Black History Around Toronto St. James’ Cathedral

Intersection of Church & King Streets

Source : Toronto Public Library Digital Archive


Blackburn Cabstand at Church and King

Thornton Blackburn operated the first cab service in Toronto. 

Source: John Gillespie Painting, 1844


Ad for Hickman Grocery Store, 1855

William Hickman operated a grocery store for a number of years. In this ad, he advertised his grocery business for sale to pursue other ventures.  

Source: The Globe October 20, 1855


St James’ Cathedral, c.1874

The Cathedral of St. Jams is an Anglican Cathedral. Established in 1797, it is the oldest congregation in Toronto. 

Source: Toronto Public Library Digital Archive


 


Blackburn Plaque, 2007

Thornton and Lucie Blackburn were recognized as people of national significance in Canada in 1999. 

Source: Parks Canada


Emancipation Day Plaque

Emancipation Day commemorates the abolition of slavery in British colonies on August 1, 1834. Black people in Toronto have observed the occasion since the 1830s. 

Source: Dorothy Abbott

Text version of the audio

There are several things to point out in this area. St. James’ Cathedral played a role in the Black history of the city of Toronto. The cathedral was an integrated church and Black residents were members of the church in their early history. Free Black people were married at the church, and children and adults were baptized there. Emancipation Day services were held at the church. Reverend Henry Grasett regularly led those annual services between 1839 and 1860, and also participated in the other commemorative events and anti-slavery activities in the city.  

The Blackburn cab stand was located on Church Street to the West of St. James Cathedral. They operated the single cab, painted red and yellow, into the 1860s. 

Extra housing

On the south side of King Street East and on both the East and West sides of Church Street, there were several Black barbers who operated in this vicinity going south towards Front Street, including William H. Edwoods and William Hickman, who both lived in the city since the early 1830s. The Hickman family helped freedom seekers by building extra housing on their properties to help house the newly arrived.

Black Torontonians operated a variety of businesses in the city. They also worked in a range of occupations such as butchers, shoemakers, bricklayers, carters, cabmen, laundresses, blacksmiths, ferriers, doctors, hairdressers, shop keepers, hatters, carpenters, ministers, cooks, waiters, plasterers, day labourers, and domestic servants.

When William died in 1858, his grocery store was valued at $2000. It was passed on to his second son, John. Education was important for the Laffertys. William himself learned how to read and write in freedom. Their third son Alfred Lafferty (1839-1912) was sent to attend school at the Buxton settlement from 1850-53 then returned to Toronto and attended Upper Canada College from 1853-59. In 1860 Alfred attended University College (now part of UofT) where he received his BA in 1863 and earned his Master of Arts degree in 1867. 

First Black principal in Ontario

Throughout his educational career, Alfred won several academic and financial awards. In 1863, Alfred was hired as the headmaster of the Richmond Hill County Grammar School. He married Isabella Campbell (a Scottish woman). He taught for a short time at the Lindsay Grammar School, then at the Guelph high school in 1872, where he became principal, the first Black principal in Ontario. 

In 1875 Alfred became principal of the Wilberforce Educational Institute in Chatham, a school established by the Black community. Later he studied law and was called to the Bar in 1886. Alfred and his family remained in Chatham for the rest of his life. The story of the Lafferty family is great example of the experiences and lives of freedom seekers and their children in the province. 

Extrait de
Tracing Mary Ann Shadd Cary's Footsteps in Mid-19th C. Black Toronto

Tracing Mary Ann Shadd Cary's Footsteps in Mid-19th C. Black Toronto image circuit

Présenté par : Dr. Natasha Henry-Dixon, York University
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