Long before Islington Avenue was extended south to Bloor Street in 1962, artists gathered near Montgomery’s Inn to paint the local colours. Young boys spent lazy afternoons fishing in Mimico Creek which wound through the valley framed by sumac, spruce and pine. The farm house owned by the Appleby family shown at the top right was located on the northwest corner of Dundas W. and Islington. It was built in an Ontario Gothic style with fine gingerbread trim.