Humewood

Photo by the City of Toronto - Posted October, 2011

Photo and transcription by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted October, 2011

Attached to this westbound St. Clair Avenue West transit shelter at Christie Street is this City of Toronto plaque. Here's what it says:

Plaque coordinates: 43.681661 -79.426119

The prominence of the Blake family attracted residents to this neighbourhood after William Hume Blake built the Humewood Estate in the 1860s. He emigrated from Ireland in 1832, and attempted surgery and divinity prior to becoming a lawyer. He supported Baldwin's principles of responsible government and was elected into legislative assembly in 1847. His distinguished career, reforming the Court of Chancery, is accompanied by those of his sons, Dominick Edward and Samuel Hume. Edward served as Ontario's second Premier from 1871-1872, then led the Federal Liberals, playing a key role in bringing down the government of Sir John A. Macdonald during the Pacific Railroad Scandal.
After a fire, the Humewood estate was divided, and acquired by a women's group and St. Thomas Church to serve unwed mothers. In an era when pregnancy outside of marriage was considered to be shameful, Humewood House opened its doors in 1912 to be a safe, welcoming and caring environment to assist with the transition into parenthood. Over the years, its progressive mandate continued to help women face issues of relationships, family and health. They may arrive alone, scared and unprepared but many leave with new found confidence, to be contributing members of their community.

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Posted April 4, 2014
The photo of the transit shelter looks quite modern. I remember riding on the St. Clair line as a small child. The driver used to call out the names of the stops back then and each driver would put his own inflection into the call. I particularly remember him calling out "Spadeeeenaaaah!" at Spadina. One time I left my little 'Peter Rabbit' book on the streetcar on the way to visit my grandmother who lived on Humewood Court in 1943. If you ever find it I'd like it back! It's been over 70 years and I'm still ticked off about losing that book. Ha! Ha!
Jim, Mississuga

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