James Victor Salmon, Toronto photographer, 1911-1958

[Transportfan]

Some of the photos here celebrate his work downtown but I think the real glory he left us is the work he did in the north end of town, on the cusp of transition from rural to suburb. These are views that would have been utterly lost to anyone born after about 1950 without his work.

So true. Suburban development is under-archived compared to inner city areas. But now with Street View it is easy for anyone to take screenshots and save them and keep doing so as Street View is updated into the future.

For example; this is Countryside Drive in north Brampton with its unusual and soon-to-obliterated reverse hairpin that will be both realigned and incorporated into the extended cross-street:

Imagine how cool the comparison will be to the shot taken 30 years from now!

 

[thecharioteer]

The old morgue (1877-1914), NW corner of Esplanade & Frederick, 1952 (TPL):