1813, The War of 1812
For nearly 20 years, the settlers around the town of York expected an invasion by the Americans. Yonge Street had been conceived in 1793 as a way for British troops …
1811, Hill’s Tavern Reflects an Imbibing Society
Thomas Hill opened the neighbourhood’s first tavern – near today’s Toyota dealership on Yonge south of Lawrence – in 1811. It was the latest in a string of inns that …
1804, The Area Gets its First Sawmill
As the pioneer farmers continued to push the treeline back from Yonge Street, they were faced with a persistent problem: how to turn the fallen trees into lumber. Without any …
1804, The Neighbourhood 200 Years Ago
Attempting to describe what most Bedford Park area properties looked like exactly 200 years ago isn’t too difficult. Trees. And more trees. Most of the land was still forest, covered …
1800, Seneca Ketchum, the Neighbourhood’s First Merchant
When Seneca Ketchum arrived in the village of York in 1796, he really wasn’t in any position to buy land or qualify for free land being given out by the …
1799, First Business Short-lived
On December 7, 1799, Duke William Kendrick formally announced the launch of the Bedford Park area’s first business with a plea that began “Ashes, Ashes, Ashes.” His ad in the …
1796, The Water Dogs
The rush was on. The Government of Upper Canada was giving away 200-acre lots flanking Yonge Street from Eglinton all the way to Lake Simcoe. To have a shot at …
1794, The Road From Nowhere to Nowhere
Augustus Jones, the deputy surveyor of Upper Canada, set off in February 1794 to plot the route that would become Yonge Street. The middle of winter may not seem a …
1793, A Forgotten Trail Inspires Ontario’s Main Street
On October 13, 1793, North Toronto was an endless maze of beech and pine trees, populated by deer, bears and wolves. The only sign of civilization in the neighbourhood was …
