Islington Village

 place with historical importance, neighbourhood

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A Brief History of Islington Village

Islington’s first settlers, George and Mary Johnson, made the arduous journey to the area - originally called Mimico - from Pennsylvania in the late 1700’s. Their land grant originally fronting on Dundas Street was later exchanged for one on Kilpling Avenue between Bloor Street and Burnhamthorpe Road.

Some of George and Mary's descendents still live in Etobicoke and various branches of their family built four Islington homes which are still standing: 66 Burnhamthorpe Road, 1100, 1078 and 1056 Kipling Avenue. As an aside, the current owners of 1078 Kipling are planning a birthday party for their house which is 150 years old this year. (They have the papers to prove it!)

While Mimico Creek at Islington was a factor in attracting settlers, of much greater importance was Dundas Street which, in primitive conditions, was in existence in the early 1800’s and extended into York (now Toronto) as well as westward for many miles.

Islington's first school house was built on the corner of the Johnson property on Burnhamthorpe Road. In 1832 a regular public school was built on the site which is now Islington Seniors’ Centre. In 1883 the school’s trustees replaced that building with a larger one located just south of Dundas, on the west side of Cordova Avenue. Remembered as ‘the little red schoolhouse”, it had buff brick trim, double doors, skylights and a handsome belfry.

By 1915 the school population had expanded and a frame edition was required. A new six room school with auditorium, playroom, drinking fountains and indoor plumbing was opened in 1921. Over the years the school has further expanded and remodeled and is today known as Islington Community School at 44 Cordova.

Transportation links aided Islington’s development. In 1879 Canning Avenue (now Cordova) was built to connect Islington’s village centre, at Dundas and Canning/Cordova, with the new railway station at Bloor and Islington. The new road gave the community’s market gardeners and farmers easier access goods and supplies. The railway allowed daily commuters to into Toronto by train.

Some of Islington’s early buildings still stand. St. Georges On-the-Hill was originally built between 1844 and 1847. Islington’s Post Office once operated from the back parlour of the postmaster’s house at 4884 Dundas (now home to three new businesses: Mashino Fashion Accessories, Mekong Gifts, Aromas & Accessories and GG Aesthetics). The Fox ‘n Fiddle was the site of Islington’s first church; then the first township hall and library; and then the District Police Headquarters in 1957.

In 1830 Thomas Montgomery erected a large, stone Inn on the hill east of Mimico Creek. In the early days, the Inn was home to the Montgomery family, a farm and a hotel that provided hospitality to road-weary travelers. The property has changed hands several times over the years.

In 1946 it was sold to the Presbyterian Church and renovated. It barely missed the wrecker’s ball in 1962 when it was bought by developer Louis Mayzel who had planned to demolish the Inn and build an office tower on the site. Etobicoke Historical Society saved the day by purchasing the property, restoring it and turning it into a living museum.