Photograph of Elgin Mills and Yonge Street looking south on Yonge, ca. 1900
A sawmill was built in 1842 by Mr. Heslop on Lot 50, Concession 1 (lands northeast of Elgin Mills and Bathurst). This sawmill was soon joined by a flour mill, a cooper shop which made barrels to ship flour, a hoop and stave factory, a tannery, a brickyard and a blacksmith shop.
In 1850, the Markham, Elgin Mills Plank Road Company was formed with M. Teefy acting as Secretary-Treasurer. There was a toll bar set up at Elgin Mills and tolls were collected until 1896. Soon after it was built, some young adults were returning home late in the evening with their team and sleigh. It was too late for someone to let them through the gate, so they removed the bells from their horses, lifted the gate off its hinges and passed through, considering it as a great adventure.
The post office at Elgin Mills was established in 1900, with the first known postmaster being Michael Naughton (1900-07). Others have included John Naughton, Leonard Rainey, William H. Espby, Mrs. Espby, Mrs. A.F. Rogers and Leo Madden. The post office was closed on September 23, 1961.
City of Vaughan Archives: MG 5
Photograph of Elgin Mills and Yonge Street looking south on Yonge, ca. 1900
A sawmill was built in 1842 by Mr. Heslop on Lot 50, Concession 1 (lands northeast of Elgin Mills and Bathurst). This sawmill was soon joined by a flour mill, a cooper shop which made barrels to ship flour, a hoop and stave factory, a tannery, a brickyard and a blacksmith shop.
In 1850, the Markham, Elgin Mills Plank Road Company was formed with M. Teefy acting as Secretary-Treasurer. There was a toll bar set up at Elgin Mills and tolls were collected until 1896. Soon after it was built, some young adults were returning home late in the evening with their team and sleigh. It was too late for someone to let them through the gate, so they removed the bells from their horses, lifted the gate off its hinges and passed through, considering it as a great adventure.
The post office at Elgin Mills was established in 1900, with the first known postmaster being Michael Naughton (1900-07). Others have included John Naughton, Leonard Rainey, William H. Espby, Mrs. Espby, Mrs. A.F. Rogers and Leo Madden. The post office was closed on September 23, 1961.
City of Vaughan Archives: MG 5