The Background

Self-Portrait of Edwin Haynes
Date Taken: Unkown

Born: Edwin Thomas Haynes November 11th 1876, Gloucester England
Died: October 31st 1918 of Spanish Influenza

Parents: Edwin Haynes Senior (Born:January 27th 1850 Stroud England- Died: July 3rd 1928) Maria McLachlin (Born: April 5th 1850 Endinbourough Scotland- Died: December 30th 1924)


Edwin Haynes: The Early Life

Born in Gloucester England he was moved to Toronto, Ontario Canada as a two year old. The family travelled from Bristol, England to Canada in 1879. Moved to 122 Strachan avenue in Toronto, Ontario. Edwin Jr was educated in Toronto as a young child and likely into his early teenaged years. There is a large gap between the ages of 2 and 33 in his life, we are unsure when and where he was educated but have collected that due to his father’s success as a cabinet builder for Massey Harris during the early 1900’s he was at sometime educated in or around Toronto. There exists some information that links Edwin in his 20’s to Ingersol, Ontario as a Merchant. Edwin filed a marriage application in Stouffville, Ontario in the Fall of 1909 to be married to Mary Stouffer. They were married in Stouffville in the Spring of 1910. Their honeymoon took place on a cruise ship called the S.S Virginian. This boat launched from Montreal and travelled directly to Bristol England and from there a train to Cheltanham England to visit where Edwin’s Father’s home was located. From Bristol the vessel likely made its way to the Mediterranean where the couple visited Gibraltar, Italy, Morocco or North Africa. Edwin continued to expand his already large collections of photographs on this honeymoon through the Mediterranean. These consisted of landscapes and obviously set up portraits of the people he came across on land during his travels. After this honeymoon they settled back in Chestley, Ontario where he had a photo business in that town. From Chestley the couple moved to Toronto, Ontario and resided in Parkdale in 1916. Edwin and Mary's son Edward was born in Toronto. From here the family appears to of traveled across Canada from Sault Sainte Marie to the Saskatchewan plains where he photographed the Blackfoot Indians and further to different valleys of British Columbia. Gathering from research and analysis of different signs and locations Canadian Pacific Railway buildings, construction sites and shipping harbours continue to appear within Edwin Haynes’ photographs through this time. There appears to be a section of photographs within his collection that document some streets in the East end of New York City (Mulberry street, The Bowery and the Aqua Duct)

Edwin Haynes dies October 31st 1918 of the Spanish Influenza, his wife and son move to British Columbia whilst his box of slides holding the images he had taken over many years stay with his Father in Toronto. Mary goes back to a well to do man she met on the families travels out West. She works as this wealthy mans house maid while Edward was still a baby. Mary became pregnant with this man’s child and gave birth to a daughter and died in child birth. Edward was now 4 left as an orphan. This wealthy man got in contact with Edward’s aunt May Hodgson who still lived in Toronto. Edward was sent back on train from British Columbia to Union station where May Hodgson and her son picked up 4 year old Edward Haynes. Edward was alone in the station standing in a crowd of people with only a name tag around his neck. This is the only way May and Russell knew who he was. Edward stayed in Toronto and grew up as Russell's brother.

The box of slides made their way to my Father through Edward Haynes, as he knew my Father held an interest in photography. Edward later passed away leaving this family history in a wooden box that somehow found it's way to me.