Evocative Images of Lost Toronto

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

"Knox's Church, south side of Queen, between Yonge and Bay."
QUOTE: Thecharioteer.

The land that Simpsons used for their expansion to the west of the original present store was leased from

"Knox's Church, south side of Queen, between Yonge and Bay."

Was the above ever changed to ownership by either of Simpson's/The Hudson's Bay Co, or does this lease continue?


Regards,
J T

 

[thecharioteer]

Thanks for those reminders, thecharioteer.
One can easily understand how Toronto became known as "The City of Churches."
I have two question: How many Toronto churches have been demolished since 1900 and is the pace of destruction increasing?

Not sure, Goldie, but here are some photos of churches that have been demolished in my lifetime:

 

[thecharioteer]

The 1857 Panorama shows a number of the churches shown above. Below is the NE view which shows the Knox Church, The United Presbyterian at Bay & Richmond and the Zion Congregational at Bay & Adelaide (its Gothic version which replaced the Neoclassical version shown above), not to mention Trinity Square at the left:

The Gothic version of the Bay & Adelaide Zion Church:

 

[NotKevinBacon]

There are some more photos here: http://juliekinnear.com/blogs/20-photos-toronto-history.html

 

[thecharioteer]

Great pics, NotKevinBacon! Didn't realize that the Customs House was built in phases....

Further to my pics on churches in the Financial District, there is a discreet plaque on the side of the 1929 Bank of Commerce Building at the corner of King and Jordon:

That refers to the first Methodist Episcopal Church which stood on the site (drawing by Owen Staples):

 

[Goldie]

Upon finding these old film images (1903) of London streets at: http://youtu.be/DVQiEJW7RWg

I immediately wondered, Where are the 'evocative' motion picture films of Toronto streets during this era?

Are there none?

 

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

"Where are the 'evocative' motion picture films of Toronto streets during this era?"
QUOTE: Prof Goldie.

The below is from Mr "Plink" re The Great Toronto Fire of 1904 film reel:

http://goadstoronto.blogspot.ca/2012/10/the-great-toronto-fires-of-1904-and-1895.html

This from the web:

http://www.billgladstone.ca/?p=8348


Regards,
J T

 

[Goldie]

Thanks for that reference, JT.

It appears that the Toronto film of 1904 is in a poor state of preservation compared to the 1903 London film.

 

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

"It appears that the Toronto film of 1904 is in a poor state of preservation compared to the 1903 London film."
QUOTE: Prof Goldie.

I have replaced the first vid (above) with a more accurate and telling one.


Regards,
J T

 

[thecharioteer]

A 1905 doctored photograph of the fire at the Canadian Feather and Mattress Factory, north side of Melinda, east of Bay. Interesting on a number of levels, least of all its wall-advertisement:

 

[Goldie]

A 1905 doctored photograph of the fire at the Canadian Feather and Mattress Factory, north side of Melinda, east of Bay. Interesting on a number of levels, least of all its wall-advertisement:

Those firefighters are using the windows and roof of the Toronto Telegram Building as an excellent vantage point (see attached).
P.S. I wonder if those "firefighters" are actually Telegram employees.

 

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

"P.S. I wonder if those "firefighters" are actually Telegram employees."
QUOTE: Prof Goldie.

With we knowing the attributes of John Ross Robertson, civic duty, kind heartedness, et al, it would not suprise me, especially as

at the least one of that "Crew" is wearing a white shirt!


Regards,
J T

 

[FAC33]

"P.S. I wonder if those "firefighters" are actually Telegram employees."
QUOTE: Prof Goldie.

With we knowing the attributes of John Ross Robertson, civic duty, kind heartedness, et al, it would not suprise me, especially as

at the least one of that "Crew" is wearing a white shirt!


Regards,
J T

Also interesting in that this is just a year after the great fire of 1904, which wiped out much of what was south of the Tely building. They sure seemed to have issues with fires 'round about then.

 

[Goldie]

I've just completed an amazing trip along Craven Drive (in east Toronto) via Google Street-View.
This street of amazingly small houses (dozen & dozens of them!) is a real surprise.
Thanks to Spacing Toronto (http://spacing.ca/toronto/2013/02/13/the-tiny-house-society-of-craven-road/) for the tip.

Here's the same street in 1916 when it was called Erie Terrace:

 

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

"just a year after the great fire of 1904, which wiped out much of what was south of the Tely building. They sure seemed to have issues with fires 'round about then."
QUOTE: FAC33.

Lack of sprinkler systems/standpipes/portable fire extinguishers, central fire alarms etc, coupled with poor housekeeping & little or no training, fire took an immense toil.

Contrary to popular belief, mill construction with it's heavy timber, allowed a better fire rating than unprotected steel girders.


Regards,
J T