Rogues and Scoundrels (and more importantly, who opposed them)
Please suggest other interesting local news items from the dark side or submit corrections and attributions! [email protected]
If you wonder about Canada’s debt to the First Nations, consider the words of one of the richest 19th century Toronto citizens, a man who’s family was the richest in the province.
George Taylor Dennison III, buried in the St. Johns Cemetery on the Humber, was an active Toronto politician and soldier. Denison’s patriotism had been tested in the spring of 1885, when he and the Governor General’s Body Guard saw service during the North-West rebellion. Because of his lingering hostility to the federal government, he had little enthusiasm for the conflict and had initially refused to volunteer his troop. He objected, he told Charles Mair in March 1885, to the use of the militia “to defend a Government of land sharks who have villainously wronged the poor native and the actual settler.”
YORK
‘YORK’ was dubbed the “city of pork” after two York councillors, a Metro councillor and a developer were convicted of corruption and sentenced to jail terms and fines in the Fairbank Park scandal.
Councillor Frances Nunziata blew the whistle on questionable backroom deals after several York politicians voted for a controversial deal to sell parkland to a condo developer. Mayor Fergy Brown had a hard time controlling the raucous public meetings that followed, which featured shoving matches.
Voters showed their disgust by turfing out six of eight incumbents in the 1991 election. Only Nunziata, Bill Saundercook and Mayor Brown were returned to office. **
** https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2008/01/01/weird_and_wacky_tales_of_the_six_old_cities.html
http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/denison_george_taylor_1839_1925_15E.html
Torn From the Headlines: A century in review reflecting events on Black Creek, Weston Rd to Jane Street courtesy of Richard Anderson
Abbreviations
CPR: Canadian Pacific Railway
GTR: Grand Trunk Railway
OMB: Ontario Municipal Board
PBOH: Provincial Board of Health
STP: sewage treatment plant
TG&BR: Toronto Grey & Bruce Railway
Floods, Black Creek History
14 hours of heavy rain at Weston, the flats flooded, iron GTR bridge over Black Creek carried away at 9 am, ½ mile west of Carlton. Black creek highway bridge also carried off at this point ([Toronto] Globe 14 Sep 1878 p. 8).
[Black Creek] The GTR has finished its iron bridge over Black Creek to replace the one lost a few months ago. It is double-tracking from Carlton westwards ([Toronto] Globe 24 Dec 1878 p. 4).
[Black Creek] The Black Creek bridge of the TG&BR collapsed last September and the section man who spotted it and raised the alarm receives a watch today ([Toronto] Globe 30 Jan 1879 p. 4).
[Rowntree-Lavender Creek] A teamster recently lost a horse when a culvert collapsed on Albany Rd [Gunns Rd] in the Junction crossing Black creek (Toronto Star 29 Mar 1904 p. 11).
[Black Creek] Alexander Osler aged 9 of 414 Symington Ave drowns in Black Creek while bathing with friends on the John H McDonald farm 17 Jun 1905 ([Toronto] Globe 19 Jun 1905 p. 12).
Township looking into the legal implications (flood-related) arising from a scheme to adopt Humber Blvd and Porter Aves as township roads (York Township Council Minutes 5 Jun 1919).
W A McMaster writes re water flow where N side of Humber Blvd intersects Weston Rd at W side of Weston Rd [Black Creek trib] (York Township Council Minutes 20 Sep 1920). William A McMaster, broker, 61 Appleton Ave [Might 1921].
Black Creek which in summer is normally “dried up” is a rushing river at present and up 2 feet over the last 3 days, threatening a flood in Mount Dennis (Toronto Telegram 4 Apr 1922 p. 22).
Black Creek overflows at Mount Dennis and spills over onto the flats flooding some cellars (Toronto Telegram 19 Apr 1922 p. 20).
P Crocker (32 Porter Ave) and Mrs. F Heard (34 Porter Ave) both report flooding of cellars. [Black Creek] (York Township Council Minutes 4 Oct 1926).
Flooding reported of D Syme property Rockcliffe Blvd, referred to solicitor (York Township Council Minutes 20 Sep 1928).
Flooding of 1 Humber Blvd reported by F C Cullen, referred to Engineer Goedike for report. [Black Creek] (York Township Council Minutes 29 Apr 1929).
Flooding on premises at 1 Humber Blvd reported on by Engineer (York Township Council Minutes 8 Aug 1929).
Flooding in cellar at 1 Humber Blvd. Mr. & Mrs.
Ketteringham (York Township Council Minutes 19 Nov 1929).
Complaints of pollution in Black Creek from Miss E R Sutton, owner of the property on East side of Scarlett Rd. Municipality denies that it is responsible. STP effluent from Rockcliffe is taken via an outfall sewer to the Humber, bypassing Black Creek (York Township General Purposes Committee Minutes 29 Jun 1932).
Roselands Ratepayers want the green scum removed from Black Creek from the Weston Rd bridge to the Humber (Toronto Star 25 Sep 1936 p. 6).
Black Creek is being transformed by flood control measures. It is remembered that following Hurricane Hazel some 14 bodies were recovered from the creek. The main effort was a $530,000 concrete channel upstream from the confluence with the Humber. Another $4M is planned to be spent over the next 10 years on the scheme, including a large dam (Toronto Star 19 Sep 1959 p. 8).
York Board of Control votes to spend $1,235,000 on a temporary sewer project on Hillary Ave to reduce pollution in Black Creek. OMB has approved the scheme (Toronto Star 27 Feb 1969 p. 7).
Sand & Gravel Extraction
The CPR is employing 100 Junction men to remove gravel from the Black Creek to the Esplanade Front in Toronto (Toronto Star 2 Apr 1894 p. 2).
On Jul 11 two Toronto Junction boys searching for wildflowers beside Black Creek found the hanged body of a male suicide victim [Alexander Patterson, lather, aged 43, widow and six kids]. Roughly where Jane would cross Black Creek. Near the inactive Godson & West gravel pit. Victim had hanged himself with fence wire, and his remains were badly decomposed ([Toronto] Globe 12 Jun 1901 p. 10).
Accident at Porter’s sand pit in Mount Dennis. Three local children are buried alive, they are rescued (Toronto Star 4 Sep 1919 p. 14).
In 24 hours a child is killed in a cave in at a sand pit on Symes Rd, and another at a sand pit cave in on Glenholm Dr [Symes Rd area?] at the foot of a hill, a pit being used to supply fill for the Glen Lake and Pine Crest fill, a large steam shovel being employed. The children were playing around the steam shovel as it worked when the cave-in occurred (Toronto Star 27 Sep 1919 p. 29).
In a May 1922 article on the need to improve Weston Rd, the Weston Times & Guide explained that Black Creek hill was a serious problem, with heavy brick and sand wagons having to keep to one side and this creates the additional hazard that they may turn left or right unexpectedly in front of a motorist to use any of the various pits either side of the road at this point. Black Creek Hill, thought the paper, should be straightened and graded [Weston Times & Guide 17 May 1922 p. 6].
Sewage Disposal
Engineer to report on the best means for Township sewage disposal (York Township Council Minutes 17 Feb 1919). This is mainly a reference to East York
Black Creek is under consideration for an STP site says Reeve F H Miller of York (Toronto Telegram 20 Apr 1922 p. 24).
Correspondence James H Spence re McPherson Estate and York Tp. Engineer reports that there are several people dumping on this property, and the township cannot accept any responsibility (York Township Council Minutes 17 Dec 1923). The Rockcliffe STP would be built on the McPherson Estate
James H Spence writes re Jane St garbage, McPherson estate (York Township Council Minutes 28 Dec 1923).
Disposal plant for York Township sewage meets
opposition. Lambton Golf Club, MacPherson & Ganier Estates and Home Smith confer and express opposition to Black Creek being used as an outfall. E M Proctor says plant will be odorless and non-objectionable. Opponents say the effluent would create serious property damages and the plant would be an eyesore. The Don, it is remembered is an open sewer but Mr. Dallyn of the PBOH [Provincial Board of Health] says the Don gets very little sewage, just industrial waste ([Toronto] Globe 20 May 1924 p. 11).
York Township’s raw sewage from Mt Dennis and Silverthorn is presently being emptied raw and untreated into the Humber River says E A James ([Toronto] Globe 20 May 1924 p. 11).
Indication that the new Rockcliffe STP has proximity to the McPherson Estate (York Township Council Minutes 9 Jun 1924).
Nelson River Construction Co Ltd to build the Rockcliffe STP sewage outfall to Humber River York Township Council Minutes 9 Feb 1925).
Proctor & Redfern write to York Township re creek straightening E of Rockcliffe Blvd (York Township Council Minutes 6 Apr 1925).
A group of home owners from the Hillborn estate [E of Symes Rd] appear in York Township council to complain of the disruption from sewer construction on Symes Rd in connection with the Rockcliffe STP construction. The excavations make their homes valueless and they want the township to buy them (Toronto Star 27 May 1925 p. 4).
Works Commissioner Goedike writes re McPherson Trust property affected by garbage dump. Referred back (York Township Council Minutes 21 Oct 1925).
Southport Ave Extension is now Rockcliffe Blvd (York Township Council Minutes 10 Nov 1925).
Township is arranging to purchase a dump from McPherson Estate (York Township Council Minutes 15 Dec 1925).
Resolution authorising a 25 Nov 1925 agreement in which the Township purchases part of lot 38 Con 3 FB from McPherson Estate for $540 [for dump]. [Lot 38 lies N of Black Creek, on E side of Jane] (York Township Council Minutes 18 Dec 1925).
Township solicitors write re fences that have been removed from the McPherson Farm in the Black Creek valley. Referred to Works Commissioner (York Township Council Minutes 6 Apr 1926).
Scarlett Plains Ratepayers’ Association met last night and was unanimous in objecting to the various defects of the sewage treatment plant (Toronto Star 5 Jun 1926 p. 4).
North Runnymede ratepayers meet in the George Syme School to complain about the [Rockcliffe] disposal plant which has been giving trouble of late. They have complained before, complained to PBOH, and seen a solicitor (Toronto Star 7 Oct 1927 p. 24).
Estimates of cost of building 3 additional sludge beds for disposal plant (York Township Council Minutes 11 Jul 1927).
F B Goedike writes re sale of sand from pit at the Rockcliffe Blvd Sewage Disposal Plant (York Township Council Minutes 30 Jan 1928).
Alderman Woolner of York tells Silverthorn Ratepayers that the odor problems of the Rockcliffe STP can now be fixed thanks to what he and others learned on a trip to New Jersey (Toronto Star 4 May 1928 p. 38).
York Township agrees to meet with Runnymede residents re the [Rockcliffe] disposal plant (Toronto Star 26 Jun 1928 p. 20).
Offensive odors coming from Rockcliffe STP, claims J Clough (York Township Council Minutes 22 Jul 1929).
To expand the Rockcliffe STP will require $90,000 for more glass houses (Toronto Star 17 Sep 1929 p. 29).
Frank Madden writes re purchase of black peat from [Rockcliffe] disposal plant (York Township Council Minutes 30 Sep 1929).
Mr. Westaway in deputation to council re contract for treatment of sewage sludge., (York Township Council Minutes 28 Oct 1929).
Construction starts on York Township’s new $100,000 dewatering plant at Rockcliffe (Toronto Star 1 Nov 1929 p. 40).
The Rockcliffe STP is smelly and known locally as the Rose Garden. North Runnymede Ratepayers are complaining (Toronto Star 3 Sep 1930 p. 4).
North Runnymede continues to complain of the smoke of the CPR roundhouse and the stench of the Rockcliffe STP. The STP, however, is not in operation (Toronto Star 5 Sep 1930 p. 2).
Complaints of the Rockcliffe STP creating abominable odor reach York Township council, but councillors have investigated the smell and are skeptical. Leonard A Blake’s letter is the focus of discussion. The plant isn’t in operation (Toronto Star 5 Sep 1930 p. 2).
Two sewage engineers will tackle the odor problem at Rockcliffe STP in York. Ratepayers complain of smell and smell depreciation of property, a survey to be made (Toronto Star 13 Sep 1930 p. 26).
North Runnymede Ratepayers’ Association meets. Complains of the odors from the Rockcliffe STP. The smells were at their worst this year and stripped the paint from houses. Councillor Toogood soothes feelings by promising that the worst was over, and the remedy is in progress (Toronto Star 4 Nov 1930 p. 32).
Electioneering councillors in North Runnymede concede that 1930 was a year of unpleasant odor from the Rockcliffe STP (Toronto Star 27 Dec 1930 p. 24).
Township Council Minutes
North Runnymede residents again complain that odors from the Rockcliffe STP keep them awake at night. Councillor William Noble pleads with his fellow councilors to find the means to place the plant in first-class shape. “One man told me he was not going to raise his children in that atmosphere”. Township will confer with Gore, Naismith & Storrie about options to fix the problem (Toronto Star 17 Jul 1931 p. 18).
Committee recommends that Township continue garbage collection with own vehicles, but that it extend ash collection to private teams. Private teams hauling sludge from Rockcliffe STP (York Township General Purposes Committee Minutes 18 Jan 1932).
Complaints of pollution in Black Creek from Miss E R Sutton, owner of the property on East side of Scarlett Rd. Municipality denies that it is responsible. STP effluent from Rockcliffe is taken via an outfall sewer to the Humber, bypassing Black Creek (York Township General Purposes Committee Minutes 29 Jun 1932).
Works Commissioner seeks replacement of the shanty which has previously sheltered the men engaged in sludge-covering operations at the disposal plant. They shelter there between loads and at lunch time (York Township General Purposes Committee 24 Feb 1933).
Complaints that relief workers have been affected by poison ivy at the Disposal Plant at the Jane St Dump (York Township General Purposes Committee 14 Mar 1933).
Storm sludge beds at the Rockcliffe STP are to be moved northerly by 300 feet to the northern limits of the lots. They will be aligned E-W along the northern limit of the property, immediately W of the Black Creek pump house (York Township General Purposes Committee 26 May 1933).
There have been odour complaints from North Runnymede Ratepayers’ re the Rockcliffe STP, and the project to move the storm sludge beds is part of the Township’s response (York Township General Purposes Committee 5 Jun 1933).
Mt Dennis Property Owners Association objects to the operation of the Rockcliffe STP and the deposition of sludge on adjoining property (York Township General Purposes Committee 19 Jun 1933).
Mt Dennis Property Owners’ Association complaints of Rockcliffe STP odours and of sludge being moved to private property (York Township General Purposes Committee 19 Jun 1933).
Before 12 Jun 1933 two teams and one truck was used to truck sludge away from the Rockcliffe STP. From 12 Jun to 26 Oct two teams and two trucks were used for this, since 26 Oct one team and 3 trucks used. With slightly larger trucks he could eliminate the team work. Approved in principle (York Township General Purposes Committee 30 Oct 1933).
Mr. Orval Falls recommends in connections with the grading of Jane St that the ending of pollicking or salvaging at the Jane St Dump as if the material spreads it will cover private property which might embarrass the municipality. Committee suggests that the whole of the McPherson Estate be purchased, using part for the disposal plant and part for a park (York Township General Purposes Committee 1 Dec 1933).
Mr. Orval Falls says that 2 men are rotated 2 days a week and 2 men with trucks rotate 1 day a week on Trethewey Dump. 2 men rotate two days a week on Jane St Dump, three men rotate with trucks at Disposal Plant two days per week. There has been a change however in trucking from Disposal Plant. Mr. Holloway and Mr. Goreski should rotate three days a week at Trethewey Dump, C Andrews and E Claire rotate two days a week at Jane St Dump, J Curson and E Taylor rotate week about as required at Rockcliffe STP (York Township General Purposes Committee 4 Dec 1933).
Complaints that York’s Rockcliffe STP is terribly smelly and they seem to be true township officials acknowledge (Toronto Star 25 Sep 1936 p. 6).
York’s Deputy Reeve C. P. Cashman thinks that the smells of the Rockcliffe STP are bad enough it should reduce assessment in the area Runnymede to Jane, St Clair to Rockcliffe. The disposal plant is also a breeding ground for crickets. Clothing is destroyed in homes invaded by the pests (Toronto Star 1 Nov 1938 p. 6).
The Rockcliffe STP is grossly overloaded and is polluting the Humber River says Orval Falls. A $760,000 expansion is required to serve a population of 100,000. Effluent from the plant is causing widespread complaints and alarm. Councillors suggest that the Township should explore joint sewage disposal arrangements with the city, but Orval Falls says there isn’t time for leisurely discussions. He wants to proceed right away with the first stages of the expansion. Toronto plants are grossly overloaded anyway (Toronto Star 11 Sep 1945 p. 8).
Reeve Charles J McMaster’s inaugural address: There have been well-founded complaints from those living near the township dumps. The township needs to build an incinerator. Need to enlarge the Rockcliffe STP noted (York Township Council Minutes 13 Jan 1947).
J E Wainwright writes re: grading of hill Disposal Plant: Wainwright will grade Rockcliffe Blvd for $3000, also wants to grade a hill on Langdon Ave to open it up to Weston Rd. Referred (York Township General Purposes Committee Minutes 15 Dec 1947).
F A Maxted of 20 Boylen Ave appears in deputation offering to purchase the sand and other material contained in the large knoll of land owned by township east of Rockcliffe Blvd S of Greendale Ave. O M Falls, Township Engineer, says there are 500,000 cubic yards of material, mostly sand, which could be removed, and the land eventually redeveloped for housing. Deferred until a later meeting following a Council inspection of the site (York Township Council Minutes 21 Feb 1949).
Township council adopts two resolutions covering the materials on Con 3 FB Lot 38 w part. One is with Frank Augustus Maxted re removal of materials from township land, the other is with C Smythe Ltd for the remaining sand & other material not covered in the agreement with Maxted. This in connection with land south of Greendale Ave and E of Rockcliffe Blvd, plus a parcel of land sold to Smythe on E side of Jane St at a price of $1200, on condition that Smythe contribute $24,000 to the construction of sewage disposal pumps (York Township Council Minutes 21 Mar 1949).
F A Maxted agrees to purchase his sand, allowed to buy 200000 cu yds and offers to fill township trucks with it for free. Approved (York Township General Purposes Committee 28 Feb 1949).
Conn Smythe offers to buy 200,000 cu yds of sand from the Rockcliffe pile. Approved (York Township General Purposes Committee 7 Mar 1949).
F A Maxted asks if he can install a 1000-gallon gasoline tank and computer pump on the sand & gravel property off Rockcliffe Blvd. This is to be a temporary arrangement to service the shovel machine and trucks. Approved (York Township General Purposes Committee 25 May 1949).
Plans afoot to enlarge the Rockcliffe STP (York Township General Purposes Committee 14 Nov 1949).
Proposed extension to Rockcliffe STP (York Township General Purposes Committee 21 Nov 1949).
Gore & Storrie are recommending a reconfiguration of the Rockcliffe STP estimated to cost $1.24 M, to serve 100,000 people. Committee approves the preparation of plans (York Township General Purposes Committee 30 Jan 1950).
The Township Parks Yard at Winona & Belvedere is to be relocated to the Rockcliffe STP (York Township General Purposes Committee 30 Jan 1950).
P S Brooks of 65 Rockcliffe Blvd writes on behalf of himself and adjoining property owners seeks permission to park private cars on a lot formerly a dump which has been filled and fronts on Outlook Ave. Filed (York Township General Purposes Committee 6 Feb 1950).
Gore & Storrie report on the Rockcliffe STP upgrading plans. York seems to want to do a cheaper job by eliminating the digesters. This would affect the sludge, not the effluent. Works Commissioner Falls thinks that the sludge, which is hauled away by farmers at the moment, would be better undigested. So, Township decides to save money by deleting the digesters and sludge chlorination equipment (York Township General Purposes Committee 27 Feb 1950).
New Parks Yard at the Rockcliffe STP to be established by 1 Jul 1950 (York Township General Purposes Committee 15 Mar 1950).
Committee hears that Mr. Wainwright owes $4618 for township sand and Mr. Maxted owes $1423. They are to pay up or the bond company be notified of their indebtedness. Mr. O E Bray owes township $250 for fill removed, and he is to be instructed to pay (York Township General Purposes Committee 20 March 1950).
J E Wainwright Construction (excavating) 79 Cayuga Ave Mt Dennis [Might 1950].
Orval E Bray (Bray Haulage)
E C Brown
Harry Webster (sand & gravel) 211 Scarlett Rd [Might 1950].
Workers strike at the Rockcliffe STP (York Township General Purposes Committee 10 Apr 1950).
Ralem Chiang [a Chinese farmer] is the lessee of the McPherson farm, over which both Smythe and Maxted have rights of way (York Township General Purposes Committee 6 Jun 1950).
Proposed purchase of sand from knoll on Rockcliffe STP property. James Walker, general haulage contractor, wants to buy the sand for 10 cents/cu yd, measurements to be made by the TTC. York wants to retain much of the sand though, for filling or covering around the STP site and to raise the grade of township lands S of Lambton Ave and west of Cliffe St. Application refused (York Township General Purposes Committee 14 Aug 1950).
C Smythe Ltd to be given rights of way over the McPherson farm to get at their sand & gravel (York Township General Purposes Committee 25 Sep 1950).
Mr. Frank A Maxted now owes township $1116.38. He is obligated to move 60,000 cu yds of earth by 31 Dec 1949, 75000 cu yds more by 31 Dec 1950, and the remaining 65,000 cu yds by 31 Dec 1951. He moved only 24,000 cu yds in 1949, and only 10800 cu yds up to 29 Mar 1950. He is in danger of default but is counselled to have the contractor removing his fill avoid the use of residential streets (York Township General Purposes Committee 8 Nov 1950).
Maxted Pit operation Rockcliffe Blvd. Lime-Sand Mortar Co are both shipping sand to the TTC subway construction. Arrangements made to move sand by truck by routes which avoid residential streets. Maxted though, is given 10 days notice of the termination of his contract for defaulting on its terms. Township decides to negotiate with Maxted again though (York Township General Purposes Committee 20 Nov 1950).
Sand & fill from Smythe & Maxted. In 1949-1950 Township getting most of its free frill from Maxted. Smythe only became a major supplier in 1950 to the works department (York Township General Purposes Committee 29 Nov 1950).
F Maxted account for filling material: Township must pay for taking more than 100 cu yds /day and is billed for 475 cu yds extra (York Township General Purposes Committee 29 Nov 1950).
F A Maxted re trucks taking sand from Maxted Pit. He is told to stop using Rockcliffe and residential streets to S. Wants a ROW over Lime-Sand Co land (York Township General Purposes Committee 4 Dec 1950).
Solid Waste Disposal, Rockcliffe
McPherson Avenue Dump
In June 1914 York Township instituted garbage collection in Mount Dennis. The ravine on McPherson Avenue was selected as the dump site (Toronto Telegram, 19 Jun 1914, p. 28). Rockcliffe Blvd is the former McPherson Ave [Goad 1923 Vol 2 Pl. 70.]
Syme Property Dump
Following complaints from the Roselands Ratepayers’ Association, the Works Commissioner, F B Goedike reports on the burning of garbage in the hollow at rear of James Syme’s property (York Township Council Minutes 28 Dec 1927). James Syme, labourer, house at 38 Rockcliffe Blvd [Might 1928].
Jane St Dump
There is a Jane St township yard (York Township Council Minutes 28 Dec 1917).
Jane St Yard mentioned again (York Township Council Minutes 14 Jan 1918).
Roselands Ratepayers complain of the ravine adjoining the new Roselands School. Garbage has been dumped here for many years. There are complaints too about the presence of a dump while the area has lacked Township garbage collection for three years (Toronto Telegram 11 Apr 1923 p. 24).
Mr. Gallagher of Lambton Park Ratepayers’ Association addresses council re (among other things) the dump on Jane Street (York Township Council Minutes 20 Aug 1923).
Communication 2557 received from F B Goedike re Jane St garbage dump (York Township Council Minutes 22 Oct 1923.).
In early April 1924 a deputation of York Township officials and councillors visited this site to inspect the Jane Street Dump and subway (Toronto Telegram 11 Apr 1924 p. 26).
York Township Board of Health receives a petition to discontinue the dump for garbage at Bloor & Jane. York Board of Health writes to the City of Toronto to ask them to cease using the site (Toronto Telegram 24 Apr 1924 p. 26).
Daniel Syme writes re renting property and lands at Tory Glen. Approved (York Township Council Minutes 11 Feb 1925).
Syme family, market gardeners, 38 Southport Ave Lambton 1918 (Might 1918).
Syme family, market gardeners, 38 Southport Av Lambton 1922 (Might 1922).
Daniel Syme offers to rent some township land in Tory Glen, approved (York Township Council Minutes 11 Feb 1925).
Roselands Ratepayers ask York Township to remove the cans and junk dumped in the Jane St ravine or cover them (Toronto Star 30 Jul 1926 p. 30).
Ratepayers of Roselands SS#28 complain that the cans and refuse dumped in the Jane St ravine need to be covered over with soul or removed (Toronto Star 30 Jul 1926 p. 30).
Ratepayers of Roselands SS#28 complain that the cans and refuse dumped in the Jane St ravine need to be covered over with soul or removed (Toronto Star 30 Jul 1926 p. 30).
Fire Area #2 writes re fire at Jane St garbage dump. Approved. Council resolves to reimburse the fire board for their equipment destroyed at the fire. Site used only by the Township Works Department. Fire Area #2 is for Lambton Park (York Township Council Minutes 2 Jul 1929).
F B Goedike writes re breaking stone and concrete at the Jane St dump (York Township Council Minutes 25 Feb 1931).
York Township Council is debating the cost of relief matters. One of the alleged abuses was a man being kept as a municipal night watchman on a pile of bricks on Jane St. Engineer T Scott said though that his main duty was to maintain a fire watch on the nearby township garbage dump ([Toronto] Globe 18 Aug 1931 p. 9).
York engineer T S Scott is to supply a watchman for the Jane St Dump as a relief measure ([Toronto] Globe 28 Aug 1931 p. 10).
O M Falls writes re pollicking [garbage picking & salvaging] at garbage dumps. There is considerable friction among the pollickers at the Jane & Trethewey dump. Should council intervene to allocate pollicking rights? This would eliminate the “cliques which are now operating on the dumps and causing considerable nuisance to the employees of the corporation” (York Township General Purposes Committee Minutes 1 Dec 1932).
To prevent further incidents, as when a pollicker was injured by a hand grenade in a dump, York Township is to call for salvage tenders (Toronto Star 8 Feb 1933 p. 18).
Mr. Finch addresses council re pollicking on Jane St Dump (York Township Council Minutes 17 Jun 1933).
Works Commissioner writes re salvage rights at township garbage dumps. He has 8 tenders for the Trethewey Dump, 2 for the Jane St Dump, but none for the Kodak Dump (York Township General Purposes Committee 13 Mar 1933).
| Jane St Dump: | ||
| Finch J | 35 Grandville Ave | $4.00 |
| Bulson Mr. | 2 Norval Ave | $2.00 |
Complaints that relief workers have been affected by poison ivy at the Disposal Plant at the Jane St Dump (York Township General Purposes Committee 14 Mar 1933).
Poison ivy at the Jane St Dump: Works Commissioner has changed the location of the dump to remove the problem for the moment (York Township General Purposes Committee 15 Mar 1933).
Children are being allowed into the Jane St Dump. The Police are asked to keep them away as much as possible. Material is being dumped which is detrimental to the health of the children (York Township General Purposes Committee 5 Jul 1933). [Is this a reference to sewage sludge?]
The poison ivy nuisance at the Jane St Dump is so serious that those who oversee the township’s relief works programme want the workers shifted elsewhere until the problem is fixed (York Township General Purposes Committee 13 Jul 1933).
Mr. Burton is complaining that he was injured while doing relief work at the township dump (York Township General Purposes Committee 17 Jul 1933).
York branch of the Canadian Workers Association notes the outbreak of a skin ailment among relief workers employed at the Jane St Dump in York. Asks that they be shifted somewhere else (Toronto Star 6 Apr 1933 p. 24).
Mr. Falls recommends in connections with the grading of Jane St that the ending of pollicking or salvaging at the Jane St Dump as if the material spreads it will cover private property which might embarrass the municipality. Committee suggests that the whole of the McPherson Estate be purchased, using part for the disposal plant and part for a park (York Township General Purposes Committee 1 Dec 1933).
Mr. Falls says that 2 men are rotated 2 days a week and 2 men with trucks rotate 1 day a week on Trethewey Dump. 2 men rotate two days a week on Jane St Dump, three men rotate with trucks at Disposal Plant two days per week. There has been a change however in trucking from Disposal Plant. Mr. Holloway and Mr. Goreski should rotate three days a week at Trethewey Dump, C Andrews and E Claire rotate two days a week at Jane St Dump, J Curson and E Taylor rotate week about as required at STP (York Township General Purposes Committee 4 Dec 1933).
York FD fights a fire for 2 hours in the Jane St Dump yesterday (Toronto Star 25 May 1935 p. 18).
York Township reeve says that sand is being placed on the Jane St dump every day to abate nuisances. This is being done by men on relief to create a roadway. Residents have complained about crickets, rats, smells, ants, mosquitoes and sundry other plagues. This is being done to fill for a much-needed extension of Jane St from Mt Dennis to Bloor. Stagnant land in this locality is being drained and the garbage is being covered with sand every evening (Toronto Star 30 Jul 1935 p. 23).
York Township is taking steps to have the Jane St Dump operated safely, and eliminate the pests of crickets, rats, ants, smells and other things (Toronto Star 3 Aug 1935 p. 20).
Change Plague Spot into thing of Beauty: Drain area – will get rid of rats, mosquitos and odors. Relief is promised to the Mount Dennis residents who live around the Jane St Dump. They are plagued with crickets, rats, mosquitos, smells and other sundry things. York Township has installed concrete pipes to drain the stagnant water into Black Creek. “The stagnant water is all being drained off, removing the odor and smell”. A fence is being built around the site “and it will be a beauty spot when the work is completed” says Deputy-Reeve W J Noble rather hopefully. The worst part of the hole is being filled with earth taken from the cuttings to make the new through highway from Mt Dennis to Ward 3. The ODH has investigated and finds the measures taken safeguard health (Toronto Star 14 Aug 1935 p. 13).
Jane St will be extended at least as a pedestrian route through Roselands this year (Toronto Star 29 Feb 1936 p. 26).
Complaints at York Township Council of children being allowed to play in the Jane St Dump, a risk of epidemic. Relief workers though cover the dump with sand when garbage has been dumped. Although citizens object, the man who salvages at the dump has the right to do so (Toronto Star 5 May 1936 p. 8).
Roselands Ratepayers are angry at the Jane St dump again. It is so unhealthy that even its rats have sores. Would the township try using the powder used in Toronto to kill crickets? (Toronto Star 25 Sep 1936 p. 6).
Roselands Ratepayers are complaining about a dump again. The Jane St garbage dump threatens an adjoining area with crickets, bugs, and rats. Two rats caught by a resident were “alive with sores”, steps should be taken to eliminate the “disease spreaders”. There were rumours that the City of Toronto was eliminating crickets with a special kind of powder. Complaints of insufficient cover. A dead dog had been left unburied on the dump in recent hot weather (Toronto Star 25 Sep 1936 p. 6).