via Google Maps
We have streets named after a former television personality-turned-politician and a former local farmer!
Each week, 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 Attenborough Terrace and Ollerenshaw Point. This week, we’re covering Onley Lane and Ruhl Drive.
Starting alphabetically with Onley, Challinor says many will recognize the namesake from his time in front of the camera, as well as in politics.
Audio PlayerHe notes that it’s a common transition for broadcasters to go into politics. The speaking skills tend to be transferable, and many reporters learn a lot about the industry while covering it.
Challinor remembers working alongside Onley around the time of the Y2K scare, running a reoccurring segment about preparing for any potential issues. He says he enjoyed the time spent with Onley.
David Onley passed away in January 2023. He was 72-years-old.
Our other street this week has a major connection to a large plot of land in Milton. Challinor talks about the namesake behind Ruhl Drive.
Audio PlayerWhen discussing just how local the Ruhl family was, Challinor reflected on how their daughter was his instructor for swimming lessons.
After selling the land, the Ruhls retired and moved out west to British Columbia. Frank Ruhl passed away in 2021 at the age of 96.
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.
