Poetry Parkette

10 Second Street where poets lived

This is the house that stood at 10 Second Street on Ward’s Island before it was torn down. The lot remained untended until this garden was developed by the community in 2024.

Poets Milton Acorn and Gwendolyn MacEwen lived together at the beginning of their marriage in the house that stood on 10 Second Street. When the relationship ended, Milton left the Island and Gwendolyn returned to the house with her new partner, Bob Mallory. Bob was a painter who wore a turban and put tinfoil on the roof to receive messages from UFOs. “Julian the Magician,” Gwendolyn’s first published book, was dedicated to him.  

While living on the Island, Gwendolyn volunteered at the Island Public School library where she nurtured an interest in art and books in many young Islanders. She also wrote a book while sitting on the rocks at the Ward’s Island’s beach.  

 
In 1965, Gwendolyn left Bob and the Island; he remained in the house until he was evicted, probably for non-payment of taxes and rent. The City of Toronto had the house torn down. 
 

You can read more about Gwendolyn and Milton at the links below:

Biography of Gwendolyn MacEwen
https://rosemarysullivan.com/books/non-fiction/shadow-maker-the-life-of-gwendolyn-macewen/

 
Shadowmaker, Gwendolyn MacEwen, poet
https://vimeo.com/250119130

 

Milton Acorn, Poet

Milton Acorn (March 30, 1923 – August 20, 1986) was a poet, writer, and playwright. He was born on Prince Edward Island and lived in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver before returning to Charlottetown.

Gwendolyn MacEwen

Canadian poet and novelist Gwendolyn MacEwen (September 1, 1941 – November 29, 1987) is also remembered through a sculpture of her in the Gwendolyn MacEwen Park in the Annex neighbourhood, where she also used to live.