Industrial site.

Details of Site Location: The west side of Greenwood Avenue south of Gerrard, near and on both sides of Doel Avenue; Farm Lot 10, Concession 1 from the Bay.

Boundary History: See below.

Current Use of Property: Housing and Greenwood Park.

Historical Description: A stream began north of Danforth Avenue, flowed south, and was joined by a tributary west of Highfield and north of Applegrove, then continued south to the lake. The creek revealed modest clay deposits that attracted many families of brickmakers; they worked as families, set up companies, and reorganized and set up new companies or partnerships. As this process was taking place, the yards expanded in all directions with different owners working different areas until the clay deposits were exhausted. John Morley was born in Lancashire around 1798 and came to Canada in 1834. He had three sons: John, Walker, and Marmaduke. The family began making bricks in Yorkville with Thomas Branton, but their brickyard was taken over by John Sheppard. In 1856, the Morleys moved to the north side of Kingston Road between Leslie and Greenwood’s Lane (later Greenwood Avenue) John Junior and Walker worked the yards there until 1878, when Walker Morley was recorded at Greenwood’s Lane. In 1890, Walker was farther north working Lot 115 (three lots north of Doel Avenue). Walker Morley had seven sons, most of whom went into business with him. John Morley Senior had died in 1854. Walker’s sons had positions responsible enough to be listed in the city directories from 1885 on. In 1886, George Morley was at 1318-1320 Queen Street with Mrs. J. Morley at that address, listed as a brickmaker. Walker Morley’s address in 1890 was at 160-162 Greenwood; in 1912 he was at 114 Greenwood with Robert Morley, his son. In 1917, Morley Brothers Brick Manufacturers had a yard on Dawes Road and two houses on Greenwood, one on Eastern Avenue, another on Queen East. By 1916, the Greenwood yards had closed and the brothers had moved to Dawes Road, where they made bricks until 1923. The Ashbridge family had three yards on Greenwood, north of Applegrove, which they worked from 1902 to 1914. The Morley and Ashbridge Brick Manufacturers Company made bricks on the Ashbridge estate on the east side of Greenwood from 1902 until 1914; in 1907 this company employed 15 men and made two million bricks that year. The Greenwood yards of all manufacturers saw the transition from bricks made by hand using a pug mill and horse power, to steam-powered equipment.

Relative Importance: The Morley family is important in the city’s brick-making and building history, and their activities range over a substantial amount of real estate. They helped to build up the city east of the Don River and deserve to be remembered with all of the other brick-makers of Greenwood Avenue.

Planning Implications: In Greenwood Park, it would be appropriate to mount a plaque recalling the former brickyards and those who worked in the clay pits.

Reference Sources: C. Blackett Robinson, History of Toronto and County of York (1885); Brick Plants 1902-1924 (Ontario Bureau of Mines Report, 1924).

Acknowledgements: Maps Project.