- Stuart McKechnie lived during the 1850's on
Tremaine Street. However, it is only recently (last 40 years) that
a street was named after him. Stuart was one of 3 brothers who founded
the Ontario Woolen Works in 1845 (where the former Cobourg Star building
was). It was the largest mill of its kind in British North America.
In 1851 it manufactured 200,000 yards of cloth annually and employed
170 workers. [More about his wool mill].
His house (above) is now a Bed and Breakfast. Stuart was Mayor of
Cobourg in 1853.
- Next to Tremaine is Stuart Street, often thought
to be named after McKechnie. However, it is named after John Stuart
who lived on the street.
- McGill Street is purportedly named after
Peter McGill, the founder of McGill University. He was in the
dry goods business and did a lot of trade in Cobourg. [Peter
McGill was famous as the Mayor of Montreal from 1840 to 1842
but James McGill was the founder of McGill University - Ed]
- What about Perry Street? One of the most influential
businessmen in Cobourg in the 1830's, 40's and 50's was Ebenezer Perry.
He arrived in Cobourg around 1815. In 1835 he moved into the Woodlawn.
Perry invested in the Cobourg Harbour Commission. He lent money to,
and was a director of, the Cobourg-Peterborough Rail Road [more]
and fundraised for the Upper Canada Academy. The Mill (1836) at Pratt’s
Pond was started by him. Ebenezer lobbied for the Town’s incorporation
and served as the 1st President of the Town’s Police Board.
- Charles Street was named after Ebenezer’s
son.
- Spencer Street was named after Sheriff Spencer
of the old Newcastle District.
- The Boulton family was a famous and influential
19th Century family in Cobourg.
- D’Arcy Boulton was involved in the Cobourg-Peterbrough
Rail Road, and acted as its chairman of the B. of P. Mayor in 1854
to 1857. His uncle George, a barrister, owned Northumberland Hall,
south of King and he owned the Lawn. D’Arcy Street received
his name.
- Walton Street was named after Trevor Boulton’s
second wife.
- Sheriff Conger (1840's, 1850's) was a principal
force in the Cobourg-Peterborough Rail Road.
- Similarly, General Charles Fitzhugh was into
mines and rail roads during the 1850's. Hence the name Fitzhugh Lane.
Some streets got their names because people lived and worked on them:
- Elijah Buck owned a tavern where the
Dutch Oven is now, and lived in a log cabin on Buck Street (1808)
- Ball Street received its name from Joseph
Ball whose shop was on the corner where the Baptist Church is
now
- Mathew Street - William Mathew, a carpenter,
lived on that street
- Mr. Orr, a carpenter, lived on this street
- Buchanan Street is named after “Decent” Bill
Buchanan, a tavern owner on Division Street
- Margaret Street was named after the wife
of H.J. Ruttan, publisher of the Cobourg Star [no doubt related
to Henry Ruttan]
- Anne Street was named after Dr. Morton’s
housekeeper. Dr. Morton lived on that street.
- George Street - not after the King, but
after George Strong, who kept a 19th Century tavern at King and
George Streets
- James Street - James Brown lived there
- John Street - after John Beatty (Victoria
College) and mayor of Cobourg (1858 - 1860 / 1866 - 1867). Beatty
Crescent is also named after him
- George Daintry - mayor 1864 - 1865. He
helped establish the American Colony - now we have Daintry Crescent
- Furnace Street - William McLellan had
a foundry on this street
- Green Street - after a noted base Soloist
in St. Peter’s Choir
- Havelock Street - Sir Henry - Relief
of Lucknow, 1857
- Cottesmore - after an early residence
of William Weller
- Heath Street was named after the Heath
family who came to Cobourg in 1843 from Scotland
- Henry Street - Robert Henry, 1825, owned
a grist mill. He lived in the oldest house in Cobourg (Church
and King Streets), now burnt down. He had a private bank and
married the sister of Bishop Bethune
- Henry Covert and Colonel John Covert,
owned a farm east of the Kingston Crossing (19th Century - Covert
Street)
- William Battell - owned a tavern on Division
Street (New Dunham Hotel)
- The Fields - Harry (1909 - 1910) and
Corelli (1886) were in the dry goods and hardware business and
were large land owners. Both were mayors and the family was in
Provincial politics [Note 1]
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I have often wondered
how the streets in the northwest quadrant of Town just west of the
Burnham School got their names. Several are girls’ names: Shirley,
Elizabeth, Norma, Barbara, Ruth.
This subdivision was built during the 1950's and 60's. Mr. George
Holman, purported winner of the Irish Sweepstakes, bought the land
and started the development. Four of the names: Shirley, Ruth, Norma
and Barbara were named after his daughters.
I spoke to Paul Currelly, who was associated
with Cobourg Lumber (he married Marion Burtt, Jim Burtt’s daughter
and owner of Cobourg Lumber) and he said Cobourg Lumber was building
homes in that sub-division in the 1950's. They were trying to
think of names and one day, the owner of the firm’s architect’s
office in Oshawa, suggested at a meeting, to call one of the streets
after one of his secretaries - Elizabeth.
Paul Currelly also related that Cobourg Lumber built the homes on
Munro Street, just east of No Frills in the 1950's. It was just
a swampy piece of land and he thought it was named after “pop” Munro
who was the padre for the 47th Battery and for the Cobourg Legion.
As has been mentioned already, street names in Cobourg come from
a variety of sources. The Town of Cobourg has an official list
of names that developers may choose from.
Both LACAC and the Cobourg and District Historical Society have been
asked for lists.
One list is that of mayors. There are only three mayors not
having street names and they are Joan Chalovich, Mac Lees and yours
truly!
Another list is famous Canadian war heroes. Hence, we have
in Cobourg, Rockingham Court named after Brigadier “Rocky” Rockingham
and Fred Tillison who has a street named after him.
Hence, we have Duffy Street named after Rev’d. Francis Duffy
who was born in Cobourg in 1873 on King Street West and was ordained
a priest at St. Michael’s on September 6th, 1896. He went
to New York City where he was a pastor. During WWI, he was the
Chaplain of the “fighting 69th”. There is a statue
of him erected in Times Square.
William Weller, President of the Police Board in 1838, 1840, 1843
and mayor in 1850 - 1851 and 1863 and the proprietor of the Weller
Stage Coach Line, operating between Montreal and Toronto has Weller
Court named after him. [More about William Weller]
In the two annexed areas of Cobourg there are several interesting
street names. In Pebble Beach, there is Ravensdale Road named
after Art Ravensdale, a Cobourg boy, who participated in the 1932
Olympics at Los Angeles and the British Empire Games in London in
1934. While in Coverdale, Gardiner Crescent is named after Reg.
Gardiner, developer of the area. Hamilton Avenue relates back
to a time when the area was part of the Township. The name Hamilton
is from Sir Henry Hamilton, as high ranking British officer in the
18th century who later went to Bermuda as Governor, and it named its
capital after him.
In New Amherst and West Park Village the town recently approved the
name Charles Wilson Parkway. Mr. Wilson owned the farm on which
these developments are taking place.
In December of 1951 a passenger airline crashed on one of his
fields. The plane had originated its flight in California
and was destined for Newark, N.J. Caught in a violent winter
storm it crash landed on Wilson’s fields. All 47 passengers
were uninjured. A few days later the wheels were lowered
and the snow packed down. The pilot taxied down the field
and took off! [ More here.] In the far east end of Cobourg, we have the names Willmott, Dodge
and Delanty - all mayors!
Finally, in West Park Village significant street names include
Leonard Street (after Paul Leonard’s family); Fisher Street
(after Lenah Field Fisher); and Rutherford Street (after Charles
Rutherford who was a Victoria Cross recipient in WWI).
Just north of this development and heading up to the Golden Plough
Lodge is Courthouse Road, so named because Asa Burnham had the first
courthouse in Cobourg built there in the 19th century.
As stated early on in this essay, this is not an exhaustive list
of all the street names in our Town. If you know the origins
of street names not mentioned here, please let me know! Peter G. Delanty
Mayor
Town of Cobourg |
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