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50. MOSS PARK |
| York aristocracy initially chose to build their homes outside of the town’s limits, creating large suburban estates(1). Among these was Moss Park, the large brick mansion with over one hundred acres of property owned by William Allan [site 50, 27](2). Named after one of the Allan family farms in Aberdeenshire, Scotland(3),
Moss Park was the first example Greek Revival architecture in York. It
was also the first Museum in Toronto, as it had a dining room decorated
by stuffed birds and other specimens in glass cases(4). Allan (1772-1853) was the economic strategist and financial wizard behind the Family Compact. He had emigrated in 1789 from Huntley, Aberdeenshire, to Montreal. Work lead him to Niagara and then to York in 1795. Once in York he opened a store [site 27] which was twice looted, a fact which should have upset him if not for the government’s compensation which provided him with investment capital. After the War of 1812 Allan held a variety of posts. The early government positions offered little money but much prestige and even more opportunity. Layer upon layer he built until such prestigious appointments were offered to him as Collector of Customs and Postmaster. From 1822-35 he was the first President of the Bank of Upper Canada, a bank which he had pushed to establish. Economically Allan was a success. His personal life however seemed to move from one sad moment to the next. Moss Park was an enormous home, as Allan had intended it to house a large family. Sadly, of the eleven children he and Adelaide had, all but one, George, died before adulthood. There were cases of scarlet fever, consumption and tuberculosis. Allan eventually lost Adelaide to the illness. Justice was done when his son George moved into the home with his wife and seven children, filling the house with the long awaited sounds of children. Mosspark was sold to the City of Toronto in 1904(5). It consisted of less than two acres, and went for price of 15 000 dollars(6). Once demolished it became a public park. |
Notes
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| © Town of York Historical Society, 2006- All rights reserved. |