258 CANADIAN LOCAL HISTORY: 



instance we have to note here, at the intersection of King Street and Yonge Street. At its 

 north-east angle, where, as in a former section we liave observed, stood the sole building in 

 this quarter, the hoiise of Mr. John Dennis, for forty years at least has been seen with little 

 alteration of external aspect, the Birmingham, Sheffield, and Wolverhampton warehouse of the 

 brothers Mr. Joseph Eidout and Mr. Percival Eidout. A little way to the north, too, on tlie 

 east .side, the name of Piper has been for an equal length of time associated uninterruptedly 

 with a particular business ; but here, though outward appeai-aiiees have remained to some 

 extent the same, death has wrought changes. Near by, also, we see foundries still in operation 

 where Messrs. "W. B. Sheldon, P. E. Dnteher, W. A. Dutcher, Samuel Andrus, J. Vannonnau 

 and B. Vannorman, names familiar to all old inhabitants, were among the foremost in that 

 kind of useful enterprise in York. Their advertisement, as showing tlie condition of one 

 branch of the iron manufacture in York in 1832, will be of interest. Some (jf the articles 

 enumerated have become old-fashioned. " They respectfully inform their friends and the public 

 that they have lately made large additions to their establishments. Tliey have enlarged their 

 Furnace so as to enable them to make Castings of any size or weight used in tiiis province, and, 

 erected Lathes for turning and finishing the same. They have also erected a Steam Engine of 

 ten-horse power, of their own manufacture, for propelling tlieir machinery, which is now in 

 comj'lete operation, and they are prepared to build Steam Engines of any size, either high or 

 low pressure. Having a number of experienced engineers employed, whose capability cannot 

 be doubted, they hope to share the patronage of a generous public. Tiiey ah\'ays keep con- 

 stantly on hand and for sale, either by wholesale or retail. Bark Mills, Cooking, Franklin, 

 Plate and Box Stoves , also, a general assortment of Hollow Ware^ consisting of : Kettles, 

 from one to one hundred and twenty gallons ; Bake-Ovens, Bake-Basins, Belly-Pots, Higli 

 Pans, Tea-Kettles, Wash-Kettles, Portable Furnaces, &e. Also are constantly manufacturing 

 Mill-Gearing of all kinds ; Sleigh Shoes, 50, 56, .30, 28, 15, 14, and 7 pound weiglits. Clock and 

 Sash Weights, Cranes, Andirons, Cart and Waggon Boxes, Clothiers' Plates, Plough Castin.us. 

 and Ploughs of all kinds." In 1832 Mr. Charles Perry was also the proprietor of foundries in 

 York, and we have him advertising in the local pa2'>er that "he is about adding to his establish- 

 ment the manufacture of Printing Presses, and that he will be able hi a few weeks to produce 

 Iron Printing Presses combining the latest improvements," 



We move on now towards Newgate Street, first noticing that nearly opposite to the Messrs. 

 Sheldon and Butcher's foundry were the spirit vaults of Mr. Michael Kane, father of Paul 

 Kane, the artist of whom we have spoken previously. At the corner of Newgate Street is 

 Adelaide Street, on the left, and stretching along the southern side of that street, the famous 

 tannery-yard of Mr. Jesse Ketchum was to be seen, with high stacks of hemlock-bark piled iiji 

 on the Yonge Street side. On the north side of Newgate Street, at the angle opposite, was liis 

 residence, a large white building in the American style, with a square turret, bearing a railing, 

 rising out of the ridge of the roof. Before pavements of any kind were introduced in York, the 

 sidewalks hereabout were rendered clean and comfortable by a thick coating of tan-bark. Mr. 

 Ketchum emigrated hitlier from Buffalo at an early period. In 1806 we find him named at tlie 

 annual "town meeting," one of the overseers of higliways and fence viewers. His section was 

 from "No. 1 to halt the Big Creek Bridge [Hogg's Hollow] on Yonge Street." Mr. Wm. Marsh, 

 jun., then took up the oversight from half the Big Creek Bridge to No. 17. He came over in 

 the first instance to look after the affairs of an elder brother, deceased, who had settled here 

 and founded the tannery works. Jesse then continued to be a householder of York until about 

 1845, when he returned to Bufl'alo, his original home, where he still retained valuable possessions. 

 He was familiarly known in Buffalo in later years as "Father Ketchum," and was distinguished 

 for the'lively practical interest which he took in schools for the young, and for the largeness of his 

 annual contributions to such institutions. Two brothers, Henry and Zebulun, were also early 

 inhabitants of Buffalo. Mr. Ketchum's York property extended to Lot Street. Hospital Street 

 (Richmond Street) passed through it, and lie liimself projected and opened Temperance Street. 

 To the facility with which he supplied building sites for moral and religious uses it is due that 

 at tills day the quadrilateral between Queen Street and Adelaide Street, Yonge Street and Bay 

 Street, is a sort of miniature Mount Athos, a district curiously crowded with places of wor- 

 ship. He gave in Yorkville also sites for a school-house and temperance hall, and, besides, Uvf 

 acres for a Childrens' Park. ,The Bible and Tract Society likewise obtained its Houw; on 



