Category Archives: Streets

Logan Avenue, 1890-1895

When we look at a photo, especially an old photo, we get the big picture but often miss the details that make the shot tell a story. And there’s even more details that unfolded once I dug into my files. They say that the devil is in the details, but so is the treasure! WhenContinue reading “Logan Avenue, 1890-1895”

The Secret History of Our East End Streets: 1 – 17 Austin Avenue

London, England has a BBC show, The Secret History of Our Streets. The series claims to explore “the history of archetypal streets in Britain, which reveal the story of a nation.” Our streets are just as interesting and our stories goes back millennia before Austin Avenue existed to when Leslie Creek was full of salmonContinue reading “The Secret History of Our East End Streets: 1 – 17 Austin Avenue”

Austin Avenue’s Ghost Creek

by Joanne Doucette This is a follow up to: https://leslievillehistory.com/austin-avenue-subdivision-549-by-joanne-doucette/ Part 1: Austin Avenue blocked by A Creek Did you know that there was a creek at the east end of Austin Avenue? In 1918, the foreman of George Leslie’s nursery recalled Leslie Creek: a creek … also started near the sandpit and ran throughContinue reading “Austin Avenue’s Ghost Creek”

Urban Beekeeping, Austin Avenue, Leslieville, 1912

Perhaps nothing illustrates the value of knowing the background to your life and future than the environmental crises facing us today, including global warming and mass extinction. The bees of 32 Austin Avenue have a story to tell us about remembering the background to our lives. Collective amnesia is as if we suddenly forgot everythingContinue reading “Urban Beekeeping, Austin Avenue, Leslieville, 1912”

Riverdale Collegiate

by Joanne Doucette There is an urban legend that Myrtle, Ivy and Harriet Streets were named after local women (true) who argued so much that they could never meet so the streets don’t meet (not true). The deep ravine called “the Devil’s Hollow” had more to do with keeping the streets from meeting. The womenContinue reading “Riverdale Collegiate”