In preparation for the #ExperienceTO: Cabbagetown Historical Tour that will take place on Saturday, April 18, I was recently researching the life of Lieutenant Francis Gwillim Simcoe, the first private owner of land in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood. Francis Simcoe’s story is a fascinating look at the very early days of York (now Toronto). Born in 1791 at Wolford Lodge in … [Read more...] about Lesson 67: Legacy is the ground we pave for the future
history
Lesson 66: What we choose to preserve vs. replace defines the character of our community.
If you stand at the corner of Toronto's Gerrard St. E. & Broadview Ave. today, you see a modern glass facility overlooking the Don Valley. But this specific plot of land has been through many iterations since the mid-19th century, each one reflecting a different, and sometimes conflicting, priority for our city. The history of this site offers a sobering life … [Read more...] about Lesson 66: What we choose to preserve vs. replace defines the character of our community.
What Story Does a Historical Map Tell?
A historical map tells a story. It is a narrative of what once was, what mattered, where the tensions lay, and how they were resolved. A child stares intently at a historical map of her city. She reads the names of neighborhoods that used to be villages and unregistered communities that were swallowed up by the expanding metropolis. Does becoming part of a larger entity - … [Read more...] about What Story Does a Historical Map Tell?
Lesson 60: How to Lay Foundations That Endure
Hi friend, While preparing for the upcoming Riverdale historical tour, I spent time reading a carefully researched paper by T.A. Reed titled “The Scaddings, A Pioneer Family in York” Reed begins with a sentence that feels remarkably contemporary: “In these modern days we are prone to forget those who went before, to whose vision, foresight and courage we owe the … [Read more...] about Lesson 60: How to Lay Foundations That Endure
Lesson 59: Build where you are
Hi friend, What if success looked less like movement and more like staying put?What if wisdom sometimes meant building slowly instead of chasing the next opportunity? This is the story of Sarah Ashbridge. In the late 1700s, Sarah Ashbridge was a Quaker widow living in Pennsylvania.She had lost her husband and was responsible for a large extended family.They came from … [Read more...] about Lesson 59: Build where you are