Then: October 16, 1911. View of Queen Street viaduct, looking east from River Street.

This is the second and still extant bridge at this location. Our 1916 picture charms us in its details. I can pick out the commuters going home in the late afternoon (judging from the shadows) on the back of the streetcar — it must have been fun to stand there as the car sped you home. One has to go to San Francisco for a similar experience today. Queen was unpaved at this time; it must have been very dusty. Shoes only came in one version in those days — black leather — and they had to be polished, a seemingly pointless labour given the short life of a shine.

Looking at the street car tracks I am almost expecting Buster Keaton to come along in a "railway track speeder." What grade schooler hasn't seen this National Film Board short?  :)  Please take the time to view it here. You won't regret it.

Anyway, once again I verge on boring you (too late, you say?). Here is Queen street in it's dusty glory, complete with police constable making sure "nothing is going on 'ere then."

Now: May 2011