FAW
New Member
My grandfather worked in the old Confed Life building, for a short time my father did too. I remember going to have lunch with my father in the 70's in the new Confed Life building.
Paul
Paul
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Miscellany Toronto Photographs: Then and Now
- Thread starter Mustapha
- Start date
enelemcee
New Member
And just to think that everything in the Registry Building could fit in a 32GB thumb drive or two these days!
Jarndyce
New Member
Concerning the origin of the motto "Deeds Speak" below are two extracts from items published by Heritage Mississauga and the Friends of Fort York.
Heritage Mississauga Fall 2012 Newsletter, p. 12
"George Sheppard, 'Deeds Speak: Militiamen, Medals, and the Invented Traditions of 1812' in Ontario History, Volume 82 (3), 1990 (Journal of the Ontario Historical Society):
"At one p.m. on March 23, 1813, the Third Regiment of York militia, under the command of Major William Allan, assembled in front of the tiny church in the capital of Upper Canada. The Reverend John Strachan ascended a makeshift stage, solemnly read from his prepared text, and then beckoned Anne Powell to join him. Powell, the daughter of a prominent jurist in the colony, was visibly nervous about addressing such a large audience, especially since she was “distracted after” John Beverley Robinson, an ambitious young lieutenant in the Third York Regiment.
"Nonetheless, an eyewitness later reported that she delivered a “short, but elegant” speech dealing with the banner that fluttered over the stage. The flag bore a depiction of a laurel wreath and the words 'Deeds Speak.' The young ladies of York had created the banner to honour those enrolled in the militia, and Anne Powell wanted the men to know that the 'diviner sex' shared in the spirit of patriotism that burned 'with so pure a flame through the Province.'
"Before the meeting came to an end, John Strachan again addressed the militiamen, warning them not to consider the event an 'unmeaning ceremony.' Strachan, who had suggested the motto 'Deeds Speak,' said that Anne Powell and other members of 'that tender and most amiable sex' were relying on the militia 'to never abandon them' to the enemy.'”
http://www.heritagemississauga.com/assets/Newsletter - PDF for Web.pdf
The York Militia Colours
by Carl Benn, PhD., Chief Curator, City of Toronto Museums and Heritage Services
The Fife and Drum, newsletter of the Friends of Fort York, July 2007, p. 5:
"The two colours (or flags) of the Third Regiment of York Militia, exhibited at St James’ Cathedral for many years, are significant artefacts in Toronto’s history. They evoke the patriotism of the Georgian-era women who made them, and of the citizen soldiers who fought to preserve Upper Canada during the War of 1812 when the Americans attempted – but failed – to conquer the British colony. Intended to honour the contributions of the flank companies of the York Militia in the capture of Detroit, the colours were sewn by some of the town’s leading young ladies in 1812-13 to a design prepared by 21-year-old Mary Warren Baldwin. These women met at the home of the prominent John and Catherine McGill family (on the site of today’s Metropolitan United Church) to do their work and to receive visitors, including Major-General Isaac Brock, the victor of Detroit. Other men entertained them as they sewed, as occurred when someone performed a reading of Sydney Croker’s poem, The battle of Talavera, a stirring celebration of the Duke of Wellington’s 1809 triumph over the forces of Napoleonic despotism.
"At the time the ladies laboured over the colours, the militia embraced most of the able-bodied male population between the ages of 16 and 60. (The government exempted pacifists from certain churches along with people in important jobs or professions, such as ferry operators and clergymen.) Most Upper Canadian males belonged to the ‘sedentary militia,’ which possessed only a limited amount of training and equipment, but which nevertheless could be called out when needed. While service in the sedentary militia was obligatory, many men volunteered to fight in militia flank companies and other formations where they received additional training and better equipment so they could take a more active part in the colony’s defence.
"As is typical for a stand of colours, those of the Third York consist of two objects, a ‘king’s colour,’ which fundamentally is a Union Jack with a regimental crest at its centre, and a ‘regimental colour.’ Normally the regimental colour looks like an ensign (with a small Union Jack in the corner), but in the case of the Third York its design is distinctly unorthodox, having a plain background upon which are embroidered a number of symbols and words. At its centre is a crown, flanked by the initials ‘GR’ for Georgius Rex (Latin for King George). At the left of the flag is a depiction of the arms of Upper Canada, and at the right is the white rose of York.
"Under the crown is a branch with leaves on it (presumably laurel), below which are the words ‘3d Regt York Militia’ and the motto ‘Deeds Speak’ (chosen by the town’s rector, the Revd John Strachan, in light of the glow of victory at Detroit).
"Further reading: a delightful Victorian narrative of the story of the colours is Mary Agnes Fitzgibbon’s ‘A historic banner,’ in the Women’s Canadian Historical Society of Toronto Transactions 1 (1896), 6-22."
http://archive.org/details/no1t13reporttransac00womeuoft
http://www.fortyork.ca/images/newsletters/fife-and-drum-2007/fife-and-drum-july-2007.pdf
See also Alan Brown's site Toronto's Historical Plaques
http://www.torontohistory.org/Pages_DEF/Deeds_Speak.html
Jarndyce
New Member
Were the four interior photographs taken in the County Registry Office at 60 Richmond Street East (at Berti) or in the City Registry Office at 45 Richmond Street East (north-west portion of the future BAC 3). The 1917 date for Richmond and Berti is wrong.
Extracts from the Interim report respecting Toronto and York registry offices, 1922, of the Ontario Commission to Inquire into, Consider and Report upon the Best Mode of Selecting, Appointing and Remunerating Sheriffs, etc. [My notations are in square brackets.]:
Having been appointed by Royal Commission to inquire into, consider and report upon (amongst other things) all matters pertaining to the placing of the office of Registrar of Deeds upon the most efficient and businesslike footing, we respectfully submit the following interim report upon the advisability of uniting the four Registry Offices in the County of York under one Registrar.
The Registry Office for the County of York was established in the year 1797.
In the year 1859, what was then the City of Toronto was set apart from the County and a City Registry Office established.
In the year 1868, the northerly part of the County was set apart as a separate Registry District and a Registry Office established at the Town of Newmarket. [The boundary was the southern limit of the geographic townships of King and Whitchurch: Stouffville Road east of Yonge Street and King Vaughan Road (including its projection east of Bathurst) west of Yonge Street. The boundary was moved south to Steeles Avenue in 1980.]
In the year 1889, the City of Toronto was divided and two Registry Offices created, one for that part of the City lying east of Spadina Avenue, and another for the part lying west. The Registry Office for the southerly part of the County of York is and always has been located in Toronto. Until a few years ago it was located on the same street as the City Registry Office and a comparatively short distance from it. [The addresses were 60 (County) and 45 (City) Richmond Street East. In 1917 the City Registry Office moved to the north side of Albert Street between Osgoode Hall and the present City Hall. It was demolished in 1964.]
Since the City Registry Office was divided in 1889 the business of the two offices has always been conducted in the same building. Originally one office was on the ground floor, the other on the floor above. Now both offices are on the same floor and adjoin each other. [It was not until 1973 that the City Registry Office stopped using separate series of document registration numbers for different geographic areas of the City.]
http://archive.org/details/registryoffcomm00onta
http://www.ontla.on.ca/library/repository/mon/25005/15638.pdf
See also:
Registry Office, County of York, 1829-1850, Adelaide St. East, north side, between Church and Jarvis Sts.
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?R=DC-PICTURES-R-5196
Registry Office, County of York, 1850-1875, 19 Toronto St. This became the north half of the Consumers' Gas building, later occupied by Counsel Trust Company and now by the Rosewater Room.
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?R=DC-PICTURES-R-5197
http://www.torontoplaques.com/Pages_ABC/Consumers_Gas_Building.html
Registry Office, County of York, 1875-1917, 60 Richmond St. East, east side of Berti St.
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?R=DC-PICTURES-R-5198
Registry Office, City of Toronto, 1917-1964, Albert St.; laying of cornerstone 1915
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?R=DC-PICTURES-R-5754
Registry Office, City of Toronto, 1917-1964, Albert St., north side, between Elizabeth and Chestnut Sts. 1955
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?R=DC-PICTURES-R-5673
Registry Office, City of Toronto, 1917-1964, Albert St., north side
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8585383943_1227a48a6b_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57156785@N02/8585383943/in/photostream/
Registry Office, City of Toronto, 1917-1964, demolition
http://www.toronto.ca/archives/images/f1268_it0462.jpg
http://www.toronto.ca/archives/images/f1268_it0460.jpg
http://www.toronto.ca/archives/city_hall_intro.htm
Page 4 of the thread Evocative Images of Lost Toronto
http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/showthread.php/11018-Evocative-Images-of-Lost-Toronto/page4
FAC33
Active Member
The one I know about is slightly beyond the GTA. The Superburger just outside of Shelburne (Hwy 10 and Hwy 89) has one. I'm fond of that place--my husband worked there in its very early days.
zanthope
New Member
Hello all ... I'm a Toronto born expatriate living in southern Ohio for many years. I left Canada as a teenager in the 60's and never really looked back, but after reaching old age, reading this fabulous thread every day for several months, and also after a recent visit, I find I miss my home town. Thank you for all of this.
Here's a little paying forward ... Chester School, near Chester Hill Avenue and Broadview, my first-grade alma mater I attended in either 1953 or 1954 just before moving out to Scarborough. We lived on nearby Cambridge avenue. The Then pics are in order: about 1900 with the bell tower cap, 1930ish with the bell tower cap gone, and Now - the Estonian Consulate of Canada with a glimpse of the old school building off to the left. There is much more of the original building in the rear, also the playground remains, as a parking lot.
Here's a little paying forward ... Chester School, near Chester Hill Avenue and Broadview, my first-grade alma mater I attended in either 1953 or 1954 just before moving out to Scarborough. We lived on nearby Cambridge avenue. The Then pics are in order: about 1900 with the bell tower cap, 1930ish with the bell tower cap gone, and Now - the Estonian Consulate of Canada with a glimpse of the old school building off to the left. There is much more of the original building in the rear, also the playground remains, as a parking lot.
Attachments
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Jarndyce
New Member
CORRECTION: The City Registry Office was at 45 Richmond Street West until 1917 (not East).
Sorry, my mistake.
Does anyone of any photographs of the exterior of the City Registry Office at 45 Richmond Street West?
FAC33
Active Member
Out of curiosity, where in Southern Ohio? I'm sort of your opposite, having grown up in Central Ohio (Columbus) and moved to Toronto (and just recently returned from a visit back to Ohio).
zanthope
New Member
12 mi SW of Wilmington, about 15 miles E from Lebanon, 55 NE from Cincinnati, 40 SE from Dayton. Been in Ohio since 1977. Hit Cincinnati the day Elvis died. Chicago area before that.
thecharioteer
Senior Member
Thanks, Jarndyce for the info. I realize now that I made a mistake with the 4 Registry interior pics and that the 2nd and 3rd pics were mislabeled on the Toronto Archives website page as being the Registry Office, whereas if I had looked closer at them I would have seen them labelled City Hall. As to he 1st and 4th, they can't be the Registry on Richmond East since they're labelled 1925, and that building closed down in 1917. Perhaps it was still used for additional storage after the Albert building was built (the windows seem to match).
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Goldie
Senior Member
Harry Enchin is receiving some nice publicity regarding his "Then & Now" project.
See: http://globalnews.ca/video/848477/toronto-then-and-now
See: http://globalnews.ca/video/848477/toronto-then-and-now
Jarndyce
New Member
Thank you for your comments, thecharioteer.
It was my understanding that the County Registry Office (at 60 Richmond Street East) was constructed in 1875 and not demolished until the 1940's. It was then replaced by the building that bore Jacobine Jones's sculptures until demolition in 2008.
We know that the City Registry Office moved from 45 Richmond Street West to Albert Street in 1917. Does anyone know what the City did with the building after the move?
I went to Nathan Ng's wonderful site Goad’s Atlas of Toronto and checked the 1913 and 1924 editions. The building was still there in 1924 but without the "City Registry Office" label. I seem to recall an office building on the site in the 1970's and 1980's which was demolished together with the Simpson's parking garage which adjoined it to the east.
Do you, or any other reader, know of any exterior photographs of the 45 Richmond Street West building?
Goad’s Atlas of Toronto
http://skritch.blogspot.ca/2012/04/goads-atlas-of-toronto-online.html
City Registry Office (45 Richmond Street West)
Plate 6
1913
https://www.googledrive.com/host/0BwadvTiFXSLcNmNMeEJDeW82Nlk/goad/1913/00006.jpg
1924
https://www.googledrive.com/host/0BwadvTiFXSLcNmNMeEJDeW82Nlk/goad/1924/00006.jpg
County Registry Office (60 Richmond Street East)
Plate 10
1913
https://www.googledrive.com/host/0BwadvTiFXSLcNmNMeEJDeW82Nlk/goad/1913/00010.jpg
1924
https://www.googledrive.com/host/0BwadvTiFXSLcNmNMeEJDeW82Nlk/goad/1924/00010.jpg
DSC
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Berkeley House. There are several good current photos (by Drum) of the archaeological excavation of the future Globe & Mail building site at: http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/showth...The-(351-King-St-E-First-Gulf-17s-DSAI)/page6
They go well with the wonderful series above by The Charioteer.
They go well with the wonderful series above by The Charioteer.
Mustapha
Senior Member
Heya, welcome zanthope.
There is such a connection between Ohio and some of us on this board. My daughter lives in Columbus, having married an American as the result of working for Abercrombie and Fitch as a designer at their New Albany campus.
Mustapha
Senior Member
Weekend. Time for a non-Toronto Then and Now.
Ottawa this time.
http://www.pastottawa.com/
And New York City. Crime scene Then and Now. Warning. Graphic.
http://fstoppers.com/vintage-crime-scene-photos-superimposed-on-modern-ny-streets-warning-graphic
Ottawa this time.
http://www.pastottawa.com/
And New York City. Crime scene Then and Now. Warning. Graphic.
http://fstoppers.com/vintage-crime-scene-photos-superimposed-on-modern-ny-streets-warning-graphic
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