Discover Toronto's history as told through its plaques

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The McCowan Log House

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted August, 2007

William McCowan, a bachelor, lived for 54 years in this log cabin. Now at Thomson Memorial Park, 1007 Brimley Road, it was moved here in 1974. A Scarborough Historical Society plaque beside the cabin has this to say:

Coordinates: 43.757527 -79.254642

Click here for a larger map

This cabin was built about 1830 in the northeast part of Scarborough and was moved to its present site by the Scarborough Historical Society in 1974.
From 1848 until his death, it was occupied by William Porteous McCowan (1820-1902) who had come to Canada in 1833 with his parents, Margaret Porteous and James McCowan. A coalmaster of Lesmahagow Parish, Scotland, the McCowan family, including four sons and four daughters, settled near the Scarborough Bluffs east of the present McCowan Road.
"Uncle Willie" McCowan narrowly escaped death by cholera which claimed his father and brother the same night in 1834. A bachelor, "Uncle Willie" was succeeded as owner by his nephew James McCowan.
Janet Purdie McCowan, a founding member of the Scarborough Historical Society, contributed generously to the cabin's restoration.

Other plaques at this location
Rhoda Skinner Scarborough Pioneer
The Thomson Settlement
Cornell House

Related webpage
cholera

More
Residential buildings

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

> Posted March 17, 2016
Hi, My name is Susan Ballauer. I'm the great granddaughter of John McCowan. My mother was Christine Ann McCowan. I would love if someone could send me information regarding my family and the history of my family.
Thank you. [email protected]

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