The History of 592 Oriole Parkway

592 Oriole Parkway 1919-1920 At the time being used as the Hunt Club clubhouse

• 1820’s – James Lesslie comes to Canada with his brothers on the same ship as , first mayor of Toronto and leader of the Rebellion. He eventually establishes himself in Kingston, .

• 1830’s – As a result of his association with Mackenzie, Lesslie becomes involved in the .

• 1840’s – James Lesslie owns successful newspaper and stationary businesses. He also helps to establish a thriving bank/insurance company.

• 1853 (circa) - James Lesslie purchases a 28-acre farm in the village of Eglinton from reform associate, James Hervey Price. Lesslie retires to this farm, builds a new house, and names the estate “The Willows.” James Lesslie maintains it as a working farm complete with livestock, reportedly peacocks, and a good-sized orchard. He becomes heavily involved with this north Toronto community, and founded the Eglinton YMCA.

• 1871 – John J. Gartshore now resides with James and his wife, Jacqueline Lesslie (nee Jamieson). Gartshore was born in Dundas, Ontario and was the cousin of Jacqueline Lesslie. John manages “The Willows” estate. He also manages the Toronto Car Wheel Company.

• 1880 – John J. Gartshore marries Helen Burton in Redhill, Surrey, England.

• 1883 – John J. Gartshore starts a railway equipment sales company.

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• 1885 April 19th – James Lesslie passes away. John Gartshore inherits “The Willows”, its livestock, bees, farm implements etc. He is expected to run the farm, maintain the buildings, pay the taxes and other bills as well as receiving any profits garnered from it. Gartshore was to receive the entire assets of the estate including the land and buildings, upon the death of Jacqueline Lesslie.

• 1889–1895 – Sometime during this period John Gartshore builds himself a more substantial house on “The Willows” estate in order to accommodate his growing family, which now included 5 children. He names the new estate house “Willowbank.” He, from various accounts, took in retired missionaries there and, like Lesslie, Gartshore became heavily involved with the YMCA.

On present-day Avenue Rd., a curve runs between Eglinton Ave. West and Willowbank Blvd. Young says according to her uncle, that curve is there because it was part of the property owned by her great-grandfather John J. Gartshore. The curve, apparently, is the original barn road from the property. The story goes that when the city bought the land it didn’t bother straightening the old road – hence the bend. From: North Toronto Today: The Spring Edition 2009

• 1904 – Acetylene gas explosion causes substantial damage to the house, in the amount of $12,000. The house, according to one newspaper report, was “destroyed.”

• 1919 – John Gartshore sells “Willowbank” to George W. Beardmore, President of The Toronto Hunt Club. The club uses the house as their clubhouse. They remodel it, which included installing two dining rooms and renovating the kitchens. The initials THC were sandblasted into the glass of the front door. These initials became redundant three years later as the organization changed its name to The Eglinton Hunt Club.

• 1924 – George W. Beardmore sells “Willowbank,” which initially was known as 590 Oriole Parkway but soon became 592, to Lieutenant Colonel George G. Mitchell. Mitchell was the President of the Toronto Stock Exchange from 1925 to 1927. He was also the President of the Manufacturers Life Insurance Company.

• 1932 – St. Georges United Church dedicates its chapel to John J. Gartshore, it becomes the “Gartshore Chapel.”

• 1933 – John J. Gartshore passes away at his home at 57 Foxbar Road in Toronto.

• 1938 – George G. Mitchell passes away. His wife Zulu Mitchell remains in the home for approximately one year.

• 1940-1943 – John R. Mitchell, one of the executors of the estate of George G Mitchell, makes changes to the house. The house remains vacant for three years while the estate is probated, and renovations occur.

• 1943 – House is now split into four units, occupied by: William Palca, furrier; Jack Wechsler, who worked for William Palca; Neta Green, a social worker; and Bessie Touzel, executive secretary for the Welfare Council of Toronto.

• 1969 – Contractor/builder purchases 592 Oriole Parkway. Makes changes to the house.