Sara Mickle wrote about the need to preserve historic sites and monuments in Ontario.
Entry written by Daryn Wright
Sara Mickle was born on 13 June 1853 in Guelph Township, Canada West, to Charles Mickle (1812-1879) and Ellen Thurtell (1827-1882). After her father's death in 1879, Sara and her family moved to Toronto, ON. She never married, instead choosing to dedicate her life to social causes.
Sara was passionate about heritage preservation and social well-being and was involved in several committees throughout her life. The only woman present at a meeting of the Pioneer and Historical Society of the Province of Ontario in 1898, Sara suggested the name be changed to the Ontario Historical Society. The motion was accepted two months later. She was also involved in the Women's Canadian Historical Society of Toronto (WCHST), along with
Much of Sara's activism was directed towards saving historically important monuments and educating the public on the importance of its protection of the past. During the 1920s she drafted a pamphlet on the value of the Old Fort York for the Committee on the Restoration and Preservation of the Old Fort York. A large motivation for Sara's work came from her belief in maintaining ties with the British Empire and preserving the social and political status quo.
Her final major work was the restoration of Colborne Lodge, home of artist and architect John George Howard (1803-1890). After restoring the house, she was praised for her work by the dean of Canadian historians, George Mackinnon Wrong (1860-1948).
In the last few years of her life, Sara published two articles on her work with the building in the
For a more detailed biography, see her entry in the
Charles Mickle was born on 28 May 1812 to Charles Julius Mickle (c1783-1859) and Sarah Richards (c1782-1859). His father immigrated to Canada in 1832 and established a successful sawmill just north of Guelph, Upper Canada. Charles junior built a house for his family across the road from his father's, where he worked as a farmer and lumber merchant. He married Ellen Thurtell (1827-1882) and they had thirteen children. Charles died in 1879. 1879.
Ellen Thurtell was born to Benjamin Thurtell (d. 1854) and Anne Barber. She married Charles Mickle (1812-1879) and bore him thirteen children. Ellen died on 10 May 1882.
Historian
President, Women's Canadian Historical Society of Toronto
Committee on the Restoration and Preservation of Old Fort York
Sara Mickle's great grandfather, William Julius Mickle (Meickle), was a Scottish poet and translator of the Portuguese historical epic