Donalda Farm

Gray Mill and Donalda Cattle Barn

There are two plaques at this location.
Both can be seen on this page.

Photos and transcription by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted October, 2011

In front of the Donalda Club clubhouse at the Donalda Golf and Country Club, off Bushbury Drive, east and south of the intersection of Don Mills Road and York Mills Road, are two 2010 Heritage Toronto plaques. Here's what this one says:

Plaque coordinates: 43.753058 -79.343240

This part of the Don Valley was first permanently settled in 1825 by the Gray family, who farmed and operated some of the original 'Don Mills', including a gristmill, sawmill and distillery. In 1916, mining magnate David A. Dunlap and his wife Jessie Donalda Dunlap purchased the site for a model farm and country retreat they named "Don Alda". The Dunlaps incorporated the original Gray residences and portions of the gristmill into their farm, and in 1920 built this residence with its dramatic Doric columns. In 1952, E.P. Taylor acquired the farm as part of the planned development of Don Mills. It was eventually redesigned as a private recreational club for families and officially opened as the Donalda Club in 1960. The Dunlap residence was expanded by architect James A. Murray to serve as the clubhouse. The Donalda cattle barn, and Gray's mill, laneway, and houses are listed on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties.

Photos and transcription by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted October, 2011

Here's what the one at the mill says:

Plaque coordinates: 43.75006 -79.34335

This building is a rare 1830s gristmill. Though it has long since been converted into a barn, it remains the most intact mill of its kind still standing on its original site in Toronto. The mill was built by William Gray who lived with his family in the two 19th-century residences across the laneway. The Grays ground their "Wee MacGregor" brand of flour here until just before the property was sold in 1916. The new owners, David A. Dunlap and Jessie Donalda Dunlap, built a model dairy farm here to showcase their progressive ideas about farm management and sanitary animal husbandry. The adjacent Tudor-style barn, designed by architects Wickson & Gregg, incorporated what remained of the original mill building and was equipped with every comfort for the cattle, including steam heat, fresh air ventilation, and soft radio music. This innovative cattle barn was featured in the Journal of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada in 1928.

Related Toronto plaque
Don Mills

More
Parks and Recreation
North York plaques

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted March 23, 2012
I goofed in my March 7, 2012 comment...it was Williams brother George that was nearby, not Alexanders, though it wasn't far away either...

Posted March 18, 2012
My name is Don Faichney and my wife Vera is the Great Ganddaughter of William Gray (born 1802), her Grandfather was Goerge Gray who married Hannah Milne. I have an outline of the Gray family tree although some of William's brothers are missing as far as heir families are concerned. I believe that the outline was done by Marion (Gray) McBurney, who I have met on several occasions since she lived in Galt and knew my uncle who was the minister of the 1st United Church in Galt.
1. Could you supply me with a listing of your family tree from William ending with your family?
2. Do you know anything about the Gray family prior to their arrival in Ontario?
If you have anything could you send it to kiltmeister@gmail.com

Posted March 7, 2012
William Gray's brother Alexander had a sawmill directly across the river from William's grist mill, and Alexanders house was on the east side of the Don, just across from Willaim's on the west bank...I believe that it too is a heritage site...their brother James built up the hill above William...in all 5 Gray brothers and their mother emigrated from Paisley Scotland: William, Alexander, James, John and George...William arrived in 1823, and I believe his mother Jennet came with him...I believe James Gray was the first brother to arrive as he married in York in 1822...
William Gray married Phoebe Street UEL family
James Gray married Margaret Craig
Alexander Gray married Mary Ann McLean
John Graymarried Ann Gravely Carley
George Gray married Mary McMillan
William was my Great Great Grandfather...my grandfather Harold Wilbert Gray died from emphysema from working in the grist mill as a young man...my father William Donald Gray was named for his Great Grandfather and for the 'Don'

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