Learn a little of Toronto's history as told through its plaques.

Cornell Home

Photos by Alan L Brown - August 2007

This house, on the north side of Kingston Road midway between Markham Road and Eglinton Avenue, has a Scarborough Historical Society plaque near the road. Here's what it says:

William Cornell, a descendant of a Rhode Island colonist who came to America in 1636, settled here on two lakefront lots in the forest in 1799. With other pioneers he cut out Scarborough's front road, which became the Kingston Road, planted the first orchard and built the first grist and saw mill in the township. His descendants long continued to make notable contributions to the development of Scarborough. Edward Cornell was a member of the township's first municipal council in 1850. James G. Cornell served as reeve 1913-19, warden of York County, and trustee of Scarborough's first high school 1920-32. In 1944 the old farm house became the home of Helen Campbell, a Cornell descendant, and her husband Albert M. Campbell who served as reeve of Scarborough 1957-66, Mayor 1967-69, and chairman of the Metro Toronto Council 1970-73.

Related Toronto plaque pages
Cornell House
Dowswell's Inn

Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.741050 -79.214998

More residential buildings

More Scarborough pages

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Posted October 8, 2008
Why did the City of Toronto acquire this property? What are their plans?

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