The history behind Mississauga’s Carmen Drive
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james charles
Following several past articles that explore street names and early subdivisions in the Lakeview area of Mississauga, we received an inquiry asking about the origins of another street – namely Carmen Drive. Carmen Drive is indeed part of an earlier subdivision and dates to 1941. In the process of research, we MAY have also solved a bit of a mystery. But we will come back to that.
Carmen Drive is located on part of what was Lot 13, Concession 2, SDS. The East Half of Lot 13, some 92 acres in size, was first granted by The Crown to William Wallace in 1839, and in 1842 Wallace sold the property to James Charles. Several transactions over the years broke up the property into smaller parcels of land. In 1881, part of the northeast portion of the property was transferred to James’ son-in-law Charles Whatmough, and in 1885 to James’ youngest child, Lucy Charles. In 1892 Lucy married George Gray. In 1941 Edmund Carmen Strong, under the name E. Carmen Strong Ltd, purchased the property from the estate of Lucy Gray. Edmund Carmen Strong registered subdivision Plan 321 on June 20, 1941 – which provides the answer to the question of who Carmen Drive was named for.
Advertisement from Dec 22, 1942 - Toronto Daily Star
In 1946 Edmund Carmen Strong (he was known as “Ed”) registered another subdivision, Plan 337, on the southern part of the property he obtained from the Lucy Gray estate. In this subdivision, Ed Strong laid out several streets, including Orano Avenue, Marf Avenue, Jumna Avenue, Niar Avenue and part of Elaine Trail.
Exploring a bit about Ed Strong provides some possible links to other street name origins. Edmund Carmen Strong was born in Sayville, Long Island, New York in 1891. His father, William, was a ship carpenter by trade, and his grandfather, Edmund, was a boat builder. Ed’s mother was Mary Augusta Rowland Fagan (1854-1922). Her initials were M.A.R.F. – perhaps the inspiration behind the naming of Marf Avenue.
lucy charles gray
As for Ed Strong himself, he came to Canada in 1926 and his obituary lists him as a “mining man”. His connection to mining may also link to another road name – Orano Avenue. Orano is the name of a mining company whose origins date back to 1945. Ed Strong initially lived in Toronto, and upon retirement from the mining industry he moved to Port Credit and become engaged in real estate and subdivision building in the early 1940s. He was a neighbour of the Soules family of Godfrey’s Lane. Elaine Trail is believed to take its name from Elaine Soules – the Soules family fondly remembered visits with Ed Strong.
From Globe and Mail - December 19, 1956
In 1954 Ed Strong left Port Credit and moved to Ormond Beach, Florida. Ed sadly lost his life while rescuing his 6-year-old grandson from drowning in 1959. He was laid to rest in Sayville, New York.
EC Strong - from Port Credit Weekly - December 20, 1956
As for the other roads – Jumna Avenue and Niar Avenue – their name origins are uncertain. If you have a picture of Edmund Carmen Strong (1891-1956), please share it with us.
Edmund Carmen Strong Gravestone
