The expression ‘in-fill’ probably wasn’t in the lexicon of the early Toronto Township Planners. But not too long after G.S. Shipp and Son packed up and moved on to construct new homes elsewhere, the ‘in-fill’ started.
On November 16, 1955, Edward Small and Son Construction registered a Plan of Subdivision and started to construct homes creating Watson Orchard Road and Sidney Drive. Mr. Small purchased these lands from Mel Watson who had an apple orchard, thus the name Watson Orchard. Sidney was named after Mel’s son who was killed during WW11.
The Edward Small plan opened up a direct link to Dixie Road from Rambo and Melton Drives. Until then the residents had to come off Dixie Road at Primate and then travel to Courtland and north on Harvest Drive.
In January of 1956, A.B. Green built the homes on the west end of Melton Drive at Cawthra Road and also created Melton Court. This opened Melton Drive to Cawthra Road.
The third Plan in September of 1960, called for homes to be built extending Johnathan Drive easterly from Westfield. Lawsmith Holdings created the first curb and gutter road, complete with sidewalks. Prior to this, all roads were constructed as stone-chip and tar, which basically is what it sounds like. Stone chips are laid and tar is poured over it and when it hardens, you have a fairly sound road surface. In later years this gave way to oil based slurry-seal, which was laid by means of a spray-like application. When the slurry-seal dried, it gave the road an asphalt-like appearance. Today the roads are asphalted.
The Lawsmith Holdings plan also included a small number of homes on Baldwin Road as well as Stanfield Road. It wasn’t until 1969 that Baldwin was completed when Edrich Construction registered a plan which also included Wyton Court.
Linby Street in Westacres was developed in March of 1965 connecting Duchess Drive and Harcourt Crescent. This plan was registered by Peter Augustinavicius of Alka Developments.
Melton Drive opened up to Stanfield Road when Stanfield Developments registered its plan in November 1966, which also included Kilgorie and Haltrye Courts. This completed the connection between Stanfield and Cawthra.
Edrich Construction returned with plans in 1972 and also in 1977 to construct homes east of Stanfield creating Promenade, Stir, Meander, Melton and some along Stanfield Road.
In February of 1977 Nicholas Rukavina, owner of Cape Developments, built along Melton east of Stanfield adjacent to the Hydro Right of Way.
In 1975 Mr. Italo Galassi of Corolla Investments Ltd. built the western wing of Harcourt Crescent. In 1995 F-F Construction developed a cul-de-sac on the western end of Duchess Drive.