Alderwood songstress Pearl Horner in her heyday was a popular opera singer and socialite who was born into a prominent farming family.

Pearl was the daughter of Daniel Fisher Horner, a farmer whom Horner Ave. was named after, and whose grandfather settled a 350-acre farm bounded to the north by Evans Ave., Brown’s Line to the west, south to Horner Ave. and east by Kipling Ave.

Daniel in 1856 invented and patented the first “butter print,” a device to mould butter, featuring a raised Horner emblem on the top.  That patent was passed on to granddaughter Pearl.

The Horners’ had one son, Franklin, and six daughters who included Ethel, who was a graduate of the Toronto Bible College and an ordained Anglican deaconess.

Franklin was active in local politics, community and church affairs, according to The Aldernews, which was published by the Etobicoke Historical Society. The Franklin Horner Community Centre is named after him.

He had two children, Goldwyn, who died at an early age, and daughter Pearl, who lived at the family’s 183 Beta St. homestead called “Ashfield” until it was sold in 1960.

Pearl loved “Ashfield,” which is described as a ‘copy of an old English manor.’

She was a well-known personality in 1921 having gained fame as a “renowned singer and socialite,” who was a mezzo-soprano with the prominent Toronto Mendelsohn Choir.

The choir is one of Canada’s oldest, largest and best-known choral ensembles. It was founded in 1894 by Augustus Vogt and presented its first concert in Massey Hall in 1895.

“She (Pearl) graciously entertained her fellow parishioners of the Church of the Atonement at Ashfield,” wrote historian Katharine Williams. She threw large parties for her friends and neighbours.

Pearl, like her dad, was interested in the church and community activities. She loved the arts and was called ‘a respected art patron.’

Franklin was a member of the original Mimico Lacrosse Team, who worked the farm from 1920 until his death. The property was sold in 1942 and subdivided.

The Horner family has long been affiliated with the Church of the Atonement, on Sheldon Ave., and Pearl took part in a sod-turning ceremony of an addition of the church in 1953.