Leslieville - A Brief History
Story found on Google - author unknown
Submitted By: Peter Crawford
LESLIEVILLE began as a small village back in the 1850's. The village grew up around the Toronto Nurseries owned by George Leslie and sons, after whom this neighbourhood is named. Today it is quickly emerging as one of the city's hippest new neighbourhoods and is the headquarters of Toronto's film industry.
Leslieville's first public school principal was Alexander Muir, who composed "The Maple Leaf Forever". Muir's poetic verse was inspired when a brilliant autumn maple leaf fell from a Leslieville tree onto his jacket. That maple tree is still standing today and has become Leslieville's most famous landmark, designated by an historic plaque at the intersection of Laing Street and Memory Lane. Residents have a sense of pride in their quiet east end neighbourhood, evidenced by the historic street signs and family run businesses.
Leslieville, still feels like a small village. Its cozy houses, quaint stores, and tree lined streets, seem surprisingly serene and peaceful considering the neighbourhood's close proximity to downtown Toronto.
Leslieville's older houses along Queen Street, and south to Eastern Avenue were built in the late 1800's. They include architecturally interesting Ontario Cottages, Second Empire row houses and Victorian houses. Its second generation of houses, north of Queen, were built in the early 1900's. This district includes modest detached and semi-detached houses as well as a large number of bungalows.
Leslieville's main shopping district runs along historic Queen Street. Most of these stores are small independently owned shops that cater to the specific needs of the local residents. Renewed interest in the neighbourhood has attracted popular restaurants, shops, galleries, antique stores and bakeries to the area - chic restaurants like Bonjour Brioche, Hello Toast, Joy Bistro, Kubo Radio, Barrios, Pulp Kitchen, Leslieville Cheese Market, Cajun Corner, Salon Blu, Tizz Design, and many more draw patrons from around the city. ( Starbucks opening up at Queen and Logan late 2006 early 2007 )
The area on Gerrard Street East between Greenwood Avenue and Coxwell Avenue is known as the ‘India Bazaar'. This is the commercial centre of Toronto's East Indian community and also the largest ethnic market of Indian goods, fashions, fabrics, jewellery and food in North America. The smell of incense and the sound of music provide an exotic backdrop to the shops on this street. The clothing stores sell imported silk fabrics, and the restaurant vendors barbecue spicy corn on the cob out on the sidewalk.
Much of Leslieville's recreation centres around children. The waterfront is nearby, as are numerous parks including Greenwood Park with its artificial ice rink, pool, playground and three baseball diamonds. Jimmy Simpson Park,Ashbridges Bay Park on the south side of Queen, is the hub of summer activity in Toronto and features volleyball, an Olympic pool, restaurant, pub and facilities. As well, the S.H. Armstrong Community Recreation Centre on Woodfield has an indoor pool, fitness & meeting rooms, and a craft room.
Leslieville is well served by public transit which operates bus or streetcar routes on Carlaw, Jones, Greenwood, Coxwell, and Eastern Avenues, as well as Queen and Gerrard Streets. Most of these bus routes link up with stations on the Bloor-Danforth subway line. Motorists can be downtown in minutes. Lake Shore Boulevard, the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway are also close by.
A personal reflection - by Peter Crawford
When we bought our home on Logan Avenue, South of Queen Street East
in 1996, our real estate representative presented us with a framed "
Property Memoir ", detailing who had lived here before us from 1891 onwards,
by name, gender and, in some instances, profession, acreage size and
sale price. What a fascinating gem of history!
As it turns out, our house was built ca. 1891...( that's what...115
years old? ). The Property Memoir details the land acreage etc.,
before 1891 and going back as far as 1793. Originally these were 50
acres of land owned by the Township of York.
Than, from 1804 to 1823 the lands were owned by Hon. James Baby,
Grant Powel, Geo. Crookshank. The Hon. Darcy Boulton became the
owner of the lands from 1835 to 1850.
From what I understand, these 50 acres were subsequently divided,
first into 0.09 acres and, sometime after 1891,further divided to
the current 0.06 acres.
Some other interesting names/owners are: George & Elizabeth Morse,
Mary Blong, George Dean & Charles Plant ( carpenters ) Alfred Perry
& Willam Charters ( builder)
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