settled. The
roads started improving and William Weller, aeaful stage
operator, made Montreal from York ho 28 ho me It was a rush
trip, but indicative of the improvement in the roads.
With more settlers, more passengers, Me stage operators prospered.
The need for overnight accommodation was obvious. Inns sprang up
along the Toronto -Montreal road. They had paid, spirts, Overnight
accommodation for passengers and fresh horses for the stage. West
HIII had a hotel ren by Eli Shackleton In 1853 on the site where
the West Hill hotel is located. William Helliwell owned a hotel in
We valley in 1847, and it appears that Jordan Post operated an Inn
just east of Franklin Avenue on the north side of /j2 in the 18401.
When Helliwell closed the Inn in the valley, he opened the Cum -
oaf"
pin W1,16'Faa
11,4
a56,
M 3 Is
a any,
n U. was v...ma:rev.
0
In IB9r m rt Ibk June was hvm urn triennia
Cle,, ora now � In, wawa 1, 0e a
knui wN= klwl o imon� Lane own they
Tell In. boa rc uLa Onnwawlneat they
mcial Hotel at the lop of the hill in 1865. Business was that good.
The stage made many men and communities prosper. It corned
people with money to spend, valuable goods for lie mefchams
and mail. But trouble was amend the corner.
The Grand Trunk Railroad opened in 1856. It was faster, mom
comfortable, more reliable and by-passed most of the communities
and hoick along Kingston Road including West Hill and Highland
Check. So crushing was the railroad to hotel keepers in Scarborough
they petitioned council to reduce their licence fees in 1863.
But for every action, there is a re -action. Pott Union, a fishing
village and small shipping port for the Scarborough, Markham and
Pickering Wharf Company, blossomed and prospered. In 1859 the
little station accommodated 2,600 passengers and and 511 tons of
Be1ghL A new hotel was built Houloys). The post office arrived
n 1865, and by 1869 there were three streets, many merchants
and a papulation of JOG.
The stage wrvivetl because it was still harbor for short trips,
particularly if one lived Gose to the coach slop. It was still operating
between Highland Crack and Toronto till the early 1900'5. The
Taranto, Scarborough Electric Light and Power Company shnled a
street car service to lasst Hill in 1905. The stage was finished.
Affectionately called the "Radial', the end of its line was at
Primhards, next to the Lutheran Church in West Hill, The how
wasn't finished though, because people "parked" their Items at
the West Hill Hotel when they took the Radial to Toronto.
The paving of a two lane highway and the high bridge ever
the valley in 1921 persuaded Collacutt to inaugurate a regular
bus service to Toronto. Gay Coach took it over n 1929. The
Radial limped along on reduced revenues
until 1936 and like Ne
stage, had to call it ends. Tim advent of the Radial, and Ibo auto
mobile, had finished the milway for potentials at Pori Union toe.
After the war came more cars and 401. And in 1967 the Go -Taira.
The trains were back in bill competing for We passenger dollar
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SCARBOROUGH
9URVMP IN A C GORDAN CC MIA 24 VICI GAP. 64 A NO LIVID CAP IS
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11
SCARBOROUGH
9URVMP IN A C GORDAN CC MIA 24 VICI GAP. 64 A NO LIVID CAP IS
Roads, Surveys and The Passmore Affair
Scarborough was first marma ed in 1793 by Anguwms Jonesperformied, concessum roads, side mads and 200 acre rebels were
marked following smtdartl surveying procedures in the wilderness. These procedures c isted of a compns, 66' Gunter& chain,
wooden stakes to mark lot and road allowances, with throw on trees to indicate the line between the stakes.
Many of them parcels were given to privileged Militia Officers and Government Offidals. They were Scartorough's first land
speculators because they sold off hundreds of 100 acre lots to the ever increasing number of immigrants from the going Islas
and the United States.
Picture, for example, the Pcarwo family arriving in Hillside in (bc 1860's with It decd for a parcel of wilderness Ebel had been
Surveyed over 40 years before.
The wooden stakes would Fare rotted or grown over, and the nee blazes would have long since disaffamewl. Multiply this
situation a hundred or more times and one can anticipate the problems that could develop in the future.
Access roads to civilization were vital to the survival of the settlers and in those days they had to build their own, in addition to
clearing the land for farms. Their equipment was priminent time was at many survey markets were gone, many lots would be
vacant. It was standard procedure for even professional road buJders to deviate from the surveyed road allowance to circumvent a
major Saturation such as a swamp or a large hill.
As the Township became Polly settled the legal and taxation tangles emerged. Some farreces were being taxed for 100 acres
when n fact, perhaps 5 acres was a road Or public thoroughfare. As the larger parcels were being broken up into smaller lot, surveys
showed Ihem divenPanaies In auauge.
The property disPures raged for years. So much so that Scarborough Council voted to have all side mads in the Township m
surveyed in 1861 to solve the problems for all times The survey was to be based o existing roads, not the raids as defined in the
1793 survey by Jones, This may went strange procedure to its today, but Old EnglisLaw is clear in this regard. A road or path on
private property in fact becomes public after uninterrupted usage over a period of time. (Halter Maxwell closed off the little road
through his field one day a year to maintain his legal ownership.)
Tile a . punw v9weugbn of lever e'a Offill Survey Mop YwwIN nye mal, uN
laiamcs Or or m. (x} M Server IS m went, the it is vel the out rm
J wS In was,ora.So.
Ntonul,enlh
Pnoed m>mmv swam vice Or.awenryuau °na role an mein
"rely. FeeiSe Of I maybe mases o n aiming nnuu
The Council felt that it would cause less grief to the Public in
general and the Council in Particular by bntlng thawSurvey on
existing readid
The Legislature of Upper Canada was petitioned in 1861 for legal
approval to proceed with the survey. They didn't for reasons
unknown. Council petitioned again in 1862 and received perm con.
Traders were called. Specifications were as follows A cut stone
monument at least 3-6" long, 6"square at the top, was to be placed
at each intersection of a Side read (north and south) and a counse log
mad (east and west), The monument would indicate "R' for road
aide as well as lot and concession numbers.
The survey had m he completed In one year There wen, by
actual count, 126 side roads in Scarborough then. It was an immense
surveying job even by today's standards.
F. F. Passmore, Public Land Surveyor from Toronto, was
awarded the contract with a bid of 51,920.00. August 8, 1862
Would Province.Auld prove to be the unluckiest day in the life of MPa.
Eleven months Imar, is July of 1863, Passmore petitioned
Council for as extension to November 1 and an advance or 5400.00.
He was awarded both. Rumblings of discontent started reaching
Council in the fall. The survey w committed in November and
Passmore petitioned Council for 5520.00 to cover expenses. But
by this time complaints by the came were coming in from all
Of the Township. Council would not advance Passmore
another dollar. Certainly not amid the public heat had coaled. It
never did. The public outrage lasted for years. Some farmers lost
land. Some farmers gained land and their taxes went rep. Unit sales
were delayed because of the haste over property boundaries.
In fact In 1871, 151 people petitioned Council to declare the
rvey sa legal. The next month 191 people petitioned Council not
to. And so the dispute raged on and on. In the count, in council
and in every general store. It was neighbour against neighbour.
Scarbamugh Council, a nsitive to the needs of the people...
did nothing. no survey neverwaslegalized and poor Mf. Pamnore
never gat paid the balance owing him
The obvious question one must ask, ''war; the survey any good? "
Of course it was. Scafborouglt now accepts the survey as ollleml.
For legal purposes today a survey that is insured to within one
foot per mile 6 acceptable. Passmme's survey was well within
these 4 te.
it
r 66 amt me or primiwe
WSW ink In
qulamm4 iFe survo'r wry ren m4 IV aumrnra m
data nrn.ad, Has Hell on mulswnl menus mel 1930. Till Hardy
rim Trank ad e 1101 and mat to Part door as a 110
men
µlen wea Conk. mt theses a l
a Who sure ed
FIRE
Not If - But When!
There sit a family that didn't exparricandis the horrors of f
in some way, either their own houm or barn, a neighbours or e
relative's. Fire was a way of life. Became of time and economics
meet of the buildings were of wood, tinder dry, just waiting foa
spark to strike.
Nothing drew friends and neighbours together late a fire because
it meant Nat the immmunam family w wiped out and needed
help fast. A temporary shelter would be built immediately, clothes
would be hundred, dishrs, food, farm equipment. Everything was
done to get the unfortunate family teestabluhed. Pioneers were
like that because they had to depend on each other for mai 1.
Next you it might be their turn.
And so it went for ora hundred years he the east part of
n
Scarbough. The constant throat of fire. No nre department, no
water other Nan wens. There was no defence.
Fire transition in its most primitive form didn't arrive
Smarorodefectionugh until 1922. A uection of volunteer brlgades
bwith
hand carts were established In the western part of die Towndtlp. In
1925 a permanent brigade was formed, equipped with a(otmal
fire engine. This particular engine woald play an infamous role in
Indiana fire protection to the design part of the Township 18 years
later.
It was September 25, 1941 The Falcon, that magaificeutTurn,
Style Inry in Highland Creek, burned to the ground.
At 1:43 p.m. the department on Iitchmaunt was called, The
1930 Rugby Ore engine which was used for Maas mLLede the Fm
Ana (south west pan of Scarborough) reomided to the call. The
fire was beyond the capacity of this small buck. no crew phoned
for asananee. enter me Collector.
This ancient vehicle lead a top speed of 35 mph. What did mom
to brand the Falcon owners and We local public was the fact that
a Gray Coach has passed this truck three bunds on its eight mile ran
from Binhm unt to the hotel. And the bus had 10 stops for
passengers too!
Lieutenant Colonel Eric Adend, son of we owners, filed a formal
amplatm amusing the Township on 13 counts of ineampmence,
inadequate equipment and poor file protection in general.
There was an official inquiry conducted by Ontano Fire Marshal
W. I. Scott. The inquiry exonerated the chief and firramen involved,
but found the equipment and the standards of f protection
inadequate. no last paragraph of the Fire MershW's report u worth
quoting.
"Summarizing the above, i am of the opinion that rhe weight
of evidence is that there have no suitable neefiivence or Inefficiency
on the pmt of the Scarborough Fire Brigade or the hire Chief, On
the other hand the eompishing made by Lleutew t Colonel Arland
have rendered a distinct public service in bringing to the attention
of the dozers of the district and all of Smrborough Township,
the Inadequacy of the agreement for the fire protection of that
part of the Township outside of the pre area. the neeesally for
Providing emergency water supplies for rural Pre fighting. with
the congregation of the public who wain their properlies Protected,
and the se ns dehneu'ies in =Mower and appamlus in the
Smrborough Flre Brigade. These are all matters under the control
PICKERiNG PUBLIC OBRAW9
hatfivuld g III Inge PorInd In 1925 Thus ardev, III a pumping
,.pIldy of uiS III or drum, x Occur
the wu¢m en at rIII MWIMp M11M111945 o tie MI.n
I
area he Felcm 11. burned in
1943, hd are PIM,
m 41.111 m um NIl
¢m and llea wun
1Madrid turn t1.mma Its Mn
Anwinion 11 WIS inn'd by {.oum vLff. era II s
ce e.w Art v 2 s 11 11 ..u. sew . Imes
Cub Dere IareWuik sea as onereer. Of Am H±.
of the Scarborough Township Counell and not within the powers
of the Township Chief, and the attention of the Township Council
18 directed to their remedy.
All of wltich R respectfully submitted.
IV. J. Scott
Fire Marshal"
public Rcling was moral The most elegant building in Highland
Creek was gone. There were Othem, Holliwell's Inn, Tredway's home
and mora. How many more before something would be done?
A local Ratepayers Group had been formed in May or 1943.
This was accidents for them to sink their teeth into. And they did.
A volunteer brigade was formed consisting of D'Amy Taylor,
Robert Waldeck, Bermm SpiNbnry, Robert Robertson, Charles
Bradley, William Wrotham, Frank Rubber, George Lomas, FA
Waldoek, Claire Wherry, Harold Nugent, Doug Buchanan, Albert
Ludlow and lack Cruickshank.
A mrylue ARD. pumper was purchased and kept at George
Lom d Garage. Scarborough Last 'low had its Feet fire protection.
Volunteer mind you, but better than before. But just Me star.
A public referendum was held in Highland Composites: Hill in
1945. Tan thousand dollars was voted towards a Ore hal and
equipment The new hall was built on Morrish Road soutb of Old
Kingston Road in Highland Creek. A 1946 G.M.C. pumper was
bought and Dave mucchelle was mstalled as Chief of Pm Anna F2.
By 1954 lWHlme firefighters wen employed. The volunteers
disbanded, and the um III of Ore mOrectiot was replaced
by total Township protection.
After more than 100 years of being derencelers, decent Om
protection Badly arrived in the area.
G<<ib, rme.,, N.,.,a. If Fi,, a.. 12
Its Name Was Highland Creek
It is difficult if not Impossible to rind am nit'y that has
been dealt mom misfortune !Iran Highland Creek.
In the 1850's It was the largest co musty and business hub of
Scarborough. There w mills, grief mills and an assortment
of membants you would aspect for the going. There was a Past
Office in the valley. There w e heed — 6 Gat in
diameter and excellent soil, from and to rich black loam, to support
the farmers. And gravel for the builders.
The commoren was oil Old Kingston Road. The life line to Toronto
and Montreal was the stage coal Local business to a large extent
called on the Over increaccul number of travelers, Tlnn the ramrod
in 1856, Road travel was Immensely more comfortable than the
stage. Stage traffic droppod to a trickle. Local business suRered.
Lumbering, one of the economic ma tgys of the community,
petered out because the trcog were gone.
Highland Creek never filly recovered from the roamed. Itstaggersd
through the end of rho 1800'; and beginning of the 19001fn 1921
No. 2 Highway opened which by-prve d the village. Economically
speaking this was the last straw. But It still bad a name.
Alter the second war the community was disputed by 2 super-
highways. Then they took the name off the road maps and out of the
telephone directory. And If that wasn't enough, they took away the
post office. And as if to make the embarrassment complete, they
changed the mailing address to West Hill. We say embartaimmnt
only because of the because tivalry Nal always existed between the
two c u nide,
HighlandCreek locals reacted proudly and loudly to the Post
Office. Ottawa gave in to tire extent that they would accept
Highland Creek or West Hill on the front of the envelope.
'flue buildings me going and so are many of the people who are
keen to retain the name. That's why we say its name was [Highland
Creek.
Cre Is a nm a Hyhlum
an loo nal It ru fallow ev n11 In r1d99n I'dI'M'Own.
r1rC1TCRIr�jIJ,
Ikkailig nub Varlrjnnt `Wjltlrf �iutpliful.
., 0�^6®FiPC�u3C�4[ D `647 ACT OF PARUMMEMM
DD z4is i5 to (fertifv t%xat
m i m enecLlml eo r/'i-r+-Y yizaaee On/ e4l Ad of Gw��6W'I4°�®Q'®NtJl�i f10s
�d�is¢�dD¢� �aa� azdaa�ooa �Ua�req �®u�tt��aaffi> amuenfua� G tfi/ e* d
elc
.a � � ¢afr/ a� �i.r/ ✓ouoede �imerwmcy J£er .�lai.¢¢e, �
ai�_. �_.___–�_.. _. �..__.. _..— ._.._ v�uau ea�eet to f�c/ ✓deoreei,no
dd IlKa .laetcu nt, 92 6�w'4+ u. Tal. d f, aut oxiainr� liu/ �zco ceaGos/ f�r/
� `_ � �om�aa�� and to ilio/ .�r v�=�aaue. fie ani �m'�ro�afiono jumaed or /ieum�lor A �/
J � j �aeeed i�r/ aeeou�a�eu/ (iseaemalh`
�atedCirw `l ,�✓ /ih way 7�
N
William Helliwell
1811-1897
William Helliwell was to Highland Crack what If P. Taylor is to
ting. It is dif icvlt to find anything this man wasn't involved in.
Politlns, Mills, Cooperage, Tarmery, Hotels, the Wharf Company,
Slipping, Oil Well, Justice of the Peace, Fisheries Overseer and
probably a few other Oars that history hasn't recorded.
Helliwell was boo in England and came to Canada with his family
in 1818. They, settled in Niagara Falls. While there, his father Thomas,
bought 200 acres — all of lot 7, committed 1 in Highland Creek.
In 1822 they moved to the Don River and established a brewery
(Todmorden Might. It w a Iloivmg business. Perhaps In order to
expand, Mr. Helliwell senlorsold the 200 acres in 1822 The bowery
burned in 184] and William, now 36, bought 60 acres in (part of the
land his father bought and sold) Highland Crock.
It is now that the tremendous energy, ambifion and business
chuch of Ods man comes to view. In 1847 he built a home, a gust
null and the howl in the valley. The grist mill and the hotel were
operational and obviously producing revenue.
In 1848, along with Daniel Knowles and Will Hetherington, he
formed the Scarborough, Pickcdng and Markham Wharf Company.
A pier was built at Port Motion so that the farmers and mill theories
Sax emlOo, tar nm swes"L eh sakmic too smsh" nrymfC'roP,U Htl4ue33.
error activists atl will motionless got
u lenIt w llaw
wNp treat oother ernn on tors onuno. The Wray rvm eWFL
omebam
ee, the we of
the use hill west han art, miss bow.
in the three towel could ship their wend, lumber, permit, grain
and apnea to other cities on the Iake The wharf was abundantly
successful.
When Scarborough became a township in 1850, the first council
included Mc H. He serval with distinction for 14 years. Reading the
mutes of corned meetings for those years is perhaps the beat proof
we have of the drive of this man. He put (onward more legislation by
far than my other council member. In 1859 he moved that Scar
borough should have its own town hall. A plebiscite was held at the
next election. (It was defeated 104 to 57J Scarborough didn't have
its own town hail until 1949 when the Council Chemicals w
opened on Eglinton Avenue. It took exactly 90 yeas for Hall
motion to bear (mit.
'Ge Caledonia, a 95 ton schooner, was launched by Helliwell and
Will Hethenngton in 1856. Built on the beaches of Port Dnlmh this
twasenexted sailing ship traded the lakes for 24 yeas until she want
aground at Oshawa in 1880.
He built the Commercial Hotel in 1865 at the top of the east hill,
to provide further service to the travelling public. It was in His hotel
that he held a shareholder's meeting to form the Scarborough Oil
Company in 1865. The oil company floated 160 shams at $25.00
each. Directors were William Helliwell, William Norris, Stephen
Closson, Thomas Elliott, Donald Stephenson. Helliwell was appointed
Chairman. By November, 64 shares had been sold. Enough to start
mil for ail at the bottom of the hall. Oil was never found, but it is
another rebut of the man's ambition.
After Mr. Helliwell retired from politica at the age of 53, he was
appointed a Justice of the Peace. The Justice of the Peace's respon-
sibilities were varied. He settled boundary disputes and settled claims
of famous for sheep killed by dogs. When he was Fisheries Overseer,
hes responsible for enforcing the game laws between the Rouge
Rivera Toronto and the Humber, A big territory for a man in his We,
His second mill and Rest home was destroyed by fire in 1879. He
and his family moved into the hotel, built in 1847. He was 69.
He records in one of his later diaries, "since the mill burnt 1 have
done nothing but rami'. William Helliwell was no rned twice. He had
17 children, and many of his descendants still live in Highland Creek.
In 1896, he wasamember of the committee that gathered historical
data on Higla
hndCreek for the first history of BCWorough that wag
published to commemorate the centennial. He died in 1897, after
so years of service to SceAomugh.
Not only does the township oung this man a lot. but historians as
well. The colourful and accurate diaries he kept all his life have given
us a clear view of the early life styles that Im helped create.
1, wirer a �saa o m. tmm.mt now o11 ld formulae Role .,a Miner nn'n
0
i
unifies of tile relar,61 r.111 If 111, f.,,k dr,
John Morrish
1820-1908
John Morrish was bona in Devonalum, England in 1820 and
emigrated to Ohio in 1840. while there he marded. Their third son,
W. J., was bum there (the first two children died), but the parents
felt the climate in Ohio was not conducive to the goad health of
their child. They pulled up stakes and ardvo] in Higluand Creek
in 1855, where they bought poor acres on Meadowvelc.
John Morrish w a banner, ner, general laboand cut wood for
Robert Dixon who supplied the Grand Tmnk Railroad.
Mr. Morrish acquired mom property north of the Kingston Road,
west of Mealonvvlle, andlike mostof the leadingcltizens N Highland
Creek, was a shareholder on He Scarborough 00 Company.
He opened a smn0 general store about 1898, which seamed to
inspire future populations of his family to do the same.
John Morrish had sawan children, W. l., Richard, Elizabeth,
Susan, Mary, Georgina and John. John became a well known builder,
and one of Richard's sons was W.D., who established a thriving store
in the village of Highland Creek_
W. J. Morrish -General Merchant
William Morrish, the first surviving son of John Moorish, was bow
in Oreo. On his; marriage in 1884 he built a beautiful boon! and
batten house on the north side of Kingston Road, just east of
Franklin. (The hoose was two down ur 1971.)
He opened his fast store acerae the road from the present store.
The business prospered, which prompted the construction of the
present stow in 1890. It was a beautiful modem building for the
day, designed to provide ample space for living, sales and storage.
When the store opened, groceries were a small part of the business,
consisting mainly of nom, sugar, tea, and sell In the 1890';
Highland Crack was still a became; community and people lived off
the land. The bu c of the business was he hardware, dry goods, boots,
By 1914 the automobile was fat replacing the hone as a means
of transportation. W. J. installed a fuel pump which was the only
one between Toronto and Whitby. Gas was seventeen were a Prior,
with three cents partial for fire retailer.
In 1919 W. J. Morrish retired and turned the business over to his
sone, Rey and Charles. W. J. died in 1924 and Roy left to open his
uvea in and We three children of W. J. ran me store as a family
affair until 1967.
Depression days were difficult for everybody, including merchants.
Many people survived on belief tickets shorthand by the Township.
The tickets were exchanged for existence. But the storekeepers had
to itemize everybodies' purchases and submit a statement to the
Township monthly. It was not unusual fora merchant to wait as
long as two howl s for his money. With only tldrry days of credit
from their suppliers, merchants were always i a desperate cash and.
The war came in 1939, followed shortly rationing of sugar,
tea, butter, coffee and meat. Sunday morning was spent sticking
hundrads of ration stamps to gummed sleets. Stuart Morrish says
it wasn't so bad, "It w the only part of conning the suppose that
didn't require any thought. It was relaxing in a way".
The Mortishes no longer operate the store, but the property at
Kington Road and Moadowvale is still in the famili%
ud
mored seek dna em,1ttted Mlame
I
-
77 C
stems,
I D. Morrish - Everybody's Friend
The People who knew him called him W D, or Dilly. If you lived In
West Hill the Store was the "near Momshil his uncle's store (W. l.)
Was "far Morrish&'. No matter what life terms of reference, everybody
agreed that Mr. Morrish was a man of generosity, honesty and ability.
W. D. was the son of Richard, who was the second of John
Mordsh's seven children. He was who
in 1886 and marred Una
Clowasin 'n 1915. In 1915 M
and Mrs Morrish bought the store
(that William Tadway owned) from Will Knowles. Id was a general
store and the business prospered so that a new store was built across
the road in 1924. It was the last wood for a country General Store.
It even had a freight elevator!
W. D. was IM1e last of the old time merchants. He was a trader. A
field of grain for a winter's fuel. A new wire fence for a cedar fence.
A head of cattle for whatever, He ability and integrity built a Halo
hardware and building general
supplies. Durr the there
thirties there was always
at least one box car of cement at Part Union or the C.P.R. siding or
Contains
an Post Office, Thea were five men, five gars l [ grocery
lien trucks. On Satrdays He
omtrucks
delivered groceries. It was a going concem.
the
you
he cage stood Bill W D was dead. It was
hent allack.HghlndC k had lustitsbest f- tl
Five t laterthe started land file cattlestaff of W D.
Manager started to join 1110 armed survincen Man. Morning rried on
the business'during the u ar years until ler win Kim Itairmad from
the Me Forecas laid took over. Xon built the plus, but Men Morrish,
not t be outdone, became Post MiItmss.
It was said during the thirties the business was the biggeste
one
operation between Toronto and Kingsurn. Tmc or not, Were
t
c ldn't have ban one that was better.
John C. Morrish - Builder
lobo Morush was the youngest of raven children of the firslHiuh
-
land Creek fourth sure, He was born in 1870 and attended SS#2
in Highland Creek volley. His lwoundiv rs look Lill C.lneq in retailing
and agriculture. To young John the appeal of a hammer, saw land nails
wasar
n sely more interesting than a plow or a general iron.
Heserved His apprenticeship and at Iwanly-tltre, in 1999, built
his first house. 11 was for his bride Agnes Stotts. The house is no
providing comfortable similar for tiro 0 Marietta on Kingston Roid,
just west of Franklin Avenue.
At the turn of the century o brick house hal l substance and
stature. JLI and the Pearce Bre., Roger and William. I'omwd a
team. Pearce Bros. were masons. Together they produced an astonish
horns, Ing courts of ho, steres, school' and force in Scarborough,
Marligul and Pickering Townships.
They built the big barn for Knowles by Chaumont Church in 1906.
The West Hill Holden 1912, Hlgllmd Crack School in 1916,Ve
HHI School in 1922, 111,1). Morrish note in 1924, Dr. Carson's house,
We Falcon Inn, Roy Morrish stare in Cherrywood. These are but a
few. Hls daughter RIIn best la estimate the chamber of buildings her
father built in die part of the Township. It Is cal to count the
iscrobby ha Hill build' Drive on mov of the older streets in Falf
district If the house is pre-war and book, the chances ;am gaud that
Jack Morrish built it.
Mr. Morrish and AVIA Weamq Insured He Hilig and Creek Lawn
Bawling Club in 1932. Mr. Tmv' don ted the property in return for
an mad off Kingston Road bark of his property on Manse.
Ties Cleb is on Kingston Road and e[Bl real R doesn't belong
to the members anymore as the Bough took it over for back house.
Parks and RansilmBorough
maintain it now.
J. C. Mori ism actirld before the war and lunmd the business over to
his son Edger and BIII ill 'I he last house that Jahn Moral built
was n 193211 is on the tun sde of Franklin Avenue, and it is brick.
He was a builder for forty-five yea¢ He died In 1955, Imving behind
a monument to his profession on many of Ire smile in the Liistricl.
loo 3% he huo b.q his bullish 11111 OF i... I sal Wel
/�I
1t
Were areal in hishana
loo 3% he huo b.q his bullish 11111 OF i... I sal Wel
W Annual Cnmlq!ae........
heed V®ta6®eep
♦a Price List of Potatoes. «F
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rnn si:.
suom se..
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lu
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Imi
NIIII
no
W
The Closson Family
John Cloaon arrived m Highland Creek an 1805 from New York
Stale. He was a tanner and shoemaker by trade, and twenty-five
years of age. Exactly where he settled is not known.
His son Stephen was clerk of the Township from 1851 to 1854.
During true pound Stephen bought asonvinvill from his brother-in-law
Woodmff Post. The mill was on the Highland Crack, in the Camel
Col. Danforth Tmil area. It wan a successful mill, and still in opem
tion until at tent 1878.
Two of Stephen's sons, WO rmi and Benjamin, established a
successful seed potato and sued grain farm in 1890, on their farm
that extended from Old Kington Road t0 Lawrence Ave. on the
south. About 40 acres of sandy loam were used for growing Clio need.
In 1896, or ninety varieties of and potatoesre grown. no
Chairman would import new types of potatoes from the U.S. and
Europe and grow them on then farm, in Highland Crack. The new
rieues wen checked for their resonance to blight, yield and
Performance In a shorter growing season, and ability to all
long ereUDamon es storage.
There a experimenting
wit in the catalogue to one variety the Clefield was
were
experimenting with. It was Sir warier Raleigh. The yield was
It was a vey,potatoes per hill, with a Iattul weight of neatly Crve Pounds.
If was a very, aYCCcsful variety, at lea[[ for yield.
The Chosen Solid Potato busineuprospered with reoutercnamnmrs
as far east as Maine and as far west as Manitoba. The business svgs
closed around 1908.
Many of the descendants of JOM Chiral still live in Highland
Col Mm W. D. Morrish is his great -great granddaughter. Tredway
Chooser, who had a large farm on Lawrence south of Mendowvale,
and his son Sid, contributed much historical data for this book.
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William Tredway 1833-1909
William Itrustee was bon in Suffolk. funded in 1833, and cattle
to Canada in 1849. the firmly minnally sealed in Wabash, Scan
borough Around 1855 Willianr then only 22, opened a General
Slam al Dothan and Kingston Bonds. (When the Na 2 highway was
widened, the original grew was moved in the moony farm In Part
Union and became a wing of one of the Tredway homes.)
Tmdmay sold [[in bunincss, circa 1865 and went to Nlghland Creek.
more be moved into the store built by Me Alexander In 1861,
Located A Old Kingston Bond and Morrkb Rom, this fine old build
ing sheltered many Incentives until it was dismantled in 197 I and the
lumber donated to Black Creek Pioneer Village,
William Tradway built a very prosperous business in tine little
store. So prosperous, in fact that be sold it in 1878 when he was
only 45 to pursue his Gast love, politics.
M['I'worthy was elected Councillor for (lie Wanl for 1814-5-6-7-8.
Iic wag Deputy Rewe for the last two of those terms.
When he sold the business, he ran for Reeve of the Township. The
I]m Ilml he Iml In not to hos discredit 1'bu mudenty of votes wore in
the western part of the Township, which made it very difficult for
anybody who uvea in the tight section to who.
Running for Reeve was his last political advenwre. He son m-
pointed a Justice of the Peace shortly addresses, a position he held
until his death in 1909.
When Trenton sold his store, he hough(a lot on Kingston Road on-
pretax Franklin Avenue, and hunt a Me home. This lot was the site
of the Inn bulllby Jordan Post (Tonight's map of 1860 shows lt200
yards east, rho map is Incorrect apparently.) Like many suvocacful
men of his day he had started to acquire land, and owned a 25 saw
tat th the Centennial
oil c of Conlin and 9form is located. Roadand
rather on Centennial R subse ue the Watson farm iugt160
o Both ofFuca
side of wereLaw enc subsequently t westo f and he bought lle nares
n the smith side of Ler of throw west of the a was
Plant.
lie never livedo his de of these proparlies. He wan ettlulnng land
for Ilio thaExactly
48t of his after
has chi
dna
Lborou 48 years utter ids him.
in 1909, D public school In
Scarborough was tuned attar hear. A fitting [Tale.
PA
4
m and (]isalwe, va, bi wenea a,dar
130,k oam,
Robert Cole
The Tom Swift of Highland Creek
Cole's Garage opposite Deep Dene on Old Kingston Road was a
grist mill m 1910. Grist mNa in those days were water powered
and not too efficient because Of He decreasing water levels in
the Avers. Them might be enough water in the mill ponds to
Wind Vin for two or three hours each day. Cole decided that a
gasoline powered mill would be better.
The mill ground a lot of grate, until 1915 when the crankshaft,
that connected two huge 8' llywhecis broke and demolished me
mill, just inner Mr. Cale went into site adjacent house for lunch.
Bob Cole rebn01 the mill and converted it to steam power. It
Proved expensive to operate, and there was a war on. He closed
the mill for good in 1916 and acquittal a mobile threshing machine.
In the winter of 1923, while thrashing on Liverpool Road, a
bliugN stack. It marked the taming point in Bob Cole's hDi
On his way home wiN son Milton he passed a long fine of new
Chevrolets innvoy from the Oshawa plant to Toronto. All
were hopelessly stock in the snow,
Bob Cole thought, "Why can't I apply the principle of the
threshing machine m blow snow"?
His brilliant inventive mind want to work to Md a better way
of removing sn w than with a man -powered shovel, or horse,
drawn xraper.
Four years later, in 1927, the first snow blower was built on a
Ford "Madel To hawk with a 4 cylinder Buiok engin to power
the blower. The plow worked but not as well as Bob Cole wanted.
There were problems like a lack of adequate auxiliary power to
handle deep or heavy snow.
They wanted a bigger and better machine. They wanted more
power, and a better mow Intake system. They built it and it was
letter, but Hill not good enough to measure up to disk standards.
More machines were built, each one
aimprovement oar its
predecessor. Some wow built on Ford Tricks, some
on C.M.
One plow was even built on a chain riven Mack Truck.
A company was formed in the thirties with manufacturing
facilities in HlgMand Creek and Montreal. Demonstrations were
given at Mallon Airport and other places in the province. The
Cale SnoBlo of 1939 was without question the most effective
method of clearing snow 1n those days.
But remember the corrosion years Money was tight. The
national mood was, "don't take a chance" and the war clouds
were gathering in Europe.
The Coles could not sell the comi of their machine And
then the war came, and that was d¢ mrd.
Bob Cole's patents ram out in 1948. Today most snow blowers
use the same principle that he patented in 1928. Like most inventors
lie thought ahead of his time. In fact he predicted in 1937, that
mall macbmi would one day be available to clear mow from
your embossers. Haw right he wax
ran go 01 ior`11 eAui av_ uaa'mrus air, ell`s l seal retires
11.11.111.
m11mme m11.. u.. vmaw..,hhLne
Blilt If
way le,ower way fuer m..uut ThetiI.ew
bill' as I'l pas or rwv ermapr. rill eulldro xoi nv¢W le
vily
Tol law, 1. twill a 1911 Tile mail in ist love. p, on
-1 00111 ut Inal, .1 till ill
r. a w ease, s wwI w
The Hotel at the Top
of the Hill
The Commercial Hotel was built in 1865 by Wilburn tlelhwell t0
e the eversing number of travellers on tile rob
e Ton
Kingston Stage Coach, The Hotel had overnight accommodation,
food and spirits for the guests. Tim property was rented to Walter
Kesler and later Joseph Moon.
This was the building where WOliam Helliwell, president of
Scarborough Oil Company, held meetings in 1866 to discuss financing
and drilling progress of the oil well at the bottom of the hill.
In 1901 flelliwell's sold the Hotel and 5 acres to John Mul for
53,000.00. Mr. Maxwell died in 1903, and the hotel was then
operated by Jus wife with Pan -fine asirtanre from her sun Walter.
a
A federal law passed ill 18]8, The Canadian Temperance Act
allowed peat municipality to legally vote illpmlibile
If the names geutilization
ts thethat nestall win consideredt b
a problem by many people, be is nght Whisky was ift less than
5 cents a shot Drinking became a popular social pall me and few
barns were raised without the encompassment of a few barrels of
booze. Them was tremendous Pressure he every locality to no dsy.
Natumllybnn-Keepan war verynesmil became the sodalpe dolum
Wo starting to swing the other way. They never knew when their
means
Of Iiremmood or their big "Vermicide would the jeopardised.
And this is what happened to the Maxwell's in 1916. The Province
went dry'. Then Walter's mother died and M1e took over the family
hotel. lie had the misfortmes of assuming ventral of a business which
was to face 30 troubled yarn. Prohibition, Depression and War.
But Walter had a family to support and a large presented to
Protect. Soft drinks, ice cream and simple meats, replaced "Const
man Water' as Walter called it, as his means of livelihood.
The Maxwells were dealt another economic blow in 1922. The new
highway opened which by-passed the hotel and file rest or the
business community for that matter.
He opened the Annex at the south end of the 5 ace property to
catch whatever business came along #2. The Annex was successful
to the extent that Me Maxwell was able to support his fatally, until
1934 when Prohibition was repealed, But those were depression days
and in spite of popular belief there wasn't much money left over
for beer.
Barry Maxwell, Walter's son says that had it not been for the
ingenuity, and hard work of his mother Maude, the business might
not have survived Prohibition and the early depression years,
Perhaps the most significant aspect of Maxwell's Hotel were the
, the field (where lite Ponflai is) was the core
L 'There was organized baseball and a permanent
If regular Saturday night events put on by the
Club. Alderman Fred Bland was president and
mined M We ring, Villagers turned out by the
. It was a good diversion from the depression blues
news from Europe. Then the war came and the
had a Saturday afternoon trap shoot behind the
at machine (the author included) used to achieve
targets. Except when Me Maxwell was shooting. He
Lions Club Crammed. The firet one was July, 1945. Walter Maxwell
never charged my rent, which u rather unusual Confidence the
times. He sold The hotel in 1950 bad retired. He died in 1958 at the
age of 78. Maxwell's Hotel is now the Roundup Pump, xne Of th, to, few
use &rvet cn
bell jvw are
cold u Smr-
i in ma ,ad
all, Ii be
vessels. I. 1 1% weekbot be of.
.ce`e"°Act In afll 0 saws ay or be" bed less .n ar ha.
ta"letss fu dei Hofer,,. hares.
The Falcon Inn
Famous Around The World
The guest book of the Falcon Inn reads like a world's Who's Who.
There was merry. There were prime ministers and diplomats,
And artists like First World War cartoonist Bruce Bairnsfathor,
who paraphrased a line from his famous wartime cartoon for the
Inns guest book — "Mere Isn't a better'ole AIF'.
The story behind this word famous hosMlry is unusual because
it never was intended to be a hold in the first place.
It was the country home of Charles and Alice Arland and
their son Eric, who came from England in 1911.
Mr. Asian([ in 1914 bought 1I acres on Kingston Road just east
of the present Hlphlared Creek Shopping Plaza. On this property
as the McGinn monsoon which John Randall and his son Edgar
remodelled and assigned for the Adands along the lines of Mrs.
Armed's Tudor home in Cheshire, England,
Mr. Acland soared no expense in rainstorms their new home
with antiques, such as a magnificent grandfather clock and chair
from the household new
the Duke e Bridgewater.
Dar.
They called their new 3 when
Rep Dene. Deep Dene was home
to the A tunic until 1923 when Mr. Adantl was forced an retia
due t chronic poor hest".
As their son Eric says, "May paying
were foxed m either Hive up Deep
Dene io it Into a paying alcomInn m
ThOU and Creek
to come Ne falcon Inn made the little village
M Worland Creek known in some of the finest .racial circles in
word.
Tho Inn was an instant su he Social functions of Tomnto'a
Gita were common ww wings
w Mere.
Be fame spread. T Two wings were added. More antique inn furniw5rshings
acquired. garden,
Two ac de (lies and gardens Including fa a fashioned token rose most smrmmndcd Me hotel Everything was fuhioned
to please the most discriminating and,
The Falcon Asn wood its guests with grace and old-world
chem form 1924 to September 25, 1943_
And Ilion dieser.
Fire, which had leveled so many of Highland Creek's historic
Mise, caught up with this magnificent building Sparks from a
fireplace ignited the roof, and because of what some people
thought were questionable fire -fighting dwisiom, [he bolding was
loot.
But what of the priceless furnishings?
Every piece was saved became local people — young and old —
worked to tire point of exhamfion to remove them, even Including
the leaded glass windows.
Lieutenant Colonel Acland comments in a letter regarding this
Incredible reade
"Durbrg these hours the most j menthe sursere entrance took
place, proceed out by HlgNknd peek people, Assured by parms-bn
Drs contents of every room
smoved, including priceless
and proficie t period pieces, much of It very heavy oak 9Ldor or
£Nmbeneva !heavy refectory tables, dressers, chewt grandmother
clocks, c cupboards, beds, a avery large grand piano
shunted corner
below whom the fire started, homes pewter,
silver. ate.
"In solution commercial elemental such as Free. china, office
epuipment was saved. The whole establishment was stripped. This
was a numniflosut eff t on the Part of the people of Hadhind
peek, and I drink the story should be rold."
Scarborough's fire department came in for coram emble criticism
In theireffido at fighting this fire, as they had — perhaps modify —
for mile handling of other does.
For you we much of this community's history had gone up in
soaker Funs, including the Ore marshal's report on the Falcon are
coered in the chapter on fres.
How the Falcon would have fared in today's competitive hotel
business is difficult to say. But if people still like charm and grow,
then me Falcon Inn would still be in style.
no mmmmmar a, In, will, .cau i<or a,A. ,l e..n.a.
Aftes race on fla Iml wow, Md Of muss Y " ut'as 'assentseeOee tow mrcnp
Mechanics Institute Library
The Mechanics Institute was formed in Highland Creek in 1889, be
provide the area with Who class books, including works of reference
history, biography, science and travel, A meeting of proant citta
zens
as held at Highland Deck in December 1889. It was decided if
askfor moomotation and an active committee was appointed in
By 1896, Scarborough's Cerebral yew, them were over one
diamond books in stock.
The first library was in Ellim's Hall which was hemile the present
branch on Kington Road In 1930 the hall was tom down and the
library was moved to the rent -fret hall at Mortlsh Road and Old
Kingston Road Mrs, Gladys Cole became librarian which started her
anco
tl thirty-nine year mer of service to local readers.
In 1947 the eighty yeear old building was showing signs or age. The
books were Refer g dump and the government inspector ordered the
lAwn, to move to more suitable premises or it would be closed. There
was no place to go, so Mrs, Cole moved the books to bar home just
to keep a library In Highland Reek.
ey teesperm hung.
The 1936 volumes were presumably kept dry this Hme.
The Branca operated is these cramped surrounding until 1964
when it was moved to the present Summers on Old Kingston Road.
Gladys Cole retired in 1969 after thirlymme years service, most of
which were unsalaried. The fact that the vJWge will hss a Library is
perhaps due to her determination to keep the branch open during the
lean year; of the 30's and this. She always felt that if she gave up
the library, the community might never get it back.
On March I, 1973 the second oldest library in Scarborough started
16 eighty-fourth yew of continuous entries to the community.
The Knowles
Arrived in 1803
William Knowles came rrom England. via New Jersey, and settled
on the parcel of land where Centennial Church is They owned 200
which extended from Ellesmere dawn to Lawrence. Will
Knowles was a dinosaur, and built a blacksmith's shop on the site
Plus occupied by the church. He is reported to have made the nails
used in the fiat frame bas in Scarborough. Mr. Knowles died in
1815_ and his wife in 1842. 'rho property went to Lhe oldest our
Richard, wlmdlvldetl it equally among lhk bmthwa. The Knowsroull[
the second stone house in Scarborough in 1831-32 It was located
just well orNe church, across from the big bath (still landing), It
burned In 1906 and was replaced by the Present brick house.
Daniel Knowlesually bought out his brothers and built
did for stow
n the area. It was an the sane property in' the smillry.
Daniel wasa commissioner for the building of Kingston Road. Along
with William Helliwell and Will Hetherington he farmed the Wharf
Company at Port Union and was a councillor of the Township in
1861_ He died in office.
Hle brother Richard pursued a career In politics antl was Counalllor
for our area from 1881 to 1857, and Deputy Reeve from 1888 to
I89o. He was also Chairman of the committee for School District
// 11, that gathered historical Juin for David Iloyle's H6Yory of
Scarborough.
William Knowles, a direct descendant of the for William Knowles
who arrivel in 1803, was the fourth owner of tis little store In
Highland Creek at n Kingdon Road and AfomeM1. He to
thorn e
front James Duncan (Jule unkno vn) and later sold m \V_U_Morhish
in
These
The second \Villiam Knowles was public spitlmd, just like his
amowdana.He was etor of th Scarborough
dCwkSclphoeCompany
in Scarborough
tire
and o William
of Me Sand Jus if Telephone Company
o tits late 30's. Creek Knowles and his it r Margaret were pillars
won,
of the Highland Creek community. beside
retirement rdwa w
spent In the comfonable bock house bes'de Lomas' Hardware.
St. Joseph's Church -1854
St. Jampla's is the oldest Catholic Church in Scarborough, and
has the only Catholic Cemetery.
The property was bought from Thomas Elliot for One Hundred
and Fifty Pounds. in 1854. Later reports indicate a building of
45' x 30' was erected in 1856 at a cost of 5800.00, with the Chat
service
a hold on November 23M, 1846.
The church came to pass through the energy of Rev. FL Pmulx
of Oshawa. Highland Crack was part of that mission. From 1860 to
1914 the church was attached to the Pickering Mission, After 1914
SL Joseph's was attended from St. Augustine's Seminary.
With Cho growth of the area alter the war, a building drive got
underway to ratings the church. An expansion
was started in 1954
that doubled the seating capacity. In 1964 me church wasCommn-
tially expanded again and included a rectory.
man 1111na,01. 1. 1951 Main It she cram, vi�
St. Simon's Church -1925
'
It was a long, cold walk to St. Margaret's in West Hill, the clmest
Anglican Church. With the influx of people to Highland Creek after
i
the first war there was an additional reason for a church in Highland
CheeRev. Gentle prd,
applied t the Rector of Scarborough,bunny.
id Oumfmd to provideIg s notice
to the community.
ty
thrid
\:
He
fie did private homes however. Social en were i
tmtl
a Halls. n had
funds been raised in
October to buy
October 19'a3 m y S acre from
fromSuffiJoh and Blanche Skelton. The
ane
A
sod in May
n M and the fret
tookvera
.
m wasing; hceremony
r of
held on November Irl of thatyear. and
year. One
. On
_
t to be
people were present! 11 wase simple basement to be sore,
sim
but it
but it was rhmf awn church.
Littlel�f Nedepo war
apps 11950
wash l null ddpeace.
wasn't that aorchonta
that a parch contamid two rooms was added at
moms was d
s
th
the and the portable tram
hep Creek School was moved
to he pr
property chum.
the the cwas o.The was completed
— -
Pmar orch in 19
19
in 195] and the new Parish Hall was opened In 1968.
new
Highland Creek School -1918
The Highland Creek -West Hill arca was served by a single .cheat
Earn 1851, when the Hot one was built at the top of the Nest Hill,
until 1918 when lite present school opened. In between was a two -
trained school in the valley, which opened in 1870. The for two
schools am created in the auction on West trill.
This new school was built because the old one wasn't large enough
to serve the growing communities of, West Hill and Highland Creek.
In May of 1917, three acres of land were Enrichment by the tmrtss,
Messrs. Humphrey, Brooks and Cookwell, for 51,500.00. It was their
intention to have the school ready for the fall of 1918, little more
than a year away.
Archimcto lames, Laudon and Hertzberg seem retained to danger
the school, and develop the working smasher Tenders were called
and J. G Moorish and Sons were awarded the contract, In & W.
Pearce Bruce. so
Bs. w re the mans.
It was the finest wheal in the Township, Two biin bright, airy
classrooms and a boys' and girls' basement. As modem as it was, it
bud no electricity, no water, other than a pump 9n the west aide
9anitary facilities consisted of chemical toilets in the basemants.
Total cast of the building was $15,763.45.
The opening was delayed until November 1918, because of the
Great Influenza Epidemic. Two teachers and tlurty-two students
were there for that opening day.
an enroMent increased beyond the capacity of the two rooms
in 1931, a portable was built at a cost of 31,90492 Electricity was
installed in 1932. In 1936; the chemical toilets were replaced by two
small rooms
and a path at the boundary line on the north side. The
ext rajatabulation was in 1941 when the boys' basement w
voted into a elmwomin In 1949 x class a added•
The portable was sold to St Simon's Church and Me basement ohm
room disappeared room w
Enrolment was 250. two more oere added
in 1951, the auditorium in 1956, and .six more rooms in 1960.
Today the school has 17 teachers. 456 students and 15 classmnms.
__ .�, t,
� rte:-. I'� _:_.. .1 _.�.�._. ,��y�!�'9W^de.��� 3
�. ,-.
i, � -
'� a� . _ ��
�' - � d1•
���f
f
�.
,:.
,- ,
Scarborough College
Scarborough College started in a boardroom at the University
of Toronto in 1962, when plans were approach to form two
satellite colleges One on the west, and Scarborough College on the
east. In January of 1963 the Board of Governors bought the estate
of B. L. Michael and later by expropriation another 70 acres on the
north aide of Ellesmere Roel.
By 1964 John Andrews, an Australian, architect, had created o
scale model which would make him, and me college famous around
Ue world. The design was inexpensive. Condition] and had fire most
modem techniques of communication designed into it. The archi-
tectural concept rated a major story In Time Magszloc.
Construction started in May 1964 when WiWam Davis turned
the fust sod. The school opened in 1966, with 191 students, even
though coordination was not completed. By 1968 there were 1,000
students and a graduating class of too, January of 1973 saw the
completion of due new wing, September the opening of new
residences and a student enrolment of 3,400, including full and
Pat -time courses.
Dmhm the expropriation proceedings of 1963 and 1969 local
feeling was as you would expect. Fair prices were paid for the
properties however. The College Administration has demonstrated
many more over the years a desire to assist the community p
il
worNWlule pmleclt
finelnpoolnnva afmoutlm dalnlshad foryeznlonwr bul vvungewL The hit is on
if
�. `aw uaa s,
I he es"llimel sinners galas the unWhem wan ch o Bh on.
He less w ne eh.h Pe m the meme.
saying xe, mid to de . evilest agent Into
The Methodist Churches
and Their Cemeteries
On Old Kingston Road, in the been of Highland Crock village is
the Methodist Cemetery. This half -mice plot was part of the Soo
rem
acquired by Jordan and Melinda Post a trade for their 15
acs A King and Yonge Spaces. It was 1834.
It seems certain that this plot was a pioneer graveyard before the
Posts got the property because Wine of the stones seem to irradiate
1834. Local Ranged unrest, root it h ... me. :: Lu.nl ew,i.d hn..
room rest rich an i inuo ana was hurled on ms own lams (not an
unusual procedure in pioneer days) which wet from Meadowvale
i h
to Mos Roads, form Ellesmere south to AWllary Tied
Probably in 1864 or 1865 Jordan Post's son donated the burial
ground to the local Methodists. They built along narrow chump to
❑t between the gravestones mid suit the shape of the property. A
local wit, obviously not a member of the congregation, dubbed it
the "Methodist shooting gallery".
mall sonall In)863
18863¢ agroup of Bible Christian Methodists had built a
n properly donated by EdwaM Adams The
church was 27 x 30 feet and cast 3300.00 to build The church was
located east of Put Union Road. The )lane highway, built just
after the war, wiped it out,
With two Mothodist congregations a mile apart neither one did
well. They amalgamated in 1883 and alleviated Sunday writes
until 1891. Two thousand, four hundred dollars was raised and a
w church was built on Old Kinston Rated. It was called Centennial
to commemorate the Iolhh anniversary of the death of John Wesley,
the founder of their religion.
Atop the hill on the most side of the Range between #2 and 401
setery.
a long forgotten c mThe stones have been covered by
is
yea of gram.. This lonely grawya ! was the final reading place
of the early Adams of Port Union. This fact could date the cemetery
as early a 1832, assuming of course that there were no earlier groves
Was. it else the burial ground of the Methodists of the stone church?
bums Clvinian NeNWut Cnxan, a Ihl Ix 18634 emt 530000 m WWI and u d
N nmml mgtry 11 on uNb iCIaul.'I xnu a bmuluNI CnumA Fiotrt. Ymn 61c
The Women's Institute
Mention the Women's Institute and most people picture a group
of ladies gently discussing the affairs of state while sipping tea. No
'mage word be more misleading, cerminly me far as the Highland
Creek Chapter is concerned.
The Pedemted Women's Institutes of Ontario was founded at
Stoney Creak, Ontario in 1899. The object was to advantage better
homemaking practices, develop happier, more
rf tuseful citizens,stimu-
late leadership and encourage app o natibings man at hand.
The Highland Clock Chapter was focused on March 2, 1908. Fif-
teen women attended the inaugural meeting at Mrs. Maginn's home.
Mrs. W.1. Member was elected president. After the installation of
officers, the subject for the next mating was established, "Hatching
and Reining poultry". Perhaps a strange subject for ladies to discuss
by today's stmrdards, but remember Highland Creek was rural in
1908. Most people bad chickens, and the ladies looked alter them.
The women of the Highland Creek Chapter have established an
Impressive record of accomplishment over Weirsixty-five years.
Apart from [reirdng hundreds of girls in better homemaking
lechniques the ladies were salve in both World Wars, knitting backs,
eaters and warroks by the hundreds for sumviommen Imre the
unity. (Hundreds of parcels were pas)
acked and shipped overw.
Duing the Semon war the local chapter made make six hundred
quilts for the people of fondant
The ImtiWm gave annual donation to the Highland Creek
Library before it was taken over by the Township. If a family was
wiped out by fire, the Institute would get them started again with
the household casom als.
They provide Christmas boxes for shut-ins, knitted clothing for
the Children's Add, and Scholarships for local schools. In just about
very area of human need the Women's Institute has been active,
even to gathering and tecoNing local history. Our community has
been enriched by the Women's Institute.
�st
star
1
The Women's Institute
Mention the Women's Institute and most people picture a group
of ladies gently discussing the affairs of state while sipping tea. No
'mage word be more misleading, cerminly me far as the Highland
Creek Chapter is concerned.
The Pedemted Women's Institutes of Ontario was founded at
Stoney Creak, Ontario in 1899. The object was to advantage better
homemaking practices, develop happier, more
rf tuseful citizens,stimu-
late leadership and encourage app o natibings man at hand.
The Highland Clock Chapter was focused on March 2, 1908. Fif-
teen women attended the inaugural meeting at Mrs. Maginn's home.
Mrs. W.1. Member was elected president. After the installation of
officers, the subject for the next mating was established, "Hatching
and Reining poultry". Perhaps a strange subject for ladies to discuss
by today's stmrdards, but remember Highland Creek was rural in
1908. Most people bad chickens, and the ladies looked alter them.
The women of the Highland Creek Chapter have established an
Impressive record of accomplishment over Weirsixty-five years.
Apart from [reirdng hundreds of girls in better homemaking
lechniques the ladies were salve in both World Wars, knitting backs,
eaters and warroks by the hundreds for sumviommen Imre the
unity. (Hundreds of parcels were pas)
acked and shipped overw.
Duing the Semon war the local chapter made make six hundred
quilts for the people of fondant
The ImtiWm gave annual donation to the Highland Creek
Library before it was taken over by the Township. If a family was
wiped out by fire, the Institute would get them started again with
the household casom als.
They provide Christmas boxes for shut-ins, knitted clothing for
the Children's Add, and Scholarships for local schools. In just about
very area of human need the Women's Institute has been active,
even to gathering and tecoNing local history. Our community has
been enriched by the Women's Institute.
rrPYtdi its xagehua Greet wex [wt wuua 1875.11 ver 11 a arm ^^^^'m ery lblel Creek.. u^ u: built in 1847 last he, burmu 8 i"entities,.
Inner It muld be 11 Ild is In. r.
s 1850 by Wm ChIpman, e
ItIll .e`iflmRLhO o °e.• v�. a iu. �lMyl
1,.. i«,� o, eiw,e, mm c......�ni ce..mn
Hillside
Those Were The Days
no northeast part of Scarborough was famous for its mills
and agriculture. The mills are long gone and Wanks to the Us
and Cedmweod the historic farms won't last much longer either.
Hillside, until two or three years ago, was as quiet as the days
it was settled in the 183PYs and mills. It consisted of a collection
or prosperous farms like Pearse's, Diller's, Reemr's, Oeares and
Murison's, with a few city people who bred the solitude and
space that only a farming community can offer. It was all tied
together with a tiny two mom mml school called Hillside.
°�ih:srn° a°cwa n°0 wrlw°a
tha merwt Ha w�b.el
1 1858.
Milne's Mill 1854-1925
7.11 VVII ma tana Mal Wall Mill In Saanfliflagb Iliars
The Pearse Family -1843
The Praise hardly tomo from Devon, Full in 1842, lames and
Gel Pearse, and cousin John, ome up the Rouge River by boat
to their homesite east of Knelman's Road, south of Pinch They
built the farm house (still standing) in 1843. In 1046 lames bought
lot 5, conceal 4.
The Pearse Bro openCil two sawmills with machinery bought In
the U.S. It was brought by boat up the Rouge River to the sites,
just north and south of Hillside School.
Henry Pearse, o of their descendants, contraband much
historical information for this book.
Then ""i home built bar Russ wells In bull u w news m oar. Tills %As me
indent (ads Reuben Peace old to m_ betatron in 1935. T o house died nom am part
Kirkham's Shoddy* Mill
If own there was an example of human perseverance preparing
over adversity, thKirkham must T. C. Kirkhamust stand as one of the finest.
In 1881 Thomas Curran Kirkham bought 11-1/3 nc n the
Rouge Valley from Robert Dixon, the railroad contractor, Gran Port
Union. Conditions of the sale gave water power rights to Kirkham -
which meant lu could build dams and bolding ponds, but Ira had to
provide access roads and bridges t0 Dixon's 50 arcs of timber to the
west. The terms of this sale would come back to haunt Kirkham
find a future owner as well.
The site w pellent one. The river was deep and fast nowing.
Just perfect for mill.
The Best der was earthen, and built by local framers with horse
drawn scrapers. When the dam was finished, Mr. Kirkham, according
to legend, dtrew, a small celebration party and is reported to have
said, `I defy God Almighty to destroy my dam". That night a stoma
wiped it mt. T. C. was called a Tree thinker' in those days. Today
Wewould probably call him an atheist.
The data was country, rebnih, probably several times, until Mr.
Kirkham realized that the Over was too powerful at that place to he
controlled by an earth rum.
A second dam was built upstream at a quieter spot in the river.
The water was diverted to the trend race by a wooden crib or tube.
Thin system too, sew unequal to the dyer, for the wooden crib
was
washed downstream atter mother croon.
Meanwhile Bob Dixon was still cutting motor upstafim for the
railroad.
Kirkham then started on Mill # 3 on the other side of the river
and dam # 3 with the system of holding ponds and dykes so that
ties wafer could be controlled. The new dam and ponds flooded
large areas, cntMg off Dixon's access to the valuable timber They
were minded by Dixon about the scenes fights in the original
agree nut. They had to build two bridges largo enough for hex
drawn woman, and furlhetm re found to maintain these
bndgez Mr. Dithrom is reputed to have had to take legal action to
enforce the maintenance scale.
Kirkham later sold a two son site upstream to Tyrrell Apple
Orchards for a pumping station. With this sale came occas rights
u these same bridges. Kinkham now had to maintain the bridges
for Tyrrell and so did hie Fuller, who bought the property in the
late 1920's. Like the Kirkham's before him, Fuller too was
Threatened by legal action for nonmaintenance of the access mute.
Rags for the Shoddy MM were shipped in bales by boat and from
to Por Union and Mrs. W Morden of Por Union umcmbcm pulling
Faulty strips of cloth out of the bales to make dolls clothes. She says,
"Mr. Kirkham never seemed] to mind".
Fires were a conduct threat to the mid. Spates tram moral bottom
often ignited] the shredded cloth. So severe was this problem, that
an
overhead wafer tank was built to control the finis.
The THE was a peang concern m 1910, and probably cessM
operation during the And war. It is doubtful if the mills ever pro-
Owed] revenue
urate with the problems they caused the
owners. Red luck seemed to be always close at hand.
T.C. and his son Fred, perhaps because of their lack of religiose
affiliation were buried at the tap of the hill man the house. When
the hydro power linos seem built, father and son were rainterred
at St. Margarets in West Hill.
Abraham Lincoln Kirkham, a Invention, retired after selling the
property and went so live with his sister, Mrs. Hattie &lint in
Highland Creek, in the M1ome on Old Kingston Road which is now
Highland Creek Motors
Shoddy R named cloth nand in the manufacture of fine paper.
—s' -v// f1 -u` \J
ship Qum, 11 .. .... �;; less, Ind cause, lent thhhugh IQ am a
oil
ruff
gvo
ka...m„. u m a.., thy o. of The Inee Thu
Tn none el,vcan If easetia It Ne IIP Of tae has. 1t Moved caexcess]
I ll a
Hillside Methodist Church
1877
The tiny board and batten church was built in 1877, on lased
donated by John Cmwfonl. This small comer lot of his farm was to
serve as a pioneer cemetery. I,aeal Methodists, under trustees John
Crawford, George Pearse, lames Pearse, Peter Recent, John Sewell
and slesrs. Stockdale and Demand. built a church that year. They
called it Mount Zion Methodist.
Regular services were held in the church until 1925, when it was
closed.
A Defrosting brown interest story ties he the graveyard of flus
little pioneer church.
John Pearse, a member of the historic Hillside family, was a man
who left nothing to chance. when his health started to fail in his
eighties, he sawn[ his son to Toronto to buy a casket. The son remmed
with a casket that was unacceptable to bis father. The son was sent
back to Toronto the next week and returned with one more suitable
for the occasion. Then old Mr. Pearse supervised the digldng of the
grave and construction of a cement liner with led to hold the coffin.
When everything washed, green and concrete tomb, were to he
satisfaction, he died, with the knowledge that every detail had been
taken care of and the leucon would be carried out as he wanted.
Iillude Church has a recorded servlos each year on the second
Sunday he September. The continuing presence of the Church he
Hillside is due to its present mundane, Fred Hope, Rrmi Miller
and Henry Pearse.
The Church is now pard of the Metro Zoo property and Or. Vers
of the Zoo nays "Hk the only zoo in the world with a cemetery on iPt
SS No. 4
Hillside Public School
Hillside Public School is the third school in the Hillside dna.
The Fist was a small lag building on the Scarborough -Pickering
Town Line near Pinch Avenue. It wee a Union School, serving the
students in bath Townships.
Theand school w erected shortly after the Township was
divided sito School Sections In 1847. We believe the second school
was built on life soudiusst comer of Kirkbam's Road and Paul
across from the present school.
The school in the photograph was built in 1872. about on
hundred feet east of the present building, In 1964, in order to make
better use of the lot, the frame building was moved to the present
site. The building was bricked and moderated, consistent with
rural school standards of the day.
In 1953, the school was again medical and died enlarged.
Hillside is the oldest school still in operation in Scarborough, but
its future is cloudy. The Ontario government is applying pressure to
the Borough to sell the property for pert of the Cedaiwood green
belt ar
The Board of Education hopes to retain the school as a Nature
School. In this capacity it would be wed as a gathering place for
class trips to the Zoo and nature studies in the area.
w ioai,u er follow.
Io. JmmPd CIII, lad bman
Maplewood Orchards
The creatures of the Metropolitan Toronto Zoo brouae the lieltls
of what wm Cana' 3largert apple orcha4 Sizmen thousand frees,
over 20 varieties ad 300 acres. At the orchards peak in 1950, 65,000
WLsreele ry top &ads y edntwh, Spy's, Delicious and other varieties
harvested each yem.
Cod M nes boughtfamous the O grmearod afetmd Presid
19251 of Kirkland Lake
needed hell was busy doing whatpreeidents 0fgoldminesdo. Ireorge
expan-
sion of the orcharand d startedlin amest ind su �th¢1g30'sin �By 1939 an929, The ual
production waz up m 40,0th basic at mostly sold th England and
Europe. The war came and the market was cut off.
TyrelO teal a stroke of good Inck m 1939. A Loblaw buyer saw
their apples N Me Terminal Warehouce in Toronto. lie liked what he
w. Loblaws bought Ne entire crop in 1940, and every year there
�nm asw after until the OrchaM waz sold m 1956.
ipme. 16000trees waeree sPraYedaeiBhttimesea on. Eve LKry peewas aildhism aPruned
a
to febmary to remove unwanted gr0wth. Small green apples were
thinned to every 6 to 10 m hes on the bmnab oevery vice to
ncourag `b'� ;r a Ides. Weather was always a thmat. A It storm
nwiped out the crop.
A lot of labow wag neceu I to keep this orchand going. Up to
295 people were hired t0 pick 65,000 busM1els. Duffingthe war pickers
re diff alt to come by and Mr. Weed rememl n workers being
broupp[ from r ar 10 hour
Simpmn,a tmcka 10 pick apples. They were
paid 55.00 for a Ill hour day.
an. UP Of t sun
freaIT le towned hauws.tThey got fie¢ (rewcod and $60 at on
in rent
Flaplewood Orchmda bea0 of ifs size and interest in producting
it gmde aPplas more a let ad was a pnrvig ground for new
technique by the gricullua collage in Cuelph and Rochester.
But In mast a t risig costs, labour shortages and weather
It wasasod ainm10tl` the Operation just not worth the aggravation.
Y Iconic lm Neh urc IDun to, "I
11. mmw aommuJ tiny is 1857 by Pe eese me,
Vas lesseesignaY wifiva, MmMissiveIn 1"1 nn KM
Uam1 Read.
wnla of Sale
Diller - Murison - Reesor
John Diller came to Hillside from Lima, Ohio, in 1861 and married
Susanna Reesor in 1863. By 1883 he tied acquired 300 acres which
re passed on to sons Ben, names and Jacob. Levi Diller, pen's
son, still borers one of the original Tammy bought by his grandfather.
W1 am Murison handed two bums in Hillside before buying 100
acres — lot 0, concession 6, in 1875. He built a bang and log cabin in
1896 and died in 1880 The north 50 acres went to son William, the
southwest 25 to John, the balance being farmed by James. Hydro
and the C.P.R. expropriated pans of the property and the balance
says
sold to Toronto General Burying Grounds in 1969.
The Reesorm Pennsylvania Mennonites, started settling in Scar,
borongh and Markham in 1802. The fist was Peter, later other
family members solved, establishing farms on the south sloe of
Steeles Road near the town line.
Although no longer land owners, some of the Reemrs are still
engaged in [arming.
The bee, �f A.., ewer e, the wish xdV of Shisks Ave �CLF mU.' silly,
���]]}yyy
Alr de G"t
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Metropolitan Toronto Zoo
The new Zoo coed n n hundred a of spectacular
highlands, valleys, glrestl rids and forests i north east
Scab Even,
chances
from all conhoentslind oceans oe a f the world wheace of few n it isisncompleted.
In 1966 a group of promment citizens decided that Metro should
June a zoo more in keeping ith the ty statute in North America
They formed the Metropolitan Tommuct Zoological Society. It was
only nature) that they would work With the Metro Toronto and
Region Conservation Authority. 11 Authority had been acquiring
landin the Jackson and Shee. early 196 I they bought 260
arms
yan. In 6 acquisitions, from 1962 to
1970, 892 aeras had been assembled. It was perfect for what will
eventually be one of the world's finest zoos.
Twenty million dollars was pledged by Metro Council to develop
the first stage. Work started in July of 1970 when Metro chairman
Albert Campbell turned the sod for Stage One which is scheduled
to open in the summer of 1974.
Stage One is the domain for North American animals, Future
stages will house birds and animals natural settings from Africa,
Europe, Asia, South America and Australis.
Tire Zoo has amended the imagination of millions, particularly the
people in Scarborough and more particularly the school anddim.
These is badly a school in the Rarough that hasn't raimtl money to
buy an animal for their Zoo. Technically the Zoo is owned by the
Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto_ You couldn't convince the
school kids of that, which is the way it should be.
Great care was taken by the Society and Archness to (Hands as
little h and
Cha on y is land and example. it will survive mate. mide
Church d Cemetery is h ettled It wills survive as i permanent
symbol to the pioneers whosettledthe area, which is alsoasit
should be
or m just Earn .Idle.
enkhww, dead a on sun dent. Looking nam.
Is wjaw�
r' F
071
card, owascion 4 do Added Evans. a=t m=aoo. d"I'aa
dirs, 111 raw
novel shared WHoushla H. sh. w, Zoo.
me acwweo order n7, aoup ove wr v Mande a scone in e Ink
70
Port Union
This tiny community has by you mom history than any other
single anm Scarborough. Port Union n te
never had a mention
population (100 at peak), but attracted people to its industries
and hotels by the hundreds. It is located in the south east part of
Scarborough, but most of it is in Pwkerng.
With an historical background of each dimensions, one has to
under at the wisdom of the people who select times for things,
Why for example was the Go -Stop, situated only two or three
hundred yards from the historic Grand Trunk Station, called
Nader, Hills instead of Port Union?
g F gl�iowsrlN.� -`sileF'rotiryn�m�
oveuwd. w e Mamnm wir feel.Md as, lbtra
s^Rod "ruoo¢ Cmuge ma,'6Y4a Mmoalndy me,
If ran unto sen o o hM ilve
Port Union
The Compleat Community
Imagine ship bu0tling, w emial fishing, two hotels, a
rcial wharf, stone -hookers, the mHoad, and a vanery of smallbusiness entmptisea. All happening amuntl three at
small streets [h
Formed a triangle with a dimension of about I s yards! ptltl at
Nis a drought past that included smuggling, sunken treasure,
ukitle, 40 and whisky, a backed Indian Chief, moonlight cmises
and you have all the ingredients for n "penny dotal smiler.
Thomas Adams started it all re 1808 when he arrived in Port
Union from Vermont, He built a log cabin overloading fire lake
On what is now the fohnsMmmille Property. During the war of
1812• he Captained u ship, was driven by the enemy into the
m
Doth of the Hall Creek and threw the cargo of guns,
=munition and bkettles ottomans. During this period a
hodid payship was reportedly lost containing 38,000 pounds
sterling. Moved researchers have deduced His ship was lost in at
least a dozen spots on the have including the Highland Creek.
Years later the wreckage of a ship became viddle in the evet-
changing delta of the Creek. Then folk lore took over and this
became me sunken treasure ship. It excited the imagination of
local treasure seekers for years. The last serious watch took place
m 1936 when Ivan Anse lead a team of hopefuls."Soprmicated"
gold divining rush wleRM a location. A pit 38- deep was dug and
caved in, athrnst killing the men. No gold wet found.
As the some around Ne lake became setlled, tilde grew between
the cities on both vides. Thomas Adams built a modes) call'
ng
owed at Port Union in 1834 to get a share of this Profitable
shipping business Boeing the next 15 years, many small 0ips were
built on the beaches of Pod Union. They were called the Highland
Baden. The feet was active all ground the lake. Because of high
tariffs in Upper Canada on items like an, leather goods, tobacco
and a government monopoly on salt, snuggling from the United
States was a way of fife.
All the smaller ports on Lake Ontario were involved In the
game, including Port Union. The Highland Ran&rs probably did
their fair share of smuggling by night while carrying legitimate
cargoes of lumber, potuh, apples, wheat and cordwood by day.
Commercial fishing was atabliahed in the 1840's. Respectable
catches of whitefish, trout, hearing and perhaps sued were shipped
daily to Toronto during the failing season. Fishing war still suecos-
fW until the 1920'5, when 2,000 pound catches of whitofelt and
tont were not uncommon. The technique was deep sea style.
Big reeds, sinkers and floats
Shipping by water was booming at the time William Helliwell
hived in Highland Creek in 1847. While building his home, than
and grist mill in the Highland Creek Valley he was busy formid
the Scarlpougb, Markham and Pickering Wharf Company along
with Daniel Knowles and Will Hetherington.
The wharf was built at the foot of Port Union road and extended
south east into the lake for perhaps 250 feet. A storehouse win
built at the land end, betmers from all over the there townships
would unload their gain into the bins of the storehouse. Under-
neath the bins men with wheelbarrows would load up and wheel
the grain to the waiting ships.
Mr. Helliwell records an interesting event in bis diary of 1848.
"Mr. Mediterranean, his son and a senior wesin working on their
small schooner. Mrs. Hetherington called them to dinner. They got
„y vn"LIt.'rw s, Van If
fin len boHue a.r 'Re whee'avow, un mo isnn
rya ......d m till
. were ay .'el up ue ioea slid,, soh'rcwh
into a small punt with only a pole and the off -shore gale blew Nem
out into the angry lake. They ways driven onto the U.S. shore
about midrdght and walked to Niagara River where they caught
the Transit Steamer to Toronto and arrived at Part Union at
9:00 p.m. the following day, to the m@rise of their Printing
relatives".
In 1856 William Helliwell and Will Hetherington built a 95 ton
schooner at Pon Union. Christened the "Caledonm",this substantial
ship was active in trade around the lake until die went aground at
Oshawa in 1880. Presumably the returned a handsome pro0t for
her owners over the 24 years.
Business was booming at Port Union in the middle 1800k's. Will
Hetherington opened the Union Hotel in 1850 to provide the
amenities appreciated by the hundreds of [allows who moved with
ther grain and waited for heir turn to unload at the wharf.
The Grand Trunk Railroad opened in 1856. Port Union was a
water, wood, freight and passenger atop and added to the already
established activity of the community.
To protect the harks from lake erosion, west of the village, a
huge rock Met wooden crib was built n the lake.
Because or the building boom in Toronto, there was an acute
shortage of foundation stone. Stone -hookers would unload rocks
in this can by day and steal them by night for sale to priced; in
Toronto the next day.
These boats towed a low barge to carry the racks that Were
"hooked" out of me shallow water with a grappling device. So
prevalent was this practice that s¢ erosion problems were
created. An act was passed by the Legislature in 1857 forbidding
stone hooking within three "peahu" (a perch is 17-112 feet) of
the law water line. This act prevented stone hooking by day, but
it skill went on by night.
In 1857 the permanent population of Port Union was 47. But
thanks to the railroad and the farmers, the average daily population
must have been 300. Proof of this was the opening of another hotel
(still standing at the foot of Net Union Road). Thomas Laskey
bought Stoners Hotel in 1860 the moment it was built and opened
for busme
Will Hetherington, a shrewd business man, rcbu0t his inadequate
premisss in 1860 to slay Competitive.
By 1865 the population had increased to 100. The Post Office
opened an me section bases' house a u the track farm the
station (the house is still there). Henry Pullen was the Post Master
and Itis wife sold groceries. There was a blaekanith, a mopeq e
railroad contractor and the usual people required to ran a railroad.
But Port Union had reached its peak. The Wharf Company was
losing bu9n ss to the railroads, and went out of business for good
n 1895 when a re storm alleged the dock. The papulation
and dwindled to 43. seThevere
hotels o glweU and that was Illswas end or an
n. by tiny village renamed to Its quieter days and was train to
hely by the shunter engine hooking rap to a tong freight train to
help it up the long grade to Srarboro lumcfion.
Deposition years c e. There was a brief Butter in 1938 when
In attempt vial made to subelivide the Dixon property south of
Lawrence into me, acce IOU (at MODO each). Only one lot was
sold. The Little house that was build was moved to the south end
of the property by JohnfManvOhe, and used an an office when the
plant was being built in 1949.
The tempo of the community picked up. General Electric
arrived and then the GMTnin.
The brass ring has come around again for Port Union.
A evaluation of the 1850 & Thew Measles Islas driessed the
me ofthew
wllN the assn vad unN oar el ton Coca the ver as' aNeod at Pon mill n1999.
nag n waste oulan' at bell "Tery
east ard she hark sh aAtwater P.Own At vesetaf%n 1m[ n,e mann
who lieffictinfinuen % li quilt in 1460, $1 war Thai for is
4
like Iwal n�l�ldo will vow ver, INA" k foot Pies error ehurp and pfrod�d
The Annis Family
The Arms family were Puritans who scaled in Maaschaeets in
1670. In 1793 Charles Annis came to Canada, settling W Whitby.
lie bough 0mperty at Washington Church in 1808 and moved to
Scarborough. His son
o Levi and wife Rhoda bad 13 children, and
the 12[11, Andrew, bought 100 acres fmm Tom Adams in Por[
Union at the comer of Lawrence and Part Union Road in 1852.
He built the stone house that was to become the family social
centre for years to come. The home was affectionately called
"The Manor".
Across the rated from the Manor was the farm of Levi and
la amen Annis.
Levi was a kind and crude man, thoroughly aspected by every-
one m the community. Levi and Rcadwo had three children, Dods,
Drum and Claire. Claire Annis joined the RCAF In the late are He
became a whor officer and served his country with distinction,
in Canada and overseas.
d mem mM.
, AMS IOMC 2L
rl UALOn. ell nd Mrs, Anne With their
1n S
eovrz x 1910, do xss d] A rev add AO 100 vnna old.
The aria amlainw .1 has a.m .d thin mall Ceexm. Chaim, mut
in lite, .an mid w th. mAwi o 1891
SS No. 11
The first school In she district w a lag mom, bull( sometime
before Thought Adoms brit tile (mites school haute in 1836 an the
Monarch Road east of Centennial Church.
Some of We older residents tell of ITS. Chapman holding classes
in her Bids stone house on the north side of Bilmn marc Road, just
mmol Contenraal Chuch. (The house he still them.) It was customary
in those days for an educated lady to have claves in list home to try
and educate the neighbourhood children between chose.
A this Dorothy Campbell, who was the teacher in this district in
1850, presented for more spacious premises, and surprisingly enough,
was essful.
One quarter acre was bought from Thomas Adams Jr. The Site was
m Port Union Road on Ibe Ellesmere expansion south of the
Kingston Road. The prim of the land was $25,00, and a quite elegant
single room armed was erected in 1860. It was a Union School which
cant it served pile Pickering residents near sbe Port Union Road.
The cost of operation was shared equitably with the ratepayers in
Scarborough and Pickering
Tire Bible Christian Congregmian built a little stone church
adjacent to the Stone School in 1863 for 8300.00, on 1/8 of an
acre, purchased from Thomas Adana. When Centennial Church was
built in 1891 the congregation sold the land and building to the
Trustees of the Stone Schaal for 5100.00. This little stone church
roved the staff and students with distinction as an official woodshed
sand
nit a of (hely ffolr other actintles that treasonably take place in an
The next year, 1892, 2/3 open acre was bought from W. thermal
for the amicus figure of $93.75, bringing the grounds to slightly
mom than one acre.
In 1937, the property war bought by the Department of Highways
to make way for Highway 2A The war came along, providing the
little Stone Scmol with a nine year sorption. Thisdnrable version of
86 graduations was demolished in 1946 and replaced by Centennial
School at Iswson and Centennial Roads. .
Robert Dixon
A Railroad Man
Robert Dixon came drum Depend about 1853 and settled in the
Port Union oma. Precisely where the finally lived is obscure but a
few important facts arc clear.
He built a few sections of the Grand Trunk Railroad and the
station at Port Union he 1855 and 1856 when he was only 321
The fact that he immediately started building a railroad upon his
rrival in Canada suggests that he was a m8road contractor in
England, Much of the money behind the Grand Trunk was British,
which supporta a theory that he was sent to Canada to help build it,
or n
me to Canada to put his railroad experience to work—for profit.
When the railroad was opened in 1856, Dixon, presumably becanm
of excellent past performance, was awarded the contract for supply-
ing cordwood for the Caron ivee at Pon Union. He, and later his
un Robert, supplied wood to the Grand Trunk until they started
ung coal in the late 188Ps.
In 1865 he bought 160 acres in Port Union and settled in grand
style. He built a 14 room house with Id ceilings, omate plaster, oak
pane0ung and central heading. It was the [ est home in the arta.
He died on January, 27, 1882 at the early age of 63. William Hellb
well records in his diary, "attended the fonerdl of my good friend
Robert Dixon. There were many rlgf'. Helliwell was 97 vhen Dixon
did. The two men were similar. They were Italian and businessmen.
The farm remained in the Dixon Handy until 1941, when it
was
sold to Mr. ® Mrs. J. C. Clauses.
Jahn Clemes was a senior executive of Simpsons, and because of
poor eyesight was not able tojoin the armed forces C. L. Burton of
8impams suggested he buy a rams and grow things, Thanks to the
Claims' desire to do `their bit" the Harm yielded 76 bushels of wheat
per acre one year, and had an contend population of 1,000 hogs. Much
of the labour was supplied by Mrs. ❑times, like taking hogs and grain
to market in the track. The labour shortage was acute during Ne war,
so theGernes did it ell themselves with occasional help during hmvmt.
With the end of the war, the Clemes' feeling they had done
their duty, sold the Iran to Johns mvvlOe in 1946.
Y �
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1, : '+-
Big Industry Comes to Pott Union
on Historic Dixon Farm
Cnndion Johns Manville was 30 years old when they opened In
Port Unions in May 1948. To Scmbo ongls Council, indeed n ort of
the people of Lire Township It wasgood news Here was big Industry
coining to a relatively poor township, is lh Much needed lax dollars,
a million dollar payroll annually and employment for 350 people,
To come local mJdenlsit was an aagravation because an Instant
farm had given way to a "i aurally fallory". Canadian Earep,
Manville had its problems initially. Some people complained of the
linseed oil wnell front the rack wool manufacturing process, so the
company lull 200 instead mncrete smoke stock 19491
VI the0 metal . It should he mentioned that them
1 rn y l f government m reel 0-: problem.
Environmental protection always been a nonce t Canadian
re -
Joh Manv'llc. For example tile r
e plant s one million gallons or
victorluy- mmanufacturing-n It is t n lake
p Chan
when they tL k'The plantsophisticated Vht Idemission
and t apparel I exceed government Laindardy
nose am huh a few examplesof the YanYs concern about being
�aw member the ornmedunity.
There
any 011ors. They have made their spoils field available
is to thea unity for years. They have supported many Ixal
consinnifty projects Including a major financial role In the 5011
Anniversary Celebration of Highland Creak Public School.
JolmsManvllles Port Union nary has been one of tremendous
growth. Scu¢ehy a year las gone by without Noaddition or improve
eft Major expansions look place In 1956, 1962. 196E and 1992.
Forms the factory houses reform major production units instead of
the two is 1948. Annual payroll Is 7.5 million instead of on
Production is It 1,000.000 instead of two, and sluff has mom Man
joublod in tine 35 years.
Any municipality needs industry to help reduce the tax burden.
Some iespones don't seem to care about their responsibilities to the
oily. Scarborough is fortunate flat Cenadian Jomr,jil nlle
community.
Th me„ m m,t
sulfate 11i PT"Cleft s. Couth, Tai
`,sheased me one a uolawn. mema�a� 11 �,..„mr.m�ae,a„_ .a
one" 11 1111111pw 11 no Cylinder Coup forms, ef vitiator, if
(INC crader dultnippe the heanes of his pipe file pipe , list
Now pays end applied to 10111finualn
31 oVIII mnn I'll etre T mry we[ m were 1920,.
Last Port Union Farm
Succumbs to Death Duties
The fifty acre Watson farm on Centennial Road was sold this year
to pay Death and Succession Duties to Ottawa and Queen's Park. It
was
bought by Particle and Cecil Weaken in 1921 from the Stanley
Piano Company.
When Mrs. Watson died in Febmary of 1970, life gat very com.
pPiated Por Cartoon Watson, her son. Technically he was joint
owner, but this status had never been registered legally. Death duties
w tea
sled on the entire farm insd of half. It was a long and
costly legal haadc for Camuon to provejoint ownership, but he did.
Succession duties are payable in cash within as months. Beyond that
date, 9% Interest is answered livery month that Cam was Fighting the
govemmants, interest was building at an alamring rate. The vlorttion
sreplicated even further be tin extraordinarily high assessment
by Ottawa. '@r e
ew reaffirmations finally
until Ottawa ally
csme ded d agreed to more
the same evaluation plead on the
estate
by Queen's Park.
Cam wanted to sell just enough property to pay the dries. He
couldn't. In fact it was a quirk of fate that he was able to rein the
four acre forced that the house was on. Such were the Death Duty
laws in 1970. Laws Nal brand the sole of a family farm of Fifty yam.
When the Watmns bought the property in 1921 there were seven
with the balana
as the depression
long and apps were
ago. I me work wall 10
1970 it was all over.
D did the
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West Hill
Until 1879 when West Hill got its own Post Office, it was known
as Highland Creek. But even before that them was always a keen
rivalry between the two communities. Nobody knows how the
tivalry started but it certainly wasn't always friendly. Perhaps It
started In 1867 when the Part Office moved front the West Hill
side of the Creek to Tradway's store in Highland Cheek village.
Certainly in 1867 there were problems.
William Belt, Supt. of Common Schools for Scarborough re-
mmended sphttWg section #7, the largst in the Township,
because of "a genal deal of local sectional feeling". At Had point
the school for West Hill and Highland Creek was to the valley.
The "sMional feeling" that Belt mentions could refer to tint long
distances the children had to walk to school. Nevertheless, there
were problems at the school which weren't resolved until 1918,
when the new school was built in highland Creek. Undoubtedly
the new Schaal aggravated the people in West Hill, because they
had to use the forty-eight year old school house in the valley for
two mom years.
West Hili won the battle though. They moved the Post Office
back to the west side of the creek, and now Highland Creek is
called West Hill.
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The Eades of West Hill
George and Elizabeth Edda came from England in 1934 antl
settled on fifty acres, bought fmm Francis Galloway, on Galloway
Road south.
They had seven children. Six of the seven settled in Fenlon Palls.
They planted orchards from cuttings taken from the family men in
West Hill. Joseph, one of the Eade boys, walked to Fenlon Falls,
carrying the cuttings on his back.
Richard, the yomgat, born in 1851, stayed with his parents and
helped runt the market garden anU orchards. He was mauled about
1880. Their first child. Bertha, was bom in 1882 on the original
Fade homestead.
In 1891 Richard.movetl his family to their new home on Galloway
and Kingston Read. It was a posh brick house on I16 acres. It had
an established macheral and he willed on education s easel made ngarden
beaching. Bertha completed Isr sheals Lt the '904 and was
teaching at ([ Min Lake. gave
achiM1 started ed to fail doting the
lata 50'o A Miss Eerie gave Old
Kingston
to help her pAr hLs. The
Fades bought the stare of Old than an 11 sure
from Arch Elliot
about 1900. It was eeda severe
runt than an n acre [arm.
Richt Pin mRuetl u e stroke when returning from a cattle
selling trip in activity. Moth Itrewemu fatal, but it loL an end to M1is
boniness crroo Mather and mess al nen the store.
Bertha wrdW on the of
alone after her parents died,
aver ai perfect
character of the store to the day it closed in 19"10,
It w perfect0's, he
her
country general stare.
Duringst the dean od bar st for h was relationship
two boys, aged
started doing rt a joys for her. A relationship grew which
wastogrow rut lost until she died in 1991. That whey she
in Wilde and Bruce a at Reactant.
twi Eatle daily when eM1e was
to the nursing home at Roeo you It was an unusual relady. She
that Id Chu fifor Year. Two young bays and v old perhaps
She
saw in them for se with stories fmm IM1e pall, and perhaps she
saw to Nem the sons she never had_
roan nnnounahad ,+e at ne, fl,]Wh
On 1891. The aoe sun.,m, 11 mUi o Ki
main
note;daw Ohl anding 11 too You did %he" JI
banks rear hated
wealth aw„nmamicc aw.wua.
n o1, 11nn,m., ..,
ifirk, hick irpreed ew"ClIk'a air, if the made, .1d we'd
The House That Lash Built
Miller Leah, 1873-1941, Kings Counsel, Presitlenl of Brazilian
Termini Idght and Power Company Limited, and Director or many
Canadian and Foreign companies The Impact land holder in Ne
district since Jordan Post acquired 500 acres in 1834.
Mr. Unit was enjoying his usual Sunday outing in his chauffeur
driven Stanley Steamer and came = 365 same of beautiful
Gelds, treete
s, hills and war in the Highland Crackrvallry, It was a
Perko spot fm asum mer and weekend retreat. He bought it.
Tho year was 1913.
He detained a Ban of BuRala architects to design a country
ra idence consistent with hu way of fife. Tlm habitees, wide
Toronto and local labour, created the most impressive residence in
Scarborough. The hoose was located on a site invisible from every
road. Many local people cover daw me house until Momingeide
war
extended through the valley in Her 1950's.
The man and the house were mysteries. Local folk lore vid the
house had 27 moms. It had 19 including wmanW drones and
bathrooms.
The house is 159 long and built of local field stone. A beautiful
red Gle roof was die gift from MBlels father Z. A. Lash, coemhor
of the Canadian Bank Act The living mom is 35' x try with a
cathedral ceiling perhaps 25' big. It has black walnut rafters
add crossbeams. Black walnut issre today that there a
free INeva in the United States.The dining room bounce a
me Czechoslovakian crystal chandelier. The entire house was built
with an rye for the very beet.
Water for the house was piped from a spring high atop the car(
hill of the valley near the foot of Lash Court
The grounds were an outstanding example of the gndicat's art.
Mr. Miter was brought from England to create a showplace.
The estate was a working farm mo. tiger 100 some were under
cultivation every year, including his fields where Scarborougp
College h located. Two teems of horses were used, one was o prove
for of Clydesdale, For some mnous reason Lash wouldn't have
homes on his farm.
A variety of other buildings completed the estate, a stone
garegs larger than most house, a alone ice house, nine houses
for the staff, and a large bank from.
The days are long gone that province estates like this one.
piston was Mines Talk and what kind of a man was he? Pew
people in the area knew him because he never encouraged visitations
from the locals. It wasn't that he had anything against the people
of West Hill or Higldand Creek. This farm was a retreat from the
pressure of business. He kept it that way.
Miss Blanche Richardsons "'other remembered him arriving with
considerable noise and duel in his Stanley Steamer. His gmndwn Ian
Colqubourr
reembers him as astern nomouramas man. But man
with a keen some of humour and almost limitless generosity. His
generosity was often take" advantage of by the people who worked
for him. He knew it but was reluctant to make an issue of it, which
is to sharp contrast to his proven ool efficiency in business.
Miller Inch graduated from Camode Hell in 1897 and pursued
with Brazilian Tas
ction. This pursuit w successful
(list he became president in 1929. Lash fresh his retreat during
axis If the anomalies malos 11 &1 weids v. Ihs rOd.r k.
May -June, September -October and occasional weekends in the
winter. The rest of the year was divided between his Toronto
home, his summer Cottage in Muskoka, and his burster' residences
to Rio and Mexico.
Miller Lash w of meat wealth aM style. For a man
whose Upper Canada College fl udmuster once said on his report,
could do better if pushed" he did well. The community will not
we me like of him agam.
He died on Ocober 8, 1941. The estate was settled in 1944.
The house, stuff houses, bums and equipment were sold to
E. L. McLean for 559,000.00.
Lass owned the property for 28 years and must have spent
$250,000.00 creating a showplace. Too bad it had to be sold
when there was no market for showpieces.
v tach u ,u. no ,p pneam or maaun
St. Margaret's - 1833
St. Margaret's is the oldest church in our area, built on land Bonar
ed by Simon Wmhburn in 1833. The church was named after the
Saintly Scottish Queen, although Mr. Boole, who was Me Minister of
that church for many game, indicates that there is stung evidence
o
suggest that it was woad after Simon Washbum's wife Ma aret.
A newer, mom modem church wv built m 1856. This frame
building served Anglicans of Scarborough East for the next 50 years.
In 1906 a new brick church was built and officially opened on
May 13 of that year, but the most Impressive expansion was yet to
come. In 1958 a split-level rectory was added, in 1959 major repair
to church and rectory were completed, and in 1961 the new church
was built.
Melville Presbyterian - 1852
Melville Church is the second oldest in the arm and with the
possible exception of WIlslde Church, most suitable m the minds
of most people, for a church. A IORy location seems to be appro-
prime for a church.
The formation of the oonsregation started In 1848 when Rev.
Thomas Wightman of Knox Presbyterian visited the district frequent-
ly. The need for a church was obvious and the first choice was a site
n Markham Road. Georgie Stephenson, an Episcopalian, offered
funds and free land. 11 was decided to locate the Church on the land
offered by Mr. Stephenson at Manse and Old Kingston Road.
A church was built and officially opened on frebmary 3, 1852
with communion serntl to twenty-four by Rev. WigMman.
The original church was frame pricks were added in 1887, along
with the completion of the bull A new wing was added in
1955, and a new entrance in 1967 as a Centennial fixtures.
mglhnu or wen nin-HWnnd firs,
1 x(42
LIONS' "UNIa.41. MINI PS DIST1116T
rah 16, fiao.The V'resecOwn
fir Camphor a r
nrure. The
nuyper io.d eublnuon ov nwnLm 01.196k
The Lions Club Started
The Enterprise -
The Community's First Newspaper
The first laws of the Enteryrise was July 16, 1945. In the early
stages it was a monthly publication of me West Hill -Highland Creek
Lions Club and dealt with news of the two areas along with Rome
Hills and Duabarton. editors seem Horace Brown and Robert
Campbell who donated Weir time for the benefit of the mommunity.
The Lions Club w w organization in the district and the
newspaper was one fawt of their efforts to assist the community.
Them weare many ofterce, perhaps the meet significant was file
Community Centre at Heron Momorial Park.
In the spring of 1946 the Lions set out finding land suitable for
a Centre. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Chapman (she was BerOa Heron) were
approached to all the 5 acro property at Lawrence and Menu. They
did, for $3,000.00. The deal included a 5500.00 gift from the
Clealimans as a rotational to the historic family.
Development of the property started in 1946 and by 1949 them
was a ball diamond and outdoor fink. During this period 58,000.00
had hsn spent.
In enter to participate in Municipal Grain, the Club deeded file
property to the Townships provided the Lions would match the
Indulges) grant. With ads arrangement completed, the first phase
of construction started. It was the first number of the hall and was
built by Stowe & Gould for $31,000.00.
In June 1954, the Centre was officially opened The total Cost
win $63,675.00. Nearly half was raised through the efforts of the
Lions abortion and their what. It was a tremendan effort for a
small group of people, particularly he a period of rapidly rising land
d building costs. The community has been the bencticiary of the
Lions Club's definition to service.
The West Hill Hotel
1973 is the 12001 anniversary, of licensed' Hotel at this location.
In 1853 Eli Shackleton applied to Scarborough Council for a license
to operate an Inn.
The Shacklmon Hotel was a two storty home building with a
front .similar to the Ha1FWay Home. It was located in front of the
present hotel where the south lane of the highway is
Tom Appleby took over the hotel around 1900. In 1908 he
started building aw hole) behind the old one, but when it was
Hundred in 1912 It was the finest establishment of its kind in all of
Scarborough. There were eighteen guest commit a dining room,
dance floor and a bar room or the basement.
Lshaped stables seem built at the back to shelter die partner's
Items and provide puking space for fumer's norms when Nay
went to town on the Radial.
Tom Appleby didn't sen the hotel very long before he traded
We business to Bob Woods of Dominion for his one hundred acre
Boom Bob win We bratlst of Ben Woods, mail and stage coach diner,
ne hotel had a sena of owners until 1941 when the Macbibrodas
bought the businew from Mr. Atkin. The Machibrodas have
operated the business snccesfully ever since.
There have boon three major attendants si ce they took our.
In 1948 an addition on the east side. In 1955 the front was com-
pletely changed and right now an addition on We west side, This
expansion has a dance Poor, bandstand and bar.
The West Hill Motel has came a long way since Shackbourns days.
' There was twenty three un-liecnsed hotels between West lull and
Pickering in the 1840i If this is one of them, then this location
as a here could date to the I830's.
1909 raised is 1912. 1 1.1 otoAMtwearcbar a ryo n,
Nass; phi and awk to at Ivan 1853.
SS No. 7 - West Hill
The First - 1851-1870
This tiny frame building was the first school for the doom[. It
[cod both communities of Highland Creek and Wert Hill. The
distances some of the children had to walk wem enormous. Not mo
bad in the good weather but imagine those inlets! Average daily
attendance was forty-seven out of a total school age population of
one hundred and thirty-five. Poor overturn was understandable
with distances like that. The school we.[ turned into a private
dwel g in 1871.
Prank same&, who added a second homy, found a'babonnine
tails" in the wall. This may explain in part the low nitendanee!
The house to next to Melville Presbyterian Church.
The Second - 1870-1920
Tire little mormosson uha01 on the hill became too small. no
Gond No. 9 was opened in 1870 to serve bath communities. It had
two m and was built for S1,374.25. One so said the
building cost $800.00, S300.e0 under budget. Whichever fiure is
correct really doesn't matter. The fact remains another school was
built to serve due two commundtla which was against the recom-
aindatiom of the public school inspector. (See Wal Hill Intro-
duction page.)
The same Immense distance nod Th¢ time a little shorter
for the kids in Highland Craek,a little longer for those In West Hill.
The problem wouldn't be resolved until the new school in Highland
Creek was opened in 1918 and the new West Hill School in 1921.
Many graduates of the valley school still live in file area.
SS No. 16 - West Hill - 1921
By 1920 the fifty year old valley school was inadequate in every
eivable way. SS No. 16 was built in 1920.21 by J. C. Morrish. It
hadtworooms, ateacher's mom and a basement and was ready for
occupancy in November. The school district was the creek on Hie
north and east, the lake on the south and Galloway on the west.
In 1927 eighty-0ve pupils were mantled in 2 chemicals. A second
stony was added along withother improvements. It cast $23,140.00.
In the '40's another two rooms were added. In 1950 the school
was
modelled. Three classrooms and a gymnasium were added and
n
1952 two more classrooms. In 1956 the bar expansion took
place. It consisted of a modem gym, Home Economics and
Industrial ArL rooma
The Old School House and Lucy Doyle
1880-1971
After the old school was abandoned in 1921, it housed a series
of people. It was a dances hall in the twenties and lames Cleghorn
operated anaressful ml®nizing business them.
It was Lucy sDoyle who made the building famous. Lucy was
correspondent for the Telegram from 1904 to 1930. She was a local
historian and had been gathering information for years. Everything
as lost when her house burned in 1951. Her friends said she never
recovered frmn the shock. After the fire Miss Doyle accepted free
accommodation tram the Clarkes of the GLlld Inn. She renand
ownership of Me wheal properly however, and Had many offers of
purchaw including a haudmme one from the College. She refused
them all, Triennium to bequeath the site to the College. She did fust
Mat. They unveiled a sone arm in her honour on October 14, 1973.
The Herons
of West Hill
The first Heron, Samuel, =a to York in 1792 and marred
Sarah Ashbridge. They slued on 200 a ar the bay it
often Toronto that is named ar the Ambridge familyMr. Herm was
a businessman. He established a store on IGag Street in Toronto
and a variety of entetprlss in Hoggh Hollow that included a saw
and gist mill,a potash factory and a distillery. In 1799 he acquired
200 acs wear of Scarborough Village, and another 200 acres in
West Hillin 1801.
His son William manned Hannah Skelding in 1832. They had
nine children, the four boys vore each left farm in the Maminge
side Lawrence area. One or the sans, George, is the father of
William Heron, now in his 93rd year. Will Heron fanned part of
the original hind acquired by Samuel Heron in 1801.
Mr. Heron left rhe West Hill area in 1934 to [eke up fanning
in Ajax. lie and his wife bull live on that farm. Their son Roes
operates Heron Paving in Highland Creek.
Will Heron is an calculating example of the haNiness of some
of the fibroma. At 93, he is active and alert, and still qualifies for
a drivers acenu.
The Lioms Club named their Community Centre at Manse and
Lawrence Avenue after the Herom.
Th, Ron
u of loon Helps, ItkuttlwnsRu
iln on Old Kiton d. MY fw%-Itld JY In Si
nonstop L. Moo dEe me l RRI9 MI Piedmont in IR19.Xlewary 1111,11Chillfoe b Yors, B1. t m t 1530'1. Onloil In in, • Onmm t e of ee un t.
no Wm.W on Rd 11 Ind. and denmllllled In
199, w bv5. fil two dory, Orsi Hall vee moe¢d as lisp ruc IDry "i xv
`
to
t6. �\
It, Lt. honny of Joh. thells' R"Ill 1.111 se I Month
in the early 1900 L Opposite tile ninfol ClUnh
This rnsl b1teb boys, .11 bill by I C. spot to, 11,1111a,
son ... 1 11 MIrl I'd liffiblill Folly, 11 1915
3
er,c 'a Hast Hill in died The Deal
and Nn puHIQ In 106.
It IIIII. I1 OIe 6mgunn Pm Y. II m LeLInO
The q (DEE 11 He rpunn near &ngven Rood IG ilo dUge ADMIXED
Fit Canadian i. a Is' rniim, BMek..lMark, ..e the Biiwa.. Sill,
Wool f i. m"lti:a sh. buill to i,mr react
Kenai Boal eM Momial As,
this had
,Ilk,,, elf Thi toddled the felonyvAd Me Bolan rd smalml of NN,
An ill hnoarm� as di shi
am
sole Calle ret. bill o. ine Biwme Baw.nal ueakml id main.
11 1. boat oAl IM m,m4. n small, noose. house
long om.I issnLaon tM1eBeriftati Rea. lat the h id, Many old
hi mom wymtN m keep the dead, Jean. B.L dome I%0.
TIB m(nm Wen Ha�,Msnq
"I"I'd ",n deem Oben 0011 a pn� am d, en Mn m
roLa4h 4x0141111111850. old
_.�u�,�,n�� ;����o�,�.��,�.�.,�.a�,��9,9n,�
mJ Mm A.). i
sJ q.m bmifm n� heNd, 1. n.y b thi Ill
'C
It Takes A Lot of Support
Homy raise
Henry's malstan¢ in swuh,
ire information In the Hillside
was has been invaluable. Parti -
artery useful was his memory
Of Milne's Mill, It was drawn by
Neil LaAlarsh from sketches by
Mr. Pearso as he remembered
mbered it.
ry
Hen's family came to Hillside
in 1843.
Hid closon
Sid and his father Tredway
Me
Ms 92nd year) were a team.
What those two didn't know
about Highland Crack was haN-
ly worth knowing. The Closwns
roved in Highland Creek away
back in 1805. which makes
them among the first uttlen in
the community.
Mary (Tredway) Miller
Mary's family came to High-
land Creek in the 1860's and
bought a General Store in the
vlllaw. . The Tredways have been
conscious of family history ever
the ymrs, and the contents of
this book has been greatly im-
Proved because of it.
Neil LaMamh
NrAlisnewtoducanorinatead
of bringing historical informa-
tion to this book, she brought
her skilled drawing hand. It
should be mentioned that she
did the drawings at no cast
because she fell the book was a
good thing for the community.
The numbers of people who have contributed information and
photographs is staggering. Without exception these people gladly
gaveinformation and loaned their priceless photographs. But
most important of all was their encouragement.
A special tltaNs ha my wife for the hundreds of phone calls,
hours of rowersell, and forgiving ye formesa as I created in the
with th my notes and general nfidriess.
To my employer Baker Lovick Limited and assmiates Ross Brown
and Neil Unger my appreciation for the month off to finish this
book. My clients Block Dmg and Printer arms tremendous with
Noirnuragement. Ed Waldeck w a big help with bcamera
.And
came.
Andfinally, Carolyn Dempsey and Pat Western, whose patience
and perseverance
yp
n the lewdter, w something to behold.
It takesa lot of interested people to put a book together. Again
my thanks to ail John Spilsbury
107
The Last Word
During the rm
course of mrch for saw book. I was Industrial
with the wealth of information contained in the old f hioned
family Bible of some of the f Ries. The mealtime of maintaining
a document like that has long passed the mine, Pits ir a pity
bemuse If provides many pleasant moments for the family Num
has one.
It would be a good idea pall of as started keeping family record.
and warted a family album Pictures are always a joy to took at, and
cord of Important avenh i very useful It u amazing how
quickly our memory fail uz Pages 110 and 111 could be used to
start your own family record.
"Fact and Folk Lore" is finished It has been a long and
fascinating adventure down the road of our past. If the reader will
forgive some repetition. I wouldbke to express anah1 my appreciation
to all the people who helped me. I hope all these kind people.
aM all the people who read the book find it as rewarding as I
did preparing It.
smile Dm,n Me "none
108 coew,. onm¢ umaa
Famil17 Airnirrc and RPrnrrl nF Cnrrial FvPnfQ
Bibliography
Antis, Levi
Annie Allows, 1638-1931. Toronto, 1931
Arthur, Eric
The Blame Toronto, 1972
gains, Robert R.
A History of Scarborough, Scarborough, 1965
Boyle, David
The Township of Scamone 1796-1896. Toronto, 1896
Centennial United Church, Highland Creek — 75th Anniversary
Pith, Edith G.
The Town of York, 19931815. Toronto, 1962
Firth, Edith G.
The Town of York, 1815-1834. Toronto, 1966
Geller, Edwin
Early Life in Upper Canada Toronto, 1933
Pioneer Inns and Taverns, Vol, 1, Toronto, 1954
lefferys, C. W.
The Picture Gallery of Canadian History, 3 Vols.,
Toronto, 19421951
McKay, W. A.
The Pickering Story. Picketing, 1961
MacRae, Motion
The Ancestral Beef, Torenton 1963
Melville Presbyterian Church,
West HUI, Centennial 1952, West Hill, 1952
Moodie, Susanna
Roughing It In The Buah, London, 1852, Toronto, 1923
Life M the Clearings, London, 1853, Toronto, 1959
St. 3caeph's Perish, Highland Creek, Centennial Year 1854-1954
St Simon's Church, Highland Creek — Twenty -Fifth Anniversary Year 1925-1950
Service of Dedication 1957
Scarborough Township
Minutes of the Municipal Council
Snider, C. H.3.
Schooner Days, Toronto TeleBmm, 1942
Signal, Gladys
Roses and Thome, Peterborough
Maps
Tocharian, George R.
Map of the County of York. Toronto, 1860
Miles @ Co. — Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of York. Toronto, 1878
Ontario Directory, and Map Co. — Map of cite Township of Scarborough,
Toronto, 1910
112 PICKERING PUBLIC Limon.
w.
PLEASE USE FRONT POCKET
Spllabct John R
Fact & Palk lore