Charles Millar House - 41 Primrose Avenue

Charles Millar House - 41 Primrose Avenue

© Michael Harrison 2011

This large house was built in 1923 for Charles Millar, Manager of the Ontario Sewer Pipe & Clay Industries Ltd.  In the October 3, 1923 edition of The Contract Record and Engineering Review, it was described as a "handsome residence" built by Mr. J McGonegal, of 56 Jackman Avenue, Toronto. 

The article went on further:

"The house is of red pressed brick construction on the first floor, with stucco on hollow tile above.  The roomy verandah at the front is laid with a red quarry tile floor and handsomely trimmed with wood lattice painted white."

"Entrance is direct on a large living room the full width of the house... The main staircase on the right is in ash to match the balance of the trim and is one of the features of this room.  A large brick mantle is located in the left side wall... The kitchen, breakfast room and dining room arrangement is compact and convenient in this layout.  A separate entrance services this section of the house.  The floors are oak throughout."

"The upstairs layout combines four large bedrooms, sunroom and bathroom, with a minimum of hall space.  The flooring is of oak, and the trim ash, as downstairs, with the exception of the bathroom, which has tile floors and walls to a height of 4 ft."

"The basement is divided into laundry, fruit cellar and boiler room.  Heat is supplied by a Spencer heater."

Charles was the son of Archibald and Margaret Millar and born in 1865.  On March 9, 1893 he was married to Victoria Whytock, daughter of James and Jane Whytock.  They would go on to have three children:  Edna (b. 1894); Margaret (b. 1895); and, Charles (b. 1905).  A daughter Agnes was stillborn in 1906.  

In 1929 the Ontario Sewer Pipe Company was sold to other interests and so Charles took his expertise and became involved in the organization of a new company, Ontario Vitrified Products Limited in nearby Humber Bay.  In 1930 the company obtained approval from Etobicoke Council for a fixed assessment of $25,000 for a period of ten years.   This was approved by a ratepayer vote in May with 280 in favour and 22 opposed.  

I need to do further research to see how long the family lived in the home but when Charles died in 1948 he was living in Toronto.  He is buried in Park Lawn Cemetery.