Grocery Store from Mud Roads & Plank Sidewalks Part 11

In 1889, my father and mother died within the year, and the executor of the small estate invited me to live with him. He kept a grocery store at the north-east corner of Queen and Pape, and had a thriving business. The store was up to date in every way for that period. I wouldContinue reading “Grocery Store from Mud Roads & Plank Sidewalks Part 11”

PIGEON AND SPARROW SHOOTS From Mud Roads and Plank Sidewalks Part 10

PIGEON AND SPARROW SHOOTS From Mud Roads and Plank Sidewalks Part 10 By Samuel Herbert (1876-1866) The Stanley Gun Club held regular Pigeon and Sparrow shoot in Stark’s Athletic Grounds, about opposite McGee Street, south of Eastern Avenue where commercial industries are now located. Its members came from different parts of the city, mostly fromContinue reading “PIGEON AND SPARROW SHOOTS From Mud Roads and Plank Sidewalks Part 10”

Mystery of the Hanging Cat of Greenwood & Queen

Mystery of the Hanging Cat of Greenwood & Queen Once long ago, above the door of a tavern at the northwest corner of Kingston Road and Greenwood’s lane, there hung a sign. Now, most taverns had signs but this one was different. Forty years after the tavern closed people still remembered the sign described below.Continue reading “Mystery of the Hanging Cat of Greenwood & Queen”

Masonic Hall from MUD ROADS AND PLANK SIDEWALKS Part 9

MASONIC HALL from MUD ROADS AND PLANK SIDEWALKS: LESLIEVILLE 1880 By Sam Herbert (1876-1966) In the year 1884, Orient Masonic Lodge, having outgrown its lodge rooms at the corner of McGee Street and the Kingston Road, decided to erect a new Masonic Hall, and a site was procured at the north-west corner of the KingstonContinue reading “Masonic Hall from MUD ROADS AND PLANK SIDEWALKS Part 9”

Local Improvements and Electric Lights from Mud Roads & Plank Sidewalks Part 8

Local Improvements and Electric Lights from MUD ROADS AND PLANK SIDEWALKS: LESLIEVILLE 1880 By Sam Herbert (1876-1966) Now, going back to about 1885, after Leslieville was absorbed by the city, local improvements commenced.  Almost the first, was a sewer. Pape’s sideline must have been a corduroy road in its early because, because when preparing forContinue reading “Local Improvements and Electric Lights from Mud Roads & Plank Sidewalks Part 8”

Victoria Park from MUD ROADS & PLANK SIDEWALKS Part 7

VICTORIA PARK From MUD ROADS AND PLANK SIDEWALKS: LESLIEVILLE 1880 By Sam Herbert (1876-1966) For a few years regular excursion steamers plied between Toronto and Victoria Park during the summer season. They were well patronized and the return fare was twenty-five cent s for adults.  Near the Victoria Park Dock, the wreck of the T.S.Continue reading “Victoria Park from MUD ROADS & PLANK SIDEWALKS Part 7”

19th Century East End Villages: Donmount, Riverside, Leslieville, Norway

These are excerpts from various Directories showing the streets and villages of the East End. The area was also known as “Over the Don” or sometimes “The Goose Flats”. This lists the residents by head of household (i.e. the men). We still have lots of Canada Geese with us though their pickings aren’t from marketContinue reading “19th Century East End Villages: Donmount, Riverside, Leslieville, Norway”

ASHBRIDGES BAY from MUD ROADS & PLANK SIDEWALKS Part 6

ASHBRIDGES BAY from MUD ROADS AND PLANK SIDEWALKS: LESLIEVILLE 1880 By Sam Herbert (1876-1966) Ashbridges Bay teemed with fish and wild life. My favourite fishing spot was from the pilings outside the large ice house that was located at Leslie Street and Eastern Avenue, where the paint works is now located. It was a splendidContinue reading “ASHBRIDGES BAY from MUD ROADS & PLANK SIDEWALKS Part 6”