Toronto Neighbourhood: History of Davisville Village
The unique history of Davisville Village
Midtown Toronto’s Davisville Village is a vibrant, centrally located neighbourhood that offers a quiet, convenient alternative to downtown living. Situated along Toronto’s famous Yonge Street corridor, Davisville Village is bounded by Eglinton Avenue to the north, Bayview Avenue’s Leaside to the east, Mount Pleasant Cemetery to the south and Yonge Street’s Chaplin Estates to the west.
Its accessibility, energetic and diverse nightlife, world-class shopping, expansive green spaces and proximity to health care, public and private schools, and other essential amenities makes it a preferred choice for singles, couples and families alike.
History of Davisville Village
Davisville is named after John Davis, a prominent early resident. After arriving in Canada from England in 1840, Davis opened the area’s first post office and served as its first postmaster. His community-building efforts inspired him to co-found Davisville Public School as well as the Davisville Pottery Company, which was the area’s largest employer for many years.
One of the area’s most propertied landowners, Davis sold a large tract of real estate to the Dovercourt Development Company in 1911. This transaction marked a turning point in Davisville’s history, as the area had been largely undeveloped prior to Dovercourt’s acquisition. In the 1920s and 1930s, the Dovercourt Development Company transformed Davisville from an underdeveloped gap in the city’s northern hinterland to a blossoming community where people could live, work and play. Single-family homes began to dominate the neighbourhood – many of which still stand to this day. By the 1970s, Davisville’s growth strategy had gone vertical, and the area’s first condominium projects appeared. These developmental influences have combined to create a fascinating combination of classic century homes and modern high-rises.
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Jethro Seymour, Top Davisville Village Real Estate Broker, at Royal LePage RES Ltd., Johnston & Daniel Division
