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Vaughan Township Historical Society

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Vaughan Township Historical Society

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VTHS, formed in 1970, promotes the study of local history and preservation of Vaughan's heritage.

The Vaughan Township Historical Society first met on January 26th, 1970. Approximately 30 Vaughan residents gathered at the Maple Community Hall as they watched a slide presentation given by Mr. Roy Barker who had taken photos of many older buildings that were no longer standing. 26 members joined the Society that night that chose George Snider as their first President. Some of those present included Janet Berton, Fred Constable, Jesse and Jean Bryson, Roland Keffer, Harold Hayhoe and Ernest Redelmeir. Other familiar local names would become members that year including Pierre Burton, Albert Rutherford and Garnet Williams.

10/31/2026

The Women’s Institute has been around for more than 125 years. These organizations bring women together to learn new skills, share expertise and improve local communities. In Elder’s Mills the Women’s Institute began in 1949 and ended in 2010. Over the years they accomplished much, including: donating to the building of the Woodbridge arena, providing assistance after Hurricane Hazel, sponsoring students and making quilts for the less fortunate. They had some fun too, such as the Dishpan Serenaders (1950) singing group, participation in parades and holding plays and pageants.

10/23/2026

After the American War of Independence, there were Pennsylvania Germans who came to Canada. Some wished to remain under British rule, while others came because there was plenty of good land available. Jonathan Baker purchased Lot 2, 2nd Concession in Vaughan in1816. Jonathan came from Sommerset County in Pennsylvania. In 1822 men from four counties helped him raise a large barn on his property. He also built a pig pen, smokehouse and a one-and-a-half storey brick house, with bricks made on the farm. Jonathan and his wife Mary had no children, and the farm was left to his nephew Johathan in 1860. Additions to the property included a house for hired help in 1847 and driving shed (1860) and long shed (1870). Photos from Canadian German Folklore book.

10/18/2026

In 1974 two companies in Maple, Access, along with Dominion Engineering and Pipe Limited, were contracted to build a $3 million submarine. At 45 feet long and weighing over 40,000 pounds, the Narwhal II was built to operate up to 100 feet below the ice. While designed to do seismic work, it was also engineered so that it could later do work such as pipeline route studies. Access designed and outfitted the vehicle while Dominion Engineering constructed the hull. It took about two years to build, with sea trials done in Florida before it was shipped north. The submarine ran on batteries. The same company, Access, also built the submarine named Tudlik, which in July of 1972 had its launch at Ontario Place. Ontario’s first submarine was launched with Mrs. Darcy McKeough, the Ontario Treasurer’s wife, onboard. The six-ton submarine could be rented for $1,000 to $3,000 per day.

10/11/2026

In January of 1955 Shur-Gain announced the opening of its feed mill in Maple. The new, modern mill carried the full line of Shur-Gain feeds and was designed to provide the farmers in the community with the best of service. Those who showed up to the new mill near the train station on January 12th of that year could participate in guessing games, enjoy refreshments, win prizes or take a tour of the facility. When the mill closed that night, the party shifted to the Community Centre where people were invited to dance to ‘Sally and Her Mates’. However, first there was a guest speaker who gave a talk on ‘What balanced feeding means’. If that wasn’t enough, there was also a movie on livestock production.

10/04/2026

Black Creek Pioneer Village opened in 1960. Now known as the Village at Black Creek (2024), it is operated by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. It was originally built around the original 1816 farm and homestead of German immigrant pioneers Daniel and Elizabeth Stong. It was conceived as a place to preserve 19th century architecturally significant buildings. Today the site includes more than 40 buildings and 50,000 historical artifacts. The buildings included in the post all originally came from Vaughan.

09/26/2026

Coleraine was located in Vaughan about 3 ¾ miles north of Highway 7 on Highway 50. Highway 50 was the border between Vaughan (York) and Peel, so part of the town was in each region. The school was built in Coleraine in 1856 and served the community for 100 years, before it was deemed unsafe in 1954. Aside from that, the school could not handle the growing number of students attending the school. The decision was made to unite the Coleraine School, Burrlington School and SS 16 into the Toronto Gore School area and open a new school on Highway 49 called Twin Elms Public School. The new school was officially opened at a Christmas Concert on December 16, 1955. On January 2, 1956, school board members met and moved the contents from the old building to the new school. Miss Betty Nichols was the teacher meeting the students for the first day in the new school on Tuesday January 3, 1956.

09/24/2026

Those interested in local history are invited to the meeting tonight of the Vaughan Township Historical Society. Tonight's guest speakers will be Sharon Bentley and Ann Love who will talk about their new book "The History of King Township: A Community shaped by the land." The meeting takes place at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church on Keele Street in Maple and begins at 7:00 pm. Guests are always welcome.

09/18/2026

Gavin J. Lawrie, commonly known as Guy, had worked with William Knight in 1907 at Knight and Lawrie Undertakers and Embalmers in Maple. After William Knight died Guy opened his own business in the home he purchased on the southwest corner of Maple Sideroad and Keele Street. Guy’s son, Arthur, took over the hardware store and funeral parlour after Arthur married Annie Hemphill in 1924. Guy passed in 1941 and Arthur in 1948. What was interesting for that time period was that Annie Lawrie continued to operate the hardware store after her husband’s death. Funerals were held there as late as 1956 and Annie opened a gift shop on the second floor. The store closed in 1969, after more than 60 years of business. It was such a landmark in Maple that 4 years after it had closed the Richmond Hill Liberal Newspaper was still advising residents to drop off newspapers for the Scout’s newspaper drive behind the Lawrie Hardware Store.
This incredible photo was provided to the website by one of our readers, Jane Loucks.

09/12/2026

In 1967 a committee of residents revived the Binder Twine Festival in Kleinburg. The event had been held annually from the late 19th century until the 1930s. Today would have been a wonderful day for the Festival, as it became an annual event held the first Saturday after Labour Day. Attendees could look forward to shopkeepers dressed in pioneer clothing, quilt displays, a parade and events such as nail hammering or cow milking. April 2020 the organizing committee announced that the festival was being discontinued permanently due to a lack of volunteers. Thanks to Vaughan Archives for the use of many of these photos.

09/07/2026

Fires plagued early communities in Vaughan. It was not until 1917 that Woodbridge organized fire protection under Chief James Bailey. They started with a four-wheeled fire reel that was given to them by the Toronto Junction Fire Brigade. The hose and pump took four men to operate. The first fire alarm system was a heavy rope attached to a bell on the outside of the Presbyterian Church. In 1931 Robinson’s Cotton Mills purchased a fire truck and installed a siren on the factory. While both were intended to protect the mill, W.W. Robinson instructed crews to assist the Woodbridge Fire Brigade with calls.

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Aurora, ON

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+19058416723

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