Scarborough Historical Museum & Memorial Park

To discover more about the Scarborough Historical Museum you have to start back in 1796, when a Scotsman named David Thomson settled in Upper Canada and became the first permanent resident in Scarborough.  He was granted 400 acres and along with his brother, Andrew had built a log cabin on his property.   

Not long after other settlers joined them including David's brother Archibald.  As they were stone masons, they made their living by working on the first Parliament buildings in York (Toronto).  

A few years later a road had connected their settlement to York and a sawmill was built by each one of the brothers, David, Andrew and Archibald.  A Presbyterian church, built 20 years later became the core of the prospering Thomson Settlement.

The pale looking house (Cornell House) was inhabited for over 80 years by descendents of Wm. Cornell who came here from Rhode Island in 1799.  This home was considered a middle-class home, with spacious upper and lower floors equipped with pot-bellied stove, pantry, cold storage, eating area and living area.  The upper floor was for sleeping, which kept the family closely together, including infants sleeping in the same room as the mother.  This tradition has since changed :)

It was quite cold outside, and very unexpected that the museum was opened on this day, so you can imagine our surprise to peer into the window to see a face appear waving us in.  Upon opening the front doorway, we were greeted and given hot tea and home made oatmeal cookies! There was one other person who was equally happy to join in for some afternoon tea.  The ladies were dressed in the attire of the time, long cotton dress, with aprons and bonnets.

One of the volunteers had offered to show us inside the McCowan Log Cabin, which was locked up.  The McCowan Log cabin was built in 1830 and was occupied by William McCowan from 1848 until his death in 1902. (1820-1902).    William came to Canada in 1833 with his parents and 4 brothers and 4 sisters where they settled near the Scarborough Bluffs near McCowan road.  

A year after emigrating to Canada, in one night, Williams' father and brother had died of cholera, after which William took care of his mother and brothers and sisters and remained a bachelor for the rest of his life.  

His nephew James McCowan took over after William passed on.  This cabin, although appearing quite small on the inside, could apparently house up to 10 people at one time and was considered quite large in its time.  The cabin was restored and carefully moved by the historical society to the Thomson Settlement in 1974.

The entire Thomson Settlement occupies a portion of the 'Thomson Memorial Park' at the corner of Brimley Road and Lawrence in Scarborough.

Highland Creek Watershed (Brimley Woods)

Recently passed by a small woodland lot at the corner of Finch and Brimley Road, called Brimley Woods (which incidentally is also another component of the Highland Creek watershed).  Brimley Woods is essential to the health of the watershed by absorbing air pollutants as well as to provide a habitat for plants and wildlife such as hawks and songbirds.  In the spring and summer the entire area is surrounded by wildflowers.

 
The "Highland" is an urban creek running over 85 kilometres through an area of about 100 square kilometres.  Although today, it's become the most developed watershed in all of Toronto, there are still remnant forests like this one, which are vital green space that contain trails of which can provide recreational opportunities all year round as well.

I remember when I was in high school, we had to meet up in the mornings at a local forest much like this one to do a recreational course as part of our phys ed class.  The signs indicate what exercise is required and the bars are permanently installed for exercise aids.  

Brimley Woods is an example of the conservation efforts and strategies between the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority with the City of Toronto and community organizations  all for the common good to improve health of the Highland and its neighbourhoods.   

The next time you explore your neighbourhood parks and trails, you can help by recycling your bottles and cans, or picking up any lose garbage that somehow doesn't make its way to the trash.  Keep active by joining or organizating neighbourhood nature walks, doing private tree planting, or establishing rain gardens in your own backyard.