All posts in West Toronto Junction Historical Society

Who is Adam The Woo – A Documentary – more Junction than you think

By On April 6, 2014 In 150 Symes Road, 150 Symes Road Symes Road Incinerator, 43 Junction Road, 6 Lloyd Avenue, 61 63 67 Vine Ave, 97 Pelham Avenue, buildings, Heintzman Place, Heritage, Industrial Heritage, Junction Industry, Junction Meatpacking District, Junction Public Space Initiative, Making and Placing, Stockyards Phase one, West Toronto Diamond project, West Toronto Junction Historical Society With Comments Off on Who is Adam The Woo – A Documentary – more Junction than you think Permanent Link to Who is Adam The Woo – A Documentary – more Junction than you thinkPermalink

 

 

This post is about places. Adam the Woo is an urban adventurer who documents his visits disused and abandoned places on a YouTube channel. His efforts to communicate the importance of places in communities and visitations to various disused industrial buildings all have a real connection to the Greater Junction Area. Our area has some very hard-core urban explorers. Some simply visiting out of interest, while others seek the history and value to our community from their visits. We also have so many places and things that need to explored and documented.

Adams commitment to produce videos of so many places – even Toronto – is great and his methods are simply wonderful.

Below is a documentary by Kenny Johnson with Adam the Woo which provides a glimpse into a staggering body of work.

If above embed is not working on your devise here is the direct URL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90fxDxv5r9Y&feature=youtu.be

Adams web site Http://www.adamthewoo.com/‎

 

 

Atlantic Cities blog post, How Historic Architecture Can Anchor Economic Dev.

By On April 29, 2013 In buildings, Industrial Heritage, West Toronto Junction Historical Society With Comments Off on Atlantic Cities blog post, How Historic Architecture Can Anchor Economic Dev. Permanent Link to Atlantic Cities blog post, How Historic Architecture Can Anchor Economic Dev.Permalink


Above the poster from the 2012 NATIONAL HERITAGE SUMMIT.

It’s ridiculously easy to think about the benefits of historic preservation.

Link to the post.

The Atlantic Cities blog has a great post on tax credits for historical preservation of buildings.

Link to the post.

Something that could do a lot for the Junction in saving parts of its historic built character.

Well worth reading as a primer on historic preservation.

A new site is up at www.junctionhcd.ca/ in ermine itself with a Junction Heritage District.

You can find this link and many others on the Junctionra.ca site which maintains a large list of local links.

Click here to visit their site.

Location:McMurray Ave,Toronto,Canada

[Heritage Columns] City Museums Face Closure

By On September 21, 2011 In City of Toronto, West Toronto Junction Historical Society With Comments Off on [Heritage Columns] City Museums Face Closure Permanent Link to [Heritage Columns] City Museums Face ClosurePermalink

Click image to go to Spacing magazine article

 

FromHeritage Toronto

 

Thank you Gail Lord for providing this text:
This week, the City of Toronto’s Executive Committee approved a report from the City Manager to close “museums with the least attendance, and revenues compared to costs.” Another proposal asks the City Manager to report on further extensive cuts to culture programs.

These proposals indicate a misunderstanding of what museums are. In any city, museums are about identity, linking the past to the present. In Toronto, the world’s most multicultural city, museums are even more crucial to social cohesion.

Toronto’s historic museums – Montgomery’s Inn, Spadina House, McKenzie House, Colborne Lodge, Market Gallery, Gibson House, Zion Schoolhouse, Scarborough Historic Museum and Fort York – are the repository of our collective heritage. Destroy them and you destroy the DNA of who we are and how we got here. Each of these sites, whether they be in downtown Toronto, Scarborough, North York or Etobicoke, reflect not only our past, but are also neighbourhood hubs for sharing and learning about our modern diverse communities.

Clearly there is room for improving the attendance and the financial performance of these museums. However, closures are not the answer. The museum closings will be before City Council on Monday September 26th. I urge you to write to the Mayor and members of City Council to raise your voice in opposition to this proposal. Click here for contact information for the Mayor and Councillors.

Also, there is a Facebook group you can join to support our City’s museums

 

 

 

 

Junction Shul this weekend

By On September 14, 2011 In The Junction, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), West Toronto Junction Historical Society With Comments Off on Junction Shul this weekend Permanent Link to Junction Shul this weekendPermalink

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Interesting talk for Junction folk

By On April 18, 2011 In Industrial Heritage, Junction Industry, Junction Meatpacking District, Junction Public Space Initiative, Railways, The Junction, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), West Toronto Diamond project, West Toronto Junction Historical Society With Comments Off on Interesting talk for Junction folk Permanent Link to Interesting talk for Junction folkPermalink

 

 

Text of Image

Join us on Thursday, April 28th as we launch our 2011 Heritage Toronto Walks season with an illustrated lecture on the history of Toronto’s railways, hosted by Derek Boles. Our 2011 Spring walk brochures will be available for pick up as well!

How the Railways Shaped Toronto
Illustrated Lecture

 

On May 16, 1853 the first passenger train steamed out of Toronto from a wooden depot that was located just east of present-day Union Station. Over the next century, the railways had a profound impact on the geography of Toronto and helped transform the city into the commercial centre of Canada. See rare images and animations that illustrate how the railways formed and altered Toronto’s built and natural landscape over the last century and a half. And discover the role that St. Lawrence Hall played in railway history!

DATE: Thursday, April 28th at 7:00pm

SPEAKER: Derek Boles, Toronto Railway Historical Association,
Author of Toronto’s Railway Heritage

LOCATION: St. Lawrence Hall
157 King Street East (at Jarvis), 3rd Floor – Great Hall

 

Heritage Toronto

Heritage Toronto Events Calendar

Monarch Rd today from the Maple Leaf Mills site

By On October 25, 2010 In 43 Junction Road, Heritage, Industrial Heritage, Junction Industry, The Junction, Ward 12 – York South-Weston, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 14 – (Parkdale-High Park), West Toronto Junction Historical Society With 4 Comments Permanent Link to Monarch Rd today from the Maple Leaf Mills sitePermalink


This Road which has been abandoned for so long by the city is now visible. (but not useable)

To the left and right of the bottom image sat industrial buildings  about 15 years ago.

To the left was the Dominion Corrugated Company.

To the right was the repair building for the mill. The mill repair building has been gone for over twenty years. In the seventies this roadway was buzzing 24 hours a day.

It was incredibly dirty with the road caked with oil and grain.

Now with the entire mill site undergoing a revitalization, with a possible school and other high street elements, the area is being transformed in a great way.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wild, Wild, Junction II The Historical Mystery Tour Continues

By On October 14, 2010 In Industrial Heritage, The Junction, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), West Toronto Junction Historical Society With 2 Comments Permanent Link to Wild, Wild, Junction II The Historical Mystery Tour ContinuesPermalink

2nd Incredible Year!

The West Toronto Junction Historical Society presents:

Wild, Wild, Junction II

The Historical Mystery Tour Continues

And the launch of

Justice in the Junction

The Life and Times of Josiah Royce

Sunday, October 24, 3pm, Axis Gallery and Grill, 3048 Dundas West, ending at Shox’s 3313 Dundas West.

Join us for our fall fund raiser and pub crawl

Relive the events that led the Junction to “go dry” for almost a century with the men and women who were there as the Legends of the Junction return.

Examine the Junction’s oldest cold case: The Death of Joseph Curley.

Be sworn in as a jury member and vote. Accident or Murder?

M.P.P. Cheri DiNovo will be reprising her hilarious performance as the Reverend Shore whose famous “Harlotry, Vice and Iniquity” sermon set the Junction on fire.

Proceeds go to the Boom Times Artist/Mentors program working with local students to create original works of art about Junction history and culture.

We’ll also be officially launching our five part graphic novel series, Justice in the Junction, the Life and Times of Josiah Royce, with story by Neil Ross and art by Brendan FitzPatrick.

History meets community in the Junction!

Tickets $25, available at Pandemonium Books and Discs (2862 Dundas Street West) and Wise Daughters Craft Market (3079B Dundas Street West) and at the Annette Street Library (145 Annette Street)

Details and the spectacular Wild, Wild Junction 2 poster by Mark Dallas are on our homepage at: wtjhs.ca

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iPad

East silos to come down and the west silos will stay

By On October 5, 2010 In 43 Junction Road, Industrial Heritage, Junction Industry, Junction Meatpacking District, South Junction Triangle, The Junction, Ward 12 – York South-Weston, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 14 – (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 18 – (Davenport), West Toronto Junction Historical Society With 12 Comments Permanent Link to East silos to come down and the west silos will stayPermalink


Well if anything proves that the Junction is achangen to this author who has always had a connection to the Junction thought out my life it is this.

At 43 Junction Rd the east silos are to come down in Nov. or Dec of this year.

The blogs hopes to publish some in-depth images of them next week.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Oh if they could only stop now and create a park around this structure!

By On May 6, 2010 In Junction Industry, Junction Triangle, South Junction Triangle, The Junction, Ward 11 (York South-Weston}, Ward 12 – York South-Weston, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 14 – (Parkdale-High Park), West Toronto Junction Historical Society With 3 Comments Permanent Link to Oh if they could only stop now and create a park around this structure!Permalink

Just imagine a multi-level urban park with community gardens and spiraling  climbing footpaths covered in vines.

Carleton Village/ New Number 11 police station in the process of change.

these pictures taken a few nights ago are already out of dat as the blog pasted by today more the old building was going down

A deconstruction of situation as developmental related art

By On April 7, 2010 In Junction Industry, Junction Triangle, South Junction Triangle, The Junction, Ward 11 (York South-Weston}, Ward 12 – York South-Weston, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 14 – (Parkdale-High Park), West Toronto Junction Historical Society With 1 Comment Permanent Link to A deconstruction of situation as developmental related artPermalink

Images…………………………..  Carleton Village/ New Number 11 police station

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The situation of place in Carlton Village area around Old westion Rd. and Davenport is changing rapidly, yet during the changes their our some wonderful sites such as above.

A History of the World in 100 Objects

By On January 22, 2010 In buildings, Heritage, Industrial Heritage, Junction Industry, The Junction, West Toronto Junction Historical Society With Comments Off on A History of the World in 100 Objects Permanent Link to A History of the World in 100 ObjectsPermalink

ahow

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/ahow

Normally I don’t post items about art and craft an area that normally dominates my days… and well nights.

Yet this audio program from the BBC is great and I cannot help but think about the Junction areas long history of craft and making whilst listening to it. So I got excited and wanted to share it with you,  and if you are out their the owner of old Majestic glass store on Dundas St, (Now the local BIA office) where my interest in making began.

Last night Annette Library, Lower Level, Committee Room 1 – A Short History of Haida Gwaii

By On January 7, 2010 In Parkdale, Roncesvalles Village, South Junction Triangle, The Junction, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), West Bend, West Toronto Junction Historical Society With Comments Off on Last night Annette Library, Lower Level, Committee Room 1 – A Short History of Haida Gwaii Permanent Link to Last night Annette Library, Lower Level, Committee Room 1 – A Short History of Haida GwaiiPermalink

M~ QCI1214-GW44-1West Toronto Junction Historical Society talk

This talk has taken place now

Thursday, January 7, 2010

7:30 p.m. Refreshments 7:50 p.m. Business Meeting
8:20 p.m. A Short History of Haida Gwaii (more commonly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands). Gib Goodfellow
will illustrate his talk with images recorded by Phyllis Goodfellow and Lynn Wiggan on their excursion to these
isolated and scenic islands north of Vancouver Island in June of this year. Haida Gwaii is composed of two principal
islands. The southern most has a small community, an airport and numerous historic Haida sites which have been
vacated since the small pox epidemics of the 19th century. Some are open to the public and exist within a unique
partnership between Parks Canada and the Haida people. The north island contains most of the current population
and economic activity, as well at the six larger communities.

More cognitive dissonance in the area of Junction building facades.

By On January 7, 2010 In buildings, Heritage, Junction Retail, Public space, The Junction, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), West Toronto Junction Historical Society With 13 Comments Permanent Link to More cognitive dissonance in the area of Junction building facades.Permalink

3032 Dundas Street West

One begets another in the Junction it seems, or does it?

Building number 2 certainly has had it’s facade “improved” with a serious amount of cognitive dissonance [1] in the way most people feel is the nature of the Junction street scape and heart. It is common to hear people new to the Junction or long time residents speak of the historical character of the community and it’s difference in living culture as well as lack of pop architecture renewal.

Building 2 would fit well in the chosen style that has developed of the area of  College Street West. This areas restaurant/bar/shopping strip along College Street which is centered on intersection of College and Grace Streets has developed its own unique style from it developed culture.

This  building façade going up at Dundas in the West Toronto Junction  doesn’t exactly blend into its surroundings or fit the developing culture of the Junction, but  its neighbors are  bound for the local architecture history books.  Building  1’s owner did a great job blending the cost/value situation of  the façade renovation and the new old material use, this past summer

Building 3’s owners have consistently maintained their building over the years in a way consistent with the historical nature of the building. they stepped away a few years ago for th ground level area – but not so much as to harm the buildings character.  with the area

At least it’s got large symmetrical windows on the second level. and the arch is a Junction historical feature, just not in the size and placement they have used. Still when this new construction  is finished, it’ll really stick out.

1

  1. A condition of conflict or anxiety resulting from inconsistency between one’s beliefs and one’s actions ↩

2989 Dundas St W – rooftop warehouse addition

By On January 4, 2010 In 2989 Dundas St West, buildings, Heritage, The Junction, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), West Toronto Junction Historical Society With 31 Comments Permanent Link to 2989 Dundas St W – rooftop warehouse additionPermalink
The renovation of facades of contributing buildings should
respect the original architectural style

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The addition placed on top of 2989 Dundas St west; in the opinion of this author, whole fully disfigures the  Dundas St West and Pacific Ave street intersection.

Standing on any corner other than the south west corner provides the viewer with a massive warehouse type box sitting on top of historic building.

The larger question, however, surfaces again with this type of development renovation: Is this type of building change better or worse for the neighborhood than stronger rules at the municipal level to protect the historical core street scape of the Junction.

The City of Toronto has rules about renovations of new and renovated buildings stating they shall be designed  sympathetic to the district heritage attributes, through massing, rhythm of solids and voids, significant design features, and high quality materials 1

Further the city guidelines state…

The renovation of facades of contributing buildings should respect the original architectural style.

Also the city states is values “street walls”

A “street wall” is a condition where buildings consistently line or front to the edge of a street.

This building renovation simply does not meet the guidelines, nor considers the character of the Junction


A Short History of Haida Gwaii – West Toronto Junction Historical Society talk

By On December 15, 2009 In Heritage, The Junction, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), West Toronto Junction Historical Society With Comments Off on A Short History of Haida Gwaii – West Toronto Junction Historical Society talk Permanent Link to A Short History of Haida Gwaii – West Toronto Junction Historical Society talkPermalink

Join us Thursday, January 7, 2010 7:30 p.m at the Annette Public Library  for A Short History of Haida Gwaii (which only recently changed its name from the Queen Charlotte Islands). Gib Goodfellow will illustrate his talk with images recorded by Phyllis Goodfellow and Lynn Wiggan on their excursion to these isolated and scenic islands north of Vancouver Island in June of 2009. Haida Gwaii is composed of two principal islands. The southern most has a small community, an airport and numerous historic Haida sites which have been vacated since the small pox epidemics of the 19th century. Some are open to the public and exist within a unique partnership between Parks Canada and the Haida people. The north island contains most of the current population and economic activity, as well at the six larger communities.

GIVE THE GIFT OF HISTORY THIS CHRISTMAS


Someone you love would love to get connected to their roots in the historic Junction.
Join the West Toronto Junction Historical Society and share the most exciting story in Toronto. Receive four issues of our award winning historical quarterly, the Leader and Recorder. Join now and get five issues of the L&R as copies of our fall 2009 edition are still available featuring the remarkable story of the Dundas Mosque: Malcolm X in the Junction, Louise Fein Corblum’s reminisces celebrating the Centennial of West Toronto Paint and Wallpaper and David Wencer’s full and riotous account of Wild, Wild, Junction Historical Mystery Tour.  Individual memberships $20, family memberships $30.
Your membership fees support the WTJHS archives, our efforts to preserve historic buildings and our monthly speaking series in the Annette Street Library.

Go to wtjhs.ca for details.

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