For those of you enjoying this piece, here's a bonus feature: from the May 3, 1980 edition of the Star, a profile of the PATH and the worry it would become a "city of moles" #TOHistory
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#TOHistory
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Side research find: Maybe it's best if I present this find with no extra commentary, other than I doubt you'd meet Sophia Loren if you signed up.
Varsity, September 16, 1968 #vintagead #TOHistory
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Side research find: the president of the Leaside Property Owners Association made it clear in 1970 he really didn't want new residents in his community...especially if they were "new groups."
G&M, July 7, 1970 #TOHistory
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Tales of Toronto returns with a 1945 Saturday Night article that goes behind the scenes at the Royal Ontario Museum. #TOHistory
(This seemed like a nice, quick post to do while I'm navigating a late winter cold. Blergh.)
jamiebradburnwriting.wordpress.com/2026/03/09/b...
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Final notes;
I'm still not at the end of this. Still looking for info on the actual dates of construction of the dam?
When the woolen mill closed down?
How long the family owned the property?
And many more.
But for now this is the end of this #TOHistory tread.
Thank you for joining me.
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But we're not done just yet.
Badgerow name lives on in Badgerow Ave in Leslieville.
Renamed in his honor, it was named Franklin St previous.
This renaming happed soon after his 1892 passing, Toronto Star list the street under his name in 1895.
Family lives on, but our journey end
#TOHistory
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The most famous sun of Martin and Elizabeth, George.
An insert from Canadian Biographical dictionary. Page 365 https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.08545/5
His 1982 obituary in the Globe.
Meet George Washington Badgerow..
Teacher, Lawyer, Politician and namesake of a Leslieville street.
He taught school, practiced law and finally served two terms as a Liberal member of Provincial Parliament for the Riding of York East.
He is buried at Mount Pleasant in Toronto.
#TOHistory
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Elizabeth Harrington Badgelow
But not all was lost for the Badgerow family name. For humble Martin and his wife Elizabeth had 6 children of their own.
Some left their own marks, from postmaster to judges and even politicians.
But the one son central to Toronto, who etched the name onto the map will be the focus.
#TOHistory
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Plaque at Oliver's grave in Greenwood Conservation area, his former farmstead now turned into a protected parkland. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/133432252/oliver-badgero
But now to Oliver Badgerow, outlaw brother.
He was 1 of 14 siblings of Martin (property owner) who immigrated with his family from NY state in 1810.
He joined McKenzie rebellion of 1837 & then was a member of Markham Gang until he was caught for stealing a saddle and serving 7 years.
#TOHistory
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The gang had a reputation that even warranted a book detailing their history and a Wikipedia inclusion.
Sadly the public library only has one copy and I've not been able to get a hold of it.
archive.org/details/mayh...
#TOHistory
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Toronto Star - Jan 8th 1921 Even some 60years after the events. The Star wrote about the Gang.
Toronto Star, Nov 21st 1925 Tales retold of the Markham Gang.
Toronto Star - May 18th 1982 Even a 120 years later stories lived on.
Toronto Star - Oct 3rd 2004 Even into the 21st century their stories lived on.
Badgerow family name is tied a rather seedy past in the area via his brothers affiliation with "Markham Gang"
A notorious 1840s gang of well off farmers who staged robberies, cattle thefts & high jacking.
Information is hard to find on the brothers, but 1 brother does stand out, Oliver
#TOHistory
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An insert from Canadian Biographical dictionary. Page 365 https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.08545/5
Martin Harris Badgerow was a farmer from a well off family who migrated to Ontario as a child.
His story is rather ordinary, but his family's is anything but. From rebels to outlaws, from lawyers to politicians. The name is literally edge into the city maps.
Join me as we explore more.
#TOhistory
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Only photo of Martin that appears anywhere I've looked.
A name on the map leads to a man in history.
Meet, Martin Harris Badgerow, the owner
Born 1808 in Bristol, New York. His family moved York County in 1810. He acquired property in 1843 & started woolen factory soon after. The ruins could date to 1843.
But there is so much more
#TOHistory #HighlandCreek
www.findagrave.com/memorial/666...
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The pond appear on the same spot. Note Danforth Road in the bottom corner, this is the current allotment of Military trail. This is how we know we are in the right place.. And here we got a name and a function. Martin Badgerow and Wollen Factory/Mill.
The 1981 metro Toronto street map still shows the pond, but the pond has been gone for several years by this point.
A tale of 2 maps.
These maps are of the same area, 120 years apart.
1st map is 1860 county of York map - maps.library.utoronto.ca/hgis/countym...
2nd map is 1981 City street map. Pond is show, but the map is false, pond was drained for years
But 1st map tells a #TOhistory story of #HighlandCreek
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First aerial photos of the area from 1939 show a more idyllic Scarborough, rural, unadulterated and natural. Mill pond and the farm road leading to it can be seen in the blue circle.
The 1954 aerials still show the pond in blue circle and the farm property, but the Highway is under construction which crossed Highland Creek.
Even in the mid 1960s after the highway is completed, the pond is there as well as the farm. No subdivisions appear in this area, this is still farm country.
By the late 1970's Centennial college had acquired the farm property, the highway has been widened and subdivisions fill the east bank of Highland Creek. The mill pond in the blue circle is drained and it never appears as a pond after this point.
This ruin has existed and predates the construction of HWY401 as well as the development of suburban Scarborough.
A pond appears on maps as early as 1860 on this site & same pond appears in the earliest aerial photo & into late 1960s.
This was a working farm for decades #TOhistory #HighlandCreek
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Time for some #TOHistory Monday
9 months ago I posted about the ruin on Highland Creek. I've know of them for many years, but knew nothing about them
This lead me down a rabbit hole of Scarb history, stagecoach robberies, theft and politics. All tangentially tied to this one ruin on #HighlandCreek
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ALT text: the Toronto skyline from just off shore west of Bathurst, looking northeast, with Tip Top Tailors and Maple Leaf Stadium in the left foreground behind a marina, Canada Malting silos at right, and New City Hall, Bank of Commerce, and Royal York hotel prominent on the horizon
#TOhistory
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#OTD March 6 1834, Toronto officially becomes a city
but today is not Toronto's birthday
@adambunch.bsky.social explains why
#Toronto #TOhistory
torontohistory.substack.com/i/49766619/t...
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The Toronto Daily Star, Monday, February 12, 1934 "Colorful Scenes from Ontario Ski Jump Championship" (note American spelling, plus the scenes are in black and white) "... Jack Langtry, posed in (2), won both the title jump and a distance event, and (3) shows M. G. Putman, of the Toronto Ski Club, as he left the lip and headed down into the spectator-lined lane of the runway." note also the farmhouse where the Ontartio Science Centre's lower level is today
looking east from the west wall of the West Don ravine... the ski jump's runout area was the tongue of land enclosed by the bend in the river... to the right, 4 massive piers for the Ontario Line bridge are taking shape... the bridge will curve around from Don Mills Rd at top left, past the archery range (visible in the centre), and reach land just to the right of where the ski jump stood
#ThenAndNow Thorncliffe Ski Jump
the ski jump itself, a 60-foot wooden structure, stood at the top of the ravine wall (behind and a bit to my right in the second picture), and the big bend in the West Don river enclosed the ski jump's runout area
#Toronto #TOhistory
1934 vs 2026
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Toronto Archives James Salmon picture "Summerhill crossing looking south" -- i'm still trying to decide whether that's a scarecrow next to the track on the left, in front of the fence, or an actual person... Summerhill Gardens appears to be on the left, looking more like a driveway or lane than a street
Summerhill Ave looking south, with Summerhill Gardens on the left... straight ahead is a fence along the rail line, and if you follow the path beside the fence to the left, you'll come to stairs that lead down into the Vale of Avoca
#ThenAndNow Summerhill Ave used to cross the CP rail line at the end of Shaftesbury Ave
1912 vs 2026
#Toronto #TOhistory
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Side research find: a report on the growth of "incovenience stores" in the late 1970s - grocery stores lacking typical customer service features. We're talking the early days of No Frills, alongside competitors like Steinberg's Valdi and Dominion's Thrift.
Toronto Star, Jan 24, 1979 #TOHistory
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Side research find: the state of the Toronto Star's website just over a quarter-of-a-century ago.
Toronto Star, May 2, 2000 #TOHistory
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Filmores Hotel in Toronto, Canada. It has been sold off and the auction was yesterday, it will soon be torn down for new housing. Taken at 1am in a snowstorm. It is mostly dark and there are no cars or people visible. taken with a Fuji x100vi 1/15th @ F2.0, handheld.
Filmores Hotel, not long for this world.
#toronto #TOHistory #snowTO
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NEW! Today marks the 60th anniversary of the ceremonial opening of the Bloor-Danforth subway (now Line 2). For Toronto Today @torontotoday.ca I look at its origins and how its first few days went.
Guest-starring a Shelbyville idea... #TOHistory
www.torontotoday.ca/local/histor...
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Coming soon, Jayson Perez fonds! Perez was a musician, composer, educator, & the first calypsonian to win a Juno award in 1991. Come listen!🎶💿 #TOHistory #BHM #Calypso
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The Curio Emporeum offers some mid-1980s tips on how to keep Toronto clean when it comes to taking care of your garbage. Plus a look at the city's street-cleaning efforts around that time. #TOHistory
jbscurioemporium.substack.com/p/february-2...
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Side research find: ah, the entertainment options near the airport in the mid-1970s...
I wonder if "Misty Mountain Hop" was part of their repertoire?
Etobicoke Gazette, May 20, 1976 #TOHistory #vintagead
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the infamous Party Room at the beach cineplex, which served many, many children's parties over the decades
most appropriately it was for the staff
All those moments will be lost in time like tears in the rain... thank you beaches community
The Final Pizza Party
The Beach Cineplex
Midnight, closing day.
#TOHistory #toronto
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Also from the vaults: in 1979, the Metro Toronto Police Association's magazine got into hot water for publishing some questionable racist and homophobic views. #TOHistory
jamiebradburnwriting.wordpress.com/2021/02/04/r...
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