Toronto Islands - Notable Dates

Notable Dates

  • 1787 – Toronto Purchase. Mississauga Indians receive 10 shillings for 250,800 acres (101,500 ha)
  • 1793 – Blockhouse built by the Queen's Rangers at Gibraltar Point.
  • 1808 – Lighthouse constructed at Gibraltar Point.
  • 1834 – Fisherman David Ward and family one of first settlers on island.
  • 1830–1840 – First island hotels built. Start of ferry services.
  • 1850 – Filtration plant on island starts supplying water to Toronto.
  • 1855 – Ned Hanlan born.
  • 1858 – Storm separates Toronto Islands from mainland.
  • 1867 – Islands become property of City of Toronto. Lot leases are established.
  • 1870–80 – Summer homes established on island. Cottages from Hanlan's Point to Centre Island.
  • 1874 – Hanlan's Hotel opens.
  • 1880 – Royal Canadian Yacht Club established on island.
  • 1882 – William Ward, son of David Ward opens Ward's Hotel; closed 1966.
  • 1884 – St. Rita's and St. Andrew-on-the-Lake churches built.
  • 1897 – First amusements on Hanlan's Point established.
  • 1897 – Baseball and lacrosse stadium on Hanlan's Point.
  • 1899 – First summer colony established on Ward's.
  • 1903 – Baseball stadium destroyed by fire and rebuilt.
  • 1909 – Hanlan Hotel destroyed by fire.
  • 1909 – Baseball stadium again destroyed by fire and rebuilt.
  • 1913 – First 'tent city' on Ward's.
  • 1914 - First professional home run of Babe Ruth's career hit at Hanlan's Point Stadium.
  • 1926 – Baseball stadium vacated by Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team.
  • 1937 – Construction of Island airport. Some cottages moved to Algonquin Island.
  • 1939 – The Sam McBride ferry enters service.
  • 1947 – City approves year-round residency to cope with housing shortage.
  • 1956 – New Metro Toronto government takes over Island and leases. Starts demolishing cottages.
  • 1959 – Far Enough Farm opens.
  • 1967 – Centreville Amusement Park opens.
  • 1967 – Toronto Island Marina opens.
  • 1977–1993 – Supreme Court approves of cancellation of leases by Metro. Remaining residents fight to remain.
  • 1984 - Start of scheduled regional airlines at Island airport.
  • 1991 – Transfer of cottage lands and lease to City allowing residents to stay.

Source: Sward, p. xv, pp. 42–51

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