Peter Alfred Letts

Peter Alfred Letts was also known as Alfred Peter Hale. Peter Alfred Letts was also known as Peter Alfred Hale. He was born on Wednesday, 16 June 1915 at Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada, but he always celebrated his birthday on May 19. He started school at Jessie Ketchum Public School, Toronto, Ontario, on September 20, 1921 and went to kindergarten in the mornings. His date of birth was listed as July 16, 1915, address was 126 Davenport Road, father was Frederick Hale, Teamster for Britnel's, Baptist. He left January 30, 1922 and was sent to Joseph Workman. An image of Jesse Ketchum P.S. can be found here. He appeared in the household of Frederick Hale on the census of June 1921 at 91 Davenport Road, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada. He was enumerated as: Hale, Albert (?), son, male, single, age 6, born Ontario, both parents born Ontario, Canadian, English, able to speak English, unable to speak French, Church of England, unable able to read and write. In 1922 he was placed in the Protestant Children's Home, Toronto, Ontario. He does not show up in the available orphanage register. Perhaps it was the "Joseph Workman" he was sent to from Jessie Ketchum Public School. I have been unable to find out what Joseph Workman was. There is a school by that name in Scarborough although it was not opened until 1949. The first Protestant Childrens Home in Toronto was located on the west side of Dovercourt Road at St. Anne's Road. In the 1920's (no exact date) the home was taken over by the Orange Order, which opened a large facility on Yonge Street, north of the city, the Royal True Blue and Orange Home, Richmond Hill. These are photographs of the orphanages. Peter attended Givens School in Toronto in 1924. He was in grade 2 and under parent's signature J. M. Carr signed. His teacher was A. Shannon and he finished the year with a 61% and had missed 12 days. In June of 1925 he was made a permanent ward of Children's Aid Society of Toronto. On 02 November 1925 he was indentured to and placed with Lewis and Maude Letts, Cedar Brae, Ontario. He was adopted on 20 February 1935 by Lewis and Maude Letts. Peter and Lila Muriel Shaw, daughter of William John Jefferson Shaw and Florence Milsted, were married by Reverend J. Henry Good on Saturday, 20 June 1942 at Rev. Good's residence, Scott Twp., Ontario Co., Ontario, Canada. Both were single. Elva Cleland and Wilfred Rae witnessed the marriage. Peter died on Wednesday, 7 January 1970 at home, 224 Church Street North, Lefroy, Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada, at age 54 years, 6 months and 22 days of a Heart Attack. He was buried on Saturday, 10 January 1970 at 6'th Line Cemetery, Innisfil Twp., Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada. He was a Farmer in Cedar Brae, Ontario, then became a Railway Lineman, Snow Plow Engineer and Mechanic for the C.N.R. He was also part-time Carpenter. He was Protestant.