Milton’s streets are filled with history, especially their names!
myFM News is continuing its weekly feature on the history of Milton street names. Last week, we covered Turner Drive, Dills Crescent, and Leger Way. This week, we’re looking at Christie Circle, Trafalgar Court, and Knight Trail.
As always, we couldn’t do this without the incredible work done by Milton Historical Society President John Challinor. He and the late great historian, Jim Dills, wrote the book on Milton street names, having written Milton Streets back in 2007. Now, we’re looking at why these roads are named what they are.
First up, let’s talk about Christie Circle. Challinor says it was named after a man who opened a local quarry in Milton.
In 2021, quarries are a bit of a controversial topic. The construction and, by nature, destruction of the projects can pose serious risks to nearby communities. Especially if the residents rely on well water.
READ: Well water remains the number one option to vocal residents
Challinor says the quarry that Christie established in the early 20th century was in a very sparse area at the time. It’s located in what is now Kelso and has since been closed, but he adds that hikers can likely find the remnants by (safely) following the train tracks.
Our second street this week is one that many residents know the name of, but probably don’t know where the name originated. Trafalgar Court is located in the Dorset Park neighbourhood, and it does share the same namesake of Trafalgar Road – but where exactly did the name come from?
With Milton’s roots dating back before Confederation, many locations and streets were named after its European (mostly English, Scottish, and Irish) heritage. Milton itself is named after English poet John Milton, writer of Paradise Lost.
Our last street for this week is a request from a listener. Knight Trail is found in the Dempsey neighbourhood. Challinor says it’s named after an insurance agent-turned-local politician.
Knight quietly retired after not seeking reelection in 1987.
If you’re looking to understand how Milton’s streets were 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.
If you 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, as well as suggested names. You can message our Facebook page, Twitter account, Instagram page, or even email us at News1013@mbcmedia.ca. Otherwise, we’ll just continue asking about local street names that interest us.
