We’ve got a street for the bees, and one for us humanfolk.
On a weekly basis, we speak with Milton Historical Society President John Challinor II to gather information and details about the namesakes of our roads. If you weren’t aware, he and the late great historian, Jim Dills, wrote the book on Milton street names, writing Milton Streets back in 2007.
Recently, we focused on Buckthorn Garden and Sumac Crescent. This week, we’re covering Burdock Court and Strawberry Landing.
Starting alphabetically with Burdock, Challinor says the name comes from a rather annoying weed that honeybees tend to love.
He recalls his personal experience dealing with the burdock while working for his uncle during summers on Manitoulin Island. It was his job to remove the weed on the property, using a homemade tool to cut them down.
As for Strawberry Landing, Challinor says the name is obvious, but loved here in the Milton community.
2025 will be the 43rd year of the annual Strawberry Fair, raising funds for the Milton District Hospital. It’s held every June, which Challinor describes as the true official start of summer here in Milton.
If you’re looking to understand how Milton’s streets are 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.
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. You can message our X account or email us at News1013@LocalRadio.ca. Otherwise, we’ll just continue asking about local street names that we find interesting.
If you have a news tip or story idea, you can now send us a heads up via email at News1013@LocalRadio.ca. If you’d like to get ahold of me personally, shoot me a message at Cameron.Wilkinson@LocalRadio.ca. We’re in the business of content creation, so no idea is a bad idea.
