via Google Maps
We have two streets named after nature this week!
On a weekly basis, we speak with Milton Historical Society President John Challinor II to gather information and details about the namesakes of our roads. If you weren’t aware, he and the late great historian, Jim Dills, wrote the book on Milton street names, writing Milton Streets back in 2007.
Recently, we covered Beam Court and Yukon Court. This week, we’re focusing on Alder Gate and Watercress Way.
Starting alphabetically with Alder, Challinor says the name doesn’t come from a person, but rather a local tree.
Audio PlayerHe says that, ideally, the streets named after the neighbourhood flora are also home to the same species. Alder is an example, as would be an oak tree found on Oak Street.
There’s another street that follows this trend this week. Challinor discusses the origins of Watercress Way.
Audio PlayerWatercress was recently named the healthiest vegetable that you can eat by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It received a nutrient density score of 100 out of 100, being hailed for its all-business vitamin and nutrient structure.
If you’re looking to understand how Milton’s streets are named, you should check out the book written by Challinor and Dills. Published by the Milton Historical Society back in 2007, it sold out in about six weeks and has since been long out of print. That said, according to Challinor, you can still find a copy at the Milton Public Library. With nearly 15-years having passed since the initial publication, and the extensive town growth in that time, an updated book is likely to come.
You can also take a walk with the late Jim Dills down Milton’s Main Street in 2002.
Have a suggestion on what you’d like to learn about next week? Let us know! We’re currently working on names that we find interesting. You can message our X account or email us at News1013@LocalRadio.ca. Otherwise, we’ll just continue asking about local street names that we find interesting.
If you have a news tip or story idea, you can now send us a heads up via email at News1013@LocalRadio.ca. If you’d like to get ahold of me personally, shoot me a message at Cameron.Wilkinson@LocalRadio.ca. We’re in the business of content creation, so no idea is a bad idea.
