adma
Superstar
Though the tower is.
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Heritage Toronto Mondays
- Thread starter interchange42
- Start date
Though the tower is.
UrbanToronto has partnered with Heritage Toronto to capture a moment in Toronto's past. On a weekly basis, we will both be highlighting a historic photo of the city's people, places and events, and will be telling the stories behind them.
Many thanks to both Gary Switzer of MOD Developements and Maya Bilbao for putting together the photos and research.
This week's photo:
Simpsons Ad, 1899
For more than one hundred years, the name Simpson’s has been popular with Canadians and Torontonians alike. This now defunct retail establishment was founded by Robert Simpson, a young Scottish immigrant who moved to Newmarket and then settled in Toronto. Simpson opened his first Yonge Street store in 1872 near Yonge and Queen. Initially catering to dry goods, Simpson’s store evolved into a department store, a direct competitor of Timothy Eaton’s department store across the street.
The Robert Simpson Company expanded south and west of Queen and Yonge, gradually taking up several acres. With a profitable business under his belt, Simpson decided to build a new structure at the southwest corner of Queen and Yonge. He hired prominent architect, Edmund Burke to design a striking six storey structure in the style of the Chicago School of Architecture. The first structure was decimated by fire in 1895 only a few months after opening but Simpson forged ahead and wasted no time building an identical store to the original. It was the “first fireproofed store in Canadaâ€.
As Simpson’s continued to expand at Queen and Yonge, the catalogue business took off. Competing with Eaton’s, the catalogue offered a wide variety of products from scarves to bicycles to fine new ladies hats. Eventually, Simpson’s branded its catalogue “Simpson’s Canada Wideâ€. The image seen here is the cover of the Spring-Summer catalogue of 1899, and showcases Simpson’s new store in the background at Queen and Yonge.
Robert Simpson passed away in 1897, but his company thrived for decades. Today, the Hudson’s Bay Company occupies Robert Simpson’s Queen Street store and keeps alive its many exterior architectural details. A trip down to see this store will reveal what makes this building a landmark of 19th century Toronto.
Sources:
Historical plaque re: Robert Simpson Company
Just authored a documentary on shopping that included a section on Simpson's.
Many thanks to both Gary Switzer of MOD Developements and Maya Bilbao for putting together the photos and research.
This week's photo:
Simpsons Ad, 1899
For more than one hundred years, the name Simpson’s has been popular with Canadians and Torontonians alike. This now defunct retail establishment was founded by Robert Simpson, a young Scottish immigrant who moved to Newmarket and then settled in Toronto. Simpson opened his first Yonge Street store in 1872 near Yonge and Queen. Initially catering to dry goods, Simpson’s store evolved into a department store, a direct competitor of Timothy Eaton’s department store across the street.
The Robert Simpson Company expanded south and west of Queen and Yonge, gradually taking up several acres. With a profitable business under his belt, Simpson decided to build a new structure at the southwest corner of Queen and Yonge. He hired prominent architect, Edmund Burke to design a striking six storey structure in the style of the Chicago School of Architecture. The first structure was decimated by fire in 1895 only a few months after opening but Simpson forged ahead and wasted no time building an identical store to the original. It was the “first fireproofed store in Canadaâ€.
As Simpson’s continued to expand at Queen and Yonge, the catalogue business took off. Competing with Eaton’s, the catalogue offered a wide variety of products from scarves to bicycles to fine new ladies hats. Eventually, Simpson’s branded its catalogue “Simpson’s Canada Wideâ€. The image seen here is the cover of the Spring-Summer catalogue of 1899, and showcases Simpson’s new store in the background at Queen and Yonge.
Robert Simpson passed away in 1897, but his company thrived for decades. Today, the Hudson’s Bay Company occupies Robert Simpson’s Queen Street store and keeps alive its many exterior architectural details. A trip down to see this store will reveal what makes this building a landmark of 19th century Toronto.
Sources:
Historical plaque re: Robert Simpson Company
Just authored a documentary on shopping that included a section on Simpson's.
Goldie
Senior Member
Burton - Green River, Ont.
Charles L. Burton, from the family which owned this Green River store (attached thumbnail), started with Simpsons in 1912 and was named President of the Company in 1929.
This week's photo:
Charles L. Burton, from the family which owned this Green River store (attached thumbnail), started with Simpsons in 1912 and was named President of the Company in 1929.
Attachments
J T CUNNINGHAM
Senior Member
"Charles L. Burton, from the family which owned this Green River store (attached thumbnail)" QUOTE Prof Goldie.
A SENSE OF URGENCY by C L BURTON. 1952.
Clarke, Irwin & Company Limited.
Regards,
J T
A SENSE OF URGENCY by C L BURTON. 1952.
Clarke, Irwin & Company Limited.
Regards,
J T
UrbanToronto has partnered with Heritage Toronto to capture a moment in Toronto's past. On a weekly basis, we will both be highlighting a historic photo of the city's people, places and events, and will be telling the stories behind them.
Many thanks to both Gary Switzer of MOD Developements and Maya Bilbao for putting together the photos and research.
This week's photo:
Scarborough Bluffs
The Scarborough Bluffs have been one of Toronto's greatest natural attractions for hundreds of years. In 1793, the wife of Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe, Elizabeth, remarked that the highlands east of the Town of York looked similar to the chalk cliffs of Scarborough in Yorkshire, England. Hence, they earned the name, The Scarborough Bluffs. Also, at that time, John Graves Simcoe renamed the new township north of the highlands Scarborough from Glasgow.
The bluffs are incredibly significant from a geological perspective and are renowned among scientists worldwide. They extend for approximately 14km along Lake Ontario and at the highest point they rise some 65m above the water. Sediments in the first 46 metres reveal fossil plants and animals that were left over during the advance of the Wisconsinan glacier that took place around 70,000 years ago. Above the first layer of sediment can be found boulder clay and sand left by four advances and retreats of ice. The last withdrawal of the glacier took place some 12,000 years ago.
The Scarborough Bluffs now form part of Bluffers Park that includes areas to picnic, a marina, and a beach. Seen here are men standing at the peak of the Bluffs in 1909.
Sources:
http://www.scarboroughhistorical.com/local_history/
http://www.waynecook.com/atoronto.html
http://www.toronto.ca/waterfront/tour/bluffers_park.htm
www.wikipedia commons
Many thanks to both Gary Switzer of MOD Developements and Maya Bilbao for putting together the photos and research.
This week's photo:
Scarborough Bluffs
The Scarborough Bluffs have been one of Toronto's greatest natural attractions for hundreds of years. In 1793, the wife of Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe, Elizabeth, remarked that the highlands east of the Town of York looked similar to the chalk cliffs of Scarborough in Yorkshire, England. Hence, they earned the name, The Scarborough Bluffs. Also, at that time, John Graves Simcoe renamed the new township north of the highlands Scarborough from Glasgow.
The bluffs are incredibly significant from a geological perspective and are renowned among scientists worldwide. They extend for approximately 14km along Lake Ontario and at the highest point they rise some 65m above the water. Sediments in the first 46 metres reveal fossil plants and animals that were left over during the advance of the Wisconsinan glacier that took place around 70,000 years ago. Above the first layer of sediment can be found boulder clay and sand left by four advances and retreats of ice. The last withdrawal of the glacier took place some 12,000 years ago.
The Scarborough Bluffs now form part of Bluffers Park that includes areas to picnic, a marina, and a beach. Seen here are men standing at the peak of the Bluffs in 1909.
Sources:
http://www.scarboroughhistorical.com/local_history/
http://www.waynecook.com/atoronto.html
http://www.toronto.ca/waterfront/tour/bluffers_park.htm
www.wikipedia commons
adma
Superstar
If viable, I'd like to know *where* they were, and perhaps a before/after shot (just to gauge degrees of erosion)
thecharioteer
Senior Member
Last edited:
adma
Superstar
What on earth was that array in that last photo?
Goldie
Senior Member
It may be a floating walkway over a pond in Bluffers Park.
J T CUNNINGHAM
Senior Member
Bear in mind that the Toronto islands were the product of the bluffs.
Regards,
J T
Regards,
J T
And now they are starting to erode because the Leslie Spit is blocking the Islands from the bluffs.
J T CUNNINGHAM
Senior Member
"And now they are starting to erode because the Leslie Spit is blocking the Islands from the bluffs." QUOTE Ed007Toronto.
Are you writing that Leslie spit on/at the Toronto Fyn Social Engineering Experiment?
(That's fine with me.)
Regards,
J T
Are you writing that Leslie spit on/at the Toronto Fyn Social Engineering Experiment?
(That's fine with me.)
Regards,
J T
Last edited:
Goldie
Senior Member
And I always thought that the Islands were formed by the silt that was washed down the Don River.
Is there an authority on this matter?
J T CUNNINGHAM
Senior Member
"I found this on Wikipedia:
"The islands were originally a 9 km peninsula or sand spit extending from the mainland. The islands are composed of alluvial deposits from the erosion of the Scarborough Bluffs. The flow from the Niagara River to the south across Lake Ontario causes a counter-clockwise east-to-west current which has, over time, deposited sediments at the south end of the harbour to form a sand spit."
The above was sent to me privately by Prof Goldie.
Regards,
J T
"The islands were originally a 9 km peninsula or sand spit extending from the mainland. The islands are composed of alluvial deposits from the erosion of the Scarborough Bluffs. The flow from the Niagara River to the south across Lake Ontario causes a counter-clockwise east-to-west current which has, over time, deposited sediments at the south end of the harbour to form a sand spit."
The above was sent to me privately by Prof Goldie.
Regards,
J T
UrbanToronto has partnered with Heritage Toronto to capture a moment in Toronto's past. On a weekly basis, we will both be highlighting a historic photo of the city's people, places and events, and will be telling the stories behind them.
Many thanks to both Gary Switzer of MOD Developements and Maya Bilbao for putting together the photos and research.
This week's photo:
Islington Public School
Islington Junior Middle School is one of the oldest elementary schools in Toronto. It dates back to 1833 when the first schoolhouse was built in the future Islington community on the north side of today's Dundas. Like many of its generation, it was a one room log cabin. Inside, one of the walls was painted black and used as a blackboard.
Fifty years later, a new school building was needed to service the growing community. The new school seen in this photo was designed in 1883 by William Tyrell on Canning Avenue, today's Cordova Avenue. Tyrell was a local architect responsible for the 1844 design of St. George's on-the-Hill Anglican Church also located in Islington. Tyrell also built a seven storey flour mill historically known as the “Old Mill.” Having suffered a fire in the 1860's, remains of this mill can still be seen across from Etienne Brule Park.
Tyrell's design for the new red brick schoolhouse then known as Islington Public School was simple, featuring Georgian windows. In those days, no artificial lighting was used, so students studied with natural sunlight alone. A wood stove heated the classroom. In those days, the boundaries for school attendance were much larger than they are today...from Lake Ontario to Eglinton Avenue (then known as Richview Sideroad). That school evolved into Islington Junior Middle School, which celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2008.
Sources:
http://schools.tdsb.on.ca/islington/History.html
http://www.stgeorgesonthehill.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=37
http://www.waynecook.com/atoronto.html
Many thanks to both Gary Switzer of MOD Developements and Maya Bilbao for putting together the photos and research.
This week's photo:
Islington Public School
Islington Junior Middle School is one of the oldest elementary schools in Toronto. It dates back to 1833 when the first schoolhouse was built in the future Islington community on the north side of today's Dundas. Like many of its generation, it was a one room log cabin. Inside, one of the walls was painted black and used as a blackboard.
Fifty years later, a new school building was needed to service the growing community. The new school seen in this photo was designed in 1883 by William Tyrell on Canning Avenue, today's Cordova Avenue. Tyrell was a local architect responsible for the 1844 design of St. George's on-the-Hill Anglican Church also located in Islington. Tyrell also built a seven storey flour mill historically known as the “Old Mill.” Having suffered a fire in the 1860's, remains of this mill can still be seen across from Etienne Brule Park.
Tyrell's design for the new red brick schoolhouse then known as Islington Public School was simple, featuring Georgian windows. In those days, no artificial lighting was used, so students studied with natural sunlight alone. A wood stove heated the classroom. In those days, the boundaries for school attendance were much larger than they are today...from Lake Ontario to Eglinton Avenue (then known as Richview Sideroad). That school evolved into Islington Junior Middle School, which celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2008.
Sources:
http://schools.tdsb.on.ca/islington/History.html
http://www.stgeorgesonthehill.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=37
http://www.waynecook.com/atoronto.html