LANSING

Lansing was first settled by Joseph Shepard who built a log house on Yonge Street at Sheppard Avenue in 1798. Shepard was a swashbuckling character who traded furs with the First Nations people, fought in the battle of York against the Americans and operated saw and grist mills on the banks of the Don River.

Shepard was a close friend of William Lyon Mackenzie who led the Toronto Rebellion in 1837. Shepard passed away just prior to the rebellion, however his four sons were active participants in this revolt. Joseph and Jacob were captured and spent time in prison, while Thomas and Michael escaped from the Kingston Penitentiary and fled to the United States.

In 1843 the Shepard brothers were pardoned by the Queen and returned to Lansing to carry on their fathers business. In 1860 Joseph Shepard built a general store and residence on the north-west corner of Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue. He added a post office in 1866. This post office was given the name "Lansing" by Shepard's daughter Saida.

The Lansing general store and post office - later known as Dempsey Brothers Hardware Store - was a fixture in this neighbourhood until 1996 when it was moved to its present location at 250 Beecroft Road where it now serves as a public museum and office for the North York Archives.

WILLOWDALE

Willowdale was originally settled by Jacob Cummer, who immigrated to Canada from the United States in 1797. Cummer was a mill owner on the nearby Don River, a proprietor of a tinsmith shop on Yonge Street and a self trained doctor and veterinarian. Cummer was held in such high esteem by his neighbours that this area was originally known as Kummer's Settlement.

David Gibson, a distinguished land surveyor, was another leader in this community. Like most of his neighbours, Gibson participated in the ill-fated Toronto Rebellion of 1837. He was thus charged with high treason and escaped to the United States were he found employment as the First Assistant Engineer on the building of the Erie Canal.

Gibson returned to his Yonge Street farm in 1851, after being pardoned for his role in the Rebellion. He then helped to establish the "Willow Dale" post office, named after the many willow trees that once graced this district. Members of the Gibson family were still living in Gibson House in the 1920's when the residential subdivision of Willowdale began to take place.

Editors Note: The Gibson House, circa 1851, is still standing in its original location at 5172 Yonge Street and is now a historic museum.

Source: Your Guide to Toronto Neighbourhoods copyright Maple Tree Publishing Inc.