Learn a little of Toronto's history as told through its plaques.
Jacob Cummer 1797-1841
Photos and transcription by contributor Wayne Adam - April, 2009
On this concrete wall, at McKee Public School on the north-west corner of McKee and Kenneth Avenues in North York, is this plaque erected in 1977 by the 50th Anniversary Committee of McKee Public School. Here's what it says:
Jacob Cummer (Kummer) and his wife Elizabeth, emigrants from Pennsylvania and among the earliest settlers in Willowdale, established themselves on this site along Yonge Street in 1797. A farmer, craftsman and entrepreneur, Jacob acquired other lands in the vicinity and by 1819 owned a saw-mill on the Don River near present-day Cummer Avenue. Originally Lutherans, the Cummers became devout Methodists in Upper Canada: their home serving as a Methodist Episcopal Sunday School from 1816. In 1834, Jacob donated a nearby site upon which a Methodist meeting house was soon built. This area, closely identified with Jacob and his large family of 14 children, was originally know as Kummer's Settlement.
Related web pages
saw-mill
Don River
Lutherans
Methodists
Upper Canada
Related Toronto plaque pages
Church Avenue
Willowdale
Finch
Yonge Street
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.773968 -79.410038
Here are the comments for this page.
Posted June 10, 2010
Hi my name is Jenna Cummer and I am doing research on my lineage and was wondering if you could help in any way. At York Cemetery there is also a John Cummer who donated a house ( sheppard house now called ) for Michael Sheppard who took shelter on that land in and around the Rebellion, 1843 is this Jacob Cummer related to the John Cummer?
jennagirl911@yahoo.ca
Posted May 27, 2010
Yes, John Cummer, Jacob's son, lived at 44 Beardmore Crescent which overlooked Jacob's Cummer Mill on the Don River. The house was originally a farm house built circa 1850 but was substantially renovated into its present structure circa 1933.
Posted April 15, 2010
Did Jacob Cummer or other Cummer relatives reside in a house I'm told is on the north side of cummer east of Bayview overlooking the Don River.
Here's where you can write a comment for this page.
Note: If you wish to ask me a question, please use the email link in the menu.
Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours
(usually much sooner).