Toronto Necropolis

Back in July of this year, I went on a ROM Walk of the Toronto Necropolis.

This cemetery is comprised of 18.25 acres, and was opened to replace Potter's Field, which at one time was situated on the North West corner of Bloor and Yonge Streets.

Pictured here is the plaque located at the entrance to the grounds.

The Chapel, the Porte-Cochère, and the Superintendent's Lodge were all built in 1872 by Henry Langley.

This was a good time to photograph the Chapel's steeple, all covered with ivy.

To the right of the Chapel is the entrance way or Porte-Cochère, and the Lodge for the grounds keeper or superintendent.

When Potter's Field became completely full, the City fathers moved everyone to the Necropolis.
Some of Toronto's earliest settlers and quite a few famous Torontonians are buried here on these grounds.

This picture is the tombstone of William Lyon Mackenzie.

You can also find Ned Hanlan, George Brown and Thornton Blackburn; buried here; but the most recent funeral would be that of Jack Layton.
The woman standing in the forefront is our guide on this walk.

Finally, I do not know who this man and his family were, but I was attracted to the sleeping lions that circumvent the tombstone.

Eaton's Goes To War

Recently, while riding the subway, I noticed a poster/advert about the men who served in World War One.
It was posted by the City of Toronto, and contained a web site address for the Mackenzie House.  

Here I could see that they were interested in collecting personal stories about the Eaton's employees who enlisted in the war.

It had a link that allowed you to view the soldiers and their portraits. 

Apparently, Eaton's took pictures of all their employees who left for the war, and displayed them in the Toronto store.

 

I was delighted to find my uncle's picture among the hundreds of other portraits, and I"snipped" it for my family collection.

So I sent off a little note and included my only picture of Henry William (Cecil) Axbey to the folks at the Mackenzie House.

I received a fairly prompt response, and was asked if I would agree to an interview.

Of course, I said yes, and arranged to meet Mr. Beaton on the following Monday.

I put some information on a flash drive, and took the Memorial Cross with me to the interview.

He recorded the little bit that I knew (from talking with my Aunt Doris) and took some pictures, then scanned my picture of Uncle Cecil.

When we were done, he gave me a pass to the museum, and advised me that the exhibit would be ready in September of 2017.