Martha Freeth
Toronto Daily Star, February 8 1927
It is startling to think that Mrs. Martha Freeth was approximately 18 years older than Canada.
Fortunately, the Daily Star got Mrs. Freeth's name right and her surname was almost unique, so it was easy to trace her in the Toronto city directories. The 1927 directory lists her as living at unit 22 of 274 College Street and as the widow of Henry. The Henry part appears to have been incorrect, as earlier and later editions of the directory listed her late husband as Samuel.
Mrs. Freeth had lived at 274 College Street for 15 years before she had to be carried out of her room. She first appears in the 1912 directory at this address; there is also a Miss Gertrude Freeth living at 274 College that year. I could find no record of Samuel Freeth in the directories, so my best guess is that she moved to Toronto to be near her daughter when her husband passed away.
Earlier editions of the directories also list Miss Georgina Freeth and Miss Maud Freeth, so I would assume that various members of the family moved to the big city to seek their fortunes. In fact, the 1911 directory lists Georgina at 274 College unit 21, so Mrs. Freeth was able to move right next door. However, by 1915, she was the only Freeth listed in the directory.
After the threat of fire had passed, Mrs. Freeth returned to her home at 274 College. She remained there until 1933, which is the last year that she is listed in the city directories. A branch of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is now where her building used to be.
Created October 14, 2025.