Another horse farm gone. Vacant for some time, everything is now gone on the former Dick Day Horse Stable property. This property is now being groomed for its next phase, a development of 27 single detached lots. All the Dick Day Horse Stable framework that once stood close to Yonge Street – barn, horse stable, house, shed, steel arched storage building, have all been demolished.
I missed the actual demolition of the site that happened after the Old Library on Victoria Street was demolished. Last time when I drove by, all was gone. Flattened.
I know very little about the Dick Day Stable horse farm, notable for its green coloured horse stable, barn, shed and the arched storage on Yonge Street (14029 Yonge Street), South of Industrial Parkway.
How did I get to find out that the property was once the Dick Day Horse Stable? I posted a picture on Twitter and someone, perhaps acquainted with the farm or the owner, commented, “Dick Day’s old barns and riding stables. Many happy memories.” Through an extensive search from that point on I found an article in The Era, Newmarket-Aurora dated May 8, 1968, confirming the name; but I found no stories of happy memories. Other articles I found, no stories, just lists of winners or participants in the horse shows or competitions. Dick Day in one of the clippings was mentioned as an Agent.
Just a friendly reminder, sharing is carrying. If you have a related story, I would be glad to add.
Source: The Era, Newmarket-Aurora, Ont., Wed., May 8, 1968, pg.14.
As cited earlier, the property is getting ready for its next phase and this is what is going to happen to the former Dick Day Horse Stable property on 14029 Yonge Street, Aurora ON.
“The subject property, municipally known as 14029 Yonge Street, is located between Hunters Glen Road and Ridge Road (Figure 1). The property has a lot area of 7.14 ha and a frontage of 117.8 m on the east side of Yonge Street. The property is currently vacant.” Source: Council Public Planning Meeting Agenda Wednesday, May 24, 2017, pg 2-14.
“The owner proposes to change the Official Plan designation from “Cluster Residential” to “Cluster Residential Site Specific Policy” and change the zoning from “Oak Ridges Moraine Rural (RU-ORM) Zone” to “Detached Dwelling Second Density Residential (R2-X) Exception Zone” and “Oak Ridges Moraine Environmental Protection (EP-ORM) Zone”, to allow the development of 27 single detached lots on a private condominium road.” Source: Council Public Planning Meeting Agenda Wednesday, May 24, 2017, pg 2-14.
Horse farms, particularly in Aurora, are on the decline. This is the second horse farm I have seen that is going to be removed from the map, forever. A couple more will be coming down soon on St. John’s Sideroad, East of Leslie Street. The horse industry once dominated York Region, and perhaps it is dominating now in other York Region municipalities, but in Aurora the majority of farmlands have dramatically declined and are being developed.
On a positive note, Adena Springs horse breeding farm on Bayview Avenue, South of Wellington Street, is one of the thriving farms I know in Aurora, and perhaps there are others on Leslie Street, South of Wellington Street, that may not see change for some time.
Anna Lozyk Romeo
Aurora, ON
Dick Day Horse Stable
REFERENCES
1] “There are also 114 horse and other equine farms in York according to the Census data.” Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Sector Strategy, agri-strategy.pdf, Project Lead: Bronwynne Wilton, PhD, Synthesis Agri-Food Network, The Regional Municipality of York, September 26th, 2017, pg 26.
2] “Horse and pony numbers have significantly decreased over time (33.7 per cent just in the last 5 years).” Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Sector Strategy, agri-strategy.pdf, Project Lead: Bronwynne Wilton, PhD, Synthesis Agri-Food Network, The Regional Municipality of York, September 26th, 2017, pg 126.
3] “York Region has an estimated 9,060 equine animals. This has declined from approximately 17,000 in 2006. Comparatively to other regions, York has one of the lowest numbers of equine animals. The Region ranks at the bottom for equine numbers in 2016 for Southern Ontario. Observing horse and pony numbers by lower-tier municipality, it is seen that King Township drives the York Region equine numbers. Whitchurch-Stouffville and Georgina have experienced a decline in 1,000 animals in the last 5 years.” Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Sector Strategy, agri-strategy.pdf, Project Lead: Bronwynne Wilton, PhD, Synthesis Agri-Food Network, The Regional Municipality of York, September 26th, 2017, pg 127.
