Some of Billy’s family L to R: Mom, Cathy, Pam, Gloria, Laura, Austin, Peter and Jon (who is furious at what they did to Billy–or maybe it’s the heat)
On Saturday, a number of us braved the extreme heat to watch the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to my Mom’s great-uncle, Billy McKay. Billy owned a farm in the Coxwell and Mortimer area, including the fields for what is now the Civic Centre and the Hospital, which he sold to the city for a dollar. Which is what he got credit for on the plaque.
It doesn’t go into the full story though. The city of East York got greedy and wanted the rest of Billy’s land. Billy was somewhat eccentric–he liked animals more than people; he built a farmhouse to share with his bride, but when she jilted him he didn’t use it and lived in the barn with his animals. Working on his eccentricities, first the city re-zoned his farm, upping the taxes, and when he kicked up a fuss they then trucked him away one night to the Mimico Asylum. The next morning they told all the neighbours that he had died. The city appropriated the land. The records are “missing”. Billy died in the asylum.
Mom and Colleen–feel free to add or correct my recounting of Billy’s history.
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David "Billy McKay Is My Hero" Barker says:
June 28, 2005 at 10:25 am (UTC 0)
His Mom and Collen, don’t change a thing, I like the story just the way it is…unless you can make it better. Hmmm.
Agatha Barc says:
July 18, 2005 at 11:59 pm (UTC 0)
I came across your blog by accident. The story of your mother’s great uncle is extremely interesting. I have been researching the former Mimico Asylum for a year and I posted my findings on my web site, The Former Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital Project. Since you a family member, you could also research Mr. McKay’s patient files at the Archives of Ontario.
Martin Rainbow says:
August 2, 2005 at 8:55 pm (UTC 0)
I was searching for the pictures of the plaque unveiling we put on the net and found your page, I am glad you all were able to be there, Martin Rainbow, President, East York Historical Society