L’Amoreaux developed mainly along Finch Avenue west of Birchmount Road and included most of the north west section of Scarborough between Sheppard and Steeles.
The community was named after a French Huguenot family, United Empire Loyalists who came to Canada following the American Revolution and settled in Scarborough around 1816. Early settlers in the area, in addition to the L’Amoreaux, included the families of Mason, Christie, Snider, Morgan, Clark, O’Sullivan and Vradenburgh, as well as others who settled in the northwest corner of the township.
In 1847 School Section #1 was established in L’Amoreaux. In 1854 L’Amoreaux opened a post office in James Taylor’s General Store. The L’Amoreaux General Store and Post Office operated on the York (now North York) side of the town line, but it served the Scarborough residents as well, since ‘community’ boundaries were flexible. In 1906 the store and post office was operated by the Kennedy family. Other prominent postmasters at L’Amoreaux include: James Taylor, William Nash and Alf Mason.
Blacksmith shops were operated by Richardson, Staunton and Ley, a waggon shop was established by Wright and a (window) sash factory once thrived on the southwest corner of what is now Sheppard and Pharmacy Avenues. St. Paul’s (Anglican) Church was established in 1840, followed by Christie’s Methodist in 1846.
After 1927, Harry C. Hatch built a quarter mile covered race track at L’Amoreaux and between 1936 and 1945 bred five King’s Plate winners, using the indoor track throughout the year to train the horses.
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L’Amoreaux – Historical Image Gallery:
