Читать книгу 60 Years Behind the Wheel - Bill Sherk - Страница 16

Born to Sell Newspapers, circa 1909

A TORONTO DAILY NEWSPAPER, THETelegram, was founded in 1876 by John Ross Robertson (1841–1918), photographed here standing in the front seat of his chauffeur-driven touring car around 1909. The family is in the back, the luggage is strapped on behind, and the car is ready to go. Robertson himself went many places during his newspaper career, including an 1869 visit to Fort Garry (in what soon became Manitoba), where he was arrested and held for a week by none other than Louis Riel. Robertson devoted his long life to the betterment of Toronto, and he wrote and published the Landmarks of Toronto series, which is still used as the standard reference work on the city’s early buildings and people. During his lifetime he gave away large sums of money to worthy causes, and near his death he remarked, “I will surprise everyone by the small amount of money I will leave.” He passed away on May 31, 1918, at his home at 291 Sherbourne Street.

In the early 1920s a public school was built at the northeast corner of Glengrove and Rosewell in North Toronto and named in his honour. His newspaper lived on until 1971, when it finally went under. A new paper arose phoenix-like from the ashes of the old: the Toronto Sun. What became of Robertson’s large and luxurious touring car is unknown.