Early Don Mills Commemorative Plaque, 2009
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Original JPG File | 8400 × 6000 pixels (50.4 MP) 71.1 cm × 50.8 cm @ 300 PPI |
6.5 MB | Restricted |
Low resolution print | 2000 × 1429 pixels (2.86 MP) 16.9 cm × 12.1 cm @ 300 PPI |
736 KB | Restricted |
Screen | 1120 × 800 pixels (0.9 MP) 9.5 cm × 6.8 cm @ 300 PPI |
293 KB | Restricted |
Resource ID
4935
Access
Open
Address
1 Aggie Hogg Gardens
Credit Line
Heritage Toronto
Date of Creation
2009
Historical Themes
Agricultural History, Indigenous Heritage, Post-war urban development
Program Category
Historical Plaques
Rights
Heritage Toronto
Time Period
Pre-colonization, 1794-1834
Caption
Early Don Mills Commemorative Plaque, 2009
Description
Though now known as a modern suburban development Don Mills was once the site of a small farming community. Prior to that aboriginal communities used the nearby branches of the Don River as transportation routes as well as sources of food and water.
While archaeological remains of an aboriginal presence may still survive beneath this soil more is known of the European settlement that began in the early 1800s. Settlers like James Sampson and Rudolph Pabst (remembered in street names) established farms in the area. They were joined by the Hogg and Gray families who operated a gristmill (still standing on the Donalda Golf Club) and two sawmills on the West Don River nearby. By the 1850s the crossroads of Don Mills Road and Lawrence Avenue had a school and an inn. Further north stood a general store that also included the Don Post Office (est. 1868) and the local library (est. 1896).
In the 1950s this rural community was transformed into one of Canada's most significant post-war suburban developments.
Marker lat / long: 43.734391, -79.345665 (WGS84)