Industrial site.

Details of Site Location: 2347 (its street number in 1923) Dufferin, on the east side, south of St. Hilda’s Church, at the intersection where Dufferin, Eglinton, and Vaughan Road all meet.

Boundary History: The lot was large and trapezoidal in shape, and occupied less than 2 acres. Pairbank Works was located at the northwest corner of the lot; a grocery store was at 2345 at the southwest corner of the lot. There was ample space between.

Historical Description: There are few references in the records to this small, local industry. The 1923 city directory lists the Fairbank Works under Grant and Morrison, blacksmiths, at 2347. The grocery store to the south was run by Annie F. Binnington. Both the Goad’s map and a photograph taken around 1920 show the shop set back from the street. The map shows a structure in a T shape, while the photograph shows a second building behind the one closest to the street. With no chimneys showing, it must be concluded that a third building was attached to house a forge. The building closest to the street is of frame construction, board-and-batten weathered to a dark gray, with a very large opening at one side of the facade. No windows are in evidence. A double pitched roof appears to be shingled with metal or tin tiles, rather haphazardly. At the centre is a large sign overhead which reads: Fairbank Works, Grant and Morrison Shoeing Forge and General Blacksmiths Agent: Moore Auto Collapsible Rims. This has been painted over an earlier sign advertising tobacco, and both are very faded. Above the large sign is another, smaller, almost totally illegible, which reads: The Veterans Shoeing Forge. In front of the building are six men, three on each side of a wooden wagon wheel. Two of the men hold horseshoes. There are two old men sitting on a bench against the front wall; it is suspected that one may be former carpenter Isaac Dollery, who was aged and retired by 1920, but he had been a member of Council from 1877 to 1888, spending four of those years as Deputy Reeve. Dollery was a descendent of Charles Dollery, who bought the east half of Lot 2, a Clergy Reserve. The Parson family had Lot 3. The line between Lots 2 and 3 became the boundary line between the Borough of York and North York. Grant and Morrison worked in the transitional period between horse-drawn vehicles and those powered by gasoline, but were sufficiently forward-looking to land a distributorship for automobile collapsible rims.

Relative Importance: The blacksmith was essential to all early communities and in particular to those engaged in farming. Grant and Morrison served their own community and helped to keep it functioning, but their importance does not seem to have extended to other areas.

Planning Implications: The Dufferin / Eglinton / Vaughan Road intersection is very busy today, and it would be useful for those in that area to learn that blacksmiths once operated there. A plaque at the street south of the present St. Hilda’s Church and residence would be appropriate.

Reference Sources: Goad’s Atlas (1923); York Archives; City Directory 1923.

Acknowledgements: Maps Project; Heritage York.