Miscellany Toronto Photographs: Then and Now

[Goldie]

Many of our "Then & Now" images (particularly this last pair) illustrate the extreme difference in the exteriors of old and new construction.

Where, once, the the buildings were all masonry, we now have (almost exclusively) glass exteriors.

Can some knowledgable engineer explain, in simple terms, the main reason for this revolution in construction/appearance?

Is it because of modern developments in steel-skeleton and/or concrete infrastructure?

 

[adma]

This may sound silly, but he reminds me of Obama.

 

[brewster]

Interesting... I was looking at those Harvey Naylor Kodachromes yesterday and was trying to figure out where this was.
It is looking across Church to Monteith, so the Loblaws was just north of the clubhouse.

The Naylor fonds are amazing Anna. How did you find them as you can not directly get into the whole collection through the Toronto Archives website ? I have found a link through the internet but can't figure why I can't get direct access. Is there other fonds that we can see through a link and not the Archives ? Thanks , I miss Urban Toronto.

 

[Anna]

The Naylor fonds are amazing Anna. How did you find them as you can not directly get into the whole collection through the Toronto Archives website ? I have found a link through the internet but can't figure why I can't get direct access. Is there other fonds that we can see through a link and not the Archives ? Thanks , I miss Urban Toronto.

The Archives tweeted out the link.

But it looks like they haven't updated this list:
http://www.toronto.ca/archives/digitised_photos_list.htm

That page and the search are the only ways I know of finding fonds/collections.

I was having trouble finding them through the search, but then this worked. Note the 'scanned photographs only' box isn't ticked. It looks like they aren't indexed properly. Someone was trying to explain it to them on Twitter but I don't think they get it.

p.s. I just searched for the Ellis Wiley Fonds (#124) using the same method and got the same results - nothing if the 'scanned photographs only' box is ticked, something if it isn't. It must be because 'files' can be tagged as photos but 'fonds' can't.

 

[DSC]

I was reminded today about the What was there website http://www.whatwasthere.com I had not looked at it for many months and it seems to have a lot more Toronto images recently.

 

[brewster]

The Archives tweeted out the link.

But it looks like they haven't updated this list:
http://www.toronto.ca/archives/digitised_photos_list.htm

That page and the search are the only ways I know of finding fonds/collections.

I was having trouble finding them through the search, but then this worked. Note the 'scanned photographs only' box isn't ticked. It looks like they aren't indexed properly. Someone was trying to explain it to them on Twitter but I don't think they get it.
View attachment 15745

p.s. I just searched for the Ellis Wiley Fonds (#124) using the same method and got the same results - nothing if the 'scanned photographs only' box is ticked, something if it isn't. It must be because 'files' can be tagged as photos but 'fonds' can't.

Thanks for the tip Anna. I think my next move is to offer my services to the Archives , scan and upload every photo they have so we can see everything. Not that I am obsessed or anything , well maybe I am.

 

[DSC]

Thanks for the tip Anna. I think my next move is to offer my services to the Archives , scan and upload every photo they have so we can see everything. Not that I am obsessed or anything , well maybe I am.

If the Archives have not yet fixed this filing/coding problem a first step might be to phone them and talk to someone. They are usually very helpful and clearly want to make their 'stuff' available. Reporting problems via Twitter may not be best way to get action.

 

[Anna]

Thanks for the tip Anna. I think my next move is to offer my services to the Archives , scan and upload every photo they have so we can see everything. Not that I am obsessed or anything , well maybe I am.

You can do the scanning - I'll try the indexing & identification

If the Archives have not yet fixed this filing/coding problem a first step might be to phone them and talk to someone. They are usually very helpful and clearly want to make their 'stuff' available. Reporting problems via Twitter may not be best way to get action.

I thought the same thing so I sent them an email and this was the response:

Hello Anna,

Thank you for your feedback. Harvey Naylor is a wonderful collection. I'm so glad you are enjoying it. You are right, we haven't added it to our digitized photograph list yet. I believe this is because we are still working on scanning the collection. Its a huge collection with more great scans to come. I think this is also the reason the collection doesn't show up when you are advanced searching with the 'scanned photographs only' feature. That should change when the scanning is complete. One of the best ways find out when new monthly batches of scans go live is our Twitter account @torontoarchives where we announce all the new scans when they become available. Just let me know if you need further assistance with the Naylor collection.

Best,
Jessica

 

[Anna]

Many of our "Then & Now" images (particularly this last pair) illustrate the extreme difference in the exteriors of old and new construction.

Where, once, the the buildings were all masonry, we now have (almost exclusively) glass exteriors.

Can some knowledgable engineer explain, in simple terms, the main reason for this revolution in construction/appearance?

Is it because of modern developments in steel-skeleton and/or concrete infrastructure?

I'm no knowledgeable engineer, but Wikipedia says you are correct.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtain_wall#History

 

[Goldie]

I'm no knowledgeable engineer, but Wikipedia says you are correct.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtain_wall#History

Thanks Anna, for that research and link.

 

[Goldie]

Front St. at Scott 1955 and 2013

 

[r937]

Sad:

but inevitable

one newscast i heard described it as having suffered "severe damage" -- as though it wasn't a total writeoff

looking at the pictures (the star has several great photos), i'd say the damage was internal

 

[nostalgic]

Sad:

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/0...e-leaf-forever-falls-victim-to-toronto-storm/


Regards,
J T

I wonder if it was really the actual tree. Maple trees in the city don't seem to last more than about 100 years and according to the legend, the tree was already around in 1867. Any arborists in the group?

 

[Goldie]

City Hall 1941 and 2013

 

[r937]

City Hall 1941 and 2013

what awesome precision in lining up the "now" shot to get the exact same angle

well done, goldie