Photo of the Confederation Life Building, Toronto, erected in 1892, where the York Farmers Colonization Company had their headquarters for several decades. It featured Romanesque & French Gothic architecture, decorative pinnacles and a tall central tower. Some revitalized work and changes were made in 1980. (Source: Toronto Public Library.)
The York Farmers' Colonization Company always had their head office in Toronto. Starting in 1882, it was located at #1, Victoria Street, still having the same address in 1886.
In correspondence of 1901, the Company Head Office was located at #23 Toronto Arcade.
Later company correspondence in 1932 and 1941 is addressed from #222 Confederation Life Building at #4 Richmond Street East.
Of course, their company's field office was located in York City/Yorkton. The address was simply "Yorkton, Assiniboia."
In August of 1888, Reaman had processed Homestead and Pre-emption entries for two settlers. His sworn statement was notarized by Thos. B. Ferguson Acting Dominion Land Agent. The year 1888 was when the Company's charter terminated with the Dominion Government. While they were no longer in charge of the settlement of Yorkton, the officials like N.C. Wallace and James Armstrong continued to travel to the colony to assist settlers with various problems. They were still pressuring the government and the Manitoba & North Western Railway to build the tracks to Yorkton, and made it happen by 1891, even though they were not able to influence the railway to pass through the first site of Yorkton. The Company continued to make loans and to sell land for years to come. They were heavily into real estate in Toronto, other parts of eastern Canada, United States and Cuba. The Company was dissolved in 1947.
More evidence is offered here again to show that the York Farmers Colonization Company had not disappeared from Yorkton life, as was written in some historical accounts.
1. A letter dated August 12, 1913 addressed to the Secretary of the Town of Yorkton makes the offer to lend money to the Town to build sidewalks along Wallace Avenue, where the Company owned property, and along Irwin Avenue to Gladstone Avenue north where they owned some of the land. The Company was willing to lend the amount required to build these sidewalks at 5% interest.
2. Letter to Levi Beck -
-I have your letter of the 3rd instant, stating that you have a [party who offers $3,000.00 for the above land, paying $1,000.00 cash, and the balance on terms.
In reply I may state that I will take this up with my directors and do what I can to encourage you in your reported hard times. I would ask for the following particulars:
This man is offering $3,000.00 and pays the taxes in arrears paying $1,000.00 down, and you might tell me what the yearly balance of payments might be, including interest at 6 ½ %. I understand that this land was sold for taxes a couple of years ago, and I would therefore ask you to let me know how much the full amount of arrears of taxes are, up to the end of 1932. I presume that if there are any legal costs, occurring by your signing off your interest in the said land, leaving you clear of any claim, that you would be willing to pay these.
Kindly give me full information on the above points, stating whether the above proposed purchaser is a reliable man.
I remain, Yours very truly, John J. Cook, Manager/.
3. The York Farmers Colonization Company's influence also reached as far as British Columbia. They had loaned $5,000.00 to the Doukhobor Tate Creek Development Company of British Columbia and repayment was made in 1943. (Web site on Land Holdings of The Tate Creek Development Company)
Contact:
Terri Lefebvre Prince,
Heritage Researcher
City of Yorkton Archives,
City of Yorkton,
Box 400,
37 Third Avenue North,
Yorkton, Sask.
S3N 2W3
306-786-1722
[email protected]
