Higginbotham Crescent, pronounced as Higgenbottem (via Google Maps)
We have a local pioneer and a former Milton mayor this week!
Each week, we speak with Milton Historical Society (MHS) President John Challinor II to gather information and details about the namesakes of our roads. If you weren’t aware, he and the late great historian, Jim Dills, wrote the book on Milton street names, writing Milton Streets back in 2007.
Recently, we covered Haws Crescent and Nairn Circle. This week, we’re looking at Cavanagh Lane and Higginbotham Crescent.
Starting alphabetically with Cavanagh, Challinor says the man was a Loyalist who moved to Milton nearly 200 years ago.
He notes that most Loyalists settled in Atlantic Canada when they made the move north of the border, due to the area being in close proximity to northeast United States. Back then, southern Ontario would have been underdeveloped in comparison, and Cavanagh was someone who took advantage of the opportunity.
Our other street this week is Higginbotham Crescent. Challinor says the namesake served as Milton’s mayor off and on at the turn of the 20th century.
Back then, elections were held every year. That means Higginbotham was someone who campaigned to more than 1000 residents annually.
He was also a part of local council when Milton partnered with P.L. Robertson to bring the factory to the town. It’s considered Milton’s greatest business, and one of the most prominent businesses of the 20th century. The factory, while empty, still stands along Bronte Street, having been declared a historical building.
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.
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.
