Gleaner

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Entries Tagged as 'History'

NEWS: Midblock fire station on Howland Avenue gets a facelift (Oct. 2020)

November 2nd, 2020 · Comments Off on NEWS: Midblock fire station on Howland Avenue gets a facelift (Oct. 2020)

Fire Station 23 once housed steamed-powered, horse-drawn pumpers

“Steamers” refer to the horse-drawn carriages that used water to fight fire in the 1800s. Station 23 (as it was then known) housed this equipment until they were replaced by gasoline-powered fire trucks. While the steamers were used in parades, there is no evidence that they were actually used locally in fire emergencies. COURTESY CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVES

By Mary An

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Tags: Annex · News · History

FROM THE ARCHIVES: University no longer fielding exemplary behaviour (Mar. 2020)

March 24th, 2020 · Comments Off on FROM THE ARCHIVES: University no longer fielding exemplary behaviour (Mar. 2020)

Can a park’s past set the tone for its future?

Had the Spadina Expressway been built, there might have been a development like St. James Town west of Yonge Street. The city had rezoned the area, and a developer had quietly purchased many of the 32 properties on Robert and Sussex avenues. COURTESY CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVES

The Aura Lee playing field located on Robert Street has quite a storied history. In January of 2018 the Gleaner chronicled its past in a piece written by Nicholas Provart. It is reprinted here on the occasion of U of T’s decision to extract green energy from the site.

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Tags: Annex · History

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Fear of high buildings groundless (Feb. 2020)

February 27th, 2020 · 1 Comment

Tall structures can curb urban sprawl

Designed by IBI Group, the Theory Condo building is projected to rise 30 storeys and will house 243 condo units. BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS

In May 2020, the Annex Gleaner celebrates 25 years of publishing. In celebration, we are republishing highlights of our past; this feature, Fear of High Buildings Groundless by city-building columnist Alfred Holden, is from May 2001. As thirteen developments are going up in the Annex area it appears Holden’s views were prophetic. 

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Tags: Annex · Columns · History

HISTORY: The Gleaner looks back at 25 years (Nov. 2019)

December 9th, 2019 · Comments Off on HISTORY: The Gleaner looks back at 25 years (Nov. 2019)

Lunch with Jane Jacobs in 1997

In May 2020, The Annex Gleaner celebrates 25 years of publishing. In celebration, we are republishing highlights of our past; this feature, Lunch with Jane Jacobs, was originally printed in August of 1997. Jacobs, the celebrated urban thinker, was a long-time Annex resident. Deanne Fisher, who interviewed Jacobs, is the founding editor of the Gleaner.

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Tags: Annex · History

HISTORY: Plaque planned for track star Sam Richardson (May 2019)

May 28th, 2019 · Comments Off on HISTORY: Plaque planned for track star Sam Richardson (May 2019)

CTS track star student attended Berlin Olympics on behalf of Canada

Sam Richardson passes the baton during the men’s 4×100 relay during the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Like Jesse Owens, who became a friend, Richardson proudly represented his nation while facing the institutionalized racism of Nazi Germany. PHOTO COURTESY CENTRAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL ARCHIVES

By Nabahat Hussain


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Tags: Annex · History

HISTORY: Delivering history in Harbord Village (Spring 2019)

April 23rd, 2019 · 1 Comment

HVRA lane-naming project leads to The Postman

In March of 2015 the Gleaner featured coverage of the pending play, The Postman, that was staged on neighbourhood porches in the summer of that year. The Harbord Village event commemorated the life and times of Albert Jackson, Canada’s first black postie. On the occasion of Canada Post issuing a stamp in Jackson’s honour, we are reprinting this article 

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Tags: Annex · Arts · History

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Marking the end of the beginning (Spring 2018)

May 1st, 2018 · Comments Off on FROM THE ARCHIVES: Marking the end of the beginning (Spring 2018)

A look back to when the Barns first opened its doors

As we come up to the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Artscape Wychwood Barns, we thought it an opportune moment to reprint an article about its opening. The following appeared in our October 2008 issue.

By Patricia Marcoccia

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Tags: Annex · History

HISTORY: Remembering an unsung hero (March 2018)

March 22nd, 2018 · Comments Off on HISTORY: Remembering an unsung hero (March 2018)

Central Tech student raced alongside Jesse Owens

Sam Richardson’s descendants pose on the steps of Central Technical School last month. Richardson’s family also spoke on the influence he had on the Black community, Toronto, and the nation at large. COURTESY CENTRAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL

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Tags: Annex · History · Life

FORUM: University no longer fielding exemplary behaviour (Jan. 2018)

January 29th, 2018 · 1 Comment

Can a park’s past set the tone for its future?

Had the Spadina Expressway been built, there might have been a development like St. James Town west of Yonge Street. The city had rezoned the area, and a developer had quietly purchased many of the 32 properties on Robert and Sussex avenues. COURTESY CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVES

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Tags: Annex · History · Opinion

FROM THE ARCHIVES (Dec. 2017): Changing the character of 44 Walmer Rd.

December 15th, 2017 · Comments Off on FROM THE ARCHIVES (Dec. 2017): Changing the character of 44 Walmer Rd.

If buildings are art, should they be altered from their original form?

Although diminished by the removal of its curvaceous balcony adornments, architect Uno Prii’s 44 Walmer Rd. (far left, photo by Brian Burchell for Gleaner News) — as it stands today — remains an artistic statement in design. A few more examples of his work are 20 Prince Arthur Ave. (second from left, photo by Brian Burchell for Gleaner News), his “most expressive building”, 35 Walmer Rd. (second from right, photo by Arthur Rozumek/Wikimedia Commons), and 485 Huron St. (far right, photo by Arthur Rozumek/Wikimedia Commons).

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Tags: Annex · History

HISTORY (Nov. 2017): A childhood in war-torn Holland

November 24th, 2017 · 1 Comment

Dutch Dreams owner recalls Nazi terror, jubilation after liberation

COURTESY J.L. BLOEMHOF’S AMERSFOORT ’40-’45 “Look at him, I find that so beautiful a picture. He’s from the Polar Bear Brigade, they liberated us. Isn’t that a beautiful picture? You can see in his face that he knows he liberated the Dutch, he’s proud and happy!”

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Tags: Annex · General · History

HISTORY (FALL 2017): Remembering Sir William Howland

October 12th, 2017 · Comments Off on HISTORY (FALL 2017): Remembering Sir William Howland

Howland Avenue takes its name from noted reformer

By David Raymont

An Annex-area street recalls the contribution of one-time local business titan and politician Sir William Howland.

Howland’s speculation in land in the Annex area resulted in Howland Avenue being named for him. He also founded the village of Lambton Mills on the Humber River.

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Tags: Annex · News · History

HISTORY (FALL 2017): Inspiring the spine

October 12th, 2017 · Comments Off on HISTORY (FALL 2017): Inspiring the spine

Heritage Toronto unveils Joseph Bloore plaque

PICTURE BY GEREMY BORDONARO/GLEANER NEWS: Approximately 100 people gathered at 117 Bloor St. E. on Aug. 31 to celebrate the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to Joseph Bloore. The plaque, located close to the site of Bloore’s home, includes a part of a previous one dedicated to the inspiration for Bloor Street and text by Heritage Toronto. It took more than seven years to create this new plaque, which may never have been unveiled if not for the passion and enthusiasm of local residents.

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Tags: Annex · History