Rosetta McClain Gardens
The 16 ha Rumph farm, overlooking Scarborough Bluffs, was purchased in 1904-1905 by Thomas McDonald West, owner and operator of J. & J. Taylor Limited, Toronto Safe Works. He and his wife Emma then divided it among their four children, Joseph McDonald, William Needham, Howard Thomas, and Rosetta. Many of the historic landscape improvements enjoyed today were initially undertaken by Rosetta's husband, Robert Watson McClain, and her brother Joseph McDonald.
Rosetta McClain died in December 1940 and in 1959 her husband offered their property to the city of Toronto as parkland in her memory. In 1977, this land was conveyed to the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and combined with portions of the J.M. and H.T. West properties. A further parcel from the W.N. West holdings was added in 1985, creating a 9 ha park. The Metropolitan Toronto Parks and Property Department operates these lands as part of its parks system, and has included special features such as braille signs, scent gardens, and textured paths to create a fully accessible park to be enjoyed by all visitors.
Plaque via Alan L. Brown's site Toronto Plaques. Full page here.