Sunday, May 1, 2011
College and Crawford/Then and Now
The N/W corner when it was a Veteran's Hall.
Today it's the Mod Club.Crawford Street Bridge/Then and Now
Crawford Street just south of Dundas Street. What appears to be a road is actually the roadbed of a buried bridge. A 2008 Heritage Toronto plaque reveals the history.
Crawford Street passes through Trinity Bellwoods Park over a graceful triple-span concrete bridge which still exists, but is now buried beneath the street. The bridge once crossed a ravine carved by Garrison Creek as it flowed from north of St. Clair Avenue into Lake Ontario near Fort York. Crawford Street was first extended over the ravine on a wooden bridge in 1884.
The original bridge looking south from Dundas in 1912.
In 1914 and 1915, R.C. Harris, Commissioner of Works, had the old bridge replaced with one made of concrete. (A visionary, Harris was responsible for the Bloor Street Viaduct, 1918.) The bridge's spans, railings, and lampposts captured Harris's flair for dramatic public architecture. Both Garrison Creek and the Crawford Street Bridge now lie hidden beneath this park.
The new bridge under construction in 1914.
By the 1880s, the creek was so polluted that it was gradually channelled underground into a brick sewer, built through here in 1885. Portions of the ravine were then filled in, here with earth from subway excavation in the 1960s. The bridge was buried up to its sidewalks and roadbed, and its railing and lampposts were removed. In 2004, the original sidewalks and roadbed were entirely rebuilt, but the remainder of the bridge rests intact beneath the surface.
Looking north towards Dundas in 1919, there was some trouble with the roadbed heaving.
Another shot looking towards Dundas in 1919.
A current view.
A miniature version of the Bloor Viaduct pictured below.
Ossington and Argyle/Then and Now
Looking east down Argyle across Ossington in the mid 1950's.
2010 and the corner building has received an unpleasant styrofoam stucco make over. The building to the right maintains it's original facade and windows.Ossington and Argyle/Then and Now
Looking west down Argyle in the mid 1950's.
2010 and the empty corner lot has been filled in.Euclid Avenue/Then and Now
167 Euclid in the spring of 1941 while the house undergoes repairs.
2010 and all three houses are still standing.
Ossington and Bruce/Then and Now
The east side of ossington just North of Queen as seen in 1921.
A more current view.
The reverse angle looking west towards Ossington.
2010.Ossington and Foxley/Then and Now
Looking south on Ossington at the N/W corner of Foxley in 1920. The dome of the old Lunatic Asylum can be seen in the distance.
2010.Ossington and Argyle/Then and Now
128 Ossington south of Argyle in 1940.
The building to the right has survived with it's original storefront.Dundas and Ossington/Then and Now
Looking north towards Dundas, the N/W corner of Dundas and Ossington in 1920. It's been a drug store for years although the name has changed several times.
Currently it's Main Drug Mart.
The tiled entrance reveals it was originally McCann's.
A peak up under the modern facade reveals some vintage hand painted signs.
Barely visible is another sign revealing that at some point it was called Waltman's Drug Store.
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