Here are a few photos of spring in the city that I collected as I walked in the past few weeks.
below: Spring time … when all the bugs and insects come out!
below: As do the trees…. including this massive pink magnolia in full bloom.
below: Flowers on a grave
below: Looking through a store window in the Distillery District towards the intersection Parliament & Mill.
below: Photography exhibit “Looks Like Us” hanging on the fence around David Crombie Park. The exhibit was produced and presented by Jamii in partnership with The Journal.
below:: Photo by Serra Akcan, Istanbul
below: Looking northeast at Parliament and Adelaide
below: Parliament and Queen Street East
below: Queen Street East
below: Embedded in the sidewalk, a memorial to those who died in the fire at the Rupert Hotel.
“Rupert Hotel Fire – On December 23rd 1989 a fire roared through the Rupert House Hotel, a licensed rooming house on this site. Despite the heroic efforts of firefighters and several tenants, ten people died in the blaze, making it one of the worst fires in the history of Toronto. The tragedy sparked action by municipal organizations to improve the conditions in rooming houses throughout Toronto. This plaque was dedicated by the City and the Rupert Coalition in a special ceremony on May 18, 1993 in memory of the ten who died: Donna Marie Cann, Stanley Blake Dancy, Edward Finnigan, Vernon Stone, Vincent Joseph Clarke, David Donald Didow, John Thomas Flint, Ralph Orel Stone, Victor Paul Whyte. ” (more…)
Sometimes when you search for one thing you find another.
The other day I posted pictures of the Cliffside murals in Scarborough. When researching, them I discovered that there are other murals in Scarborough thanks to Mural Routes. Of course, I had to go exploring!
Murals are often in parking lots or in alleys. Last weekend I found one in a cemetery. “Building the Addition to the Wesley Methodist Chapel, Highland Creek, Winter 1867” is on the side of a building that abuts the Wesleyan Methodist cemetery on the east end of Old Kingston Road.
below: Most of the mural. Design and artwork by John Hood , assisted by Alexandra Hood and Zeb Salmaniw, 1994. There is a small portion of the mural missing in this picture. On the right is a panel that tells the story of the mural.
This is what the words say:
The following is an extract from the ‘The Christian Guardian’, a Methodist newspaper:
Your numerous readers will be glad to hear of the success of the Wesleyan Methodist Church at the Highland Creek, on the Scarboro’ Circuit. The above church was found to be entirely too small for the accommodation of its increasing congregation. The friends therefore decided to put an addition to the church 18 feet by 24 feet. It was re-opened and dedicated to God by divine service last Sabbath…” Wm. Tredway, Scarboro Dec 20, 1867
This mural depicts this event as it may have appeared from the northeast corner of this cemetery, looking southwest, across Old Kingston Road in mid November of 1867.
below: The William Tredway mentioned on the mural opened his first general store at the corner of Eglinton Ave & Kingston Rd. In 1865 he sold it and started over with a store on Old Kingston Road at Morrish Road. It is this second store that is shown in the mural. Tredway sold that store in 1878 to devote himself to politics as well as a career as a Justice of the Peace.
below: The bronze plaque near the entrance to the cemetery.
“This Highland Creek burying ground dates back to the reign of George III prior to 1800. On this site stood Wesleyan Methodist Church 1865-1891 merged with Bible Christian Methodist Church 1863-1891 which became Centennial Methodist in 1891 and later Centennial United Church 1925, plaque erected 1967, Centennial of Canada’s Confederation by Centennial United Church of Canada and Wesleyan Cemetery Board. “
The cemetery consists of a 1/2 acre plot. Back in 1834 it was part of 500 acres that was acquired by Jordan and Melinda Post in trade for their 15 acres at King & Yonge. Some of the stones predate 1834 and as mentioned on the plaque, there was a burying ground here before 1800. The oldest stone might be that for William Pearce, son of John and Susan who died 18 Aug 1813 at age 11 years & 5 months. Local legend says it became a burial ground when a passenger on a passing stage coach died there.
Jordan Post (1767-1845) and his wife Melinda (nee Woodruff, abt 1780-1838) were both born in Connecticut but were married in York (Toronto) in 1804. Jordan was a watch maker and when he arrived in York in 1802 he was the first watch maker in the town. He had other businesses as well but he probably made most of his money speculating in land. In 1834 he moved to Scarborough township, to the location of this cemetery, where he built a sawmill. Both Jordan and Melinda are buried here along with an unknown number of others, including other Posts and Woodruffs. There are stones for 76 people including Ann (d. 1903) and Edward Littlejohns (d. 1887) pictured above.
below: An interesting juxtaposition – The real monument on the left is for Edith, infant daughter of Henry and Eleanor Lanktree, died 26 Sept 1872 at age 16 months. The bottom part of other stone also mentions Henry and Eleanor Lanktree but I can’t read the inscription on the top part.
The church is no longer there. It once stood next to the location of the mural with the cemetery around it. Today the cemetery is maintained by the community.
Mt. Pleasant cemetery is the final resting place of about 168,000 people. A small percentage of those are interred within mausoleums, some of which are fancier than others. The following is a sample of the architecture of the mausoleums that I have seen there (including the doors of course).
below: The Eaton family mausoleum with its corinthian columns. Timothy Eaton is buried here, the founder of the Eatons department store chain (that no longer exists). Timothy apprenticed to a merchant in Ireland before emigrating to Canada. After working in a number of stores in Ontario, he purchased a business at the SW corner of Yonge & Queen. His store was one of the first to sell goods at a fixed price and only for cash…. no bargaining and no credit.
below: The Cox family mausoleum which was built in 1905. Sixteen people are buried here including George Albertus Cox (1840-1914) a business man and Senator, his two wives Margaret (d. 1905) and Amy (d. 1915) and their six children. The building was designed by Sproat & Rolph who were the same architects that designed the Canada Life Building and the Royal York Hotel. It cost $50,000 to build.
below: Detail of the flower motif on the windows of the door above.
below: Robert Emmet Kelly died in 1915 while on his honeymoon in Atlantic City. His wife Bessie had this monument built in his honour. She was buried there when she died in 1964, 50 years after her husband.
below: Last, but not least, the Just sisters. This mausoleum was originally built for Sir Frank Baillie who died in 1921. His remains were moved to Oakville in the 1960’s and the building sat empty for a few years. It was purchased by the Just family and now Gloria Irene Just (d. 1977) and Gladys Irene Just (d. 1970) are interned here. They were daughters of Thomas Fullerton Just, a mining equipment dealer from Quebec. Someone has left flowers.
If you are interested in doors, there are lots of blogs that feature door photos on Thursdays…. check out Thursday Doors organized by Norm 2.0 for more information. This post is a little late but shall we pretend that it’s still Thursday?
I was going to go looking for autumn but, silly me, I soon realized that I didn’t need to look for it. It’s all around us. All you have to do is look out the window, or better yet, step out the door and you’re in the middle of it. It’s falling in front of you, swirling in the breezes and crunching under your feet.
Remembrance Day
the eleventh day of the eleventh month
November 11th at 11am in 1918 (the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month) was when an armistice was signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente. Nov 11th became known Armistice Day, or in some countries such as Canada, Remembrance Day. An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting, a truce in other words. After this signing, it took several months of negotiations before the First World War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919. That treaty ended the war between Germany and the Allies. (The Allies of WW1 were also known as the Entente Powers while Germany and her allies were known as the Central Powers)
The poppy became a symbol of Remembrance day, and a symbol in remembrance of soldiers who died fighting in all wars, after the publication of the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ in 1915. This popular and often quoted poem was written by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. In it he talks about the poppies that grew in the battlefields at Flanders Belgium during WW1.
“In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,”
below: The cenotaph (war memorial) in front of Old City Hall was unveiled on 11 Nov 1925 to commemorate those Torontonians who died in WW1. Since then, it has been expanded to include those who lost their lives in WW2 and in the Korean War. The word cenotaph comes from the Greek and translates as ’empty tomb’. This style of memorial has been used widely for commemorating someone, or some group, whose remains are interred elsewhere.
More than 6000 Torontonians lost their lives in these three conflicts. Close to three thousand men died in World War 1, a number that represents about 2% of the male population of the time. (1)
In the middle of University Avenue is a statue erected by the Toronto District of the Sons of England Benefit Society in memory of their members who died in World War 1. Founded in 1876, this society provided insurance to its members who were in need because of illness or accident.
In 1914 Canada was still part of the British Empire. As a result, when Britain found itself at war in August of that year, Canada too was involved.
below: At the base of the center lion is a small plaque that reads: “Chas Adamson, sculptor, 1923”.
below: The Sons of England building on the NW corner of Richmond St. East and Berti St., 1922
photo credit: Toronto public library website
Another memorial in this city is the Ontario Veterans Memorial. This is a 30m long granite wall in front of Queens Park dedicated to all the men and women from Ontario who served in the military. Etched into the granite are scenes depicting Canadians in military roles between the time of the Fenian Raids in 1867 to the present day.
below: Part of the granite wall. The red in the picture is a reflection of the red carpet that was laid in front of the memorial for the Remembrance Day service.
below: part of the granite wall
Transcription of the passage by Canadian author Jane Urquhart:
One by one they left behind the bright fields of innocence and stepped into the darkness of experience
Their brave departure was discrete* and humble.
Un à un, ils ont quitté les champs illuminés de l’innocence pour se plonger dans la noirceur de
i’expérience. Ils ont quitté avec courage, discrétion et humilité
Some do not return. Their absence is as big as sorrow, as wide as grief.
Certains ne reviennent jamais. Leur absence laisse un vide aussi béant que le chagrin,
aussi vaste que le deuil.
The returning walk back toward their northern homeland. Their faces are shadowed,
but they are carrying illumination in their arms.
Ceux qui reviennent marchent vers leur terre nordique. Leurs visages sont dans l’ombre
mais ils portent la lumière dans leurs bras.
(* discrete vs discreet ?)
below: Some of the wreaths laid at the Ontario Veterans Memorial on Remembrance Day.
below: Although it is not a war memorial per se, someone left a small poppy wreath by this plaque at Nathan Phillips Square. The plaque is by the arches over the pool, the freedom arches.
Transcription of the plaque: Freedom Arches. The citizens of Toronto dedicate these arches to the millions who struggled, including Canadians, to gain and defend freedom and to the tens of millions who suffered and died for the lack of it. May all that we do be worthy of them. Only in freedom can the Human Spirit soar. Against the Human drive for freedom nothing can long succeed. This plaque is mounted on a slab of the Berlin Wall.
below: The 3D Toronto sign was red on Remembrance Day.
We remember collectively as a nation, as a community. We also remember privately, as individuals, as families. Countless small memorials can be found around Toronto including in schools, in churches and other religious institutions, and in cemeteries.
below: A memorial to the 48th Highlanders, Mount Pleasant cemetery. In memory of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men who have served with the 48th Highlanders.
Dileas Gu Brath, their motto, is gaelic for ‘faithful forever’
below: Quiet memorials
(1) source: Patrick Cain, Global News
This week all the flowering trees and shrubs have come to life. Also, a number of times I have looked out the subway window as the train passed Mount Pleasant cemetery and noticed the blossoms on the trees there. Past experience says that the pinks and whites of these trees may not last long. So I took my camera and macro lens to Mount Pleasant cemetery and played.
There were lilacs and forsythia and many others that I don’t now the name of.
below: Apparently this tree is called a Moose Maple.
Fall colours in a lane near Queen West and Bathurst.
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sunny sunflowers
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autumn vine in front of a garage door
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A quiet corner of Mount Hope Cemetery in the late afternoon.
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parked in the alley
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shadows and grain
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straw men in the garden
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Bobs Garden Centre with pots of colourful autumn mums for sale
Their blog.
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Raining little yellow leaves in Scarborough
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leaves under the streetlights
St. Andrews Bendale, Presbyterian church and cemetery, are located in a quiet corner of Scarborough, east of McCowan Avenue and north of Lawrence Avenue. The property backs onto Thomson Memorial Park which in turn follows the West Highland Creek.
The acre of land for the church was donated by David Thomson and the original wood church was built here in 1818. It was the first Presbyterian church built in what is now Toronto. David Thomson had arrived in the area from Scotland in 1796 at which time he was granted 400 acres of land. David was soon followed by his brothers Andrew Thomson and Archibald Thomson who settled nearby. The area became known as the Thomson Settlement.
Thomson burial plot. The inscription across the top reads “1796 – To their honor who redeemed this township from the wilderness – 1921”
The three plaques (stones) are for David Thomson, Mary Thomson and Hellen Thomson.On the left: “In Memory of David Thomas of Westerkirk Dumfries-shire Scotland who was the First Settler in Scarborough where his was the first land cleared. He had arrived in Upper Canada in 1796 and died on the 22nd June 1834, aged ?, leaving his wife, eleven children and 53 grandchildren.”
Center: “In Memory of Mary Thomson, Mother of Scarborough, who died the 8th of Nov 18–? aged 80 years….”
On the right is the stone for Hellen Thomson. It is very worn and is difficult to read.
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Robert Rae and his wife Agnes Hamilton
“natives of Lesmahago Scotland who came to Scarboro in 1832. Three weeks after their arrival, in his 29th year, he was killed by a falling tree :: his wife survived him 46 years, dying in 1878 – in her (86?)th year.”To the left of the Rae/Hamilton memorial is a smaller tombstone for Margaret Rae (d. 1860), wife of Amos Thomson.
To the right of the Rae/Hamilton memorial is a tombstone for James McCowan and Margaret Porteous. This couple also came from Lesmahago Lanarkshire Scotland and they too were one of the pioneering families of Scarborough.
There are a large number of other old Scarborough families represented in this cemetery – Gibson, Muir, Young and Stobo to name a few.
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Exploring the city, October 2012
Mount Pleasant cemetery
Queens Quay West, late October
Ernest Thompson Seaton park
Alexander Muir Gardens, Yonge & Lawrence
Stone wall beside St. Cuthberts chuch, Bayview Ave.
Northrop Frye Hall, Victoria University – University of Toronto
Looking north towards Don Mills from the Millwood Bridge.
But fall isn’t just about the leaves…..
Apples for sale!
as I walk Toronto 