So, I had a busy, history-filled weekend last week! It started in beautiful Elora where I had great research session at the Wellington County Museum & Archives! The museum was built in 1877 as the House of Industry & Refuge. It was also known as the Poor House. It’s here that Jane Ward, my research subject, found herself in 1878. She was part of the Notorious Brooks’ Bush Gang. She seemingly left Toronto in 1861 shortly being acquitted for killing John Sheridan Hogan and ended up as an inmate/resident of the House of Industry & Refuge. Her story is so fascinating —so fascinating that I interrupted this Substack to write more on her! The trip to the Wellington County Museum & Archives was productive and a lot of fun. Thank you to the staff for their assistance!

Also, on Civic Holiday Monday, I participated in Simcoe Day in Toronto at St. Matthew’s Clubhouse in Riverdale Park East! It was put on by the York Pioneers (of which I serve on the Board of Directors), the Town of York Historical Society, and Riverdale Historical Society. This was the third year of the event and so far the biggest! We brought together even more authors, presenters, and organizations. It was great to see so many friends in the community. And yours truly gave a walking tour about the Simcoes, Scaddings, and Playters! Thank you to all who attended that!

The TOHistory Resource

See it: Research Guides - City of Toronto Archives & Toronto Branch, Ontario Geneological Society

I am running out of ideas of resources to highlight in this section…and then I thought of research guides! This is a one-stop shop for writers and researchers. City directories, censuses, maps…all resources I have noted individual in this newsletter!

The Old Map

See it: Hart & Rawlinson City of Toronto with Fire Limits, 1878

Ilove the aesthetic and detail of this map. Most notably, the upper right corner of ravine land is so fascinating. But the purpose of this map and the legend is so interesting. There are three fire regulation zones. A is the downtown core and B & C are the outer reaches. But B has an odd configuration in that it has ‘fingers’ of singular streets and blocks part of it. This is because these areas apparently petitioned to be part of B to prevent inferior constructions. Talk about politicking! It also confirms the numbering of buildings in Toronto: Odd numbers on south and east sides; even numbers on north and west sides.

The Old Article

Read it: “Street Watering” The Globe, April 11, 1877

What’s a city issue we do not have to deal with today? Dust flying up from street! And what was the remedy: Watering them! This article is from 1877, but a quick search through the newspaper archives shows that dirty air was quite a complainable nuisance right up until the 20th century! It might deserve a fuller exposition….

From My Archive

Read it: “Scenes From The Danforth (Broadview Avenue to Pape Avenue)”

With Taste of The Danforth returning this weekend after a two-year hiatus, I thought I would plug the history of the stretch that we now know as Greektown. It wasn’t always Greek! It started with the Playter family — a history I briefly went over on my walk on Simcoe Day! My favourite anecdote is the loose muskrat that was caught on The Danforth in 1913!

The Review

Read it: The Don: The Story of Toronto’s Infamous Jail by Lorna Poplak

This book is the newest in my library because I bought on Monday at Simcoe Day in Toronto….from the author herself, Lorna Poplak! It was such a treat to do it because I’ve borrowed it many times on Libby but I didn’t have my own copy!

The information in this book has been invaluable to my own research into the Toronto’s history of criminality. It sets up the conditions in which the Don Jail was built, the construction itself (there was a fire in 1862!), and its life as a prison. It’s interesting that every new prison in Toronto was built with expectation that it would be better, more humane, and less crowded than the previous. The Don Jail didn’t live up to expectations. Its history was dark, interesting, sometimes bizarre. A great read!

See you next time!

Yes, I missed a couple of weeks. It has been a busy time for me and I have some neatly-tied updates!

Some of you know that I volunteer for the York Pioneer & Historical Society as the Social Media Manager. The YPHS is the oldest historical society in Ontario, founded in 1869. The Society was founded for the purpose of preserving and perpetuating the history of Toronto and York County (yes historical preservation was a concern in 1869!). One of our activity is the management of Scadding Cabin, the oldest structure in Toronto, built in 1794, and moved from its location at Queen and the Don River to the CNE grounds in 1879!

This week, I had the honour of representing the YPHS on the Toronto Mike’d Podcast as we recorded in Scadding Cabin! My hosts were Toronto Mike’d and fellow historian Jeremy Hopkin.We had a lot of fun chatting about the Society and Scadding Cabin! The archivist for the Canadian National Exhibition, the very-knowledgeable Shayda Spadowski, was also interviewed (more below on the CNE archives!)

Listen to it here: https://www.torontomike.com/2026/07/live-from-scadding-cabin-toronto-miked-podcast-episode-1936/

The other plug I have for a York Pioneer event on Monday August 3rd! We are partnering with the Town of York Historical Society/Toronto’s First Post Office and Riverdale Historical Society to put on the 3rd Annual Simcoe Day in Toronto! Like past years, we will have Toronto history authors, presenters, exhibitors, and walking tours. And I will be leading a walking tour again! The full lineup will be announced shortly! For details and registration (not required but recommended), check out: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/simcoe-day-in-toronto-tickets-1993546229437?aff=oddtdtcreator

The TOHistory Resource

See it: CNE Archives

Wow, this is a great database! Even just the digitized items are neat to go through. Postcards, programmes, photos….there is so much to this! Here’s one I found of Scadding Cabin — called Simcoe Cabin — in the 1880s! Surrounding it are either Exhibition goers and or York Pioneers. The structure beside it is Lorne Cabin, a reconstruction of an early settler dwelling

The Old Map

See it: View of Exhibition Grounds, 1887

This “map” from the CNE Archives is neat because it is such an early and almost unrecognizable view of the CNE when it was still the Toronto Industrial Exhibition. Many of these buildings do not exist, lost to fire. Still with us of course is Scadding Cabin in the lower left and to its right, the Fort Rouillé monument, which was just new! To the north of the those was the impressive Crystal Palace.

The Old Article

Read it: “5,400 Autos in City, Horse Cabs Total 150,” Toronto Daily Star, February 14, 1914

The first cab in Toronto was “The City”, which was operated by Thornton Blackburn. It was red and yellow and was a popular endeavour. And it was displayed at Scadding Cabin for a time!

From My Archive

Read it: “Scenes From The Canadian National Exhibition 2015”

The CNE hasn’t factored too much in my life, which is funny because I note that in the first paragraph. I haven’t written many pieces like this; my articles evolved to more research based. But this one is fun because it captures an event in time. And that’s what history is about.

See you next time!

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A few weeks ago, I spent a few days in the Niagara region. I actually stayed in Crystal Beach, which itself has its own fascinating history, but I also ventured up the Niagara Parkway to some of the sites and towns. A highlight: I visited Mackenzie Printery for the first time!

William Lyon Mackenzie is so engrained in Toronto history for his muckraking ways and fight for Responsible Government. He had a stint in Queenston, however! He ran a general store and of course operated a newspaper! The Printery’s great staff recounted his busy life and the history of news publishing! Although I know more of Mackenzie’s life in Toronto, his time in Niagara is fuzzy for me. I knew he fled to the region after his failed rebellion, but I wasn’t aware he occupied an island and declared it the Republic of Upper Canada. Rebellious, isn’t it?

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The TOHistory Resource

See it: Google Arts & Culture

I’m still discovering this site, but it seems like a neat resource! Google Arts & Culture displays online collections and exhibits of museum and cultural organizations. Of note is the inclusion of Toronto’s First Post Office, who have this neat exhibition “Sketching Toronto!”

The Old Map

See it: “Map showing Siege of Toronto, 1837”

I saw this neat map in Mackenzie’s Printery! Through Toronto’s First Post Office’s collection on Google Arts & Culture, I found a digital version. It was drawn by Stanley Turner, although I am not sure the year of creation. The map is attractive and obviously about the rebellion…but I have questions: What’s the story of the Gallow’s Hill? Who is Dr. Horne?

The Old Article

Read it: “Mackenzie’s Toronto Home Is Saved From Demolition”, Toronto Star, December 11, 1937

William Lyon Mackenzie was still relevant one hundred years after his rebellion. At least, his former home was relevant. It was facing demolition! Also, was “Little Rebel” Mackenzie’s nickname?

From My Archive

Read it: “Scenes From The Toronto Necropolis”

I realize I don’t have a lot of WLM content in my archive. But I have this piece about the Necropolis, which houses his grave. It also has a monument to Peter Matthews and Samuel Lount, the only men to pay ultimately for the 1837 Rebellion. I learned through their monument that the “broken” look signifies a life cut short.

The Toronto Necropolis has also come up recently in my research as the resting place of James Browne, the member of the Brooke’s Bush Gang held responsible for the murder of MPP John Sheridan Hogan. He is in an unmarked grave.

The Review

Read it: Landmarks of Toronto, a collection of historical sketches of the old town of York from 1792 until 1833, and of Toronto from 1834 to 1893 Volume 1, 1894 by John Ross Robertson

This book is extensive. I had an awareness of John Ross Robertson’s Landmarks and have consulted them from time to time, but I didn’t realize how much he covers. In this first series (of six!), there’s Colborne Lodge, College Avenue, City Hall, and whole lot more. The whole series has been digitized in the TPL Digital Archive

And there’s a few William Lyon Mackenzie pieces: William Lyon Mackenzie’s Election of 1831, his home on York Street, and Montgomery’s Hotel! This book is nearly 700 pages, which is the standard of all books in the series, and while I admit I did not go through the whole book, it’s an amazing compilation of his news articles in the Telegram. And there’s illustrations too!

See you in two weeks!

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I’ve had a wee spike in followers in the last few weeks, so welcome everyone new and old! I believe I have my participation in Adam Bunch’s Festival of Bizarre Toronto History in part to thank for it! It was a lot of fun!

I was a panelist on a great talk entitled “SECRETS OF TORONTO'S HIDDEN TUNNELS"!” Adam allowed me to go down the research rabbit hole and pick out a few underground paths that interested me. So I settled on the tunnel under the Casa Loma estate which was used in the development of SONAR during World War II and the mythologized and real tunnels of Fort York. (I also briefly spoke about a third tunnel which you will find “The Old Article” section.) But my best takeaways were from my fellow panelists, Eric Sehr and Barbara Dickson. Eric spoke so well on Huron Elliott and the Water Supply Tunnel under Lake Ontario. But the greatest response was to Barbara’s presentation on the tunnels under Scarborough’s Golden Mile from the Geco plant. They are fascinating! (If someone can get me in to see them, please let me know!)

Then, on the weekend, I attended a walk led by the amazing Kiki Mairi entitled “SECRETS & SCANDALS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN TOWERS”! It was winding walk from the Annex to City Hall about some allegedly shady, mob dealings with Toronto’s apartment towers. (See The Review section for a takeaway from this walk!)

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The TOHistory Resource

See it: Newspapers.com

I have previously shared The Globe and Mail and Toronto Star Archives and The Toronto World. Well, Newspapers.com adds to those resources in a bit. This is a paid service, but it has been such a revelation of primary sources for me. I have an ongoing project about 19th century criminal life in Toronto, and I added so much more information. Having the Toronto Telegram has been such a big help!

The Old Map

See it: “Goad's map of north-east corner of Bay and Queen streets”

Did you know Eaton’s had tunnels running under their complex at Yonge and Queen? They built them around the early 20th century to facilitate indoor access between their buildings — without having to cross James or Albert Street. In this Fire Insurance Map, they are actually noted! The map is blurry and I’m not sure the date of it, but they are there! And fun fact, some of those tunnels are part of today’s PATH network!

The Old Article

Read It: “Secret Street Tunnel,” The Montreal Gazette, November 14, 1899

While researching Toronto tunnels, I came across a story that I have never seen before! Apparently, there was a passage under Gladstone Avenue north of the hotel at Queen Street. Why was it there? This article states some bootlegging and ‘hoodwinking the police’. Another article stated that the builder of the houses placed the tunnel there…for unknown reasons. Is there more to the story? I haven’t found anything else, but I will share if I do…

From My Archive

Read it: “Scenes From Crescent Town”

This article comes from 2015 and gosh, these pictures are NOT good. My style has really evolved. In any case, when I thought about when and if I had written about apartment towers, this piece came up. Crescent Town is a diverse community of people and towers, with an interesting geographic evolution. As bonus reading and a tie-in to earlier topics, The Local compared Crescent Town and the Annex in 2024.

The Review

See it: “Charlotte’s Castle”

During the walk on Toronto mid-century modern towers, we passed by Toronto’s OG apartments: Spadina Gardens at 45 Spadina Road. Before it was even discussed, I was immediately struck by what a gorgeous building it was. And then we were regaled that it was built around 1904 as one of Toronto’s first apartment tower. AND Sir Henry Pellatt, after losing Casa Loma, moved into the building in the 1920s! Not only this but there is a redevelopment plan to put a tower on top of it. AND there was a documentary about the building called “Charlotte’s Castle.” So I made a note to watch it this week.

Charlotte’s Castle tells the story of Spadina Gardens and its tenants who mobilized when the building was sold to a developer to have the building heritage designated. It was somewhat surprising to see the developer in the film, as the framing of the narrative was very apparent. In terms of story-telling, it is excellent. Like any good story it has great characters — the tenants, the staff in heritage preservation — and a familiar conflict that pits heritage against development. And throughout, it has a neatly woven story of the building — a structure that has hosted Pellatt and others in Toronto high society, artists, and even a shelter for Salman Rushdie!

See you in two weeks!

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Well, it was bound to happen. Ten editions in of ‘Toronto History Curiosities’ and I missed a week. Apologies for anyone who was anxiously waiting at their inbox last Saturday at 10AM EST.

Truthfully, it slipped my mind to put something together for last week and by the time I realized, it was too late. I was out of town in Montreal and Ottawa and writing wasn’t on the brain. (I think I’ll save the larger local history thoughts for another edition, but here’s a summary on my Instagram.) I do lament it because last weekend was Doors Open Toronto and I would’ve wanted to provide some picks of sites and my experiences in the past. I was still beat from the mini-getaway so I did not explore either.

But to give some good news: I will be appearing at the ‘Festival of Bizarre Toronto History’! Next Tuesday, I will be a panelist on a talk about ‘The Secrets of Toronto’s Hidden Tunnels’!

I am very excited and was glad to be invited by the festival’s creator, Adam Bunch! The other panelists are Eric Sehr, who shares a like-minded approach to presenting Toronto history, and my fellow Scarborough writer, Barbara Dickson, who wrote on the amazing Bomb Girls! The whole week looks exciting so if you would like to attend this tunnel talk and other events, check out bizarretoronto.com!

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The TOHistory Resource

See it: ArcGIS Historical Maps

In the first edition of ‘Toronto History Curiosities’, I recommended ‘Toronto Historic Maps’ — a resource that allowed you to flick through decades of stitched together fire insurance maps. Well, a few months ago, I found out it doesn’t exist anymore! Bummer, right?

While working on the ‘Finding Old Castle Frank’ Jane’s Walk, I was really missing having a full map. The area of Castle Frank on the Goad’s maps is split between two plates, which is super annoying to toggle between. Then, I remembered that I saw a stitched together 1923 map that wasn’t part of the Toronto Historic Maps site. So I looked for it again. And I found it.

And then I found even more. A repository of other ArcGis maps! There’s a bunch about Toronto but others from Pittsburgh and Cleveland! It’s been great having the Toronto maps and perusing other historical maps!

The Old Map

See it: Simpson’s Brochure, circa 1945

In previous edition, I highlighted a hotel brochure. Here’s another brochure from the Simpson’s department store. It’s an attractive map! I like the addition of Toronto’s ravines. Among the notables, it’s also got two lost racetracks: Dufferin and Thorncliffe!

The Old Article

Read it: The Globe, “Local News: Strange Use For Money”, May 28, 1883.

Money as a cork? This brief but odd tale comes to us from nearly 140 years ago. Lombard Street was an…interesting place. If it hasn’t been already written about, The Model Boarding House deserves an article or two. And the appearance of a whiskey bottle and reports of theft is not surprising given the locale. Lombard is a topic that I have been researching and will be adding this colourful story to the pile.

From My Archive

Read it: “Scenes From Tommy Thompson Park and The Leslie Street Spit”

What’s the strangest locale in Toronto? I’d say Tommy Thompson Park and The Leslie Spit.

Think about it: Long man-made “arms” jutting out into Lake Ontario consisting of trails of scattered rebar and old bricks. And it’s become an Accidental Wilderness. A place to spot rare species of animals and birds. There’s such a need to protect it that dogs aren’t allowed on The Spit. And it’s got some cool views of downtown.

The Review

Read it: “Weird Facts About Toronto” by A.H. Jackson

I started to call A.H. Jackson’s work a General Interest book, but I don’t think it is. It has some niche tidbits that only the closest studiers of Toronto history would know! Cholera epidemics, the Cyclorama, Sir Casimir Gzowski, the fire that gutted the Rossin Hotel shortly after opening. And that last story I didn’t even know about! A very neat read!

See you in two weeks!

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Hello! It’s been a week for me. I have been under the weather and it’s probably due in part to my weekend. Although, I can’t be too upset because I had a great Jane’s Walk!

As I told you about last time, on Saturday, I hosted my “Finding Old Castle Frank” walk! It was a lot of fun! There was a very gratifying turnout of about 50 people! It was a few years in the making and I’m glad I finally pulled it off! I was pleased that the ravine hills weren’t too muddy. Apologies to everyone who wanted to find the actual site of Castle Frank. Maybe in a future version.

Afterwards, I took the 25 Don Mills bus and attended a walk “Rediscovering Thorncliffe Racetrack” by Edward Brown and Barry Pieterson. Did you know there was 1-mile racetrack in Thorncliffe Park? We followed it’s former course around Overlea Boulevard to the Millwood Bridge through to the interior neighbourhood and even inside East York Towne Centre. There were stories told about the neighbourhood and it was really neat to be a part of. Thorncliffe Park was mixing pot of different peoples, much like today!

The TOHistory Resource

See it: The Census

Census forms are out, so I thought it’d be a good time to plug Library & Archives Canada’s Digitized Censuses. I’ve recently discovered this as a historical resource to aid in filling out the (hi)stories of research subjects and it’s been great! It can be finnicky as spellings can be inconsistent, even between censuses, but finding someone is such a victory!

During my ongoing project about mid-19th century Toronto crime, I found out that the Toronto Jail had its own ‘district’! According to the 1861 census, there were a lot of…prostitutes in jail. But even the governor of the jail, George L. Allen, is noted. He is also in the first edition of Toronto History Curiosities. There were a total of 120 people accounted for in the jail.

The Old Map

Look: Algate’s Toronto & suburbs, 1935

Until you get to the 1950s and the creation of Metropolitan Toronto, there aren’t too many maps that show Toronto and the surrounding independent communities. “Algate’s Toronto & suburbs” has quite a bit of it. Granted, it only extends north to Wilson Avenue/York Mills Road (curiously noted as Twentienth Avenue), but there is a good chunk of Etobicoke and an inset for the south part of Scarborough!

I like the detail in this map. The Thorncliffe Racetrack is noted, right beside the Leaside Viaduct, and the nearby Air Drome in Leaside!

The Old Article

Read it: “Transformation of Thorncliffe Race Track Site Into $75,000,000 Subdivision To Begin Soon,” Toronto Daily Star, February 25, 1958

The geographic transformation from a racetrack to a neighbourhood in a central-ish part of Toronto was massive. The plan was to create “an integrated community of 4,500 apartments, industry, shops, school, and churches.” And while the industry is mostly gone, I’d say the neighbourhood remains with that vision today. I also looked into Leslie Blackwell, the president of Thorncliffe Park Ltd: Unfortunately he did not live much longer after the announcement of this plan, so he never saw the final redevelopment.

From My Archive

Read it: Scenes From O’Sullivan’s Corners & Muirhead’s Corners

At risk of sounding odd, I was impressed with myself reading this piece again. I went in with an idea, a question “When does a place stop being a place?” and stuck with that theme. It’s what struck me most as I was researching about O’Sullivan’s Corners.

The area had a school and post office in the 1800s, but things really took off with a hotel that was a hotspot for Sunday drives and lunches during the early age of the automobile. Then there was a drive-in theatre and a redesign of the road network. A A highway was added and landmarks started to disappear — like the school, the hotel, and finally the theatre. While the name ‘Sullivan’ exists, the continuity from O’Sullivan’s Corners seems faint.

The Review

Read it: Toronto’s Lost Villages by Ron Brown

Toronto’s Lost Villages is such a thorough tour of Toronto’s ghost neighbourhoods. It can be so puzzling how prominent names just fell out of common use. I think of Todmorden, noted in the Algate map above. It is now absorbed into East York. And then there’s O’Sullivan’s Corners, noted above, and L’Amoreaux — both exist in name in a small sense but I doubt hardly as neighbourhood identities. Toronto’s Lost Villages is another well-told chapter in the grand idea that Toronto has always been changing and is good preservation of the formerly lost.

See you in two weeks and Happy Mother’s Day!

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Attend it: “Finding Old Castle Frank” Jane’s Walk

I have news!

Last time, I told you that I was working on a walking tour of the Castle Frank area. I can now announce that I will leading a Jane’s Walk entitled “Finding Old Castle Frank”!

Meet me on Saturday May 2 at 10 AM at Castle Frank Subway Station! We’ll tour around the Castle Frank ridge, including descending and climbing ravine walls, as we look at the history and geography of the area. We’ll end near the start.

This walk is based on a couple of articles I wrote a few years ago about the topic. I follows the same vein of another Jane’s Walk I led called “Finding Old Graydon Hall”.

In addition to my own walk, I am very excited about the entire festival in general! There are so many great walks by great people and groups, and I am planning out my weekend too! Are you attending any Jane’s Walks?

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The TOHistory Resource

See it: The Toronto World

The Toronto World was a newspaper that reported on events in the late 19th and early 20th century. Searching can be finnicky and I haven’t quite gotten the hang of it, but it’s a good alternative to The Globe and Star! I recently found some neat articles related to a history of Christie Pits Park for an ongoing project. It was great to add those layers to the growing narrative.

The Old Map

Look: Map of Metropolitan Toronto, 1959

The geography of early post-war Toronto is so fascinating and this map shows a bit of that. There are pockets of development and open space where farms remain. Old communities and streets, like Sullivan’s Corners and Lansing Road, show this is a real transition period. Finch Avenue in Scarborough is still the Fourth Concession and Highway 401 is a penciled-in Toronto By-Pass!

The Old Article

Read: “Englewood-Ridgewood”, The Toronto World, February 28, 1914

I enjoy old real estate ads. They are a window into the development of the city and its new suburbs. This ad by the prominent Robins Limited advertises some property in the east end near Victoria Park and Danforth Avenues. It could have been in last week’s issue because it touts the benefits of the Bloor Viaduct and how Bloor-Danforth will now be the main east-west link in the city! Now, does Englewood-Ridgewood still exist today?

From My Archive

Read it: “Storytelling, Jane’s Walk, and Scarborough’s Wishing Well Acres”

In 2016, I hosted my first Jane’s Walk. It was about Wishing Well Acres, an early subdivision in northwest Scarborough. Wishing Well has the millionth home built in Canada after World War II. It had the Wishing Well Plaza, formerly at the southeast corner of Pharmacy and Sheppard Avenues — it was the heyday of when strip malls were vital to their communities.

Wishing Well Acres was also the home of Ron Watson, an incredible long-time Scarborough resident. Ron helped me out on this walk and another Jane’s Walk I did in 2018 at Tam O’Shanter. He and his wife Verna were some of the original residents of Wishing Well. It was so new that buses did not reach the neighbourhood yet; he had to be picked up in Golden Mile! Ron passed away in 2022 and I am forever thankful to him.

The Review

Read it: Toronto: Biography of A City by Allan Levine

Toronto: Biography of A City opens with this quote:

I am frequently asked whether I find Toronto sufficiently exciting. I find it almost too exciting. The suspense is scary. Here is the most hopeful and healthy city in North America, still unmangled, still with options.

- Jane Jacobs, 1969

I remember attending a talk by Allan on his new book more than a decade ago at Taylor Memorial Library in Birchcliff. Since then, I’ve seen Biography of A City come up in quite a few lists of Toronto history reads.

Writing a complete history of Toronto is tough. What do you include? What do you leave out? What perspective do you take? Allan notes in the introduction that this book isn’t meant to be encyclopedic, but selective accounts for the general reader. And it’s true: it’s got the big, broad strokes events: Simcoe and Castle Frank, the rebellion, the subway and suburbia…all very done accounts too. But it this book is unique in that it does have a chapter entitled “Jane’s Disciplines” — reformers like John Sewell and David Crombie who were inspired by Jane Jacobs’ movement.

Toronto: Biography of A City should be part of every Toronto history library and tells us that Toronto is indeed very exciting.

See you in two weeks! Happy Jane’s Walking!

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Lately, I’ve been spending a lot time on either side of and on the Prince Edward Viaduct.

On Wednesday, I volunteered my time and efforts for the Hellenic Heritage Foundation in delivering a historical walking tour of the history of The Danforth and Greektown for a TDSB school group. It was very appropriate as this week is Holy Week and tomorrow is Greek Orthodox Easter. Christos Anesti to all those celebrating!

The tour ended at St. Irene’s Church on Gough Avenue, which has an interesting story. Early Greek Orthodox churches in Toronto were not purpose built. They were usually converted places of worships from other groups. St. Irene’s was converted, but it wasn’t a church to begin — when it was established in 1974, it was a formerly car garage.

And on Monday, I did a walk-through of a walk I’d like to put on in the Castle Frank area. I’ll post the details here and to my socials — @BobGeorgiouTO — if it’s a go. It’s based on a couple of articles I wrote a few years about the early history and evolution of Castle Frank ridge, including some lost geography that intrigued me and could not find extensive information about so I decided to look into it myself!

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The TOHistory Resource

See it: Historic Bridges

I have consulted Historic Bridges a few times when writing about the Leaside Bridge and Woodbine Bridge. It’s a great database for bridge and architecture enthusiasts!

I was sad to see the Old Eastern Avenue and Consumers Gas Line Bridges listed, as even though they are noted to be threatened for demolition on the website, they have since been actually destroyed.

The Old Map

Look: “Map of Toronto and Suburbs east of the Don, including East Toronto Village, compiled from latest registered plans and surveys, 1890s”

This is an attractive and informative map. Although it is pre-Bloor Viaduct, you can see the east end start to fill up with streets. That section of York Township between the city and East Toronto would later be called Midway. Both those areas would be annexed in 1908 and 1909. The Bloor Viaduct opened a decade later and it would be transformative.

The Old Article

Read: “City’s Proposed Plan For Crossing The Rosedale Ravine — And Another”, The Globe, December 29, 1910

It took a long time to get the Bloor Viaduct off the ground. There were thoughts about how it could be done and three official referenda between 1910 and 1913. The final year finally gave the project a go-ahead.

Before that, one of those schemes for the Rosedale section put to Torontonians was a “L” bridge consisting of an east-west span from Bloor’s terminus at Sherbourne and a spanning bridge north from Parliament Street’s terminus at Howard. The Guild of Civic Art - who I mentioned in Toronto History Curiosities #3 - proposed a diagonal bridge from Parliament to Castle Frank Crescent. This would, of course, end up being pretty close to the eventual bridge.

From My Archive

Watch it: “Toronto’s Lost 200-Year Old Road”

In a non-text based offering, here is a reel I produced last summer about the lost geography I mentioned around Castle Frank! Consider it another preview of the walk I mentioned earlier.

(As a shameless self-plug, I am hanging around at just under 1,000 followers on TikTok so if you do like my videos, please subscribe. I hope to put out some more offerings this spring and summer!)

@bobgeorgioutoThe story of a 200-year-old lost road near Toronto's Castle Frank. #Toronto #TorontoHistory #TOhistory #CastleFrank #Geography #History #Canada #TorontoLife

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The Review

Read: In The Skin Of A Lion by Michael Ondaatje

“The bridge goes up in a dream. It will link the east with the centre of the city. It will carry traffic, water, and electricity across the Don Valley. It will carry trains that have not even been invented yet.”

It’s been many years since I last read In the Skin Of A Lion. Judging by the state of my copy, which is slightly worn and the pages are water-stained, I have had it for a while. It was neat flipping through it again.

Ondaatje has created a book that is so quintessentially Toronto. The Bloor Viaduct, The R.C. Harris Plant, Parliament Street, Dundas Street…the references are plentiful. It’s a story of the ambition, danger, and immigrant experience. I stated this in Toronto History Curiosities #1 with my review of The Gaol Carpenter’s Diary by Chris Higgins: As a historian, it’s neat to read fictionalized version of the places and people I’ve researched so much about…like R.C. Harris! And together, it’s all very cool!

See you in two weeks!

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Read: “Toronto’s ‘Skating Mania’: Ice Rinks in the 1860s”

Several months ago, I came across a Bluesky post from the Muddy York Podcast (follow them, if you don’t already!). The illustration was of the Victoria Skating Rink, formerly located across Allen Gardens. It opened in December 1862. Fascinated, I Googled for more. There was a rink in Montreal with the same name running at the same time, but beyond that, there was nothing I could find. And so, I filed away the idea over the winter to explore later.

Then, over the last few weeks, I worked at it. It was one of the ideas that had me inspired that I mentioned to you about last time. The Victoria Rink was the starting point, and the tale grew from there. At least six or seven new rinks sprang up in the decade. There were carnivals, complaints about ill-behaviour on the ice, and new technologies. And together, it’s a pretty cool tale about 1860s Toronto!

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The TOHistory Resource

Read: Globe & Mail Historical Newspaper Archive

Even though Globe articles have been a fixture of “The Old Article” section, I’ve realized I never actually shared the source itself. The Globe archive is accessible with a valid Toronto Public Library account! The above article about Toronto’s early skating rinks relied much on The Globe for one big reason: for the time period, there aren’t very many readily accessible newspapers. It is a big help to fuel my research interests in 19th century Toronto!

The Old Map

Look: 1888 Plan of the City of Toronto and Suburbs Compiled & Drawn by S.R.G. Penson

This functional map comes courtesy of the Toronto Archives. It is very detailed in its offerings, including major buildings and streetcar lines! And it’s got the Baseball Grounds in the east end!

The Old Article

Read: “Velocipedomania,” (and others), The Globe, April 17, 1869

At the end of the piece about Toronto’s skating mania, I introduced a new obsession for the city: the velocipede! The Globe in one edition actually maked several references to the bicycle…and, for whatever reason, for the most part they were…not at all good. Amongst the complaints: sidewalk riders. Sound familiar?

From My Archive

Read: ‘Sports of All Sorts’: A Quick History of Sporting East of The Don River

Toronto’s ice skating scene in the 1860s wasn’t the only article I’ve written about the city’s lost sporting spaces. Toronto’s east end held some of Toronto’s early baseball (Go Jays!), cricket, and shooting grounds!

The Review

Read: Undressed Toronto: From the Swimming Hole to Sunnyside, How a City Learned to Love the Beach, 1850–1935 by Dale Barbour

What stuck out most about Dale Barbour’s book is sports and leisure don’t exist in vacuums. There are layers about who gets to partake, where, how, and what that says about them. This idea of ‘vernacular’ spaces and bathers as ‘low-culture’, ‘low-class’, and masculine-defined is an intriguing one. Public baths did not arrive until 1882!

The parallels between bathing/swimming and skating also intrigued. For one, both activities were set in the same natural spaces: on the waterfront near wharfs and the rivers before moving to dedicated venues. But there were also deeper contexts in both: ones that invoke gender, class, and morality. I imagine with a deeper dive into the skating topic, deeper findings and connections can be made.

See you in two weeks!

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This week, I have been inspired. I have been working on an idea about a sporting pastime in 19th century Toronto. It touches on city social life and uncovers from lost geography and landmarks.

For the first time ever, I actually have a queue of ideas for projects. Articles, videos, walking tours, even a book. In years past, I have gone many months between outputs because I had nothing. This time, I have several ideas: big and small. I’ve made a point to actually write them down in my Notion.

But I’m in a spot where even with a plethora of ideas, I am unsure I’ll make them happen. For one, my time and energy are just so finite. And then there’s determining how worthwhile everything is. The rabbit hole can be endlessly fascinating. I write and create what I would like to see. But in the end, I don’t know how much value I am adding to the world of Toronto history. Are these stories even worth telling? Am I approaching them with the right lens? In most case, I think the answer is yes. But motivation and inspiration can be funny things.

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The TOHistory Resource

Read: Digitized Toronto City Directories

The Toronto City Directories are a go-to on nearly every project I work on. They serve two purposes: researching individuals and researching locations (properties, landmarks, streets etc.). The digitized directories used to go up until 1969, but now they are entering the 21st century!

One tip: I used to bypass the Alphabet Directory, but not anymore. It is amazingly useful. Well, except if you’re a John Taylor in 1869:

The Old Map

Look: 1860 Tremaine’s Map of the County of York, Canada West

This map is a recurring favourite for me because it’s a great starting place to track land ownership and the early geography of Toronto. I use it often — including in this week’s research! It tells us both of geography that exists, has evolved, and just doesn’t exist anymore.

The section in the lower Don Valley is remarkable to look at. There’s the village of Todmorden, an early version of Pottery Road, and an early version of Don Mills Road. I’m impressed that the Forks of the Don are labelled along with the east and west branches of the river. The only downside is some of the lots in what is now Riverdale are so small that they are labelled by only initials, and as far as I know, no legend exists. (If it does, please let me know!)

The Old Article

Read: “St Patrick’s Day,” The Globe, March 17, 1863

With St. Patrick’s Day this week, here is a report in The Globe in 1863 about the plan for the parade. A description of the actual day in the March 18th Globe read that upwards of 1,000 people attended the procession down King Street. The parade was banned shortly after with Protestant and Catholic tensions reaching their peak.

From My Archive

Read: A Quick History of Controversial Toronto Street Name Changes

I can’t remember if I made a conscious choice to publish this 2022 article on March 17th, but if so, I applaud myself. The name St. Patrick is represented in several places in Toronto: a subway station, a church, a school. And then of course: the street.

The St. Patrick Street we know today, however, is the second road to bear the name. The first street was absorbed into in the creation of Dundas Street in the 1910s. And people were not happy about it. Actually, as the article goes, people weren’t happy about a lot of street changes. (Incidentally, one of my ongoing ideas is about residents begging for a street name change!)

The Review

Watch: CFNY: The Spirit of Radio | TVO Docs

I didn’t listen to 102.1 while it was The Spirit of Radio. But I knew the connection to the Rush song and I’ve heard stories of its great fanfare and vibe. So, “CFNY: The Spirit of Radio” was a treat. I mean, with Alan Cross as an executive producer, it has to be amazing, right?

For an institution that is so important to Toronto’s music scene, it’s remarkable that CFNY actually started in Brampton. And that early history is interesting yet turbulent. Who knew that theatre-owning Allen family had a big connection to the radio station?

Then, there’s the influence of David Marsden in crafting a station for new wave and alternative. That amazing thing radio DJs do when they talk through a song intro right up until the lyrics start…I learned from this doc that it’s ‘hitting the goal posts’!

The interviewees and their stories and memories were amazing and numerous: Geddy Lee, Ben from Billy Talent, Nicholas Picholas (seriously, is that his real name?), and of course, the staff of CFNY. I knew Martin Streek from the latter period of his career. His tragic passing seems too briefly mentioned, but granted, that part does go into The Edge period. I wish he was around to tell his stories in the doc.

All in all, CFNY: The Spirit of Radio is a great telling of a Toronto institution!

See you in two weeks!

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A couple weekends ago, for a joint birthday and Valentine’s Day celebration, I stayed at the iconic Fairmont Royal York Hotel! As a building rich in history and longevity, it was a treat! The Royal York is almost a century-old and has lived many lives. The lobby was buzzing at every time of day it seemed! The second floor had pictures and displays of its history. There are so many immaculate rooms and spaces — the lobby, the ballroom, the library bar, the pool. Someone give me a full tour, please?

Watch It: Toronto’s Royal York Hotel

And I made a quick reel about it! (And yes, I know about my pronunciation…)

The TOHistory Resource

See it: Retrontario

I believe Retrontario is one of the most important history projects of recent memory. And I didn’t realize its own history goes back to 2008!

It was started by local cultural historian Ed Conroy as a way to preserve and display local Toronto and Ontario media from past decades. It’s kind of remarkable what it accomplishes: As the “About” section of its website notes, TV is such an ephemeral medium, especially when you get to commercials and news stories. They’re here, then they aren’t, and we forget about them. In bringing back seemingly lost clips, Retrontario has allowed us to tap back in our own archived memories. For example, who remembers Woodie Woodchucks in Scarborough? I know I do! Check out this commercial from 1998:

The Old Map

Look: “What to see in Toronto”, The St. Regis Hotel, 1940

The St. Regis Hotel stood at Sherbourne and Carlton Streets and it produced this little brochure featuring the notable sites in Toronto. Among the highlights: Mary Pickford’s childhood home on University Avenue!

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The Old Article

Read: “Plan 18-Storey Hotel For King and Leader”, Toronto Daily Star, August 31, 1928

The ‘Hotel Toronto’ was proposed to stand at the southeast corner of King and Leader Lane. And yes, you would be correct in recalling that the King Edward Hotel stands on the southwest corner now. The Hotel Toronto was never built and the reasons are unclear as to why. Perhaps the timeline running up against the Great Depression had something to do with it. Makes you wonder how fortuitous the timing of Royal York’s construction was. Also, if you weren’t aware of the scale of the Royal York, this fact will put it in perspective: the Hotel Toronto’s proposed cost was 1.8 million dollars; The Royal York’s actual cost was 16 million dollars.

From My Archives

Read it: The Guild Inn Park and Gardens & How The Sheraton Centre Was Built

Scouring my library, I came up with two stories about hotels in Toronto. The first was about the Scarborough’s iconic Guild Inn, which in addition to having rooms, was also a haven for artists and has an amazing sculpture park. The second article is the Sheraton Centre opposite City Hall. Its construction was remarkable in that it involved the removal of a ‘commercial slum’. The end product was as controversial as the path to get there.

The Review

See it: Mr. Dressup to Degrassi

Get ready for a hit of nostalgia! The Museum of Toronto brings you “Mr. Dressup to Degrassi” — a exhibition co-curated by Ed Conroy of Retrontario! It’s on at the Harbourfront Centre until March 29th!

This one takes you through the history of children’s TV from the ‘50s to the 90s! And there’s a good amount of layers to this one. Of course, first there’s the visuals: the Tickle Trunk, the old clips of Degrassi (basically every incarnation), the Polka Dot Door, Casey and Finnegan, Today’s Special artefacts, and more. That alone is enough to inspire awe. But then it’s looking at everything in context. The changes in society, technology, and programming types. Degrassi was just ahead of its time with its subject matter.

What were the highlights for me? The shows I grew up with: Mr. Dressup, Today’s Special, and YTV’s The Zone. The spotlights and interviews of Nerene Virgin and PJ Fresh Phil got such a pop from me. And then there were aspects I knew very little about — like Razzle Dazzle and The Friendly Giant! All in all, a very well done exhibition! Free to enter but donations encouraged!

See you in two weeks!

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Happy Valentine's Day!

A few weekends ago I was at York University helping on a project. I did my B.A. there from 2006 to 2011. This was my first real time back where I got to wander the campus. Fifteen years later. It was every bit strange and familiar going back to where it pretty much began for me. My degree is in History and Political Science and this Substack wouldn't be possible without it. In my final year, I did a Canadian History class with a notable Toronto history component. That's what started this love in local history!

I visited my old college, walked around Vari Hall and the Ross Building, and passed through York Lanes. I even got to take the subway for the first time since the extension was built to Vaughan!

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The TOHistory Resource

Look: University of Toronto Libraries / York University Digital Library

In the last edition of ‘Toronto History Curiosities’, I shared some government archives. This time, I am going with some university archives from the U of T and York U. These are incredible databases that I even forget about from time to time. There’s maps and architectural plans, pictures, books, and even sheet music!

Below you’ll see an image of the 1954 Grey Cup between Montreal and Edmonton. Varsity Stadium looks packed! And it is so foreign to see Bloor Street with houses!

The Old Map

Look: Campus Map of area bounded by College, St. George, Bloor and Surrey Place, c. 1859

Not only is this map visually appealing, it is a cool window into the University of Toronto’s early period. I’ve written about quite a few elements on this map. University College was only a few years in existence when this was made. Amongst the other buildings, The ‘Asylum’ was the only building built of King’s College, the short-lived predecessor of the UofT. The College Avenue which was tree-lined like in the map was constructed as a grand lead up to King’s College. The Observatory still stands albeit not in its original purpose and location. And finally, there’s University Creek — commonly known as Taddle Creek — which disappeared in the 1880s. And don’t forget to check out those annotations!

The Old Article

Read: “York’s white edifice: the struggle for a unifying symbol” by Paul Russell, The Globe, November 8, 1969

The Ross Building at York University was built to be the Keele campus’ central masterpiece. But it was controversial. Towering, white, and lots of concrete. For a Humanities building, it was ironically kind of soulless. It was meant to be functional and orderly. But the student body certainly didn’t like it. It likened it to something out of George Orwell, nicknaming it the “Ministry of Love (or Truth)”, “Fascism 69”, “the white elephant”, and “Murray (Ross)’s tomb.” Ouch.

From My Archives

Read: A Love Letter to Toronto

This one goes way back into the collection. It was at a time as a writer when I was finding my voice and deciding what to write about and how to write it. So I did unconventional pieces like this that weren’t strict historical exposés. I haven't read this back in years, but it still holds up for me. Toronto is not perfect, but I love this city.

The Review

Read: The Toronto Book of Love by Adam Bunch

I first heard of Adam when he was doing his Toronto Dreams Project, a creative output featuring Toronto historical figures and their imagined reveries. We interacted online as we both went about our endeavors in telling the city’s stories. Since then, we've become friendly in the ‘real world’ as well and very much supportive of each other's work.

The Toronto Book of Love is a fun and crafty way of telling Toronto’s history. It's a collection of tales through time with the universal theme of love at their core. There's York's First Couple The Simcoes (and their Secretary), the amazing Blackburns and great life they had, and Neil Young's parents in a blizzard, and much more!

As Adam notes in the introduction, the people that lived in this city before us were just that: people with relationships who experienced love and longed for connection like us. And yeah, maybe there won't be another gun duel sparked by reputation-ruining insults in Toronto high society, but surely some of the sentiments are relatable even today!

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See you in two weeks! -BG

Earlier this month, I shared a post on my socials about a Facebook page that was passing off AI-created images of “old Toronto” as the real thing. I won’t link or name it, but it is a copy of a famed and reputable Toronto history page. As someone who has seen thousands of photos of Toronto through time, it was very obvious how bad these were and although many have recognized them as ‘slop’, there are people that accept them as authentic images. Even as “imagined” pics of Toronto of what was or could have been, they still wouldn’t work.

I tried to have fun with it in picking out the inaccuracies, but in the end it is just plain disappointing for two reasons:

Number 1: There are so many great photos of the real Queen Street in the 1930s or the CN Tower in the 1970s in archival databases that there’s no real point to creating AI images. (See below for those resources!)

Number 2: There are great pages (Vintage Toronto, Hopkin Design, Toronto Past Archive, Old Toronto Series) that source and post these archival images. They do marvelous jobs of making Toronto’s history accessible to the everyday person as well as the aficionados. It gives what they do a bad name.

A little while ago, a friend in the TOhistory space (how’s it going, BeardedProf416?) asked me how would AI impact me as a Toronto history writer. It’s the first time I had considered it. Could AI do what I do? I like to hope not as I try to produce original content with original research that requires me to scour primary sources that I think AI would not have access to.

To be fair, AI can be an asset. As stated, it’s a creative tool. I have also started to use it to consolidate and analyze large amounts of research that would be otherwise arduous for me as a person. For example in my ongoing project to write about the Brooke’s Bush Gang, I have long lists of members and AI has been useful in summarizing the amounts of times members have been in jail, what time period they were in the gang etc. I guess the robot takeover is only half bad.

On January 30, 2026, Catherine O’Hara passed away. I try to write these well in advance, so this inclusion is quite last minute and not directly related to the themes of this edition. But Catherine has to be here because she is Toronto-born and so engrained in Toronto’s entertainment history.

She was part of the legendary SCTV cast. She was the mom from Home Alone. She was in Beetlejuice. She was the voice of Sally. Like a lot of people, I became so endeared by her as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek. The role is so representative of her abilities as a great comedic character actor. I’ve watched the series through twice and was thinking about a rewatch. It’s going to be different when I do attempt it now.

Thank you for the laughs, Catherine O’Hara. I’ll fold in the cheese now.

The TOHistory Resource

Look: Toronto Archives / TPL Digital Archive / Ontario Archives / Library & Archives Canada

The image archives of the above organizations are just fabulous. My tip is to make use of Advanced Search and narrowing things down via the various parameters. But of course, it is fun to type in broad keywords and see what comes up! It’s a good way into the rabbit hole!

As an exercise, I found the ‘real’ version of the AI-generated image above of Queen Street. It was taken in 1939 by the great William James during a royal visit by King George. There are no wonky streetcars going in the same direction but Eaton’s is on the right side of street. You can just make out the tower of Old City Hall which is too prominent in the AI image.

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The Old Map

Look: Plan showing proposed federal and municipal squares and Federal Avenue

In 1911, Toronto’s Civic Improvement Committee had some….interesting ideas. Taking from another now defunct group, the Guild of Civic Art, it ambitiously re-imagined Toronto’s grid with new boulevards and squares. One these grand streets was Federal Avenue, which would have connected a future Union Station at Front Street to a civic centre on Queen Street. If one thing is clear, the erasure of ‘The Ward’ was a perennial theme in re-imagining Toronto — right up until the construction of City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square.

The Old Newspaper Article

Did you know there was a proposal build a 60,000 person baseball and football stadium in Rosedale? I didn’t! The January 11, 1960 edition of The Toronto Star laid out a plan by the Yonge-Bloor-Bay business association to bring a stadium to Rosedale Ravine near the present Rosedale Station. The article notes how residents did not like the idea. Apparently Toronto had a few unrealized plans for sports parks in Ramsden Park, Riverdale Park, and Hoggs Hollow!

From My Archive

Read: Roads Never Built

This 2019 article was my first ever offering in Spacing Magazine. If writing it taught me anything, it’s that new ideas are sometimes not as new as you would think. They get recycled by subsequent generations. It answers the question of why does Leslie Street in North York end at Eglinton Avenue. Also, why why why would you want to build Cosburn Avenue into the valley?

The Review

Read: Unbuilt Toronto: A History of The City The Might Have Been & Unbuilt Toronto 2: More of the City the Might Have Been by Mark Osbaldeston

In the introduction to Unbuilt Toronto I, Mark equates Toronto to a “ghost town” — that is, “ghosts of things that never were” and “buildings that that were themselves dreams.” It is beautiful way to think about the city.

Unbuilt Toronto I & II are some of the first books to enter my Toronto History library and I still consult them today when I come across unrealized Toronto projects. I recall meeting Mark at a Word on The Street and we exchanged a few nice emails as we both marveled about the Toronto that might have been. The “Roads Never Built” article above was inspired by Unbuilt Toronto.

The research Mark has included in these two books is remarkable and it is incredible how notable landmarks in Toronto could have been built differently — or sometimes not at all. College Park was supposed to have a 32-storey tower that was ultimately stopped by the Great Depression. The Toronto Maple Leafs actually wanted to build an arena behind Union Station above the rail tracks. (They would settle for joining the Raptors at the Air Canada Centre). So, next time you pass by some of these projects in Unbuilt Toronto, remember that there are ghosts all around you!

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See you in two weeks!

Read: When Toronto’s Coffee Went ‘Continental’

Last summer, I wrote an article for Spacing Magazine. It told the (hi)story Toronto’s introduction to coffee and sidewalk cafe culture in the 1950s. Espresso machines, patios…it really changed things! And now, I have reproduced that article for my website! (And later on this newsletter, I share about the super-earliest versions of coffee houses in Toronto!)

Additionally, I have been looking into old bygone Toronto restaurants from the 1960s for a would-be article or two. There are some neat ones: Scott’s The Family Place/Harland’s Restaurant at 5322 Dundas West which was owned by THE Colonel Sanders when he lived in Canada, the beloved Jewish eatery The Noshery at 488 Eglinton West, and La Pentola at 1671 Eglinton East. The latter had an old streetcar as a dining room and a uniquely circular restaurant. It’s now the site of dealership which I drive by almost weekly so its former existence just caught me off guard!

The TOHistory Resource

Look: The Greek Businesses in Toronto Mapping Project

The Greek Businesses in Toronto Mapping Project is an initiative of the Hellenic Heritage Foundation Greek Canadian Archives at York University and tracks Greek businesses from the 1910s to the 1960s. As a volunteer for the HHF and a Greek-Torontonian interested in local history, this project hits home for me in many ways. Not to mention, the archives are housed at my alma mater!

Some might not be aware that the Greek diaspora in Toronto actually precedes the emergence of Greek community on The Danforth by about 50 years. Greek-Torontonians were noted restauranters in the early 20th century, and as the map points out, many eateries were wrecked in the 1918 Anti-Greek Riots.

While there is much to learn from this map, I was particularly amazed that two staples of the Yonge Street Strip were Greek-owned: Steele’s Tavern (Steele Basil) and Le Coq D’Or (George Bulucon)!

The Old Map

Look: Business Section of City of Toronto, 1945

Although it isn’t as visually attractive as other maps, perusing this cartographic directory is a neat endeavour. There are some neat details to be gleaned, like the old post office on Adelaide Street at Toronto Street was labelled as owned by “Her Majesty The Queen”. Toronto’s business district was significantly remade in the decades following this map’s publishing, with the post office as one of many buildings that was pummeled by the wrecking ball.

Related to the Greek Businesses map above, I found the Letros Restaurant at 15 King West and the Letros Tavern at 50 King West! There were multiple Letros establishments which deserve their individual stories told, but the Letros Tavern was notable as an early gay nightclub.

The Old Newspaper Article

Muirhead’s Cafeteria shows us how novel and new self-serve restaurants were in their initial forms. A 1924 Globe article tells us in the early days people “were indignant at the idea of being asked to carry their own trays” and they would arrive and leave as soon as they saw the system. Bonus factoid: Muirhead’s had a location in the Ryrie Building at 225 Yonge Street — later occupied by the Greek-owned legendary club, the Silver Rail.

From My Archive

Read: “The Suppression of Intemperance”: 19th Century Coffee Houses in Toronto

Early Toronto coffee houses were not whole lot about the coffee. First, they were eateries with a respectable name. Then, they were opened by the temperance movement as alternatives to alcohol-serving establishments. Their impact was mixed in the end: they disappeared by the early 20th century.

The Review

Read: The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern: A Complete History by David McPherson

I met David as we were both nominated for a Heritage Toronto Award in 2018: him for his Horseshoe Tavern book and me for a blog post about the history of a stretch of Eglinton Avenue West. I was seated at a table with a few other Dundurn Press nominated projects, which was very neat for me as they are my favourite publisher of Toronto history books.

The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern: A Complete History describes the many lives of the Horseshoe. It opened in 1947 and has hosted acts in country & western, punk, new wave, alternative, and more. David included interviews from people who played and knew the ‘Shoe. Stomping Tom’s and Blue Rodeo’s associations with the venue are legendary and hearing detailed stories of their runs at the ‘Shoe is remarkable.

History books allow us to not only learn but also to connect on a personal level with those topics. The club is almost 80 years old, and it’s still a living entity with a lot of recent history. My best story about the Horseshoe Tavern is one Tuesday in June 2010, Billy Talent did secret free show for the amazing David Bookman’s Nu Music Nites (which has a section in the book). Dan, myself, and our friend Joey quickly assembled and went down early to get tickets. Later that night, we saw Billy Talent play for several hundred people in one of the most intimate shows I’ve ever been to! I think The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern: A Complete History has invoked such memories for a lot of readers.

See you in two weeks!

Happy New Year! My holidays have been expectedly consumed with eggnog and getting this Substack off the ground!

I’ve also been reflecting a bit on the year that was 2025. It was a good one! I delivered a few walking tours, wrote a handful of quality articles, got back into making TikTok and Instagram reels, was a podcast guest for the first time ever (thanks again Adam and Grayson of the Muddy York Podcast!), made great friends and acquaintances in the Toronto history universe, was an active member of two great heritage groups in Toronto, and I was nominated for a Heritage Toronto Award!

I’ve also started to look forward to 2026 in thinking about the kinds of projects I want to take on. I’ve got ideas.

The TOHistory Resource

Toronto Historic Maps & Goad’s Atlas of Toronto—Online!

I peruse Toronto Historic Maps almost daily. It’s a good start to determine the date of structures and neighbourhoods. And it is so neat to see the physical development of the city. Charles Goad is just an unsung Torontonian. A civil engineer, a cartographer. A man of great talent. (Fun fact: Mr. Goad lived at 80 St. George Street, and through his fire insurance maps, one can see that the house no longer exists.)

Next, the amazing Nathan Ng compiled basically every Goads Fire Insurance Map of Toronto out there. It’s got maps the Toronto Historic Maps tool doesn’t, like this super-neat, super-detailed 1889 map. It notes things like where stairs are located, layouts of buildings, shapes of roofs and cupolas, and even buildings under construction.

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The Old Map

https://oldtorontomaps.blogspot.com/2013/01/1857-fleming-ridout-schreiber-plan-of_7.html

This is a good-looking and incredibly detailed map. Its creators are also pretty cool. Architect, surveyor, railway engineer, and inventor are amongst their collective professions. Sandford Fleming is just a legend on his own.

This section around St. Lawrence Market is a good example of its greatness. Toronto’s first City Hall was a multi-purpose structure with a Police Station and Police Courts — and the 1857 Plan tells us where in the building each was located! There’s also the sites of markets, it animates the trees a little bit, and there’s even cab stands!

…Annnnddd it’s the cover design for a notebook I got for Christmas! You can purchase it at the Spacing Store! (This is not an ad but it may be my favourite shop in the city.)

The Old Newspaper Article

The Globe’s “City Police” section is my favourite column in Toronto’s historical newspapers. It includes colourful Police Court records of ‘everyday’ crimes like assault and drunken/disorderly conduct. During the winter months, it included a special transgression: snow removal (or lack of). Topical, isn’t it?

In the February 20, 1858 edition, there were a couple of cases of alleged offenders:

The first was a case on an empty lot on Carl(e)ton Street which had been uncleared for a while apparently. The owner, Mr. Brown, argued he wasn’t responsible. I believe Chancery might have referred to the Court of Chancery, which, if I understand correctly, handled property disputes. Mr. Gurnett, the Police Magistrate, did not agree and fined him.

Surprisingly, the other two offenders were high profile names in Toronto: John Beverley Robinson and George Duggan. Robinson was a lawyer, judge, and politician. Just a prominent 19th century Torontonian. Duggan is a lesser known man in the annals of Toronto history. He presided over the Recorder’s Court in the 1850s, which were a step up from Police Court and a step down from the more serious Assize Courts. Both men argued the neither property were theirs and were ultimately excused.

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From My Archive

Toronto’s Lost Streets: Tate & Water Streets

Tate and Water Street don’t exist anymore. There were once working-class streets in Toronto’s east end. Go back to the Toronto Historic Maps tool and shift through the Goads maps of the area around Corktown Common. You’ll see a great transformation. Most notably, Tate and Water and their surroundings were swallowed up by railways. Now, their former locales are located in the new-ish West Don Lands neighbourhood.

The Review

The Gaol Carpenter’s Diary by Chris Higgins

Chris Higgins and I became acquainted several years ago through our mutual interest in 19th century Toronto crime and punishment, and the Brooke’s Bush Gang in particular. Chris told me then he was working on a book that brought together stories of old Toronto’s violent underbelly. Fast forward to now and we’ve got The Gaol Carpenter’s Diary!

Full disclosure that Chris did send me a book and acknowledged me in it (thank you again Chris!), but I must also say that I do not intend these reviews to be too critical, so Chris’ graciousness did not affect the words I will write here.

The Gaol Carpenter’s Diary chronicles the life of Michael Callaghan, a fictional worker of Toronto’s jail — the old prison at Front and Berkeley (which can be seen in the 1857 Plan of Toronto above) and its successor, the infamous Don Jail (pictured at the top of this post) — and his intersection with some of Toronto’s most notorious crimes. It might be the first fictionalization of Mr. George Allen, the jail governor, which tickles me as a historian.

As someone who has spent many hours combing through news accounts in The Globe from the 1800s, it was very neat to see these events thrown into a work of imagination. Chris has resourcefully included real information from the newspaper — like when Mr. Allen mentions that the old gaol was built for 80 souls but had 150 ‘residents’ in 1849, this is a real fact in a report of the jail in the Globe in that year!

The Gaol Carpenter’s Diary is a work of historical fiction but it has great basis in reality. And it belongs on any bookshelf of Toronto history and related works!

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See you in two weeks!

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Who Are You and What Do You Do?

I am a Toronto historian who has been at this for over thirteen years. You might know me best from my Scenes From Toronto site (originally Scenes From A City for all the OG readers).

I always struggle with two things with my work: promoting it and myself and summing up exactly what I am all about. Well, this Substack will help with the first. And to the second point, my work in one way or another focuses around the historical and geographic layers of Toronto and how those urban spaces evolve over time.

My favourite Toronto historical periods are the mid-19th century and after both world wars.

Thematically, I enjoy industrial heritage, suburbanization, parklands, and social history history.

Geographically, I like Scarborough (and Agincourt in particular), North York (and Don Mills specifically), Riverdale, Yorkville, downtown Toronto, and the Don River as a whole.

Some of my biggest works topically have included the Brooke’s Bush Gang and mid-1800s Toronto, the Tam O’Shanter Golf Course, and Toronto’s Early McDonald’s.

I believe in the beauty and tradition of the written form as a medium to educate and entertain. When I started my foray into Toronto history, it was with walk & history blogs of Toronto neighbourhoods. Topics became more complex, I found my voice as a writer, and I went down the rabbit hole with longer, research-based pieces.

This shifted to walking tours (another form of learning I really believe in), talks, and most recently, Instagram & TikTok reels. This Substack will add to repertoire as another interesting medium.

What You’ll Get

This newsletter will serve to fill the space between my major outputs. I’ll update with my projects (past, present, and future), favourite Toronto history resources, maps, book and media reviews, and more.

I’ll release bi-weekly on every other Saturday. As I haven’t figured out this monetization aspect and will be feeling everything out, it’ll be free to start.

There are other Toronto historians and writers that already have great newsletters. I encourage you, reader, to follow them:

• Adam Bunch’s amazing round up of everything in the Toronto history sphere as well as his own great storytelling;

• Jamie Bradburn’s interesting and long-time exploits as a fellow writer;

• Chris Higgins’ adventure into Toronto true crime; and

• Eric Veillette’s dive into Toronto’s historic neighbourhood theatres.

Their efforts have been partly the inspiration for this endeavour and while our worlds are beautiful connected, I hope not to (completely) duplicate their efforts and wish instead to add to the tapestry in this interesting, layered space.

I hope to find you down the rabbit hole with me!

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