The History of the Rosedale Neighbourhood in Toronto

The wealthiest neighbourhood in Toronto came intotheir names are synonymous with the history of the
being in 1824, when William Botsford Jarvis bought acommunity, theirs was actually the second house built
portion of a 200 acre land grant made to Captainin the area, the first being built on the Don River in
George Playter for his role in supporting King George1818.
in the American Revolution. Jarvis was the sheriff ofThe Jarvis family continued to have a major role in
the home district, and was a staunch supporter ofthe development of Rosedale, with William’s
the crown, continuing the family tradition passed onnephew Edgar being the major developer of the
by his father, who like Playter had fought for theentire region. He acquired much of the land and
Crown during the American Revolution.proceeded to build several houses in a northerly
Jarvis moved to the property with his wife Mary.direction, as well as bridges at Huntley Street and
After their house was completed, Mary named thefrom Bloor Street. In 1870, Rosedale seceded to
residence Rosedale because of the many roses thatYorkville, which some say marks the proper beginning
grew in the area. The couple would have fiveof the community.
children, and Rosedale itself was one of the centresHousing construction in earnest did not begin in
of concentration for William Lyon MacKenzie’sRosedale until the last little bit of the 19th century,
rebellion. MacKenzie and Jarvis had much ill willand continued into the 20th, with a brief pause during
towards each other, and MacKenzie had stated onethe Depression and World War II. After the war,
of the purposes of his march was to burn Rosedaleurban developers began to undertake high density
to the ground. This was averted when a colonel inprojects in South Rosedale, until apartment building
the ill fated rebellion said he would not fight womenwas halted by a community initiative.
and children. Jarvis would later hang this colonel.Today, all of Rosedale’s streets have been
Legend has it that the famously meandering streetsdeveloped, with the last seeing construction begin as
of Rosedale were patterned after the tracks Maryrecently as 2000. The neighbourhood retains many of
Jarvis made on her many rides throughout theits heritage homes, and has been Toronto’s
property. Mary Jarvis died in 1852, and William lived onwealthiest community for over a century.
over a decade after her death until 1864. Although