Let’s dive into some street name history!
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 Galbraith Boulevard and Melanson Heights. This week, we’re focusing on Gazley Circle and Menzies Court. Starting with Gazley Circle, Challinor says the local road is named after a World War Veteran who worked for Milton’s biggest factory.
As a surviving veteran of the first World War, Gazley is not listed on any cenotaph in Milton. That said, he is remembered with a street named in his honour.
Next is Menzies Court. Challinor says the Brookville street is named after a local pioneering family.
The Menzies Blacksmith Shop was a main competitor with Milton’s Waldie Blacksmith Shop. Both benefitted from the area’s rural backbone.
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.
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