Picture the scene. You’re standing where a bustling metropolis now thrives. But centuries ago this was Edgeley a small rural community. Imagine the scent of freshly baked apple pies wafting from humble homes. Edgeley was a place where families like the Smiths the Stongs and the Shunks carved out a life.
Edgeley nestled in what is now Vaughan Ontario. It held a significant place in the area’s history. Its story is intertwined with the growth of Vaughan itself. The first settlers arrived around 1800 from Somerset County Pennsylvania. They brought with them their traditions and their dreams. They built a life amongst the fertile lands.
The heart of Edgeley was at the intersection of Jane Street and Highway 7. A general store stood proudly. This was more than just a shop. It housed the Edgeley post office from 1872 to 1960. Imagine the conversations exchanged the news shared within those walls. A steam-powered shingle mill stood nearby a testament to the community’s industrious spirit. A hotel offered weary travelers a place to rest. Samuel Snider’s horse-powered cider mill produced delicious apple cider. His son-in-law and his brother later modernized the business. They used steam power to increase production until the early 1900s.
The community spirit was strong. Edgeley boasted a blacksmith a shoemaker a casket maker. There was even a dressmaking establishment. Two slaughterhouses served the community and beyond. Farmers gathered at a community hall. They shared stories and celebrated harvests. The Edgeley Farmers Club organized in 1917 further strengthened the bonds. Annual oyster suppers were a highlight of the social calendar.
The oldest extant Mennonite meeting house in Ontario once stood here. This building built in 1824 was a testament to the community’s faith. It was moved to Black Creek Pioneer Village in 1976 preserving a piece of Edgeley’s past. The church was built of first-growth white pine. The total cost was only $221 excluding the wood stove. The benches and stove are original to the building. The Mennonite custom meant no paint was used. Even the nails were forged by the local blacksmith. Services were held only every fourth Sunday due to shared pastors.
Edgeley thrived on its fruit particularly apples. Orchards covered the landscape west of Jane Street and north of Highway 7. This abundance supported the settlers and shaped the identity of Edgeley.
Today high-rise condos stand where orchards once flourished. But the story of Edgeley lives on in the streets named after its settlers. In Edgeley Pond and Park and in the preserved buildings at Black Creek Pioneer Village. Edgeley’s spirit of community and industry remains a testament to the dreams of those early settlers. Remember their story as you continue your journey.