Published in The BANAR November 2000
The Blackburn Recreation and Parks Board and Blackburn Community Association recently received a submission from Lois Kemp suggesting changes to the names of some parks in the Hamlet. Ms Kemp would like to see parks named to recognize those who in the past either contributed to the creation of the Hamlet , or were original landowners. The park name changes
suggested and being considered include:
- Orient Park change to Michael Budd Park
- Centre Park change to Joshua Bradley Park
- Red Maple Park change to Richard Dagg Park
- Bush Park change to Isaiah Scharfe Park
- Keystone Park change to John Kemp Park
- South Park change to Agnes Purdy Park
- Wood Hill Park change to Robert McQuarrie Park
- Diceman Park change to Harold Diceman Park
This suggestion is in keeping with the City park naming policy which lists possible park naming or renaming attributes to be those names having local historical significance or commemorating a significant individual.
Early Settlers
These are the people that purchased land from the government in the 1800’s. They had to clear the land of tree stumps, build their own roads, and schools, etc. All these people served as trustees on the school boards as did many of their sons and grandsons over the years.
Richard Dagg: In 1857, three families of Daggs settled in the area which was then was known as Daggville. Richard Dagg donated the land for the first school in Blackburn.
John Kemp: In 1857, John Kemp settled on Lot 10 (Keystone park & Norman Johnson School area) and four generations farmed the homestead. After the first school burned down, a second school was built on the Kemp property where the old Blackburn Public school was located. John Kemp’s descendants sold lots along the Navan Road in 1948, and this area became known as Blackburn Corners. There are still 4th and 5th generations of Kemps living in the Hamlet.
Joshua Bradley: In 1858, Joshua Bradley settled in Blackburn. The fourth generation still lives on the homestead. It was through the efforts of his son William Bradley, and Robert Blackburn (Reeve in 1864, then MP) that the Post Office was approved and the community then became known as Blackburn.
Agnes Purdy: In 1858, Agnes Purdy and her husband William settled on Lot 9 (across from St. Mary the Virgin Anglican church on Navan Road). Four generations of Purdys farmed the land until the NCC expropriated the farm for the Greenbelt. Agnes played a significant role in the development of the area as a major fundraiser in the church and as school board secretary for 20 years.
Isaiah Scharfe: Isaiah Scharfe settled on Lot 12 (Emily Carr area) in around 1850. Four generations lived in Blackburn on what is now Innes Road, previously known as the Cyrville-Navan Road.
Blackburn Hamlet Builders
Certain people played key roles in the creation of Blackburn Hamlet as the community it is today. On June 18, 1958, the government gave authority to the NCC to establish a greenbelt. Co-founder and chairman of the Blackburn Ratepayers Association, Michael Budd, with the help of Dolphin homes (Costain) convinced the Township of Gloucester and the NCC, that services could be brought across the Greenbelt to support a satellite community in the middle of the Greenbelt. On March 29, 1963, the Minister of Municipal Affairs approved the official plan of the Township of Gloucester Planning area for Blackburn Hamlet. In 1967, the first new residents of Blackburn Hamlet moved in.
Michael Budd: When the National Defence Department expropriated the Budd homestead for the Proving Grounds (corner of Innes and Cleroux) they relocated their gardens to Lot 9 (2832 Innes Road). Once again in 1958, they were expropriated by the NCC for the Greenbelt. Budd Gardens in now operated by his two sons on land rented from the NCC and both families live in Blackburn Hamlet.
Robert McQuarrie: Robert McQuarrie was a Gloucester Councillor from 1958 to 1966 and was instrumental in providing to the Council and the NCC, the feasibility of installing services to the Hamlet. He was the first chairman of the Gloucester Township School Board in 1967-68, and served as Gloucester Deputy Reeve and Reeve (1969-1978) and as MPP (1981-85).
The above people fit in with the concept of recognizing Hamlet Builders who have existing parks or streets named after them such as Harold Diceman and Allan Beddoe.