The Post Office in to 1901

Prepared for PHILATELIC SPECIALISTS SOCIETY OF CANADA September 18, 2019 © Garfield Portch FRPSC 2019 The Post Office in York Significant Dates

• 1793, May 31: Simcoe arrived at the Harbour of Toronto • 1793, Aug 26: town renamed York • 1797: Population of York was 241 (115 male, 97 female, 29 single male) • 1797 York became the Capital of Upper Canada • 1797 William Willcocks became the first postmaster in York • 1799: Postal service requested between York and Niagara • 1800, March 6: Land service between Montreal and York announced • 1801, Dec 19: Wm. Willcocks resigned in favour of William Allen • 1806 Donald McLean became postmaster • 1808 William Allen re-appointed postmaster William Willcocks, York’s First Postmaster • WILLCOCKS, WILLIAM, colonizer, merchant, judge, and office holder; b. January 1735/36, probably in Cork (Republic of Ireland), son of Charles Willcocks and Margaret Russell; m. c. 1760 Phoebe Jackson of Birr (County Offaly), and they had eight children; d. 7 Jan. 1813 in York (Toronto), Upper Canada. • Resigned 1801 • http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/willcocks_w illiam_5E.html

1798 February 11

York, U.C. to London, England prior to establishment of a post office at York. Carried outside the mails to England carried as a ship letter a Bristol and rated 1/3 (stg) collect. The letter is from John White, Attorney General of Upper Canada who was the first man killed in a duel in York in 1800. Provenance: Gems of Canadian Philately, Capex 96 – Allan Steinhart

William Allen, York’s 2nd Postmaster

• 1801 succeeded Wm. Willcocks as postmaster at York • Part of group founding Bank of Upper Canada • Chairman of Canada Company • Closely associated with the Family Compact

• Portrait from Toronto Public Library

1803 March 20 (Kimmo Salonen collection) York’s First Post Office

• Opened in 1815 by William Allen • East side of Frederick Street between King and Front Streets • Building demolished Brockville to York

• Posted at Brockville October 8, 1823 • To the Receiver General at York • Rated 10d (stg) or 11d (cy) for a single page travelling 201 to 300 miles James Scott Howard: York’s 4th Postmaster

• Born in Ireland September 2, 1798 • Emigrated to Fredericton in 1819 • Moved to York in 1819 assisting William Allen, Postmaster, Customs collector and Treasurer • July 1828 became Postmaster of York

Illustration from Town of York Historical Society website York’s Second Post Office

• 1828 to 1830 • South side of Adelaide Street between Jarvis and George Streets • Building demolished 1828 Nov 3 Straight Line Early Mail to Lieutenant Governor

• Posted at London, England November 11, 1828 • To Major General Sir John Colborne (Lieutenant Governor, Upper Canada, appointed in August 1828) • Rated 2/2 (sterling) London to Halifax via Falmouth Packet equal to 2/5 (currency) plus 1/8 (cy) Halifax to Quebec plus 1/6 (cy) Quebec to York. Total 5/7 (cy) to be paid. York’s Third Post Office

• 1830 to 1833 • West side of George Street south of Adelaide Street East • Building demolished Domestic Mail from York

• Posted at York, July 10, 1830 • To London, • Rated 9d currency for a single letter travelling 101 to 200 miles

• This is the earliest recorded use of this hammer Expanding Needs of the Post Office

• 1833 population of York was 9,000 • The postmaster was responsible for premises, hiring and paying clerks, and purchasing supplies • Howard needed new premises • March 1833 Howard entered negotiations with the Bank of Upper Canada (William Allen, President) for wooded property on Duke Street immediately east of the bank

• Bank of Upper Canada York’s Fourth Post Office • Property purchased by James Scott Howard from the Bank of Upper Canada • Private family residence on upper floor and east end • Post Office at the west end on the main floor • The new Post Office included a reading room, fireplace, tables, chairs and writing supplies. • Open 8 a.m.to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and one hour Sunday morning for church goers

Franking Privilege for Postmasters

• Posted at York December 5, 1833, December 5 • Single folded letter • Handstamped FREE as the addressee, F.S. Walsh, was Postmaster at Vittoria March 6, 1834 Toronto incorporated as CITY OF TORONTO

York’s 4th post office becomes Toronto’s first post office The Post Office in Toronto James Scott Howard, Postmaster 1834 - 1837 1834 Postal Service

• Toronto population 9256 • Mail service between Kingston and Toronto was twice per week with 22 stops en route. • By 1837 mail was arriving and leaving Toronto 6 days per week. • Expensive to mail a single sheet letter: 4½ pence for a single letter up to 60 miles, 7 pence for 60 to 100 miles and 9 pence for 100 to 200 miles • Comparison: milk 3½ pence per quart and eggs 3 pence per dozen Late Use of YORK Hand Stamp

• Posted at Toronto May 10, 1834 • Single letter with FREE franking to F.S. Walsh • The YORK handstamp continued in use as the TORONTO handstamps were not yet available 1834 Drop Letter

• Posted at Toronto July 4, 1834 • Continued late use of the YORK handstamp • This is the latest use I have observed • Rated 1 penny as a drop letter, carried by favour from Niagara

• from the collection of Kimmo Salonen CITY of TORONTO / U.C. Handstamp

• Posted at Toronto November 13, 1834 • Early use of TORONTO handstamp (ERD Sep 5/34) • Impression continues in red • Rated FREE as the addressee was the postmaster at Queenston Adolphus Egerton Ryerson

• Methodist minister, educator and publisher • Advocate of good schooling for all • Ally of MacKenzie for political reform • Appointed Chief Superintendant for Education in Upper Canada in 1844

Illustration from Wikipedia

Letter to Egerton Ryerson 1835, January 13 London, England to Toronto

1835: Continuing Expansion

• 1835 Howard moved his family to ‘Olive Grove’ (near the present Yonge & St. Clair • Additional space at Duke Street became available for expanded postal operations • Post Office staff of six. • Howard offered position of Post Office Surveyor of Upper Canada. • He declined and the position was given to Charles Albert Berczy (postmaster at Amherstburg since 1829) CITY of TORONTO / U.C. Toronto Type 1

• May 27, 1836 • Impression continues in red • TOO LATE is Jarrett type 762 William Lyon MacKenzie

• Born March 12, 1795 • Owner of The Colonial Advocate • Agitator for political reform • First mayor of Toronto • Opposed Family Compact • Opposed Lt. Gov. Bond Head • Led rebellion in December 1837

Illustration from Wikipedia Sir Francis Bond Head

• Accidental Lt. Governor of Upper Canada • Opposed W.L. MacKenzie • Quietly opposed James Scott Howard • Appointed Charles Berczy as Post Office Surveyor (to spy on Howard)

Illustration from John Ross Robertson Library CITY of TORONTO / U.C. 1837, December 20 PAID 7 to the border then 10¢ collect US postage (Kimmo Salonen collection) 1837: Rebellion in Upper Canada • Wm. Lyon Mackenzie led the rebels against The Family Compact • Compact led by Archbishop supported by Lt.- Governor Sir Francis Bond Head and the families running the Bank of Upper Canada • Howard and the post office remained absolutely neutral • Berczy posted to Toronto Post Office as a spy • Berczy opened mail and accused Howard of being part of the rebellion • 1837, December 13: Howard dismissed as postmaster and began a lawsuit to prove his innocence (that is another story) • 1838, April: Berczy appointed Toronto postmaster Family Compact Elite Members 1838: News of Rebels

• Toronto was the capital of Upper Canada • MPP John Fowler writing to the Editor of the Bytown Gazette • Mackenzie in prison is U.S.A.; rebels scattered from Navy Island; Bond Head to be replaced

Historical Content of Letter • Mackenzie in jail in Buffalo • Rebels have scattered • Navy Island no longer occupied by rebels • Samuel Lount arrested and held in Toronto • Bond Head to be replaced as Lt-Governor • Replacement to be Sir George Arthur Historical Footnotes • December 1837 Howard launched an appeal to reverse his dismissal. • When the appeal was denied, Berczy relocated the post office to Yonge and Front Streets. • Howard rented the vacant post office premises to Dominique Checkini and his wife who were ballet dancers who used the premises for dance instruction studios. • In 1841 Howard sold the building to hardware merchant Thomas Harris for a private residence. 1838, March 22

• Late use of red Toronto handstamp • Permission for use of red expired with Howard’s dismissal TFPO has been restored to an operating post office and historical site The Post Office in Toronto Charles Albert Berczy, Postmaster 1838 - 1853

Charles Albert Berczy • Replaced Howard as postmaster of Toronto in April 1838 • Continued to spy and run a series of 13 secret agents • Director of the Bank of Upper Canada, 1840 – 43 • President of Consumers’ Gas Light & Water Company (1846- 56) • W.H. Griffin report “never

Photo from John Ross Robertson Library distinguished himself” • Suicide in 1858

2nd Toronto Post Office, 1839 to 1845 Front St. west of Yonge (facing Yonge) (John Ross Robertson Library) General Changes in 1840s

• By the end of the 1840s Toronto population was 21,000+ • 3 clerks on duty • 1 letter carrier, John McClosky • Prepaid charges marked in red • Unpaid letters marked in black Handstamp in Black

• October 18, 1839 • Toronto to Kingston • Receiving mark reverts to black as permission for red was not extended to Berczy • My earliest example of black marking for the John S. Cartwright represented Lennox & Addington in receiver and “TOO the 13th Parliament of Upper Canada and again in the 1st Parliament of the Province of Canada. LATE” Steamboat Mail • June 5, 1841: Posted at Niagara on board a cross-lake steamer (likely The Transit) • Received at Toronto the same day • Rated 4½ pence (unpaid) for single letter less than 60 miles • If by land the rate would have been 7 pence Money Letter

• 1841, June 5 • “Cash” – forerunner of Registered Mail • Contained a cheque as noted on the reverse • Rated 1/6 which is double the 9d rate for a single letter travelling 100 – 300 miles • Note italic “TOO LATE” Late Mailing

• December 18, 1841 • TOO LATE in black • manuscript marking indicates mail held until Dec. 22 • Train to Guelph was a twice weekly service 1840, May 6: Toronto to Yorkshire

Letter originating at Toll Gate 5 (Bloor near Bathurst) “Mackenzie is got liberated from jail he has not only got his liberation but like with a pardon from the U. States and is running at large” The Canada Company

• April 12, 1842 • Toronto to Kingston • Canada Company – a large land gathering operation located on Frederick Street. Cross Border / Paid to the Lines

• December 16, 1842 • New double split ring hammer (ERD Sep 1/42) • “CITY OF” dropped from hammer • Paid to the Lines 6d (stg) or 7 pence (cy) – likely carried cross lake to Queenston (approx. 80 miles) • 25¢ from Lewiston to Hartford (approx. 471 miles) Re-directed Mail

• January 3, 1845 • Worthing, England to York Mills • Received at Toronto and FORWARDED with MORE TO PAY 3rd Toronto Post Office, 1845 to 1852 Wellington St. E. near Leader Lane (John Ross Robertson Library) TORONTO / U.C.

• April 26, 1847 • Around 1841 Toronto received its 2nd Too Late handstamp used for about 10 years.

4½ pence covered the rate from Toronto to Queenston by water then to Drummondville (later Niagara Falls South) by land with the total distance being less than 60 miles. Money Letter

• December 4, 1847 • Money Letter is the forerunner of Registered Mail • Enclosed letter indicates mortgage payment of £17 and 19 shillings

Rated 11½ pence for ½ ounce travelling 300+ miles TORONTO • CANADA

• May 19, 1850 TORONTO • CANADA

• November 18, 1851 • Handstamp 3D • Both markings still in use at May 26, 1852 TORONTO • CANADA / PAID

• December 17, 1851 • Impression red to indicate prepaid 1852 Report of PMG The End of Charles Berczy • While holding postmaster’s position Berczy carried on many other activities • Director of the Bank of Upper Canada (1840-43) • President of the Toronto Building Society • Founder and shareholder of Toronto, Simcoe, and Lake Huron Union Rail-Road Company • In 1848 he became first president of the newly created Consumers’ Gas Company of Toronto • In 1851 he headed a joint-stock company that bought the City of Toronto Gas Light and Water Company which defaulted on its mortgage and was repossessed • Dismissed as postmaster in 1853 • Death by suicide on June 9, 1858

The Post Office in Toronto Joseph Lesslie, Postmaster 1853 - 1879

4th Toronto Post Office, 1853 to 1873 West side of Toronto Street at King (Argus Corp.) (John Ross Robertson Library) Joseph Lesslie, 3rd Postmaster of Toronto

• Business partner with Wm. Lyon Mackenzie • Political appointment • Became postmaster in 1853 • Father was PM in Dundas

• https://www.flickr.com/photos/dundas museum/7591469454

Major Changes During Lesslie’s Term • 1856 – railway mail service introduced • 1859 – street mail boxes added • 1859 – Canada switched to decimal currency • Letter carriers provided with cash for public transit fares for both delivery and pickup of mail • 1875 Order in Council decreed free mail delivery in 11 cities including Toronto

TORONTO / U.C.

• June 13, 1854 • No periods in UC • Introduction of fancy “3”

TORONTO / UC

• September 16, 1854 • 7-ring obliterator

TORONTO / C.W.

• January 31, 1855 (ERD) • Year determined by receiver or contents • Still in use May 29, 1857

TORONTO.C.W. / Paid

• September 15, 1855 • Markings in red (prepaid) • PAID 3 handstamp

1856 October

The Grand Trunk Railway between Montreal and Toronto is completed. Map credit: A History of Canadian R.P.O.s by Lionel Gillam Mail by Rail, October 28, 1856 • October 28 notice in The Daily Globe announced that mail to the east and beyond would be dispatched by the Grand Trunk Railway. • The only known photo of the first Toronto Union Station (1858) • Source: Toronto’s Railway Heritage

GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY MAIL TRAIN (source unknown) 1858 Introduction of Split Ring Handstamps TORONTO / U.C. JU 15, 1858 TORONTO / ONT OC 29 1873

TORONTO / C.W. AU 3, 1860 TORONTO / ONT. MY 27, 1883

TORONTO / U.C.

• June 15, 1858 • Toronto was the Seat of Government from 1855 to 1859 • Free franking from the Office of the Receiver General • This is the earliest recorded use of the U.C. Split Ring hand stamp Street Mail Boxes, July 25, 1859 TORONTO.C.W. / PAID

• September 17, 1863 • Handstamp PAID 5 TORONTO / C.W

• September 24, 1863 • Handstamp 1CT for drop letter rate • Have April 8, 1862 copy TORONTO / C.W

• November 21, 1863 • Diamond grid obliterator TORONTO / C.W Toronto Type 10

• Coincidence? • February 24, 1864 to Mr. George Douglas, Manilla, CW • September 14, 1864 to Mr. James Douglas, Owen Sound, CW TORONTO / C.W

• November 16, 1864 • Same hammer as type 10 but struck in red • Handstamp PAID 10 for double weight letter 1867: Scarifying Grid Cancel

• In January 1867 Toronto began to use hammers that punched three holes into the stamp providing permanent defacing even if the ink was washed off. • According to Geoffrey Whitworth (Maple Leaves, January 1976, page 334) the Type A hammer was a 21 mm diameter metal device with seven bars. The middle bar was lowered and three pins inserted 4.75 mm apart with their tips just above the level of the bars. On early covers the pins penetrated the paper but by July the points had worn off and only three round smudges of ink were left on the stamp.

TORONTO / C.W

• November 19, 1868 • Similar to type 11 hammer with A.M or P.M. added to indicia • Discarded to replace C.W. with ONT 1869: Introduction of “Fancy 2s” Image courtesy of Dr. Alec Globe 5th Toronto Post Office, 1873 to 1958 Adelaide St. E. at the head of Toronto St. (John Ross Robertson Library) 5th Toronto Post Office on Post Cards The Post Office in Toronto Thomas Charles Patteson, Postmaster 1879 - 1907

Thomas Charles Patteson

• Founder of Ontario Jockey Club • Lawyer and good friend and political ally of John A. Macdonald • Was owner of The Mail, later bankrupt and sold to The Globe • Financially rescued by Macdonald when appointed Postmaster of Toronto • Lesslie was retired with a pension of $2500 • The Globe editorial: “there are many who will look upon it as disgraceful that the country should be put to this additional expense simply that a place may be found for some needy friend of the government.” Major Changes in Toronto in the 1880’s • 1881 population was 86,400 which increased to 180,000 by the end of the decade • Follis Johnston was contracted to collect mail from 70 street mail boxes • Several Post Offices opened outside the city limits included Downsview, Elia, Norway, Doncaster, Deer Park and others • Toronto annexed several nearby communities such as Parkdale, Brockton, Yorkville, Davisville and Riverside • Regulation required that every letter for Toronto should “bear name, street and number, no matter how well known the name may be.” Duplex Postmarks

Proof Strikes ERD 1884 07 24 Experimental Postmark (dotted inner ring) ERD 1886 July 25 LRD 1886 Nov 24 Orb Postmarks

2 ring (ERD July 1891) 3 ring Squared Circle Postmarks

Precursor (ERD 1892 JA 20) Squared Circle (ERD 1893 JU 23) Bickerdike Machine Cancels (1897)

Flags Slogans TORONTO UNION STATION

The Post Office that Didn’t Exist Only known photo, 1858 Toronto Planning Map 1857 1869 Contract

• April 27, 1869 • Post Office & Grand Trunk Railway • Para. 7 “A convenient room to be provided at the Montreal and Toronto stations for the accommodation of an officer of the Post Office to be stationed at each of those points.” Toronto’s 2nd Union Station Built and owned by the Grand Trunk Railway. Opened July 1, 1873 at the south-west corner of and York Street Toronto Union Station

Post Card mailed at Union Station Hand Stamp and Proof

Toronto Union Station

Letter mailed at Union Station Hand Stamp and Proof

THE EXPANSION OF THE POST OFFICE IN TORONTO 1880 - 1899 1881, Branch Offices Established • Toronto West at Queen & Bathurst • Toronto North at Carlton & Yonge • at Queen and Parliament Toronto West Branch Office • Opened in 1881 in Johnston’s grocery store at 586 West (at Bathurst) • PM – Follis Johnston • Renamed Bathurst Street in 1886 Toronto East Branch Office Opened 1881 at Queen Street East and Parliament in Price’s grocery store. PM George Giles but succeeded in September 1882 by W.C.Price. Renamed Queen Street East in 1886 Toronto North Branch Office Opened in 1881 in Jeffrey’s drug store at N/E corner of Yonge and Carlton Streets. PM was Andrew Jeffrey. Renamed Carleton Street in 1886

Parkdale, annexed 1889 • Established in 1878 as PARKDALE ONTARIO • North side of Queen St. W. at Cowan • PM - Thomas Coles

Brockton • Established in 1858 as Lippincott • Renamed after annexation in 1885 • 624 Dundas St. (west of Dufferin St. in J.R. Hills’ grocery • PM – J.R. Hills

May 6, 1892, 1¢ domestic post card Riverside Branch – annexed April 1, 1893 • Previously known as Don Mount • Used Toronto markings as early as December 22, 1891 • Wellsman’s jewellery store at 776 Queen Street East (near Boulton St.) • PM – C.A. Wellsman

January 6, 1892, 1¢ domestic post card Duplex date stamp with “5” in obliterator

Yorkville – annexed February 1, 1895 • Originally opened in 1851 • Dobson’s stationery store at 856 (just north of Yorkville Ave.) • PM – Miss Sarah Dobson

May 6, 1895, 1¢ domestic post card Duplex date stamp with “4” in obliterator

Bathurst Street • Previously Toronto West • Renamed in 1886 • PM – Follis Johnston

October 22, 1888, 3¢ domestic letter rate , • Previously Carleton Street

• Opened Feb 1, 1892 at Yonge & Gerrard

• PM - W.B. Montgomery • Relocated in 1894 and renamed Elm Street

July 7, 1892, 1¢ domestic post card Elm Street • Previously Gerrard Street • Jan 1, 1894, relocated to Boyle’s drug store at 551 Yonge Street • PM – W.B. Montgomery West Toronto Junction • Opened June 1, 1884 • 17 (near Keele St) • PM – John S. Kirkwood

March 5, 1885, 3¢ letter rate to the U.S.A. Earliest recorded strike of West Toronto Junction handstamp Bleeker Street • Opened December 7, 1886 in Jacques’ grocery store • 199 Wellesley St. at Bleecker St. • PM – Mrs. Eliza Newton

June 27, 1888, 3¢ pays domestic letter rate Note brass CDS + rubber oval parcel handstamp Bleecker Street • Spelling corrected in 1889 • No change in location or PM

December 10, 1892, 3¢ pays the domestic letter rate Dundas Street • Opened December 7, 1886 in Hudgin’s grocery at 154 Dundas Street West (corner of Foxley St.) • PM – A. Hudgin

November 3, 1899 PM, 3¢ pays domestic letter rate • Opened December 7, 1886 • 160 Spadina Avenue at Queen • PM – Joseph Reading

October 5, 1899 PM, 1¢ domestic post card Peter Street • Opened May 8, 1888 • Postal outlet only at 357 Queen Street West at Peter Street • PM – J.L. Bird

July 6, 1888, 1¢ drop letter rate Note the carrier marking • Opened November 17, 1870 • Gilpin’s drug store at 552 Bloor Street West near Bathurst Street • PM – Wm. H Gilpin

January 4, 1894 PM, 3¢ domestic letter rate Rusholme Road • Opened November 17, 1890 • Stevenson’s drug store at 982 Bloor Street West near Dovercourt • PM – Seth B. Stevenson

November 27, 1890 PM, 8¢ domestic registered letter rate Registration indicated by “R” in oval Parliament Street • Opened August 1, 1891 • Bourne’s drug store at 491 Parliament Street (near Carlton St.) • PM – C.H. Couen

April 20, 1894, 1¢ domestic post card Strachan Avenue • Opened January 1, 1892 • W.J. King’s grocery store at 852 West (at Strachan Ave.) • PM – Wm. Calhoun

April 20, 1894, 1¢ post card to the U.S.A. Squared circle hand stamp York Street • Opened August 1, 1892 • F.W. Nye & Co. stationery store in the Prince George Hotel at 137 King Street West (at York St.) • PM – F.W. Nye

November 21, 1892, 2¢ drop letter rate Earliest recorded use of this circular date stamp St. Joseph Street • Opened March 1, 1893 • Worden’s drug store at 918 Yonge Street (corner of St. Joseph St.) • PM – H.P. Withers • Renamed Carlton Street in 1899

January 21, 1895, 1¢ domestic post card North Toronto • Opened September 1, 1893 • W.V. Cook.s drug store at 1196 Yonge Street (near Price St.) • PM –W.V. Cook

February 27, 1894, 1¢ domestic post card Earliest recorded date for this split ring hand stamp Broadview Avenue • Opened November 1, 1893 • Sneath’s drug store at 367 Broadview Avenue (near Gerrard St.) • PM – Dr. C. Sneath

October 4, 1897, 3¢ domestic letter rate Clinton Street • Opened November 1, 1893 • Gilpin’s drug store at 326 (near Clinton St.) • PM – P.L. Boswell

July 24, 1894, 3¢ domestic letter rate Pape Avenue • Opened February 15, 1896 • Morgan & Robinson grocery store at 1048 Queen Street East (at Pape Ave.) • PM – W.H. Morgan

October 26, 1898, 3¢ domestic letter rate Lee Avenue • Opened July 1, 1896 • Smith’s grocery store at 2172 Queen Street East (near Lee Ave.) • PM – A.N. Smith

May 9, 1910, 7¢ registered letter rate to the U.K. Carlton Street • Previously St. Joseph Street • Continued in Worden’s drug store at 918 Yonge Street • PM – H.P. Withers (unchanged)

June 1, 1899 PM, 2¢ domestic letter rate What / Where is the ENQUIRY OFFICE?

1895 Nov 18 1896 Jan 8 End of the Victorian Period

• When the rapid cancelling machines entered service in Toronto in 1897 the smaller offices were required to send their mail to a central postal station for processing. • In 1900 the first postal station was established in Toronto beginning the system of stations and sub post offices operating in Toronto today.