York, Upper Canada Totally Explained

Everything about York Upper Canada totally explained

York was the name of Toronto, Ontario, between 1793 and 1834 and second capital of Upper Canada.

History

The town was established in 1793 by Governor John Graves Simcoe, on the site of an existing settlement named Toronto. He believed it would be a superior location for the capital of Upper Canada, which was then at Newark (now Niagara-on-the-Lake), as the new site would be less vulnerable to attack by the Americans. He renamed the location York after Frederick, Duke of York, George III's second son. York became the capital of Upper Canada on February 1, 1796.

Demographics

York's population prior to the 1830s was primarily British (from Scotland, England, Wales) and a few other European settlers (French, German, Dutch, Irish). African slaves likely were found in the town, although slavery was abolished by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe. Beyond the town proper, aboriginals dominated the area.

Population

The population figures for York from 1796 to 1834 include people living in the surrounding areas of the town centre:

1793 - 3 and unknown number of aboriginals
1796 - 200 soldiers and 400 civilians
1812 - 1460
1813 - 720
1825 - 1,600
1832 - 5,550
1834 - 9,250

Source:Statistics Canada

Geography

See Geography and climate of Toronto Much of early York was heavily wooded with the town developed along shoreline of Lake Ontario and up Lot Street or modern day Queen Street (Toronto); from the Don River to Yonge Street. Later expansion of the town moved the boundries further:

West: just west of modern day Fleet Street

North: near Dundas Street Toronto Islands was still connected to the mainland was wooded with marshes in what is now Ashbridge's Bay.
The climate of York is similar to that of Toronto, but a bit cooler given the lack of human influence on the state of the environment.

Townscape

York was surveyed by the British Army with roads in a box grid format, while others conform to the geography of the town. To the west, north and east the town was surround by forests. The shoreline along Lake Ontario was gravel or clay.

Government

Home District Council was responsible for municipal matters for York. In early years of the town matters was likely directed to the Executive Council of Upper Canada or the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada.

Fire and Police Services

Fire services didn't exist in York, so it was likely provided by local residents with buckets of water.
As for policing, there was no official police force. Public order was provided by able bodied male citizens were required to report for night duty as special constables for a fixed number of nights a year on the pain of fine or imprisonment in a system known as "watch and ward."(External Link

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Architecture

There was a wide variety of building styles in York, but most were of English influence in reflecting the origins of the settlers at the time.

Military

The first buildings in York were built by the British Army and was more or less utilitarian. With ample supply of trees from the surrounding area, they were all made of wood. * Town Block House 1799-1812 * Fort York * York Gaol - wooden log stockade built, circa 1798 * Castle Frank * Naval Shipyards, York (Upper Canada) - destroyed during the war * Government House Battery 2 18 pounders * Gibraltar Point Battery (1798, with two blockhouses) * Blockhouse Battery (two guns) at the Town Blockhouse 1798 * Government House Battery (two guns) * Half-Moon Battery (not armed in 1813) * Western Battery (two guns, with blockhouse) * Ravine Blockhouse 1814 * new blockhouse on Gibraltar Point 1814

First Buildings

Early buildings in town were made of wood and lacked any architectural style. European influence began to impact York's buildings after the War of 1812 and when more permanent structures were built to serve the residents of the town:

York County Court House - Palladian architecture A list of some of the structures built in York:

Home District Gaol 1837-1840; 5 storey limestone building consisted of a central block and two wings; built on site of original parliament buildings; cease in 1865;demolished 1887 by Consumer’s Gas as Station A Gasworks Building; demolished 1960s; became a Fina Gas Station /Dash Car Wash, Dimont T Trucks and Front Truck Servicentre Ltd.; Atlas Auto Leasing and the Addison Chevrolet Olds Ltd; Fuhrman Auto Body (Fuhrman Autocentre)

Gibratar Light House

Industrial

Industrial architecture in York began with large wood structures with agricultural influences (barn like). Towards the 1830, brick and stone became the choice of building materials. A list of industrial buildings of this era:

Freeland's Soap and Candle Factory - foot of Yonge Street

Sheldon, Dutcheer and Co Foundry

James Gooderham Windmill

Enoch Turner Brewery and Home

Places of Worship

The early church architecture varied from various styles of the 19th Century:

St James Church -Gothic Revival

St James Rectory - Colonial

Methodist Church - Greek Revival architecture

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church - Greek Revival architecture

Baptist Church of York

British Wesleyan Methodist Chapel Georgian

St. Paul’s Church

Government

Court of the Quarter Sessions of the Home District

Businesses

Market Block

York's 5th (Toronto's second) Custom House - 1 storey Georgian building

Coffin Block - Georgian

Ontario House Hotel - Georgian

Jesse Ketchum Tannery - Colonial

1st Engine House

York Fire Company

Hook and Ladder Fire Company

Fish Market

City Hotel

Farmers’ Storehouse Company

Crown Inn and Mirror Printing Office

Wil

Schools

Children in York whom could afford an education likely went to grammar schools. Public education wasn't available until the 1840s. The first post-secondary institution, King's College opened in 1827.

Home District Grammar School - Blue School

Upper Canada Central School -founded as Andrew Bell Monitorial School Colonial

Residences

Most of the more elegant homes in Toronto were built for the wealthy and powerful elite of the town.

Widmer House

Berkeley House

Maryville Lodge

St George's House - later as Baldwin House Georgian

Ketchum Family Home - Colonial

Joseph Cawthra Home

Russel Abbey - Colonial

John Sleigh House

Ridout Home Georgian

Arnold House Georgian

McGill Cottage

Hazelburn

Moss Park

Simon Washburn Residence Source: The Town of York Historical Society

Economy

The economy of the town was limited to servicing the needs of the residents of York. Some shops and business did exists after 1800. The town likely was involved in trade of resources like wood and fur. Food was produced locally, but some had to be shipped in from outside of York. Light industries also began to appear in the town:

Freeland's Soap and Candle Factory - foot of Yonge Street

Jesse Ketchum Tannery

Sheldon, Dutcheer and Co Foundry

William Proudfoot Wines and Spirits

Enoch Turner Brewery and Home

Gooderham Distillery James Gooderham Windmill

War

York was attacked by American forces during the War of 1812, pillaged, and partially burned down on April 27, 1813. (For details, please see Battle of York.)

Infrastructure

Transportation

Water

The most important and reliable form transportation in York was by water.
Wharfs were built along the shore to service boats carrying goods and people to and from the town:

Cooper

Feighan

Maitland

Land

Transport to nearby towns and village was by horse and carriage or sleighs during the winter period. Few roads were built in the town and fewer leading out of the town. Most were very poor and wasn't preferred by travellers.
   With the town a number of roads were built along the grid pattern in which York was laid out. For the most part unpaved as transportation was by horse and carriage. There were planked roads from the city built in the latter years.
   Most of York's roads went as far east as the Don River and west to what is today's Dufferin Street, but the key streets were to east of Yonge. The northern boundary was originally Lot Street, until Dundas Street and Bloor Street were built. The southern boundary was Palace Street (Front Street).
   Most of York's street still exists today, a number have been renamed since:
List of streets in York>

Name of Street	Name for	Name changed to	Notes
Bay Street	Toronto Bay
Berkeley Street	home of Sir John Small		Small was Clerk of the Executive Council of Upper Canada, whom lived on Berkerley ; his home in Gloucestershire, England and in York where named Berkeley
Caroline Street	wife of George IV, Caroline of Brunswick	Sherbourne Avenue
Court Street	York County Court House
Church Street	street was home to several churches
Duchess Street	wife of the Duke of York and Albany, Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia	Richmond Street
Duke Street	named for Duke of York, Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany	Adelaide Street
Frederick Street	German name of George IV, George Augustus Frederick
George Street	German name of George IV, George Augustus Frederick
Hospital Street		Richmond Street	ran south of Lot Street from Peter Street to Yonge Street
King Street	George III of the United Kingdom
Leader Lane	name for newspaper, York Leader, located nearby
Lot Street		Queen Street
March Street		Lombard Street
Upper George Street		Victoria Street
Toronto Street	former and future name of York, Toronto
Ontario Street	Ontario
Parliament Street	Parliament of Upper Canada (1797)
Chapel Street	named after Wolford Chapel, where Simcoe is buried?	now Power Street
Mill Street	site of Gooderham and Worts mill	Trinity Street	another street bears the name today
Market Street	St. Lawrence Market	Wellington Street	the current Market Street located to the west of St. Lawrence Market
Newgate Street	named for street in London, England	Adelaide Street
New Street		Jarvis Street
Palace Street	Palace of Parliament	Front Street
Peter Street	Peter Russell (politician)?
Prince's Street	Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany?	Princess Street
Yonge Street	Sir George Yonge

Public transportation in York was in the form of horse drawn stagecoaches.
A few operaters during the period were:

Samuel D. Purdy 1816 - founder of first stagecoach line in Upper Canada from York to Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake)

William Weller 1832 - from Coffin Block to Kingston, Ontario and also operated services in Cobourg, Port Hope, Peterborough, Kingston-Prescott; mayor of Cobourg, Ontario

John Playter 1828-1832 from York to Newmarket

Healthcare

Prior to 1829 there wasn't formal hospital in York. Doctors were available, but more comprehensive medical care was limited. The only medical facility was at St. James’ Church or the military services at For York. Plans for a general hospital began in 1817, but it wasn't until 1829 did the town have hospital (York General Hospital).

Water Supply and Sewage

Prior the mid-19th Century, Toronto's water supply came via wells, not Lake Ontario. It wasn't until after the founding of the City of Toronto did residence have an option for water from the lake and a fully public water system until 1872.
As for sewage and waste, they were likely disposed of into the lake or landfills.

Culture

Little is known what entertainment or cultural events were available to the residents of York.
There were no music or theatres in those days as the population was small. Church-based events, lectures, concerts, travelling performers and other visiting personalities were likely the only source of culture outside of the home. Unofficially taverns, gambling, and racing was available to residents. Public hangings at the Gaol likely a crude form of entertainment.

Sports

There was no professional sports events or clubs in York.
Sporting activities were amateur and seasonal (mostly winter):

skating

sleighing

ice-boating

curling

Public Library

The Mechanics' Institutes opened in 1830 and was the town's first library.

Media

York boast many newspapers, but most folded in a few years of operation �

The Upper Canada Gazette, or American Oracle 1798-1807

York Gazette 1807-1816

Upper Canada Gazette 1821-1826
York Weekly Post 1821-1822, then Weekly Register 1822-1826
United Empire Loyalist 1826-1828
Upper Canada Gazette 1841-1849

The Observer 1820-?

The Colonial Advocate 1824-1833

Advocate 1833-1834
merged with Canadian Correspondent to for Correspondent and Advocate 1834

The Canadian Freeman 1825-1834

Patriot and Farmer's Monitor 1832-1854

merged with Leader 1854

Toronto Daily Express

merged to form Toronto Family Patriot and Express 1850
Patriot bought leader and continue to publish until 1855
as Patriot 1834, then Toronto Patriot 1839
cease publication 1878

Courier of Upper Canada 1829-1837

bought by Paladium of British North America

Christian Guardian 1829-1925

absorbed by Guardian 1925

Sapper and Miner 1832-1833

Canadian Correspondent 1832-1834

merged with Colonial Advocate 1834
bought out by Paladium of British North America 1838

U.C. Land, Mercantile, and General Advertiser 1834-1835

Toronto Recorder and General Mercantile Advertiser 1834-1835

Examiner 1830-1855

End of York

On March 6, 1834, York was incorporated as the City of Toronto. The first mayor of Toronto was William Lyon Mackenzie. However, Toronto was part of the regional division of York County from the late 18th century until the establishment of Metro Toronto in 1954. After 1954, York County was the area north of Steeles Avenue and later renamed York Region in 1971.

Legacy of the name "York"

The York name continues in Toronto. Several neighborhoods or larger districts of the City of Toronto still use the names of former municipalities all named directly or indirectly after the original Town of York:

The Township, then Borough, then City of North York

The Township, then Borough, then City of York

The Township, then Borough of East York

The Village of Yorkville And in addition to a host of minor businesses and street names, these "York" names are well known:

York University, in North York

The Fairmont Royal York Hotel, downtown

"Muddy York", a nickname for the city

Royal York Road and subway station, in Etobicoke

York Mills Road and subway station, in North York

Yorkdale shopping mall and subway station, in North York

North York Centre subway station, in North York

York Street, downtown

Old Fort York, the former garrison of the city, now a historic site Outside of Toronto, major roads and highways in neighboring communities that lead to Toronto still bear the name 'York,' such as Highway 7 in Guelph, called York Road within the city limits

Further Information

Get more info on 'York Upper Canada'.

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