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Gamble must have been im- pressed with the young Irish immigrant because he asked him to propose a new mill. Tyrrell had never built a small house let alone a mill, but with perseverance he prepared a plan and estimate based on his knowledge of mills on the Ponsonby estate in Ireland. Tyrrell was only 21 and in Canada only a year, but Gamble accepted, and Tyrrell was launched on his lifelong career. The year 1837, in addition to Tyrrell's first venture in build- ing, was a year of rebellion, and he along with the men working on the new mill and Gamble defended Toronto. They really didnt see any action but progress on the Sundays gave them the oppor- tunity to explore the surrounding countryside and this took them to the Humber Valley, then the industrial centre of the region. Three miles up river from Lake Ontario the settlement of Milton Mills stood on the river bank. It was here that William Tyrrell met William Gamble, a miller and merchant. They decided to establish them- selves in Toronto and rented a house at King and Ontario Sts. Having had some experience at woodworking, it was first deter- mined that they would make wagon wheels, but then quickly switched to furniture. Nost furniture had to be imported up to that time, and a ready supply of wood, along with a demand for good workmanship put them into a profitable business in a hurry. me New York the immigrants took a series of boats and barges along riders and canals until théy finally crossed Lake Ontario to land at Toronto. Mud, ankle deep in the streets, greeted them on the way to a hotel, a far cry from the older civilized cities and towns of their native land. Upon arriving they began inquiries about William's older brother, Edward, who had pre- ceded them. They finally found brother Edward and another cousin in Toronto. The book describes his depar- ture from friends and family at a gala ball when he stealthily rode away with a cousin as the ball was in progress. The two young men went first to Dublin, across the Irish Sea to Liverpool by boat and then took a ship for New York. They did not lack for money. William was reputed to have about $100 in his pocket, a very large sum at that time. The voyage was adventurous, the ship foundered before reaching New York, and they had to be picked up by another vessel to reach their desti- nation, Being a sixth son of an important family in Ireland in those days did not guarantee a good life since the first son usually assumed all the Estates and privileges. Tyrrell is described at this time as more than six feet tall, and having "eyes as blue as the Irish Sea". This handsome young man was given two weeks to make up his mind about going to Canada and in the end decided to stake his future in the new land. REVEALING LETTERS Nearly all of the information available about William Tyrrell's adventures in Canada came from letters sent to Ireland in the first few years of his residence here. These letters were found nearly 50 years ago, and form the basis of a book by Edith L. Morrison and J .E. Middleton entitled William Tyrrell of Weston. William was the sixth son of Adam Tyrrell of Grange Castle, County Kildare, Ireland, born in 1816. By the age of 20, Tyrrell had the position of assistant estate manager on the estates of Lord Ponsonby. He was obviously a trusted employee and in the same year, Lord Ponsonby asked him to go to Canada and investigate investment opportunities. Many stories are told of the immigrants to Canada during the 19th century who arrived without a cent in their pockets. Some merely survived while others went on to prosper after desperate struggles in the new land. The story of William Tyrrell isn't quite in this latter category, but it reflects the%access that could be achieved if a young man with a little money and a great ambition was alert to the opportunities that did exist. Ambition Helped Tyrrell Prosper NEW MILL Before refridgeration, Weston depended on ice harvested from the Humber River to keep food fresh. John Gamble, William's brother, also impressed with the young builder, engaged him to add to the mill at Pinegrove, also on the Humber just above Woodbridge. In two years as a contractor, Tyrrell was stated to be "comfort- able", The young Irishman forgot about surveying investments for Lord Ponsonby and began a life of his own in the country of his adoption. Courtesy of Jim Gunn / The Etobi- coke Guardian. Cruickshank’s, "the business the buggy built", operated out of these headquarters on Weston Road for many years. While. the construction was under way he continued to live at King and Ontario, walking the five miles each day to and from the site on the Humber, In the spring of 1838 with the mill for Gamble completed, Tyrrell went on to build him a home. Milton, located close to where Bloor St. crosses the Humber today, with a general store and a few other buildings, continued as a thriv- ing community. building was delayed. Even with the interruption, the roof was completed on the wooden structure by the fall of that year. FORGOT INVESTING Thinking of Charlie, and re- membering his peculiar bowed gait, I would say he must always have been around horses. Old With all the modern equipment we have today, it doesn't segm possible, that one man and a team of horses could have accomplished the work load that he undertook every day of his life. The solid deep cellars of our houses and buildings are a monument to Charles Gillis, Teamster. His barns were on Holley Ave. in the vicinity of the Jehovah‘Witness Church, and he lived in the old Burk's Hotel, on the corner of Main St. and St. Philip's Rd. This imposing mansion, known as Pine Hill, the Wadsworth family home, later became the Weston Golf Club's headquarters. CHARLES GILLIS TEAMSTER Driving a cutter over Wadsworth's (St. Philip's) Bridge after the turn of the century. Charles Gillis - Teamster Elsie MacPherson Remembers . . . He always wore a hat. In sum- mer a wide straw, in the fall a battered felt, and on Sunday to go with the dark suit, and polished shoes, a shiny black bowler. He certainly looked different, strolling down the street, on his way to There was a firm sureness in the gnarled hands that guided and held the reins, and oh what a thrill it was in winter, to hitch a ride on his big sleigh. Slowing down, he would wait while we clambered aboard, With snowy ice particles clinging to his "grey hair and moustache, I sometimes fancied he was the real Santa Claus. His weather-beaten face would be red with cold, blue eyes twinkling beneath the visor of his leather ear-lugged cap. Charlie, with his faithful team, was a familiar figure, in our town. Ploughing gardens, digging new cellars, moving houses on rollers, dragging stones from the river in the summer, cutting ice blocks in winter, these were the tasks carried out by this tough muscular man, as he ho'eed and haw'd in a booming voice to his thick- legged workmates. But in spite of his rough ways and rough work, I never heard him curse. l (ENTENNIAL(if)AL . .3» SUPPORT THEWESTON BLOCKPARENTS unf CENTENNIAL CTOALy - "ForFQrfher inforrndfion call 65372275.. ts?"iiititii; [i(iC))(ij) . . irtill) . r-" . V j,-:iiiiiijii)ji) ft (i,i,)cttisviiiiii"i-i,s' (ji) _is)t)uiiii'if'i'i'iiiy _(ii))g,,i,,i,,i,i)j, Over the years, his solid, re- liable, ageless face never changed, even to the days, when I married and had children of my own. Sundays and weekdays, Charles Gillis, teamster, was a Christian gentleman. church choir, grey hair and mous- tache neatly trimmed, and a big cigar to complete the picture. On Sunday when he stopped at our house to talk to my Father in the garden, first names didn't seem quite proper, and I would say, "Good morning, Mr. Gillis." Monthly tickets can be obtain- ed, allowing five round trips from Weston to Union station for ten cents per day. This is cheaper than city street car fares in proportion to distance. The village is prettily laid out and is fast developing, giving promise of a brilliant future. Persons living here have the advantages of cheap property, large lots, low taxes, healthy location etc. etc. Weston has also, and will likely have more, splendid local educational advantages and with the excellent train service, students can reach Toronto University and other colleges in a few minutes. It has the Canadian Pacific, the Grand Trunk Main Line and Suburban Trains to and from the city: The passenger and subur- ban trains now make 20 trips per day between Weston and Toronto and promise is given of more suburban trains to the city when required. Messrs. Jackson and James, corner Bay and Richmond streets. Toronto, have issued a new map of Weston. The beautiful suburb, Weston an incorporated village, population of about 1,500, only three miles 'from the limits of the city of Toronto, is beautifully situated on the banks of the River Humber, which supplies excellent, water power for factories and electric lighting. From the Weston Times, Sept. 12, 1890 issue. It sets forth with Toronto being the most flourishing city in Canada; population over 200,000; assessment in 1890---8137,230,778. In 1890, Ten Cents A Day To Commute To Toronto the CENTENNIAL page 3 New Map