Discover Toronto's history as told through its plaques

2004 - Now in our 14th Year - 2018

To see what's new on this site, you can visit the Home Page

Looking at this page on a smartphone?
For best viewing, hold your phone in Landscape mode (Horizontal)

Silverthorn Family and Mill Farm

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted December, 2012

On the southwest corner of Bloor Street West and Mill Road stands this 2012 Heritage Toronto plaque. Here's what it says:

Coordinates: 43.631828 -79.575072

Click here for a larger map

In 1811, John Silverthorn, a Loyalist who first settled in the Niagara Peninsula, registered 160 hectares of land on the north side of Dundas Street, east of Etobicoke Creek. With his son Aaron, he constructed a two-room cabin and a saw- and gristmill. In clearing the immense pine trees of the old forest, the sawmill was able to produce - daily - over 3,000 linear metres of lumber. Mill Road was built for easier shipments of lumber and wheat to and from the mill.

A small community began to grow around the mill at the intersection of Mill Road and Dundas Street. First known as the District of Silverthorn, it was later the Village of Summerville. The mill operated successfully until the 1850s. The Silverthorn family continued farming, and began reforesting 40 hectares of the area in 1878. Mill Farm was sold in 1958 for the development of Markland Wood, at which time many of the trees in the area were preserved.

Related Toronto plaque
The Silverthorns

Other Toronto plaques about mills
Early Don Mills
Early Mill Site
Gray Mill and Donalda Cattle Barn
Highland Creek Mills
The King's Mill
The Lost Village of Milton Mills
The Old Mill
This Millstone
Todmorden Mills
York Mills

Related Ontario plaque
United Empire Loyalists

More
Pioneers

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

> Posted October 14, 2015
I grew up in Markland Woods on Stoneglen Drive. I recall at a very young age (2 or 3) the undeveloped farmland at the end of my street (now Thicket) which contained an old barn structure. I am curious as to what the connection is between John Silverthorn and the Silverthorn family that owned Cherry Hill at Dundas and Cawthra. I had dinner at the restored Cherry Hill farmhouse a few years ago and was fascinated by all the old photos that decorate the restaurant. Can anyone shed any light on this connection?
Helene Egan [email protected]

Here's where you can send me a comment for this page.

Note: Your email address will be posted at the end of your comment so others can respond to you unless you request otherwise.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours (usually much sooner).

Note: As soon as I have posted your comment, a reply to your email will be sent informing you.

To send me your comment, click [email protected].

Thanks
Webmaster

Note: If you wish to send me a personal email, click here.