Starshine

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The Toronto Stork Derby

An interesting and little-known event from Toronto's history.

A wealthy businessman with a perverse sense of humour had a few parting pranks to leave in his will. He left stock in breweries and jockey clubs to local clergymen, and a Caribbean home to three lawyers who hated each other.

But the clause that gained notoriety was the one leaving the bulk of his estate to the woman in Toronto who had the most children in the ten year period after his death. And thus began the great Stork Derby.

Charles Millar was a wealthy lawyer who died in 1926. At first, his bequest was merely a curiosity in the city. But as the Great Depression began, more and more desperate families saw this as their one chance to just get by.

As time passed, the fortune involved grew even more. Millar had stock in the Windsor/Detroit tunnel project. When that tunnel became a reality, his fortune jumped from $100,000 to $750,000. That was a LOT of money in the 1930s.

The media followed the race with interest. Newspapers ran scores and bookies were taking bets. Towards the end of the 10 years, there were 5 women in the running with 56 children in total (only 32 were eligible under the rules set out by Millar).

Though the race ended in 1936, it was years before a winner was declared. Many details and questions needed to be clarified: Did stillborn babies count? What about illegitimate children? What exactly defined 'Toronto'? Was it even legal?

Finally, four winners were declared, each with 9 properly registered children. Annie Smith, Kathleen Nagel, Lucy Timleck and Isabel Maclean each received $125,000. Two other mothers were given smaller amounts ($12,500 each). Lillian Kenney had 10 births but 2 were stillborn, and Pauline Clarke had several illegitimate children.

Between the long media frenzy, and the final dramatic court cases, I think Charles Millar would have been thrilled at the results of his little 'prank'.