The shining star was Bill Lewis, a local expert and great story-teller, born right on Pepler Avenue 88 years ago.
The trees had no leaves yet but the sun shone brightly as we gathered at our starting point, the historic Taylor family cemetery. In the 1800s the Taylors owned paper mills, brick works and a brewery in the Don valley. They also owned the surrounding farmland that became East York.
Bill described how the area looked when a large hill covered by oak trees stood in the same place. He remembers tobogganing through that oak grove in the 1930s with his classmates from William Burgess School. In June, the kids took their lunches to eat in the shade of those trees. There was also a marsh nearby, and a stream. The hill was later quarried for sand and gravel.
Janet explained while the crowd admired a white oak that probably saw the Taylor brothers deed the land for the church next door back in 1860. This tree is one of a handful of survivors from the oak grove that Bill Lewis remembers.
Our next stop was a mysterious pair of stone gates at the bottom of Rivercourt Blvd., where Bill described a grand design to build “the Rosedale of East York” 100 years ago on Taylor farmland. Apart from the gates and one house, the development was never built because of an economic downturn. Instead, lots were sold to builders one at a time.
Further up the street, we paid our respects to noble remnants of a large silver maple that got cut down after 2013’s ice storm. The homeowner kept some cross-cuts to remind us of what was lost.
Neighbours described how lovingly the owner cared for his tree, hiring arborists to prune and cable it until the final storm that damaged it beyond saving. One said she “blubbered” when the tree came down. To the crowd’s delight, the gracious owner stepped outside to speak to us. He said he actually bought his house because of the old tree, so he was heartbroken when he couldn’t save it. He has planted a new maple in its place for future generations to enjoy.
Our good fortune continued as we visited a special back yard shaded by six huge trees – three black locusts and a Norway maple at the foot of the garden, and two glorious copper beeches in adjacent yards.
I was thrilled when a member of the East York Garden Club contacted me to suggest we include her daughter’s back yard in our tour. I often noticed these towering trees when driving over the Leaside bridge and wondered how to get a peek at them. Jackpot!
Just think how many yards, houses and people are shaded by these trees. (Tip: Try using Google Earth to help with your own tree hunt.)
I first discovered our next tree when someone sent me a photo last autumn and wrote, “I find it amazing how often we can see something particularly notable, but fail to really notice it. Over the past 30 years, I have walked, run, cycled and driven along Donlands near the Leaside Bridge several thousand times, and until this week, never really paid proper attention to the sugar maple at the corner of Chilton & Donlands.” Sounds like a candidate for a tree hunt!
We learned the current homeowner’s grandfather planted the beautiful sugar maple in 1941. He also built the house and several others in the area. I bet he planted a tree in front of every home, and they never needed air conditioners.
As we continued our walk we saw more great trees including a Kentucky coffee tree, sycamore and black walnut – all native species, all visible from one address. The birds and critters on that block must be happy.
We ended at another remnant of the oak grove from Bill Lewis’s childhood, a large red oak which local residents have been working to protect from land development. Thanks to a committed working group and our Councillor’s support, it looks like the new owner might change his design to protect that tree.
As a first-time (co-)leader of a , I was most dazzled by the people. Some members of our went above and beyond to help put the tour together. Owners, without exception, were welcoming and enthusiastic. Most participants came from the local community, which led to spirited conversations. I am really pleased to report some conversations are continuing.
I was especially touched by comments like “There is something magic about learning more of the past of your own neighbourhood and its trees.” And, from one generous host: “[You made] me so proud that I live in East York – what a vibrant, involved community. So many of the participants today have a vested interest in their surroundings and want to share that passion. We are all standing on the shoulders of those who went before us and we are the stewards of tomorrow. Thank you for involving our family in that legacy.” Wow.
Remember to enter LEAF’s Tree Hunt before May 31st!
Leigh Davidson is a LEAF volunteer and co-chair of MoreTrees29, a community group working to grow the tree canopy in Toronto’s Ward 29.