Old Mill

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Old Mill
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      History:

      The historic Old Mill neighbourhood is located on the banks of the Humber River which is recognized as a Canadian Heritage River. The Humber River was a favourite fishing and hunting spot for people of the First Nations long before the first European pioneers settled here in the 1790’s.In 1793 the Kings Mill – the forerunner to todays Old Mill – was built in order to process lumber for the first homes in Toronto – which was then known as the Town of York. A series of fires forced the Mill to be re-built three times. Today the skeletal ruins of the last grist mill also destroyed by fire in 1881, provide the backdrop for the Old Mill Hotel and restaurant. The Old Mill “Tea Garden” was opened in 1914, at the outbreak of World War I.  This popular venue attracted a clientele from all over the city making it an ideal sales office for Home Smith and Company who developed this neighbourhood in the 1920’s and 30’s.

      Overview:

      The Old Mill neighbourhood is nestled along the thickly wooded slopes of the Humber River Valley. This is an ideal neighbourhood for families as it offers miles of parkland with a myriad of recreational opportunities. The iconic stone bridge overlooking the Humber River serves as the gateway to the historic Old Mill Hotel a popular venue for weddings and family celebrations. Etienne Brule Park situated along the banks of the Humber River is known for the Fall Salmon run, a spectacle that attracts many visitors to the park. Etienne Brule Park is also a popular spot for family picnics. Old Mill residents also enjoy convenient access to the Old Mill subway station as well as all the amenities along Bloor Street which marks the southern boundary of the neighbourhood.

      Lifestyle:

      The Bloor West Village shopping district is a five to ten minute walk from most of the homes in this neighbourhood. This shopping district is known for its European food shops, gift shops and specialty stores. Residents of this neighbourhood are also within close proximity of the Kingsway Village shopping district located just west of the Bloor Street bridge at Royal York and Bloor.

      Homes:

      The houses in this neighbourhood were built between 1920 and 1940. These distinctly Tudor style homes range in size from cosy two bedroom bungalows to four bedroom two-storey houses. All of the houses are detached and contain many decorative features like leaded glass windows, rich wood trim, and hardwood floors. Many of the houses back onto the ravine or overlook the Old Mill and the Humber River.The most diverse street in this neighbourhood is Old Mill Road. This street contains a mix of houses, a co-op apartment building, a rental apartment building, and a handful of newer luxury condominium buldings. Many of these homes command a spectacular view of the Humber River Valley.

      Recreation:

      Etienne Brule Park, situated across the street from the Old Mill Restaurant, features a paved trail that follows the route of the Humber River and is perfect for walking, jogging, cycling and in the winter cross-country skiing. Etienne Brule Park is also a popular spot for picnics and for fishing in the Humber River. Across the street from the park is the Old Mill Tennis Club which contains four courts that are open to the public at designated times.Movie goers can catch all of the latest Hollywood films at the Humber Theatre at Bloor and Jane Street. The historic Runnymede Theatre at Bloor Street and Runnymede Road is now a Shoppers Drug Mart. Without a doubt one of the prettiest settings in Toronto has to be at the Humber River as it flows alongside Etienne Brule Park just below the historic Old Mill Inn and Spa. This is the setting every fall around Thanksgiving for dozens of anglers. These fishing enthusiasts wade with their leg high rubber boots into the chilly waters of the Humber River to test their mettle against the teeming amount of Salmon swimming upstream to spawning grounds.Fishermen are not the only ones who gather here on a nice fall day. Curious onlookers also line the banks of the Humber river to marvel at this spectacle; as hundreds of Salmon attempt to jump the weir in the Humber river. These schools of Salmon travel this route each fall as they make their way up the river from the mouth of Lake Ontario to spawn upstream in the Humber River headwaters which originate all the way up in the Oak Ridges Moraine.This is not a recent discovery as far as fishing holes go. Salmon have been migrating along the river for thousands of years. The First Nations people fished here long before the settlement of Toronto. The Humber River was officially designated a Canadian Heritage River at a plaque unveiling ceremony in Toronto on September 24, 1999.The beautiful Old Mill bridge, built in 1916, is the perfect backdrop for all the fishing enthusiasts. A short stroll from the bridge is the Old Mill Inn and Spa. This historic Inn has a very popular Sunday brunch and family dinner buffet, as well as a famous Thankgiving Buffet. Good to know just in case you get hungry after a busy day watching the Salmon run.If you prefer a more casual outing, Etienne Brule Park has numerous picnic benches. This park is a short stroll from the Old Mill subway station. If you are traveling by car there is plenty of parking available at the entrance to the park.

       

      Transportation:

      This neighbourhood is well served by public transit. The Old Mill subway station on Riverside Drive at Bloor Street and the Jane subway station at Jane and Bloor Streets both connect passengers to the Bloor-Danforth subway line.Motorists are twenty minutes away both from downtown Toronto and the Pearson International Airport.

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          Old Mill Stats

          Walkability:

          High

          Bikeability:

          High

          Public Transit:

          High

          Affordability:

          Low

          Greenspace:

          High

          Recreation:

          High

           

          Legend: Low, Medium, High

          Commute Times

          Time to Closest Shopping Mall:
          20 Minutes
          Time To TTC Station:
          5 Minutes
          Time to GO Bus or Train Station:
          20 Minutes
          Time To Hospital:
          20 Minutes
          Time to Toronto Pearson International Airport
          20 Minutes
          Time to Closest Highway:
          15 Minutes

          * All commuting times provided are approximate times only. Commute times may increase or decrease depending on where you live within the neighbourhood and the time of day i.e rush hour versus off hour commutes. Time estimates to public transit are based on walking distance or bus line connection whichever is quicker. All other commute times on the chart above are based on drive times.

          School Guide

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          Toronto School Resources

          Editor’s Note. BEFORE MOVING INTO, BUYING OR RENTING A HOME, PLEASE CONTACT THE SCHOOL YOU ARE CONSIDERING BY PHONE to ensure your home is within the designated boundaries and that your child is age appropriate. WE CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MISINFORMATION REGARDING SCHOOL ENROLLMENT SO DO NOT ASSUME that your child can automatically attend a specific school or specialized program until you have official confirmation from that school. Please visit the school board web sites for more information.