Gordon Milton Baycroft
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 4 Oct 1904 - Beeton, Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada
Christening:
Death: 18 Sep 2001 - Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Burial: in Park Lawn Cemetery, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
Cause of Death: cancer
AFN :
Events
• Biography, www.newtorontohistorical.com/
Biography of Gordon Milton Baycroft, 1904-2001• Obituary
Gordon was born in Beeton, Ontario October 4, 1904. He was the forth of five children of William Edward Baycroft and Edith Leona Law. The children were Errol Thomas, Dewitt, Blanche Ethel Charlotte, Gordon Milton, and Richard Law Baycroft. He was great grandson of George Beecroft/Baycroft of England who fought and won against Napoleon in Europe.
Gordon attended Beeton Public School for 4 years before the school house burned down. Classes were continued at a refitted hotel at the corner of Main and Center Streets. Gordon's father sold his family farm home and some property on the 9th line to purchase 2 stores on Main Street where he started a furniture shop and undertaking business. In 1919 William moved his business to the funeral home business in New Toronto. It was beside the Goodyear property at 980 Lakeshore Blvd.
Gordon now 14 years old, attended Mimico Continuation School (John English) at Church Street and Mimico Avenue until 1921. Gordon realized that he wouldn't excel as an ambulance driver or funeral director, so he joined The Royal Bank and served as a clerk in Port Credit. After working there and at Church and Wellesley and Yonge and King Streets, he transferred to the Mimico Branch.
Gordon's banking experience included travel to several towns and branches as a replacement for vacationing employees. He particularly enjoyed traveling to towns such as Lyndon, Chippawa, Waterdown, Schomberg, and Long Branch in that capacity. Three years later Gordon applied for and received a position at Reginald N. Boxer wallpaper manufacturers in New Toronto where he stayed for 42 Years. Gordon's promotions at the 7th street location included personnel and payroll manager positions.
Gordon married Doreen McCrudden in June of 1937. They loved New Toronto and raised 4 children. They were William, Rosemary, Judith, and John. One of the activities and memberships Gordon enjoyed were the Masonic Order at Lakeshore Lodge number 645. He became Grand Master in 1949.
Following in his father's and brother's footsteps, Gordon was elected to the School Board for 1946 and 47. In 1948 he won a seat on the New Toronto Council where he excelled as councilman for 18 years. In 1951 Gordon with help from local contractors, designed and built his own home on the new street he helped name Maple Boulevard. In 1966 New Toronto became part of Etobicoke and Metropolitan Toronto to force an end to his elected career. He continued in service of his new city as local Chairman of the Centennial Committee of Toronto.
Gordon retired on December 31, 1969. He was proud to receive gifts of golf clubs and recliner chair from the company of 42 years. He and Doreen continued camping and enjoying the outdoors. They particularly enjoyed northern Ontario's rivers and parks.
Gordon and his family served New Toronto and had many memberships in committees and organizations in the town. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and teaching his children the appreciation and preservation of the outdoors. His children have proud memories of Gordon Milton Baycroft, their Dad.
From John Baycroft, son: There was a strong competetive spirit on the town council of those days. Every two years the members had to contest for the citizens votes to serve another term as New Toronto councillors. The more votes you got, the closer to the top you became. The top vote getter could chose his duties portfolio. My dad, for instance, headed up the Police force one year, the Parks Department another year, the Electric Power portfolio another term, etc. I personally delivered my Dad's election flyers to each and every household in New Toronto several times in the 50's. Today, I have the sore knees to prove it . LOL. The flyer would say for example, "I am the best man for the job" and "Best wishes for the Christmas Season, Have a happy and prosperous New Year".
For his 90th birthday in 1994, Gordon received congratulatory letters from Bruce Sinclair, Mayor of the City of Etobicoke, Jean Chretien, Prime Minister of Canada, and Ray Hnatyshyn, Governor-General of Canada.
Gordon M. Baycroft• Census, Canadian, 1911 in Beeton, Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada
(Born October 4, 1904 in Beeton, Ontario, former public school trustee and longtime Councilman in New Toronto, Past Master (1949) of Lakeshore Lodge A.F. & A.M. No. 645 G.R.C., former employee of Canadian Wallpaper) Peacefully at Park Avenue Manor in Burlington on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 in his 97th year. Gordon, beloved husband of the late Doreen. Dear loving father to William and his wife Marilynne of Burlington, Rosemary of Toronto, Judith Davidson of Mississauga and John of Mississauga. Dear grandfather to Gordon, Robert, James (Michele), William, Neil, Sean, Kimberley (Jon), Christiane and Tamara and great grandfather to Jessica, Alicia and Kurt. Also survived by his sister Blanche and predeceased by his brothers Dewitt, Errol and Richard. The family would like to thank the Victorian Order of Nurses and the staff at Park Ave. Manor for all their excellent care. Friends will be received at the Ridley Funeral Home, 3080 Lakeshore Blvd. W. (between Islington and Kipling Aves., at 14th St., 416-259-3705) on Friday from 2 to 4 & 7 to 9 p.m. Complete service in the chapel Saturday at 11 a.m. Private family interment Monday. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated by the family. Messages of Condolence may be placed at www.RidleyFuneralHome.com.
Beeton, Simcoe South, Dist. 27, page 10 & 11
Baycroft, William, m, head, m, March 1873, age 38, b: Ontario
Baycroft, Edith, f, wife, m, August 1876, age 35, b: Ontario
Baycroft, Eerol, m, son, s, September 1897, age 13, b: Ontario
Baycroft, Dewitt, m, son, s, October 1899, age 11, b: Ontario
Baycroft, Blanche, f, daughter, s, January 1902, age 9, b: Ontario
Baycroft, Gordon, m, son, s, October 1904, age 6, b: Ontario
Baycroft, Luis, m, son, s, September 1906, age 4, b: Ontario
Parents
Father: William Edward Baycroft 1
Mother: Edith Leona Law
Spouses and Children
1. *Doreen McCrudden
Marriage: Jun 1937 - Canada
Status:
Children:
1. William Baycroft
2. Rosemary Baycroft
3. Judith Baycroft
4. John Baycroft
Notes
Birth Notes:
Birth record from Ontario Archives:
Reel # MS929-170, Record # 040562-04
Milton Gordon Baycroft
Male
Born Oct. 4, 1904 in Beeton
Father: William E. Baycroft, Furniture Dealer, Beeton
Mother: Edith L. Law
Informant: Mrs. W. E. Baycroft
Reg: Oct. 25, 1904
and
Name:Milton Gordon Baycroft
Gender:Male
Baptism/Christening Date:
Baptism/Christening Place:
Birth Date:04 Dec 1904
Birthplace:Beeton, Simcoe, Ontario
Death Date:
Name Note:
Race:
Father's Name:William E. Baycroft
Father's Birthplace:
Father's Age:
Mother's Name:Edith L. Law
Mother's Birthplace:
Mother's Age:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number:C02230-6
System Origin:Canada-EASy
Source Film Number:2210573
Reference Number:507
Sources
1. Canadian Ged.