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Many of our community names pay homage to historical figures, from Thom- hill's Benjamin Thorne fo Buttonville’s Major John Button. or every community main- taining a strong connection with its history, such as Aurora and New- market, many more have been lost over time, remembered only by a historical plaque, if they’re lucky. But others, such as Mongolia and Miami Beach, presumably have more eclectic ori- ' My first stop was with Markham histo- rian Lorne Smith, who worked with the York Chapter of the Pennsylvania German Folk- lore Society to produce two volumes of local hamlet history. Most, he explains, occupied four Corners and received their names when they got post offices. We all knowâ€" how quickly York Region is growing, but it's worth taking a moment to consider the numbers. There is a reason why these communi- ties are located where they are, Mr. Smith explains. Elgin Mills Road and Steeles Ave- nue were both plank roads, making them prime routes to Yonge Street. Since horses need rest every two miles A 1,000-acre Markham plot that housed five families in 1850, now houses more like 5,000. That’s progress. As for what's left; That’s history. Since horses need rest every two miles or so, hotels and other buildings sprang up along their lengths. ‘ A typical postal outlet would be located in a general store, alongside a church and cemetery. ’ As many as 50 families in the surround- ing rural area would constitute the com- munity. truhoarlngtosua Miami Beach not as south as you think ‘Thgy were just trying to find a name no one had! Part one of a twoâ€"part series exploring some of York Region's smallest communities. BY DAVID FLEISCHER OHS DA‘ Lorne Smith Markham historian ' 203-377 Church Straw, Markham 0” L68 1A1 71' 905-471-4327 F: 905-4 71-4338 For Your Best Hearing Ta Darrell, Would you like to improve your Science brings you closer to natural human hearing than ever holorc - SALES and SERVICE In All MAKES OF HEARING AIDS - ADP. IVSIR. DVA AUTHORIZED DISPENSERS - Haarlng Assassrnams - Harbour Io GarIaIrIc - Haarlna All EvaluaIIons - DaIIarIos and Haarlng AIII Accessories - AaaIaIIva LIsIanIag DavIcas HA Syslarns - Mm Haarlnu Won - IAusIcIan and Sva Plugs - TInnIIus Therapy 0 NO CHARGE All Inclusive Loss and Damaga lull - NO CHARGE AII InclusIvo Manufacturers Warrants - 34 Day Full SaIIsIacIIon Guarantee - AssocIanII WIIII EHT (Ear. Nose and Throat) DocI - Full flmo Exparloncad CarIIIIaII AudIologIsIs On Hand To Sam You I had high hopes given Mongolia’s exotic name, but found little more than a couple of quiet, rural homes out at Elgin Mills and Reesor roads, just south of Stoufl'ville. Stoufivflle’s Trevor Watson (left), who maintains the church cemetery, and histo- rian Lorne Smith at Peaches United Church in northern Markham. Local farmers are renters and the land- - Tinnitus Therapy 0 NO CHARGE All Inclusive Loss and Damage Insurance «1 year - NO CHARGE All inclusive Manufacturers Warranty - 2 years 0 34 Day Full Sallslectlon Guarantee - Associated With ENT (Ear. Nose and Throat) Doctor - Full Time Experienced Certified Audiologists owner is the federal government, which gobbled up the prime farmland for the Pickering Airport in the 19703. As wrny pointed out in the hamlet's history, this may all find itself replaced by a runway in the future. During Mongolia’s lifetime, there was a hotel and the expected shops (cobbler. blacksmith etc), but that’s all long gone. STAFF PHOTO/SJOERD WITTEVEEN One of Mongolia’s prime attractions, a 200-year-old elm tree in the middle of the road, died from dutch elm disease and was cut down in 1973. Robert Curtis, the fellow who came up with the name, first picked nearly-as-absurd “California.” Turns out, it was already being used. Mongolia was on a list the post office people gave him as other options. “They were just trying to find a name no one had," Mr. Smith ofl’ers. Peaches sounds like a happy place and, indeed. it includes a lovely church dating from 1890 and a quaint cemetery (circa 1862), both located directly across from the Markham Fairgrounds. Was there a peach orchard or at least a famous tree of some kind? No, it’s even simpler than that. A man named Thomas “Daddy” Peach lead meetings of Old Time Primitive Methodists in" an area schoolhouse. When a proper chapel opened in 1864, it was known as Peach’s Chapel and over time, the apostrophe became an E. As late as 1954, the community had high hopes, welcoming a new minister, celebrat- ing a modernized service as well as a new coat of paint and tool shed for the church. Its cemetery, maintained for 60 years by TYevorWatson, is the resting place for several members of the Peach family and a scan of the tombstones shows other famil- iar historic names, such as the Quantzes of Quantztown. Suflice it to say there are no pyramids in Egypt. In fact, there doesn't seem to be much of anything at all, except country road stretching as far as the eye can see. The name seems to be Biblical in origin. According to my map, Egypt is out on Smith Road. east of Park Road and if you don’t know where that is, don’t worry. the Egyptians don't either. It just goes to show that when you get to name your own commnnity, you might as well go big. NEXT TIME: It’s just a short drive from Beveney Hills to Miami Beach and there’s none of the white stuff in Snowball. The Audiology Centre Established 1986 1333 Sheppard Ave. E.. Suite# 340 West End Hearing Established 1991 1243 Islington Ave., Suite# 711 ETOBIGOKE 416-233-8581