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Ardagh Road                                                A-B-C-7, C-6

Road allowance between Concessions XIII and XIV, Innisfil Township 

    Geography: Ardagh Road runs e-w from Essa Road to the western city limits at County Road 27. 
    Simcoe County registered plan 67, circa 1857-60 and copied 1896, shows "Concession Road" [Little Avenue and Ardagh Road] running e-w across the northern end of deleted Bacon Street, Essa Road, and Side Road [Patterson Road] to the western end of the plan. Gaviller's 1892 plan of Allandale shows unnamed Ardagh Road as the road allowance between Concessions XIII and XIV. The concession line was intersected and interrupted by Highway 400. The portion east of Highway 400 later became Little Avenue and the portion west of Highway 400 became Ardagh Road. See Highway 400. The City of Barrie passed By-Law 2483 on 14 March 1960, naming "that part of the road allowance between the 13th and 14th Concession of the Township of Innisfil lying West of 400 Highway" Ardagh Road. The City of Barrie map, dated February 1964, shows Ardagh Road running e-w from west of Highway 400 to west of Patterson Road. The newly incorporated City of Barrie annexed the area west of Highway 400 to just east of Patterson Road from the Township of Innisfil on 1 January 1959. The remainder of Ardagh Road west to County Road 27 was annexed by the City of Barrie on 1 January 1982. The City of Barrie map, dated January 1989, shows Ardagh Road running as it does in 1999.

    History: Ardagh Road was named for Rev Samuel Brown Ardagh by Linda Peterson of Agnes Street, Barrie. As a student at Hillcrest Public School in 1953-4, Linda won a prize of $5 from the Barrie Lions Club for her suggestion to rename Concession XIV, Ardagh Road, after Rev S.B. Ardagh, the first Simcoe County school inspector, 1844-6. Linda, along with her mother, sister, and brother, was invited to CKVR for the presentation of her prize during the regular Saturday night country and western programme. 
    Rev Samuel Brown Ardagh, AM, TCD, was born in Ireland in 1803. In August 1842, along with his family, he sailed from Waterford Ireland for "Shanty Bay and adjacent parts," under the auspices of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The Ardagh's arrived at Shanty Bay on board the steamer Simcoe on 7 October 1842. Shortly after his arrival, Ardagh was made the first Anglican rector of Barrie. In February 1844, he was appointed the first Simcoe County school inspector, serving to October 1846. Sadly, by 1849, his health was shattered by rheumatic disorders. He preached his last sermon at Barrie in July 1869. Rev Samuel Brown Ardagh died on 5 October 1869, "leaving a firmly established parish and a distinguished family to mourn him."

Andrew F. Hunter, A History of Simcoe County (Barrie: The County Council, 1909 and reprinted 1998), Part I, pp. 286 and 308-10;  Barrie Examiner, 31 July 1953, "Foundations of Trinity Church Laid in Early Days of Barrie with Visits by Missionaries";  Northern Advance, 14 Apri11870, p2;  Elizabeth Peterson.

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Duckworth Street                                         D-3-4, E-2-3

Concession I and II 

    Geography: Duckworth Street runs n-s from the southern shore of Little Lake to the northern shore of Kempenfelt Bay. Owing to a rugged terrain, it is not open at this time from the western end of Highland Avenue to the intersection of Collier Street, Blake Street, and Dundonald Street. 
    The "Addition to the Town of Barrie," dated October 1843, shows Duckworth Street running n-s from beyond Napier Street to Kempenfeldt Street [Kempenfelt Drive] at Kempenfelt Bay. It also shows Duckworth Place as a gore with Duckworth Street on the west and Codrington Street on the north. Gibbard's 1854 plan shows Duckworth Street running n-s from north of Back Street [Grove Street]. Duckworth Place is shown as a gore in the intersection of Duckworth, St Vincent, and Codrington streets. Simcoe County registered plan 302, dated 1873, shows the "Road between Cons. I & II" [Duckworth Street] running n-s from Little Lake, across the western end of the "Road Between Lots 5 & 6" [Little Lake Drive], to the southern end of the plan. Goad's 1946 fire insurance plan shows Duckworth Place as late as that year. The newly incorporated City of Barrie annexed that portion of Duckworth south of Highway 400 and north of Steel Street on 1 January 1959. The City of Barrie map, dated February 1964, shows Duckworth Street running n-s from Little Lake outside the city limits to Kempenfelt Drive. The portion from the eastern end of Amelia Street south to the intersection of Collier, Dundonald, and Blake streets is not open at this time. The City of Barrie annexed that part of Duckworth Street running north of Highway 400 to the southern shore of Little Lake from the Township of Vespra on 1 July 1984. The City of Barrie map, dated January 1989, shows Duckworth Street running as it does in 1999. 

    History: Duckworth Street is named for British naval officer and governor of Newfoundland Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth. Born 9 February 1747/48 at Leatherhead, England, he was the son of Rev Henry Duckworth and Sarah Johnson. He joined the Royal Navy at age 11 and passed his lieutenant's examinations in 1766. Duckworth saw action in North America and the West Indies during the American Revolution. Promoted to the rank of captain in 1780, he served as flag-captain to Adm Sir George Brydges Rodney. See Rodney Street. During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, Duckworth served at home, the West Indies, and in the Mediterranean. In April 1800, he captured a rich 11-ship Spanish convoy off Cadiz, garnering £75,000 in prize money. Knighted in 1801, Sir John was commander-in-chief on the Jamaica station from 1803 to 1805. He was promoted vice-admiral on 23 April 1804. For his destruction of a French fleet off San Domingo on 6 February 1806, Duckworth received the thanks of a grateful nation and an annual pension of £1,000. On 19 February 1807, he commanded a squadron that forced its way through the Dardanelles. On 26 March 1810, Duckworth was appointed governor of Newfoundland. With the post came promotion to full admiral. During his two-year tenure, Duckworth battled with the political ambitions of St John's merchant elite, assisted in the building of churches, schools and a hospital, and made "persistent attempts to rescue the Beothuk Indians from oblivion." Duckworth was created a baronet on 2 November 1813. He served as commander-in-chief at Plymouth naval base from January 1815 until his death there on 31 August 1817. 

The Concise Dictionary of National Biography (London: Oxford University Press, 1939), p. 367;  Lt.-Col. D.H. MacLaren, (Sheriff, Simcoe County), "British Naval Officers of a Century Ago. Barrie and Its Streets - A History of Their Names," Papers and Records, Ontario Historical Society, Vol. XVII (1919), p. 110;  William H. Whiteley, "Duckworth, Sir John Thomas," Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol. V (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1983), pp. 273-6.

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Livingstone Street                                C-3,A-3-4, B-C-3

Geography: Livingstone Street West runs e-w from Bayfield Street to Ferndale Drive North at unassumed Clougheey Drive [Cloughley Drive]. Livingstone Street East runs w-e from Bayfield Street, two blocks north of Cundles Road East, to mid-block. It is unopened to St Vincent Street where an unassumed portion runs w-e, four blocks north of Cundles Road East to unassumed Marjoy Avenue then n-s to a dead-end south of unassumed Snowy Owl Crescent. It is unassumed at this time.
    The newly incorporated City of Barrie annexed the area, a distance east of Bayfield Street, from the Township of Vespra on 1 January 1959. The City of Barrie annexed the area, east of Milne Court, from the Township of Vespra on 1 January 1964. The City of Barrie map, dated 1977, shows an unnamed street that approximates Livingstone Street West, running e-w from Sunnidale Road, one block north and west of Anne Street North, across Ferndale Drive and unnamed Miller Drive. It is outside the western city limits at this time. The City of Barrie annexed the area, west of Milne Court and east of St Vincent Street, from the Township of Vespra on 1 July 1984. Livingstone Street West was approved as a streetname by the City of Barrie in 1988. The City of Barrie map, dated November 1994, shows Livingstone Street West running e-w from Bayfield Street to Ferndale Drive. The City of Barrie map, dated December 1998, shows Livingstone Street East and Livingstone Street West running as they do in 1999. The City of Barrie assumed portions of Livingstone Street from 1993 to 1995. 

    History: Livingstone Street is named in honour of one of Barrie's World War One war dead. Sergeant George "Livvy" Livingstone, 46589, 13th Bn, Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regt), died from wounds on 5 September 1916, aged 21. He is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial upon whose ramparts are inscribed "the names of over 11,000 Canadian soldiers who were posted as 'missing, presumed dead' in France." Sgt Livingstone was the elder son of George and Lucy Livingstone of Barrie. Before enlisting, he worked in his father's shoe store. In May 1915, Cpl Livingstone reverted to the rank of private to be able to be among the first draft of 25 Barrie men eager to leave the town as reinforcements for the First Contingent. Upon his arrival in England, he transferred to the Gordon Highlanders and later the Black Watch, soon regaining his stripes. On 6 June 1916, Livingstone was hospitalized with a shrapnel wound in his left arm. On 18 June, he wrote to his father of his return to the firing line. He also stated that after a recent battle, only 40 of his company of 250 men were able to answer the roll call. Every officer and non-commissioned officer, except himself and one other, "went down." Sgt Livingstone's luck did not hold. After 19 months in the trenches, he too went down. Sometime later, his family received a letter from one of his comrades: 

...We had a practice of changing Glengarry caps and home addresses, so that in case anything should happen to one of us, the cap and badge would get home somehow. I had 'Livvy's' cap, (we all called him 'Livvy') and I'm sending it to you, sir, at the request of your late son, one of the best, bravest and coolest that have paid the price. It was our first trip in the trenches at the Somme when he got hit. I didn't see him, but that night I was told he had been badly wounded. I tried to locate him, and on getting to his platoon I learned he had been taken to the dressing station. Later on one of the officers told me he had died. I can't explain the horrors of that last trip in the trenches. I can only liken it to the Ypres affair of a year ago last April. Our company suffered the worst....I got blown up and buried and had to be dug out, but am all in one piece and getting over the shock. I am now sending you the cap and badge... 

Sgt Livingstone's family did not receive official notice of his death until July 1917. 

Barrie Examiner and Saturday Morning, 6 May 1915, p5c3; 6 July 1916, p5c3; 20 July 1916, p1c3; 12 October 1916, p3c3: "157th Bn. Farewell Edition"; 26 October 1916, p5c1; 16 November 1916, p5c4; 8 February 1917, p2c6, and 5 July 1917, p5c4;  Cathy Borchuk;  The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website: www.cwgc.org.

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Tiffin Street                                         A-B-C-6 C-D-5

Town Line  Bay Street  Highway 90 

    Geography: Tiffin Street runs e-w from east of Lakeshore Drive to County Road 90 at Miller Drive at the western city limits. 
    Simcoe County registered plan 15, circa 1851-2, shows Innisfil Township Line [Tiffin Street] running e-w from a point east of Bradford Street to the western end of the plan. This was the southern town limit at this date. Simcoe County registered plan 25, circa 1853-4, shows Vespra and Innisfil Township Line [Tiffin Street] running e-w from Kempenfelt Bay to west of Anne Street. Hogg's 1871 map and Thomson's 1879 map show Town Line [Tiffin Street] running e-w from Kempenfelt Bay to the western end of town. This was the dividing line between Barrie and Allandale at this time. Gaviller's 1892 plan of Allandale shows Town Line [Tiffin Street] running e-w from Kempenfelt Bay to west of the northern end of the side road between lots 5 & 6 [Patterson Road]. The Town of Barrie annexed the Village of Allandale on 15 December 1896, including the Town Line [Tiffin Street] to present-day Patterson Road. In 1910, the Town of Barrie passed a by-law changing the name of "Townline Street" to Tiffin Street. Renouf's 1953 map also shows Tiffin Street as Highway 90. The newly incorporated City of Barrie annexed this area, including that part of present-day Tiffin Street running west to present-day Ferndale Drive North, from the Township of Vespra on 1 January 1959. The City of Barrie map, dated February 1964, shows Tiffin Street running e-w from the southern end of unnamed Lakeshore Drive to beyond the western boundary of the map. It is no longer designated as Highway 90. Highway 90 has been rerouted to Dunlop Street West. The City of Barrie annexed further land from the Township of Vespra, including portions of present-day Tiffin Street on 1 January 1964 and 1 July 1984. The City of Barrie annexed further land from the Township of Innisfil, including portions of present-day Tiffin Street, to County Road 27 on 1 January 1982. The City of Barrie map, dated January 1989, shows Tiffin Street running as it does in 1999. 

    History: Tiffin Street is named for railwayman William Richard Tiffin. Born in 1844, Tiffin went to work in the Hamilton offices of the Great Western Railway at 15. In 1872, he was appointed the traffic agent at Fergus for the new Wellington Grey & Bruce Railway. He next went to Palmerston as Divisional Superintendent. In 1882, the Great Western and the Grand Trunk merged. Four years later, in 1886, Tiffin went to Stratford as Divisional Superintendent there. He was put in charge of the southern division, out of London, in 1891 and came to Barrie as Superintendent of the Northern Division in 1897. Tiffin, had superior administrative ability and 

a marvelous grasp of detail, and had the A B C of the work at his fingers' ends. While he directed the affairs of the northern division, many reforms were projected and effected by him, until the division grew to be looked upon as one of the most efficient in the entire G.T.R. system. 

On 26 May 1910, Tiffin celebrated his 50th anniversary of railway service. As the Northern Advance recalled: 

In private life he was a 'gentleman of the old school,' dignified and courteous. He took a warm interest in Barrie affairs, and the foundation of the handsome [Railroad] Y.M.C.A....enlisted his heartiest support and active co-operation. He was a prominent member of Trinity [Anglican] Church, serving for several years as Rector's Warden. His patronage was lent ungrudgingly to many local organizations, social and otherwise, and it was noted that he always followed the course of such institutions with more than a spirit of mere passing enthusiasm. 

William Richard Tiffin died peacefully at his home in Dunlop Street on 30 May 1910, after a brief illness. He was interred in London, ON. 

Barrie Examiner, 23 June 1910, [p7]c4-5;  Notes from the files of Mrs D. Lemmon courtesy Su Murdoch;  Northern Advance, 2 June 1910, p1c3 and p5c2. 

The Town Line or Townline Street took its name from serving as the boundary or "town line" between the Township of Innisfil and the Township of Vespra. See Innisfil Street and Vespra Street. 

According to notes made by the late Mrs D. Lemmon, the Town Line was also known as Bay Street. This undoubtedly arose from the fact that the line ran down to Kempenfelt Bay. 

Notes from the files of Mrs D. Lemmon, courtesy Su Murdoch

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Worsley Street                                                 D-4 

    Geography: Worsley Street runs e-w from Berczy Street, three blocks north of Dunlop Street East, to Bayfield Street, three blocks north of Dunlop Street East.
    Worsley Street is one of Barrie's original streets. It is shown in the William Hawkins' survey, registered 15 May 1833, running e-w from a point east of Poynts Street [Poyntz Street], across Mulcaster Street, to Owen Street, two blocks north of Dunlop Street, as it does in the 1837 map of Barrie and Simcoe County registered plan 2, dated 1846. Simcoe County registered plan 18, circa 1853, shows Worsley Street extending as far east as Berczy Street. Gibbard's 1854 plan, Hogg's 1871 map and Thomson's 1879 map show Worsley Street running e-w from Berczy Street to Bayfield Street, as it does in 1999. 

    History: Worsley Street is named for British naval officer Miller Worsley. Born on 8 July 1791 in Gatcombe, England, he joined the Royal Navy as a first class volunteer on 29 June 1803. In 1813, a seasoned veteran, Worsley was promoted to lieutenant and posted to Upper Canada, then at war with the United States. Worsley served as first lieutenant on the Princess Charlotte and took part in the attack on Oswego, NY, on 6 May 1814. See Collier Street and Mulcaster Street. In July 1814, Worsley replaced Lt Newdigate Poyntz [see Poyntz Street] and was tasked with supplying Fort Michilimackinac, using the schooner Nancy out of Nottawasaga Bay. Warned of an attack, Worsley took his vessel up the Nottawasaga River and built a blockhouse. The Americans attacked on 14 August 1814. Outnumbered, the British put up a stout defense. After the blockhouse and the Nancy caught fire, they retired up river. See Sampson Street. Worsley managed to deliver some supplies to Michilimackinac in open boats. Arriving on 30 August 1814, he persuaded the fort's commander Lt-Col Robert McDouall [see McDonald Street], to allow an attack on two American schooners operating nearby. The Tigress was captured on 3 September and the Scorpion, three days later. Both vessels had taken part in the destruction of the Nancy. As W.A.B. Douglas writes, "The capture of the two ships gave control of Lake Huron to the British and ensured the survival of their presence in the old northwest for the remainder of the war." In October 1814, Worsley fell ill, reverted to half-pay, and returned to Great Britain the next year. Worsley was succeeded as the naval officer commanding Lake Huron by Captain Edward Collier in May 1815. See Collier Street. Worsley was promoted to commander on 13 July 1815. Commander Miller Worsley died in England on 2 May 1835. 
    The remains of the Nancy are on display at Nancy Island Historic Site, Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, Wasaga Beach, ON. 
    The Barrie Public Library is located on the northwestern corner of Owen and Worsley streets. It was officially opened on 6 December 1996. 

Ernest A. Cruikshank, "An Episode of the War of 1812: Story of the Schooner Nancy," in Morris Zaslow, ed., The Defended Border: Upper Canada and the War of 1812 (Toronto: The Macmillan Company of Canada Limited, 1964), pp. 143-53; Brian Leigh Dunnigan, The British Army at Mackinac 1812-1815 (Mackinac State Historic Parks, Reports in Mackinac History and Archaeology, Number 7), p. 31; W.A.B. Douglas, "Worsley, Miller," Dictionary of Canadian , Vol. VI (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1987), pp. 817-8;  Lt.- Col. D.H. MacLaren, (Sheriff, Simcoe County), "British Naval Officers of a Century Ago. Barrie and Its Streets -- A History of Their Names," Papers and Records, Ontario Historical Society, Vol. XVII (1919), p. 108 gives Worsley's rank as captain in error;  C.H.J. Snider, In the Wake of the Eighteen-Twelvers (Toronto: Bell & Cockburn, 1913), pp. 225-62.

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