Re: William Hallam..... Hallam Peak
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In reply to:
Re: William Hallam..... Hallam Peak
Diana Jensen 6/01/04
Dear Diana:
Eve Gardner said that her grandpa's uncle, John Hallam, was a wealthy furrier in Toronto. The John Hallam which I referred to in my earlier posting was a hide, wool, and leather merchant in Ontario who became extremely rich - seems there is some similarity there.On the off chance that this John Hallam is related to you I found these two small articles for your reference.The first is by Val Courneyea who is the same gal who told me about the Hallam burrial plot gifted by the city of Toronto in perpetuity.I have two e-mail addresses for her.The first is [email protected] and [email protected]:
Hallam, John - John Hallam was an alderman for 22 years for Toronto, longer than any recorded person. Born in Chorley, Lancashire, English Oct. 12, 1833. Died Toronto June 21, 1900.Born of 'free operatives in a cotten mill'. Founder of the 'Free Library Act' in Ontario which came about by his total lack of free education as a child in England. . No free librarys before that time. Hallam St. in Toronto, Hallam section in Metro Toronto Library, gift of chimes (bells) to Old City Hall, they still ring today!
John Hallam was born in Chorley, Lancashire, England on 13 October 1833. After he came to Canada in September 1856, he began working in Toronto as a labourer. He started his own business in June 1866 as a hide, wool and leather merchant and expanded it successfully in the 1870s.Hallam served as a Toronto alderman for eleven years prior to his resignation in 1883. He was an ardent proponent of free public libraries and became the first chairman of the newly formed Toronto Public Library in the same year. While serving as a trustee, he presented the library with a valuable collection of 2,000 books. After leaving the library board in 1888, he returned to municipal politics as an alderman and ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1900. He died later in the same year on 21 June 1900. His publications include: The days of advance: British civilization as shown in some institutions, free libraries and water supply systems. (Toronto, n.p., c.1881).Notes by the way on free libraries and books with a plea for the establishment of rate-supported libraries in the Province of Ontario (Toronto, Globe, 1882)
Then there is my little piece taken from several sources:
John Hallam was born October 12, 1833. John's parent's were Joseph Hallam and Susannah Brindle, 'free operatives in a cotten mill'. He emigrated to Canada from Chorley, Lancashire, England in September 1856, and started his own business in June 1866 as a hide, wool, and leather merchant. John taught himself to read, and when he came to Canada, and advanced himself to one of the richest merchant in the city of Toronto. He served as a Toronto aldermam for 22 years, longer than any recorded person. Hallam became founder of Ontario's "Free Library Act" which came about by his total lack of a free education as a child in England. There were no free libraries before that time. Hallam later served as a first chariman and trustee of the Toronto Public Library, and Hallam Street, Toronto and the Hallam Section of the Toronto Public Library are named after him. Hallam's gift of chimes (bells) to the old City Hall, aparently still ring today. John Hallam died in Toronto on June 21, 1900 after running unsuccessfully for Mayor the same year.