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2. CUSTOMS HOUSE |
| York was made a port of customs in 1801(1). At the time of our model Toronto’s second, or York’s fifth, Custom House (1835-1841) was in operation. It was located on the north side of Palace (now Front) Street, within the first block east of Yonge. A single-storey brick structure, the Custom House was hip-roofed as many of the other buildings of its class(2). The busy harbour of early Toronto was the scene of many problems caused principally by smuggling networks operating between America and Toronto. The official responsible for monitoring this illegal activity was the Collector of Customs. The Collector would confiscate all smuggled stock, whether found on board ship or in town, within a maximum period of three years from entry(3). Tea and fish oils, prohibited by imperial statute, were among the most frequently confiscated goods(4). A monopoly of the East India Company and legally sold in Quebec, tea created the greatest problem: an estimated 3000 chests of it arrived illegally in Toronto each year(5). Thomas Carfrae, Jr. (1796-1841) of Edinburgh, Scotland was the Collector of Customs in 1837(6). He rose to civic prominence in 1826 as one of the founders of York’s non-sectarian burial ground, know as “Potter’s Field” or the York General Burying Ground(7). However Carfrae had a broad portfolio, ranging from politics to forming York’s first Fire Department [site 12](8). Following his post as Collector of Customs, Carfrae was appointed Harbour Master in 1838(9). The office of Collector of Customs was created to protect York markets and industries from the in of illegal products which might have harmed their fledgling economy. The Collector also monitored the flow of human traffic, for example deserters heading south. It was a unique and prestigious appointment, which also proved to be financially profitable for those who held it. |
| Notes 1 Robertson, I, p.251. 2 Ibid., p.255. 3 Frederick H. Armstrong, A City in the Making, (Toronto: Dundurn Press Ltd., 1988), p.185. 4 Ibid., p.184. 5 Ibid. 6 Firth, p.103. 7 Roberston, I, p.253. 8 Armstrong, A City in the Making, p.169. 9 Firth, p.103. |
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