Kaz,
I had a look at the Toronto city directories but took a break at 1965. Here's what I found:
1914 - Robert is an employee of Turnbull Elevator Mfg Co and his residence is given as 1 12 1/2 Teraulay.
1915 - Robert is a labourer living at 3 Geneva Avenue.
1916-20 - Robert is not listed but there's a Mrs Ellen Aspinall at 3 Geneva.
1921 - The residents of 3 Geneva are given as Mrs Ellen Woodfine and W. R. Woodfine, an employee of Sheet Metal Products.
In 1922-26, Robert appears as a resident of 16 Brant (not Grant) Place. His occupation is given as labourer with the City in 1923 and just labourer in 1925. Other residents of 16 Brant are Harold (labourer at "Tor Carpet") in 1924 and William (labourer at Can Pack Co in 1925 and steamfitter at SMP in 1926).
In 1927-30, Robert lives at 77 Shaw. William the steamfitter (with SMP then General Steel Wares) lives at the same address.
Robert lives at 201 Dovercourt from 1931 to 1955. He works for the City Parks Department 1934-48 with the exception of 1943-44 when he's an employee of Massey Harris. In 1956, he's at 21 Trowell Avenue which was the residence of William D Aspinall in 1951. He's missing from the 1957-59 directories but a Robert shows up at 45 Afton Avenue in 1960-61.
William works as a steamfitter and foreman at General Steel Wares right up to 1965 where I broke off. His residences were:
- 201 Dovercourt - 1931-33, 1937-38, 1949-55
- 830 Bloor West - 1935
- 15 Delaware Ave - 1936
- 91 Essex - 1939-40
- 176 Chambers Ave - 1941-42
- 64 Belvidere Ave - 1944-47
- 3 Springdale Blvd - 1956
- 225 Oak Park Ave - 1957-61
- 42 Enderby Road - 1962-65
William of General Steel Wares and William D share the same 225 Oak Park address in 1957-61. Prior to that, I noted William D at the aforementioned 21 Trowell in 1951. At that time, he was a "hlpr" at General Steel Wares. During 1957-65, he's generally a "stn opr" with Metro Toronto. In 1961, he has two entries: "h 225 Oak Park ave" and "stn opr Metro Tor r 2168 Gerrard e". After that his address changes annually:
- 65 Robbins Ave - 1962
- 168 Lee Ave - 1963
- 1161 O'Connor Dr - 1964
- 2451 Queen East - 1965
The two Williams were not the only Aspinalls at 225 Oak Park:
1964
Donald h 225 Oak Park av
Linda sec Birks, Langdon, McComisky & MacLatchy r 225 Oak Park av
1965
Linda sec Birks, Langdon, McComisky & MacLatchy r 225 Oak Park av
Mary Mrs sec bkpr Louis Mostyn h 225 Oak Park av
After 1924, I found these entries for Harold:
1927
Harold emp Dickinson Dye Wks res Swansea
Caroline Mrs weaver Barrymore Cloth Co res Swansea
1928
Harry hlpr Summit Dyeing lvs 1391 Dundas west
In 1937, there are three Aspinalls living at 26 Maher Ave: Harold, May W, and Thomas. Apart from a spell of "act ser" during the war, Harold S works a number of positions with Packard Motors up to his last appearance in 1952. May works as a telephone operator at Eaton's department store in 1938-41 and as a clerk at Purity Bread in 1945. Thomas works with what appears to be the post office in 1937-41 and as a "tool crib attdt Can Illinois Tools" in 1942. After that, no occupation is shown for him. He lives at 26 Maher up to 1955. He lives at 70 Clovelly Ave during 1956-61. "Emily (wid Thos)" appears at Clovelly after that.
The 26 Maher address also has a Beatrice C Aspinall in 1941-43. She works as "stenog Rogers-Majestic" in 1941 and "stenog Purity Bread" in 1942-43.
Olive Aspinall resides at 201 Dovercourt in 1933 and works as "marker West End Laundry". Olive appears again in 1948-49, living at 38 Fernbank Ave.
There were two Robert Aspinalls in the Toronto area. The one referred to in the Globe & Mail article was a bricklayer and builder who was in Toronto before your Robert arrived.
I'll try and get to the post-1965 directories this week.
mat
