Old Danforth Road

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted August, 2007

Yes, I know that sign is big and bright but if you can tear you eyes away from it and look to the right here at the southwest corner of Ellesmere Road and Military Trail, you'll see a Scarborough Historical Society plaque. Here's what it says:

Plaque coordinates: 43.786362 -79.188348

In 1799 Asa Danforth, an American contractor, cut the first road through the forests of Scarborough, part of an 11 m pioneer provincial highway running from the east end of King Street in the town of York to the mouth of the River Trent, for $56 a km. Due to complaints about the road, Danforth had considerable difficulty collecting his money, the land grants promised to his labourers were deferred, and he returned to the United States a disappointed and embittered man. However, while the government officially called the road Dundas Street after a secretary of state in the Imperial government, it soon became generally known as Danforth Road, a name which it still retains in western Scarborough. Other parts have been renamed Painted Post Road and Military Trail.

Related web pages
Asa Danforth
Scarborough
York

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Transportation
Scarborough plaques

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Posted August 26, 2011
The Danforth Road, to me, is an interesting part of Scarborough's history (and subsequently, Toronto's). The "traceable" sections of this road span nearly 20 kilometres, and go along what are now, Clanmore Drive, Danforth Road, Painted Post Drive, Military Trail, Colonial Danforth Trail and Highland Creek Drive. I am enjoying the rest of this website. Thank you for these tidbits of Toronto's history.
-Jennifer, life-long Scarborough Resident and History fanatic

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