Dorothy Pole
Toronto Daily Star, January 14 1930
A search revealed that there were six Pole family members listed in the 1930 Toronto city directory at 32 Cornish Road:
- Frederick H. G. Pole, the head of the household, who worked as an inspector at the Canada Permanent Mortgage Corporation;
- Audrey L. Pole, who worked as a clerk at Eaton's;
- Constance, Dorothy, and Freda, who had no listed occupation;
- Howard L. Pole, who worked as a "client's mn" at Watson, Wallace & Co.
By 1935, Constance had moved out and had become an artist. Dorothy and Freda had started their own business, called The Pantry Shop; despite its name, it sold lingerie. Howard L. was working as a financial agent, and Frederick H. G. was still an inspector. Audrey was not listed; presumably, she had gotten married, which in those days caused women to disappear from the city directory.
By 1940, Frederick had no listed occupation. Howard is listed as Howard F. Pole, but the home address is still 32 Cornish; he was working for Primary Securities. Constance (now listed as Connie) was a teacher at Western Technical Commercial School; my guess is that she taught art. Dorothy worked as a clerk at the Toronto General Trusts. Freda is now missing, presumably married.
By 1942, tragedy had struck the family, as sadly it so often does. The family had moved to unit 2, 80 Spadina Road, and Adelaine Pole was listed as Frederick's widow there. Constance, still a teacher, had moved back in with her mother. Dorothy is the only other Pole listed; she is still a clerk. I don't know what happened to Howard; hopefully, he moved out of town.
In the 1943 directory, Adelaine and Constance are the only family members listed. Dorothy is no longer there. Again, presumably, she got married too.
A search for Whosit, the play that Ms. Pole was appearing in, turned out to be a dead end, as there is a board game with that name.
Created September 15, 2025.