Mimico
It could be said that Mimico began with John William Gamble and the Parish of Christ Church. He was born in the garrison of York in 1798. His father was Dr. John Gamble, assistant surgeon of the Queen's Rangers. John William operated a store on King Street in York, first with his brother-in-law William Allan and later with his younger brother William Gamble until 1827. We remember William because he owned The Old Mill on the Humber at Bloor Street and was the first reeve of Etobicoke in 1850.
In 1822 John William Gamble married Mary, daughter of Dr. James Macaulay, and built a home on a little wooded knoll on the east bank of Mimico Creek a short distance from the lake. The next year he built a sawmill on the west bank with a dam about where the railway now crosses.
Stories of Mimico say the few workers at the mill spent their Sundays carousing. In disgust the foreman went to John William and told him to get a minister or lead worship services himself. Church services may have begun as early as 1823-4, perhaps in Gamble's home. By this time Archdeacon, later Bishop, John Strachan, his assistants and students were conducting occasional worship, baptismal and other services beyond St. James' Church at York.
The Parish of Christ Church, Mimico, can be dated from 1827 when the local residents began keeping records. In that year 4 children of John and Margaret Peeler were baptised. In 1831 the Rev. Dr. Thomas Phillips became the first regular minister of Christ Church and also at St. Philips Church at the north end of Royal York Road whose history was similar and almost as old. He was also serving as vice principal of Upper Canada College and chaplain to the Legislative Assembly.
In 1832 the Mimico congregation built their small frame church with clapboard walls and a small belfry on the east side of Royal York Road, on land donated by John William Gamble. The next year Edward Bewston and Ellen Talbot became the first couple to be married in the parish.
The first annual vestry meeting for Christ Church for which there is a record was held on January 1, 1834. George Goldthorpe or Thomas Fisher was appointed Rector's Warden and John Giles was nominated to be People's Warden. It was also the year of the first funeral when William Hopkinson, age 17 months, died.
There was a strong feeling in Upper Canada in the early days that the Anglican Church should be the Established Church as in England. The lieutenant-governor on two occasions transferred lots in the King's Reserve between Royal York Road and the Humber to Christ Church. When the trustees for Lambton-Kingsway School bought the present site it was from Christ Church. Also in the early days there were annual town meetings when two wardens, pathmasters, tax collectors, assessors, etc were chosen.
John William Gamble became a magistrate in 1827 and was chairman of the General Quarter Sessions of the Home District from 1836 to 1842. After Mackenzie's 1837 Rebellion, David Gibson was expelled from Parliament as a rebel and Gamble took his seat. The Quebec Gazette reported "In the First Riding of York supporters of Reformer James Hervey Price wore white armbands and carried pistols to combat Tory followers of John William Gamble." In Parliament he was a supporter of Premier Sir Allan MacNab in obtaining charters for the Great Western Railway and the Hamilton and Toronto Railway. From 1842 to 1849 he was on the Home District Council as chairman of the standing committee on education. He first represented Etobicoke but later represented Vaughan when he moved to Woodbridge and established a flourmill, sawmill, distillery and cloth factory at Pine Grove. He also helped found the Bank of Toronto.
In 1822 John William Gamble married Mary, daughter of Dr. James Macaulay, and built a home on a little wooded knoll on the east bank of Mimico Creek a short distance from the lake. The next year he built a sawmill on the west bank with a dam about where the railway now crosses.
Stories of Mimico say the few workers at the mill spent their Sundays carousing. In disgust the foreman went to John William and told him to get a minister or lead worship services himself. Church services may have begun as early as 1823-4, perhaps in Gamble's home. By this time Archdeacon, later Bishop, John Strachan, his assistants and students were conducting occasional worship, baptismal and other services beyond St. James' Church at York.
The Parish of Christ Church, Mimico, can be dated from 1827 when the local residents began keeping records. In that year 4 children of John and Margaret Peeler were baptised. In 1831 the Rev. Dr. Thomas Phillips became the first regular minister of Christ Church and also at St. Philips Church at the north end of Royal York Road whose history was similar and almost as old. He was also serving as vice principal of Upper Canada College and chaplain to the Legislative Assembly.
In 1832 the Mimico congregation built their small frame church with clapboard walls and a small belfry on the east side of Royal York Road, on land donated by John William Gamble. The next year Edward Bewston and Ellen Talbot became the first couple to be married in the parish.
The first annual vestry meeting for Christ Church for which there is a record was held on January 1, 1834. George Goldthorpe or Thomas Fisher was appointed Rector's Warden and John Giles was nominated to be People's Warden. It was also the year of the first funeral when William Hopkinson, age 17 months, died.
There was a strong feeling in Upper Canada in the early days that the Anglican Church should be the Established Church as in England. The lieutenant-governor on two occasions transferred lots in the King's Reserve between Royal York Road and the Humber to Christ Church. When the trustees for Lambton-Kingsway School bought the present site it was from Christ Church. Also in the early days there were annual town meetings when two wardens, pathmasters, tax collectors, assessors, etc were chosen.
John William Gamble became a magistrate in 1827 and was chairman of the General Quarter Sessions of the Home District from 1836 to 1842. After Mackenzie's 1837 Rebellion, David Gibson was expelled from Parliament as a rebel and Gamble took his seat. The Quebec Gazette reported "In the First Riding of York supporters of Reformer James Hervey Price wore white armbands and carried pistols to combat Tory followers of John William Gamble." In Parliament he was a supporter of Premier Sir Allan MacNab in obtaining charters for the Great Western Railway and the Hamilton and Toronto Railway. From 1842 to 1849 he was on the Home District Council as chairman of the standing committee on education. He first represented Etobicoke but later represented Vaughan when he moved to Woodbridge and established a flourmill, sawmill, distillery and cloth factory at Pine Grove. He also helped found the Bank of Toronto.
Lake Shore Boulevard West looking East from Mimico 1927 Source: Toronto Transit Commission - from the City of Toronto Archives.
In 1852 the Hamilton and Toronto Railway Company was incorporated and construction began the next year with George Wythers of England as the contractor. Service began on December 3, 1855 with 3 trains going each way daily. Mimico station was on the north side of the tracks just east of Royal York Road.
Sir James Lukin Robinson was ready. On January 14, 1856 the plan of subdivision No. 164 was registered with him as owner. It was the 6th plan for a subdivision in Etobicoke and was by far the largest with many streets both north and south of the station.
Robinson's lands were on the east side of Royal York Road extending from Mimico Avenue to north of the Queensway, and east almost to the Humber at the lake. The subdivision did not cover all his land and was not named. Mimico Creek was identified as "River Mimicoke". Later in 1856 surveyor Charles Unwin prepared a map of Etobicoke and on it marked "Mimico Estate" with large letters north of the railway and "Town of Mimico" with small letters south of the railway.
Mimico for commuters was inspired by the Christian Socialism movement in England as founded by the Rev. Charles Kingsley, the Rev. Fred D. Maurice and others. They wanted to aid the poor who were living in terrible city conditions as portrayed by Charles Dickens. New suburbs were planned with special thoughts for the residents' social welfare, health and morality. Lots were for sale in Mimico with modest prices and terms but the collapse of the economy resulting from the Crimean War left the subdivision with many large fields and few homes.
Sir James Lukin Robinson was the eldest son of Sir John Beverley Robinson, possessor of one of the most brilliant minds in the Family Compact, a defender of British institutions, of the rights of rank and property and of an Established Church. On one occasion in England he dined William Merrys', the Deputy Secretary of War, where he met Robert and James Lukin!
Sir James Lukin Robinson as a youth was with Sir Allan MacNab at Niagara when Mackenzie fled to the US and the "Patriots" tried to "liberate" Canada. In England the Robinsons were presented at Court by Lord John Russell. Sir James became a barrister
of the Middle Temple while in London.
Researched and Written by Robert A. Given
Sir James Lukin Robinson was ready. On January 14, 1856 the plan of subdivision No. 164 was registered with him as owner. It was the 6th plan for a subdivision in Etobicoke and was by far the largest with many streets both north and south of the station.
Robinson's lands were on the east side of Royal York Road extending from Mimico Avenue to north of the Queensway, and east almost to the Humber at the lake. The subdivision did not cover all his land and was not named. Mimico Creek was identified as "River Mimicoke". Later in 1856 surveyor Charles Unwin prepared a map of Etobicoke and on it marked "Mimico Estate" with large letters north of the railway and "Town of Mimico" with small letters south of the railway.
Mimico for commuters was inspired by the Christian Socialism movement in England as founded by the Rev. Charles Kingsley, the Rev. Fred D. Maurice and others. They wanted to aid the poor who were living in terrible city conditions as portrayed by Charles Dickens. New suburbs were planned with special thoughts for the residents' social welfare, health and morality. Lots were for sale in Mimico with modest prices and terms but the collapse of the economy resulting from the Crimean War left the subdivision with many large fields and few homes.
Sir James Lukin Robinson was the eldest son of Sir John Beverley Robinson, possessor of one of the most brilliant minds in the Family Compact, a defender of British institutions, of the rights of rank and property and of an Established Church. On one occasion in England he dined William Merrys', the Deputy Secretary of War, where he met Robert and James Lukin!
Sir James Lukin Robinson as a youth was with Sir Allan MacNab at Niagara when Mackenzie fled to the US and the "Patriots" tried to "liberate" Canada. In England the Robinsons were presented at Court by Lord John Russell. Sir James became a barrister
of the Middle Temple while in London.
Researched and Written by Robert A. Given