Discover Toronto's history as told through its plaques
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Alexander Wood 1772-1844
Photos and transcription by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted April, 2007
Walking north on Church Street from Carlton Street you will first come to Wood Street then Alexander Street, both named after this gentleman whose statue graces the northwest corner of Church and Alexander. Below this statue of Alexander Wood, sculptured by Del Newbigging, is a set of three plaques. Here's what the plaques, erected by the Church/Wellesley Village BIA Monument Committee, say:
Coordinates: 43.663681 -79.380190 |
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Militia Officer, Businessman, Public Servant, Justice of the Peace, Gay Pioneer
Alexander Wood came to Canada in 1793, settled in York in 1797 and started a mercantile business, one of only three stores in York at that time. Within a year he was a lieutenant in the York Militia; he was appointed magistrate in 1800 and by 1805 was a Commissioner for the Court of Requests (a senior planning officer). He was involved in a homophobic scandal in 1810 and fled to Scotland, but in two years he was back in Canada and resumed his duties. In spite of ridicule and discrimination he had a successful career in public service: he was on the executive of nearly every society in York, often as treasurer; he was manager of several businesses and acted for clients in land transactions. Wood died in 1844 at the age of seventy-two while in Scotland. The British Colonist paper called him one of Toronto's "most respected inhabitants".
1810 The Scandal
In 1810, a woman reporting a rape to Magistrate Wood, said she had scratched her rapist. Wood inspected several suspects privately, requiring them to undress. To avoid the scandal caused by his unconventional behaviour, Wood fled to Scotland. After two years he returned to Canada but suffered ridicule and discrimination for the rest of his life.
1826 Molly Wood's Bush
"Molly" was a derogatory name for a gay man. In 1826, when Alexander Wood purchased fifty acres of land east of Yonge Street, north of Carlton Street in York (Toronto), it was rudely referred to as Molly Wood's Bush. It is now Toronto's gay village. Three Streets in the area are named for its founder: Alexander Street, Wood Street and Alexander Place.
Related webpages
Alexander Wood
York
Toronto's gay village
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Here are the visitors' comments for this page.
> Posted April 28, 2010
Alexander Wood was a gay HERO--he was run out of town, but fought back against the BIGOTS, came back to Toronto and led a successful, happy, and victorious life.
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