Farming/Transportation/Industrial

Details of Site Location: A 600-acre model farm in the Jane street / Eglinton Avenue area of the Town of West, Mount Dennis area.

Boundary History: Bounded by Jane Street on the west, the CN/CP Railway tracks on the south, Lawrence Avenue on the north and Black Creek on the east, the original 600 acre farm straddled a private road called Holmstead Drive, which later became Trethewey Drive.

Current Use of property: It is a mixed residential and industrial area with a park named for the Trethewey family in the southeast section close to Black Creek.

Historic Description: Prior to 1910, this Airfield was a very successful model farm owned Mr. W.G. Trethewey a mining magnate. The farm totalled 600 acres and was the amalgamation of three earlier farms. Because of the events which took place on this property in 1910 and afterwards, not a lot of detail about the farm has survived. However, what is known is that the latest farming methods were used including having their own canning factory on site. As well as the canning factory, there were greenhouses, drive sheds and a vegetable storage warehouse. These were situated in the south section, close to the Railway tracks. The Trethewey home was located down in the Ravine on the southeast side near Black Creek. close to where Trethewey Park is now located.

In July 1910, the farm became internationally known as the Trethewey Airfield when it was used to host the first exhibition of flying over Toronto. This event, sponsored by the Ontario Motor League, necessitated preparing a runway through the fields, the centre of which is present day Hearst Circle. As well, a grandstand was built to accommodate the spectators, however, its exact location is unknown. The air show of 1910, which turned the Trethewey farm into an airfiel resulted in making this site the first airfield in Toronto, predating Downsview, Malton and the Island Airport.

In 1928 the property was purchased by the de Havilland Aircraft Company of England from Mr. Fred Trethewey (son of the original owner) to become the assembly plant and training field for their Moth aircraft (this was the forerunner of the Gypsy Moth and Tiger Moth aircraft). The Trethewey airfield became de Havilland’s first Canadian assembly plant. The first few aircraft to be produced there were assembled in what is alternatively described as the old canning factory or the vegetable warehouses on the Trethewey farm. What is clear from photographs and drawings of the property is that it was the vegetable warehouse that was used. This building although not ideal, had the advantage of having double doors large enough for the finished aircraft to be wheeled from the building. As well, being close to the CN/CP Railway tracks it was a convenient location to receive the crates of unassembled Moth aircraft being shipped in crates from England via Toronto. They were so anxious to get this assembly plant in operation that in painting the name across the length of the warehouse the second “I” in deHavilland was omitted. The following year de Havilland Canada built a large square (50ft x 50ft) hangar of Ontario lumber (dispelling the myth that it was made from discarded Moth crates) and it had a sloping roof. It was built closer to the central eastside of the property. Later that year, or possibly early the following year, the Trethewey plant had become too small for de Havilland’s growing business. It was then that they purchased the Downsview property, which has long been associated with de Havilland Canada. The 50ft by 50ft. hangar with the sloping roof built at Trethewey, was moved to the new Downsview site, where it remained for many years.

About the same time (1928), a portion of the Trethewey property was sold to an Airline Company called Skyways Limited, who were mainly engaged in training pilots. Although the exact date and size of the property they purchased is unclear, it is evident that Skyways was using the airfield in 1928 and 1929 when DeHavilland first got underway. There is photographic proof also that Skyways continued operating at Trethewey at least until 1931. It is believed that Skyways subsequently moved out to the Malton area.

For a number of reasons this site is historically very significant as follows:

The July 1910 Airshow/Exhibition. What made this event especially notable was the fact that it was the first distance flight over the City ofToronto. The star of the show was the internationally known air ace, Count Jacques de Lesseps, who flew his Bleriot plane named “La Scarabee”, from the Trethewey Airfield, circling over Humber Bay, the CNE grounds, the Islands and back to Weston over the City in a line with Spadina Avenue. The flight took place on July 13, 1910 and was considered long at that time. It flew 20 miles in 28 minutes at a height of between 1500 and 2000 feet at a speed of 70 mph. This was also the first occasion when more than one aircraft were seen in the skies over Toronto for there was also a team of three pilots from the Wright Company, flying the Wright biplane.

Count de Lesseps was already well known in Europe. He was the son of the French engineer responsible for building the Suez Canal. The Count had devoted his talents to the airplane and at age 26 became the second person to fly the English Channel. While in Toronto the Count met and later married Grace Mackenzie daughter of Sir William Mackenzie, owner of the Toronto Street Railway, who lived in the “Benvenuto” mansion on Avenue Road. Later in 1910, Grace became the first Canadian woman to fly when she took a couple of circuits in the Count’s plane at an air show at New York City’s Belmont Park as a passenger.

During WWI, de Lesseps returned to France and joined the aviation branch of the army. For service to his country he was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honour. After the war he returned to Toronto where with his wife and four children he resided at 55 Ridge Road in Rosedale. In 1927, while on an aerial photography survey for the Canadian Government over the St. Lawrence in the Gaspe region, de Lesseps was tragically killed when his plane crashed into the river. He was buried in the local cemqaj in the Gaspe and a cairn in his memory is in the nearby town.

The site of de Havilland’s first North American Assembly Plant – In 1928, the de Havilland Aircraft Company of England sent a representative to Canada in search of a suitable location to begin a Canadian operation. They had heard of the 1910 de Lesseps flight and sought out Fred Trethewey to look at the Trethewey Airfield..Within days the necessary arrangements were made for the formation of The de Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada at the Trethewey Airfield and Mr. Fred Trethewey was appointed to serve on de Havilland Canada’s first Board of Directors.

Historic Importance: This site is highly significant because of its layered history connected to the use of advanced farming methods, early aircraft and flying,as well as the first aircraft assembly and service centre in Ontario and one of the first in Canada. Also, the de Lesseps story and his aircraft places him as one of Canada’s first and most famous aviators and air aces.

Planning Implications: This site and the events that took place there as well as Count de Lesseps’ contribution to Toronto and Canada’s early aircraft history should be recognized as a National Historic Site. A stone Cairn should be placed in Trethewey Park recounting these events. As well, this historic site should be noted on Tourist maps and brochures of Toronto.

Reference Sources: Fred Hotson – “The de Havilland Story in Canada, 1987 – Mike Filey – “Toronto Sketches – The Way We Were”, 1992 – The Globe, Toronto Daily Star and Evening Telegram, July 13 and 14, 1910 ~ Goad’s Maps – 1910 -1916 – Toronto Archives

Acknowledgements: Fred Hotson – Heritage York- Maps Project