Mike Loader
@mikeloader.bsky.social
I write about Toronto history, Mount Pleasant Cemetery, the Necropolis, and Potter's Field 🇨🇦
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Mike Loader
@mikeloader.bsky.social
· May 5
Consumption, Inflammation, Cholera, and Bowel Complaints were the most common known causes of death for those buried in Toronto's Potter's Field (1826-1855)
Today is the 149th anniversary of the opening of Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto. Postcard c.1903 by Galbraith Photo Co., courtesy Toronto Public Library. #MountPleasantCemetery
November 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Today is the 149th anniversary of the opening of Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto. Postcard c.1903 by Galbraith Photo Co., courtesy Toronto Public Library. #MountPleasantCemetery
On this day in 1912, 700 members of the 48th Highlanders were returning to Toronto from a training exercise in Milton when their CPR train slammed into a Detroit Flyer passenger train pulling out of the Streetsville Junction. Privates Mac Murdock and John Bannatyne were killed instantly... [1/2]
October 28, 2025 at 1:08 PM
On this day in 1912, 700 members of the 48th Highlanders were returning to Toronto from a training exercise in Milton when their CPR train slammed into a Detroit Flyer passenger train pulling out of the Streetsville Junction. Privates Mac Murdock and John Bannatyne were killed instantly... [1/2]
While locating the unmarked grave of Reason Williams in the Toronto Necropolis, we found this antique cap gun, likely lost by Cabbagetown children playing Cops and Robbers between the headstones many years ago. We left it where we found it for somebody else to discover someday.
October 9, 2025 at 6:02 PM
While locating the unmarked grave of Reason Williams in the Toronto Necropolis, we found this antique cap gun, likely lost by Cabbagetown children playing Cops and Robbers between the headstones many years ago. We left it where we found it for somebody else to discover someday.
Mausoleum Row in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in the 1920s before the trees grew. The tall one, third from the left, is the Baillie/Just mausoleum. Neither the man it was built for or the man who bought it are interred in it. It was built for Frank Wilton Baillie who died in 1921 but he was reinterred...
September 26, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Mausoleum Row in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in the 1920s before the trees grew. The tall one, third from the left, is the Baillie/Just mausoleum. Neither the man it was built for or the man who bought it are interred in it. It was built for Frank Wilton Baillie who died in 1921 but he was reinterred...
John Wesley immigrated from England to the Town of York (Toronto) where he took over the Neptune Inn on New Street, now known as Jarvis. His wife Elizabeth died during childbirth at age 36 and he died five years later at age 33 from typhus fever. They were buried in Toronto’s Potter’s Field and...
September 19, 2025 at 2:52 PM
John Wesley immigrated from England to the Town of York (Toronto) where he took over the Neptune Inn on New Street, now known as Jarvis. His wife Elizabeth died during childbirth at age 36 and he died five years later at age 33 from typhus fever. They were buried in Toronto’s Potter’s Field and...
The Mausoleum and Crematorium in Toronto's Mount Pleasant Cemetery was designed by Darling & Pearson and its main chapel is named for Thomas Carfrae who led the creation of Potter’s Field in 1826. It is home to 17 stunning stained glass windows. #stainedglass #stainedglasswindow
September 12, 2025 at 5:55 PM
The Mausoleum and Crematorium in Toronto's Mount Pleasant Cemetery was designed by Darling & Pearson and its main chapel is named for Thomas Carfrae who led the creation of Potter’s Field in 1826. It is home to 17 stunning stained glass windows. #stainedglass #stainedglasswindow
The Canadian Bank of Commerce building at 25 King Street West in Toronto has a 32nd-floor observation deck which is closed to the public so this is an uncommon view. Each side features four 24-foot heads for Courage, Observation, Foresight, and Enterprise. Photo ©2016 by Michael Leland.
September 2, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The Canadian Bank of Commerce building at 25 King Street West in Toronto has a 32nd-floor observation deck which is closed to the public so this is an uncommon view. Each side features four 24-foot heads for Courage, Observation, Foresight, and Enterprise. Photo ©2016 by Michael Leland.
The inscription on Eliza Crawford’s marker reads “This small tribute of respect was erected by her master in testimony of her worth”. Eliza was born in Hull, England and died in Toronto of liver disease at age 32. She was buried in Potter’s Field...
August 18, 2025 at 3:15 PM
The inscription on Eliza Crawford’s marker reads “This small tribute of respect was erected by her master in testimony of her worth”. Eliza was born in Hull, England and died in Toronto of liver disease at age 32. She was buried in Potter’s Field...
Reason and Rebecca Williams’ daughter Henrietta didn’t survive the day and they buried her in Toronto’s Potter’s Field in 1836. Her marker and remains were moved to Mount Pleasant Cemetery in 1875. Reason was an African American blacksmith who’d come to Toronto from New Jersey in 1825. About 1852...
August 1, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reason and Rebecca Williams’ daughter Henrietta didn’t survive the day and they buried her in Toronto’s Potter’s Field in 1836. Her marker and remains were moved to Mount Pleasant Cemetery in 1875. Reason was an African American blacksmith who’d come to Toronto from New Jersey in 1825. About 1852...
On July 24, 1892, Jane Lowrie Doran became the first person to die on the grounds of Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto. She was being treated in the nearby Deer Park Sanatorium on Heath Street when she left the building while it was still dark, crossed into the cemetery, and drowned in the pond.
July 24, 2025 at 6:24 PM
On July 24, 1892, Jane Lowrie Doran became the first person to die on the grounds of Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto. She was being treated in the nearby Deer Park Sanatorium on Heath Street when she left the building while it was still dark, crossed into the cemetery, and drowned in the pond.
John Bannerman was born c.1786 in Kildonan in the Scottish Highlands. He served in the Army and was wounded in the Battle of Toulouse in 1814 during the Napoleonic Wars. He was discharged in 1815, married, and immigrated to Toronto a few years later.
July 14, 2025 at 2:32 PM
John Bannerman was born c.1786 in Kildonan in the Scottish Highlands. He served in the Army and was wounded in the Battle of Toulouse in 1814 during the Napoleonic Wars. He was discharged in 1815, married, and immigrated to Toronto a few years later.
On this day in 1970, all 109 people on board Air Canada flight 621 from Montreal to Toronto died when it crashed in a field in what is now Brampton. The Douglas Super DC-8 was half full because it was to to pick up passengers in Toronto before continuing to Los Angeles. #onthisday #thisdayinhistory
July 5, 2025 at 1:39 PM
On this day in 1970, all 109 people on board Air Canada flight 621 from Montreal to Toronto died when it crashed in a field in what is now Brampton. The Douglas Super DC-8 was half full because it was to to pick up passengers in Toronto before continuing to Los Angeles. #onthisday #thisdayinhistory
Alexander Rogers mausoleum stained glass window depicting Jesus helping Peter while walking on water in the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 14:31) Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto #stainedglass #stainedglasswindow
June 30, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Alexander Rogers mausoleum stained glass window depicting Jesus helping Peter while walking on water in the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 14:31) Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto #stainedglass #stainedglasswindow
John Ross Robertson donated the large Freemasons lot in Toronto’s Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The monument was dedicated in front of 2,600 onlookers on June 24, 1893, the feast of St. John the Baptist who is important in the Masonic Rite. #todayinhistory #onthisday
June 24, 2025 at 4:26 PM
John Ross Robertson donated the large Freemasons lot in Toronto’s Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The monument was dedicated in front of 2,600 onlookers on June 24, 1893, the feast of St. John the Baptist who is important in the Masonic Rite. #todayinhistory #onthisday
Today in 1941, instructor Finn Kjos and student Tron Harsvik took off from Toronto harbour in a Northrop N-3PB Nomad floatplane like this one and clipped the rigging of the ferry Sam McBride, killing the Norwegian military pilots. #todayinhistory
June 20, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Today in 1941, instructor Finn Kjos and student Tron Harsvik took off from Toronto harbour in a Northrop N-3PB Nomad floatplane like this one and clipped the rigging of the ferry Sam McBride, killing the Norwegian military pilots. #todayinhistory
William Fitch died in 1885 at the Battle of Batôche and his funeral procession was a mile long. His monument by F.B. Gullett & Sons includes a life-sized bronze bust and was at the centre of a circle in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
June 19, 2025 at 4:15 PM
William Fitch died in 1885 at the Battle of Batôche and his funeral procession was a mile long. His monument by F.B. Gullett & Sons includes a life-sized bronze bust and was at the centre of a circle in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
1913 ad for the Strath Gowan development on property south of Lawrence Park owned at one time by Jesse Ketchum and last farmed by Nicholas Garland, with a 1911 photo. Ad from The Globe, 17 Apr 1913, and photo courtesy Toronto Public Library.
June 17, 2025 at 4:03 PM
1913 ad for the Strath Gowan development on property south of Lawrence Park owned at one time by Jesse Ketchum and last farmed by Nicholas Garland, with a 1911 photo. Ad from The Globe, 17 Apr 1913, and photo courtesy Toronto Public Library.
In 1849 at age 20, Harvey Prentice Dwight became Toronto's only telegraph operator. He rose to president of the Great North Western Telegraph Company and connected Canada with tens of thousands of miles of wire. Harvey was the father of Canadian telegraphy and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
June 16, 2025 at 1:57 PM
In 1849 at age 20, Harvey Prentice Dwight became Toronto's only telegraph operator. He rose to president of the Great North Western Telegraph Company and connected Canada with tens of thousands of miles of wire. Harvey was the father of Canadian telegraphy and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
The Mausoleum and Crematorium in Mount Pleasant Cemetery opened in 1920 and is home to 17 stunning stained glass windows, as well as the final resting place of WWI flying ace Billy Barker and Titanic survivor Mary Fortune. #stainedglass #stainedglasswindow
June 14, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The Mausoleum and Crematorium in Mount Pleasant Cemetery opened in 1920 and is home to 17 stunning stained glass windows, as well as the final resting place of WWI flying ace Billy Barker and Titanic survivor Mary Fortune. #stainedglass #stainedglasswindow
The leaf-covered Pergola & Art Room for the comfort of female shoppers at the W.A. Murray & Company store (17-31 King Street East), postcard 1906.
June 12, 2025 at 2:18 PM
The leaf-covered Pergola & Art Room for the comfort of female shoppers at the W.A. Murray & Company store (17-31 King Street East), postcard 1906.
On this day in 1940, James Franceschini was arrested and interned as a threat to Canada because he’d been born in Italy. He had arrived in Toronto as a penniless teenager, worked in construction, and became Canada’s largest road contractor.
June 10, 2025 at 2:45 PM
On this day in 1940, James Franceschini was arrested and interned as a threat to Canada because he’d been born in Italy. He had arrived in Toronto as a penniless teenager, worked in construction, and became Canada’s largest road contractor.
Amelia Wilkinson was born in England and married to a saddler named Miles. She died in Toronto in 1847 at age 40 and was buried in Toronto's Potter’s Field. Her remains and marker were moved to Mount Pleasant Cemetery in 1875. The cemetery does a great job of maintaining this rare intact slab.
June 6, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Amelia Wilkinson was born in England and married to a saddler named Miles. She died in Toronto in 1847 at age 40 and was buried in Toronto's Potter’s Field. Her remains and marker were moved to Mount Pleasant Cemetery in 1875. The cemetery does a great job of maintaining this rare intact slab.
On this day in 1866, Fenian invaders from the United States fought Canadian defenders at the Battle of Ridgeway near Fort Erie. Nine soldiers from the Queen’s Own Rifles of Toronto were killed in action or died of wounds, and 21 others were wounded.
June 2, 2025 at 2:30 PM
On this day in 1866, Fenian invaders from the United States fought Canadian defenders at the Battle of Ridgeway near Fort Erie. Nine soldiers from the Queen’s Own Rifles of Toronto were killed in action or died of wounds, and 21 others were wounded.
Perry Doolittle (1861-1933) built his first boneshaker bicycle based only on a photo at age 17. He became a doctor and in 1925 he was the first person to drive across Canada from Halifax to Vancouver. He is regarded as the father of the Trans-Canada Highway.
May 30, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Perry Doolittle (1861-1933) built his first boneshaker bicycle based only on a photo at age 17. He became a doctor and in 1925 he was the first person to drive across Canada from Halifax to Vancouver. He is regarded as the father of the Trans-Canada Highway.
On this day in 1914, the RMS Empress of Ireland sank near the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River with the loss of 1,012 lives, including 167 Salvation Army members. This photo is of the 1929 service at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Source: City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 16728. #onthisday
May 29, 2025 at 1:59 PM
On this day in 1914, the RMS Empress of Ireland sank near the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River with the loss of 1,012 lives, including 167 Salvation Army members. This photo is of the 1929 service at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Source: City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 16728. #onthisday