How much do you know about Milton’s 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 Foster Court and Newell Street. This week, we’re focusing on Fleming Drive and Morse Place.
Challinor says Fleming Drive was named after a man who held the keys at the local jail.
The old jail and courthouse is now the current location of Milton’s Town Hall. Challinor says the old courtyard is still visible from Mary Street, with remnants of the jail being in the basement of the building.
Fleming’s role as the turnkey saw him responsible of letting in and out each person who was locked up. His later role as the Governor of the jail is comparable to that of a Warden, says Challinor.
Looking at Morse Place, he says the street was named after a former Councillor who built farm equipment.
Challinor adds that Morse would have been manufacturing farm equipment out of steel. He’d then take them by horse and buggy around to farms in the area.
The equipment itself would’ve been made and developed to be pushed by horse and buggy. Morse passed away sometime in the 1870s, so he would’ve missed the boom of the industrial revolution that saw his job move from specialist to labourer with the introduction of steam-powered machines.
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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