What is in a name?
Each week, we cover local street names and discover the history behind them. This is thanks to the tremendous work done by Milton Historical Society President John Challinor. If you weren’t aware, Challinor and the late great historian, Jim Dills, wrote the book on Milton street names, having written Milton Streets back in 2007.
One of our streets this week is Dixon Drive. Challinor says it was named after a local farmer.
He adds that John Dixon was also a trustee with the local school board. His son was also responsible for providing a plot of land that became an extension of Milton’s Main Street.
The Dixon family were also behind the naming of Sprucedale Lane as the road was named after their property.
Another street we’re looking at this week is Robertson Crescent. Challinor says it’s named after one of the most important figures in Milton’s history.
He adds that the PL Robertson factory kept the local economy afloat during the two world wars. The screws were vital to equipment used overseas.
Challinor says Milton’s council approved $10,000 in funding for Robertson to establish his factory back around 1908. He calls that one of, if not the, best investments the Town has ever made.
Our last street this week is a listener suggestion.
I would like to know the history of Easterbrook Crescent. Thank you
— Karen King (@KarenKingBee) November 16, 2021
Challinor says Easterbrook Crescent is named after the same namesake for the local hamlet Brookville.
Challinor believes that specific fire likely attributed to the lack of growth for the hamlet – along with other variables like competing businesses in nearby Campbellville and Milton attracting more customers, and therefore, residents.
If you’re looking to understand how Milton’s streets were named, you should check out the book written by Challinor and Dills. Published by the Milton Historical Society back in 2007, it sold out in about six weeks and has since been long out of print. That said, according to Challinor, you can still find a copy at the Milton Public Library. With nearly 15-years having passed since the initial publication, and the extensive town growth in that time, an updated book is likely to come.
You can also take a walk with the late Jim Dills down Milton’s Main Street in 2002.
If you have a suggestion on what you’d like to learn about next week, let us know! We’re currently working on names that we find interesting, as well as suggested names. You can message our Facebook page, Twitter account, Instagram page, or even email us at News1013@LocalRadio.ca. Otherwise, we’ll just continue asking about local street names that interest us.
Hey, things are changing for us here at MiltonNow.ca! If you have a news tip or story idea, you can now send us a heads up via email at News1013@LocalRadio.ca. If you’d like to get ahold of me personally, shoot me a message at Cameron.Wilkinson@LocalRadio.ca. We’re in the business of content creation, so no idea is a bad idea.
