Leaside. Jane Pitfield

      We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council for our publishing program. We also acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program and The Association for the Export of Canadian Books and the Government of Canada through the Ontario Book Publishers Tax Credit Program and the Ontario Media Development Corporation.

      Front cover illustration: painting of “Leaside,” William Lea’s octagonal home by artist David Peacock. Collection of the Pitfield family.

      Design by Blanche Hamill, Norton Hamill Design

      Printed and bound in Canada by Hignell Printing Limited

      Care has been taken to trace the ownership of copyright material used in this book. The author and the publisher welcome any information enabling them to rectify any references or credits in subsequent editions.

       J. Kirk Howard, President

      Dundurn Press

      3 Church Street, Suite 500

      Toronto, Ontario, Canada

      M5E 1M2

      Gazelle Book Services Limited

      White Cross Mills

      High Town, Lancaster, England

      LAI 4XS

      Dundurn Press

      2250 Military Road

      Tonawanda, NY

      U.S.A. 14150

      With appreciation to Jim Hannah for his contribution to this book and to the community of Leaside.

      CONTENTS

Introduction

1 FROM PRE-SETTLEMENT TO SETTLEMENT

2 THE LEA FAMILY

3 THE RAILWAYS OF LEASIDE JUNCTION

4 FROM THE YORK LAND COMPANY TO FREDERICK TODD TO LEASIDE

5 FACTORIES COME TO LEASIDE

6 THE WAR EFFORT: World War I and World War II

7 INDUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS AREAS EXPAND

       8 MERCHANTS OF BAYVIEW, MCRAE, MILLWOOD AND SUNNYBROOK

       9 A PLACE To WORSHIP

       10 EDUCATION FOR OUR YOUTH

       11 THE LEASIDE LIBRARY: A Community Resource

       12 THORNCLIFFE PARK: From The Racetrack to Residential

       13 THE ORIGINS OF STREET NAMES

       14 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Service Clubs and Local Groups

       15 THE PARKS OF LEASIDE

       16 LEISURE TIME IN LEASIDE: Sports and Recreation

       17 SAFETY AND SECURITY: Police and Fire Protection

       18 SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS OF LEASIDE COUNCIL MEETINGS

       19 RALLYING TO THE CAUSE: Issues to be Resolved

       20 PROFILES OF PEOPLE AND BUILDINGS OF HISTORIC INTEREST

       21 MEMORIES OF LEASIDE

       APPENDIX A—The Lea Family Tree

       APPENDIX B—Leaside Town Councils 1913–1967

       APPENDIX C—Members of Provincial Parliament for York East 1913–1967

       APPENDIX D—Population of Leaside: 1913–1967

       APPENDIX E—Residents of Leaside Killed in World War II

       APPENDIX F—Leaside Public School Board: 1920–1966

       APPENDIX G—Additional Clubs and Other Activities

       APPENDIX H—Leaside Baseball Honour Roll

       Notes

       Selected Bibliography

       Index

       Acknowledgments

       About the Editor

INTRODUCTION

      IN THE spring of 1997, I realized that there was a need for a book about our community “Leaside.” Being much aware of the amalgamation with Toronto looming later in the year, I was struck by the fact that Leaside had previously been amalgamated with the Borough of East York in 1967, and yet had managed to retain its unique character. I felt it was very important to provide a comprehensive account of the development of the town of Leaside so that its residents, especially those new to the area, could understand the fascinating chain of events that have taken place over the years.

      Fortunately, there were some previously published materials to provide background material. John Scott wrote a book titled The Story of Leaside for the Leaside Council in 1931. Charles Clay wrote The Leaside Story in 1958 on the occasion of the town’s 45^th anniversary. In 1982, Jack Rempel’s book, The Town of Leaside: A Brief History, was published