376 CANADIAN LOCAL HISTORY : 



easy to accomplish, from the unimproved condition of the country and the few facilities that 

 existed for importing and transporting inland heavy machinery. The mills and factories at 

 Burwick in Vaughan originated with him, and from him that place takes its name. The early 



tramway on Yonge Street of which we have already spoken was suggested by Mr. Burr ; and 



when the cutting down of the Blue Hill was decided on, he undertook and effected the work. 

 It is now some forty years since the peculiar clay of the Blue Hill began to be turned to 



useful account. In or near the brick-tields, which at the present time are still to be seen on the 

 left, Messrs. James and William Townsley burnt kilns of white brick, a manufacture afterwards 

 carried on here by Mr. Nightingale, a family connexion of the Messrs. Townsley. Mr. Worth- 

 ington also for a time engaged on the same spot in the manufacture of pressed brick and drain 

 tiles. The Eossin House. Hotel, in Toronto, and the Yorkville Town Hall were built of pressed 

 brick made here. 



Chestnut Park, which we pass on the right, the residence now of Mr. McPherson, is a com- 

 paratively modern erection, put up by Mr. Mathers, an early merchant of York, who, before 

 building here, lived on Queen Street, near the Meadows, the residence of Mr. J. Hillyard 

 Cameron. Oakland, Mr. John McDonald's residence, of which a short distance back we 

 obtained a passing glimpse far to the west, and Rathnally, Mr. McMaster's palatial abode, 

 beyond, are both modern structures, put up by their respective occupants. Woodlawn, still 

 on the left, the present residence of Mr. Justice Morrison, was previously the home of Mr. 

 Chancellor Blake, and was built by him. 



Summer HiU, seen on tlie high land far to the right, and commanding a noble view of the 

 wide plain below, including Toronto with its spires and the lake view along the horizon, was 

 originally buUt by Mr. Charles Thompson, whose name is associated with the former travel 

 and postal service of the whole length of Yonge Street and the Upper Lakes. In Mr. 

 Thompson's time, however, Summer Hill was by no means the extensive and handsome place 

 into which it has developed since becoming the property and the abode of Mr. Larratt Smith. 



The primitive waggon track of Yonge Street ascended the hill at which we now arrive, a 

 little to the west of the present line of road. It passed up through a narrow excavated notch. 

 Across this depression or trench a forest tree fell without being broken, and there long 

 remained. Teams, in their way to and from town, had to pass underneath it like captured 

 armies of old under the yoke. To some among the country-folk it suggested the beam of the 

 gallows-tree. Hence sprang an ill-omened name long attached to this particular spot. Near 

 here, at the top of the hill, were formerly to be seen, as we have understood, the remains of a 

 rude windlass or capstan, used in the hauling up of the North-West Company's boats at this 

 point of the long portage from Lake Ontario to Lake Huron. So early as 1799 we have it 

 announced that the North- West Company intended to make use of this route. In the Niagara 

 Constellation, of August 23, 1899, we read: — "We are informed from good authority that the 

 North- West Company have it seriously in contemplation to establish a communication with 

 the Upper Lakes by way of York, through Yonge Street to Lake Simcoe, a distance of about 

 33 miles only." The Constellation embraces the occasion to say alsj, " that the government 

 has actually begun to open that street for several miles, which example will undoubtedly be no 

 small inducement to persons who possess property on that street and its vicinity to exert 

 themselves in opening and completing what may be justly considered one of the primary 

 objects of attention in a new country, a good road." The Gazette of March 9, in this year (1799) 

 had contained an announcement that "the North-West Company has given twelve thousand 

 pounds towards making Yonge Street a good road, and that the North-West commerce will be 

 communicated through this place (York) : an event which must inevitably benefit tliis country 

 materially, as it will not only tend to augment the population, but will also enhance the 

 present value of landed property." 



Bouchette, writing in 1815, speaks of improvements on Yonge Street, " of late effected by 

 the North-West Company." "This route," he says in his Topographical Description, "being 

 of much more importance, has of late been greatly improved by the North-West Company for 

 the double purpose of shortening the distance to the Upper Lakes, and avoiding any contact 

 with the American frontiers." 



As stated already in another connection, we have conversed with those who had seen the 

 cavalcade of the North-West Company's boats, mounted on wheels, on their way uji Yonge 

 Street. It used to be supposed by some that the tree across the notch through which the road 



