How much do you know about Milton’s street names?
Each week, we speak with Milton Historical Society President John Challinor to gather information and details about the namesakes of our roads. If you weren’t aware, Challinor and the late great historian, Jim Dills, wrote the book on Milton street names, writing Milton Streets back in 2007.
Recently, we covered Montgomery Lane and Peru Road. This week, we’re focusing on Galbraith Boulevard and Melanson Heights. Starting with Galbraith Boulevard, Challinor says the man was an active member of the Milton community.
READ: Milton Walk of Fame to get eight new names
Moving on to Melanson Heights, Challinor says the local road was named after a Cape Bretoner who dominated Milton ice rinks.
He adds that Milton really opened Mr. Melanson’s eyes to what the rest of the country had to offer. That’s why he stayed in the area even after his hockey playing days were over.
Recalling his time spent with Melanson on Milton’s Town Council, Challinor says the Maritimer-turned-Miltonion was always the best dressed municipal councillor, owed entirely to his previous profession in men’s wear.
Never trust a skinny chef, and never trust a poorly dressed tailor.
If you’re looking to understand how Milton’s streets are 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. 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 we find interesting.
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.
