HISTORY of WOODBRIDGE

Woodbridge has a rich source of history and pride, dating back to its orgins with the British Crown origins with the British Crown granting the west half of lots six and seven, concession 7 of Vaughan Township to Jacob Philips and Hugh Cameron in 1802. Woodbridge itself, however, did not begin to take the form of a settlement or village until the arrival of Rowland Burr in 1837.

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The settlement was later named Burwick after its founder, but was changed again to Woodbridge in 1855 because there was already a settlement named Burwick in the province. The name comes from the wooden bridge that crossed the Humber River as an entry point into town. The historic bridge was located close to what is today Islington Avenue and Langstaff Road, on Langstaff looking north. A replica bridge (c. 1930) was made out of concrete and remains close to the original bridge location and is accessible from Boyd Park and to the city maintenance facility. The bridge has been rebuilt as of 2016 and is now made of steel.

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A major industry over time, Abell Agricultural Works opened in 1862 and had 200 employees by 1874, making steam-powered agricultural equipment. The Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway arrived from Weston in 1870. This line was constructed as a narrow gauge railway through Caledon and completed to Owen Sound in 1873. Owing to financial difficulty, it was operated by the Grand Trunk Railway until 1883, when it was leased to the Canadian Pacific Railway. Conversion to standard gauge required realigning some of the track curves, particularly around Woodbridge. In 1908 this line was linked to the transcontinental route through Sudbury, with the original route between Bolton and Orangeville being abandoned in 1934.

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By 1880, the settlement had two general stores, a carriage works, two churches, a school, two hotels, a library, two newspaper and a post office. As the population increased it was pressured by the citizens to add a post office so there would be no confusion with another settlement in Canada West. By 1882, Woodbridge had over a thousand residents and was incorporated as a village.

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Woodbridge was also served by a branch of the Toronto Suburban Railway until the 1930s. The radial railway from Weston came in along the west side of the river, north of Humber Summit, after descending from its route along Albion Road and Kipling Avenue.

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Construction of Highway 7 began in the 1920s, passing south of the business section via an underpass of the Canadian Pacific. As Woodbridge is on the Humber floodplain, Hurricane Hazel in 1954 devastated the community as the river swelled from its usual width of 20 m (66 ft.) at its narrowest point to 107 m (351 ft.), and left hundreds homeless and nine dead. At this time, the land around much of Woodbridge was agricultural. Slowly, rural homes were built in the surrounding area.

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In the 1950s, Woodbridge experienced spillover growth from suburban Toronto. Later, many Italians that settled in Toronto neighbourhoods such as Little Italy, moved to the suburbs and exurbs, in particular Woodbridge. The suburban expansion began east of the Humber and East Humber and to the northeast. Prior to the expansion, the urban area was up to Kipling Avenue and to the Humber. It later expanded in the west up to present-day Martin Grove Road and north to northeast of Langstaff Road in the 1960s. It later expanded further north in the 1970s and 1980s. A drive-in theatre was situated on Langstaff Road east of Highway 27. Operating from 1967 to 1997, the site was developed for housing in 1998.

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After the aforementioned drive-in was closed, Martin Grove Road was extended northward through the former property to serve more developments. Woodbridge Highlands was formed in the northwest, east of Highway 27 in the 1990s.

 

As we move forward from our beginnings, as an agricultural community, through the years we have evolved and moved towards the urbanization of Woodbridge.

 

Today, Woodbridge certainly carries its fair share of the weight for residents of Vaughan. 

 

For years, The West Woodbridge Homeowners Association, Inc. has fought diligently to promote smart development and smart growth, culminating in new business, retail stores, public spaces and facilities together with mid-rise residential development coming to the community.

 

West Woodbridge residents support well planned development that celebrates our unique quality of life, ensuring we are mindful of sky views and building at human scale, putting the health and well-being of people first. We are pro-smart growth, and proponents of a more visionary style planning policy with appropriate heights stepping back from existing low-rise residential neighbourhoods and promoting public transit throughout our community and pedestrian friendly neighbourhoods where possible. The West Woodbridge Homeowners has diligently and continuously promoted smart planning and the quality of life for West Woodbridge residents.