125 Years of Service

"To recognize this 125th Anniversary milestone, we have created a "Dates to Remember" book containing a pictorial history of Toronto by Mike Filey, where you can record special occasions that you wish to remember.

125 Anniversary

When Julius A. Humphrey first established his firm at Yonge and Dundas, 125 years ago, the world was a much different place. Sir John a. MacDonald was Prime Minister. Yonge & Dundas was considered "midtown" and Yonge and Bloor was up-town," where toll gates governed access to the city. It was a city with wooden plank sidewalks, where odd-looking bicycles whizzed by, and horse drawn streetcars and fire-wagons clambered up and down the streets.

The year was 1879, and it was a year of many firsts. The first Toronto Phone Book was published. The Canadian National Exhibition opened its gates for the first time, and the first flat hockey puck slipped onto the ice. Thomas Edison demonstrated his light bulb, which would eventually replace gaslights in millions of homes, and McConkey's Restaurant made history by being the first restaurant in Toronto with electric lights.

Twenty years later you could still get a cab ride by horse for 20 cents, and the Toronto Star newspaper was one cent. That year City Hall officially opened on Queen Street.

Progress was exceptionally notable by the turn of the century. Marconi's first wireless transmission took place in 1901. The University of Toronto played host to the first Grey Cup Game in December of 1909. Arthur W. Miles, the founder of A.W. Miles Chapel, introduced the first motorized ambulance to Toronto in June of 1911, and in 1912 Mr. Miles opened the grounds of his home in Mimico to the public, free of charge. It was known as Miles Park and it was more than just beautiful gardens - it was a place for people to come to enjoy exotic animals, have a picnic and, if they wanted, ride a camel! The part was home to an elephant, giraffe, camels, donkeys, monkeys, ostriches and other birds and animals.

Leaside made history in 1918 when Captain Brian A. Peck flew the first postal flight between Montreal and Toronto, transporting a bag of 120 letters in envelopes specially postmarked for the flight. The flight took 6 hours in total with a stop over in Kingston to refuel before making the inaugural landing in our very own Leaside.

By the 1920's the Toronto Transit Commission was developing, replacing horse-drawn streetcars with electric ones, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was formed and The Royal York Hotel became Toronto's tallest standing structure at 439 feet. There was talk of turning the Don Jail into an aquarium. Toronto had experienced some hockey success up to this point, but did not have a team that the entire city could rally around and call its own. This changed in 1926 when our Toronto Maple Leafs were formed.

By the time Maple Leaf Gardens had opened in 1931 and the Leafs had won their first Stanley Cup in this decade, the Humphrey family business was now under the direction of son, Bert and had expanded to three locations. In 1935, however, the sudden death of Bert, along with the effects of the depression saw the business scaled back to one location.

Toronto turned 100 years old in 1934. We now officially had "history" that would only continue to grow. In 1939, just five years after our Centennial, the first plane landed at the Toronto Island Airport and TransCanada planes were landing in Malton. Admission to the CNE was 25 cents and King George arrived to visit Toronto. Third generation Thomas A. Humphrey turned 21 in 1939 and was now old enough to take over the family firm.

The 1940's were glory years for the Toronto Maple Leafs with five Stanley Cup wins. Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949, and in 1955, John "Rennie" Graham was appointed Manager of A. W. Miles Chapel at 30 St. Clair Avenue West. The St. Lawrence Seaway opened in 1959. The 1960's brought us EXPO 67, a new flag, the celebration of Canada's Centennial, and the Maple Leafs won the most recent Stanley Cup. Neil Armstrong awed the world and ignited the imaginations of young and old alike as he broadcast back to earth while taking the very first steps on the moon in 1969.

On April 2, 1975, Toronto completed the world's tallest freestanding structure - The CN Tower. In 1980, we watched a remarkable man, Terry Fox, as he endeavoured to run from coast-to-coast to raise money and awareness for cancer research. In addition, he inspired the Marathon of Rick Hanson and all the many, many marathons for worthy causes in which we take part today. July 16, 1981, marked an important date for Humphrey family when A.W. Miles Chapel merged with them and moved to the Bayview Avenue location. The marriage of the two companies brought about the birth of the Humphrey Funeral Home - A.W. Miles Chapel which in 1989 came under the leadership of the fourth generation, Bruce Humphrey.

For 125 years, we have celebrated life with the people of Toronto and are proud to have been part of this wonderful city for four generations. As we reflected on our anniversary and our rich heritage, we hope that you will enjoy our gift to you for recording the important dates of anniversaries, birthdays and all of the things that make life matter to you.