In September 2019, I attended an information session presented by the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) on TOBuilt, a database for cataloguing and promoting Toronto’s built heritage. ACO had invited members of historical societies and other community groups to learn about TOBuilt and how to become involved in updating and expanding the database with Toronto’s heritage structures.

TOBuilt was started in 2006 as the personal project of one man, Bob Krawczyk, who had a passion for cycling around Toronto and taking pictures of old or interesting buildings. Mr. Krawczyk eventually entered over 7,000 buildings into his database, with a photo for each building along with the address, number of floors, year completed and often the architect's name and other information on the property.
ACO became interested in the project and arranged to take over TOBuilt from Mr. Krawczyk in 2013 and improved it for easier use. Hundreds of sites have since been added, and additional information obtained for many buildings. TOBuilt currently contains well over 11,000 entries.

I realized that EHS’s website provided a rich resource of information for many of the heritage buildings in Etobicoke and when linked to a building profile in TOBuilt would greatly enhance their heritage value. Each TOBuilt building page displays an area where a short story on the building can be told, and a “resources“ button at the page bottom to provide a link online from where the information is taken.

Since becoming a member of ACO in November 2019, I have updated 27 heritage Etobicoke building records in TOBuilt and entered an additional 26 buildings. For each of the 53 records, I have provided a link to an article on EHS’s website as a resource. There are many more buildings still to update or add, however research will be required as they have not yet been covered by EHS.

The City of Toronto has an online register of heritage properties, however it only provides minimal information such as whether its status is “listed” or “designated” and the listing date. TOBuilt provides a much richer resource for establishing the heritage value of our historic structures and will play an important role in the on-going challenge of preserving Toronto’s built heritage.

Be sure to visit TOBuilt online: https://acotoronto.ca/tobuilt_new_detailed.php
 
Sources:
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https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/his-interest-is-building/article18173695/
https://www.oala.ca/event/tobuilt-recording-and-protecting-torontos-built-heritage/

Researched and written by Neil Park

If you happened to be driving along Park Lawn Road in June/July 2020, you may have noticed a tractor or mechanical digger or a truck between 238 and 242 Park Lawn.  The machines have excavated what will become the basement level of a new house to be constructed at the new address, #240.

Originally part of the same lot on which stands the house at #238, this piece of land long since featured a garage on a concrete floor before the machines broke that up and took it away in preparation for excavation.  But the machine operator had a sharp eye and when working the digger a few steps north of the house at #238, pushed aside a concrete slab and uncovered an old water well.
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This was the well originally used with the farmhouse on one of the many market gardens located in the area more than a century in the past.  Capped probably when the town water supply connecting to new houses in the area was extended to the old house at #242 Park Lawn, the well had been effectively preserved.  A former resident of #242 in the 1930s, whose family used the well, recalls her brother against the admonishment of his father racing across the yard with a plank on his shoulder.  Inevitably he tumbled into the well, but was saved from a deep fall and serious injury by the plank!

After finding the light of day, even now water was present at the bottom.  The well’s diameter was 44” and depth was plumbed at 22’ below ground level.  The well has since been filled in … but in its short second lifespan provided a momentary diversion into history for current and prior residents.  

​– Murray Johnston

Announcement to Members of EHS:

​The City of Toronto announced a list of facilities that would be closed due to COVID-19, which included the City Museums.  Details on the closures can be found by CLICKING HERE.

As a result of the closure and also to support the City's directive to limit public gatherings, EHS will be cancelling the Speaker's Night series for April and May 2020.

Please visit our events page for updates in terms of rescheduling and future dates.

Thanks to everyone for your understanding, and please stay self-isolated and safe!

Regards,

The Board of Directors
The Etobicoke Historical Society

Announcement to Members of EHS:

​The City of Toronto announced yesterday a list of facilities that would be closed till April 5th, 2020 due to COVID-19, which included the City Museums.  Details on the closures can be found by CLICKING HERE.

As a result of the closure and also to support the City's directive to limit public gatherings, EHS will be cancelling the Speaker's Night on Thursday March 19th.

The Speakers Nights for April and May will remain as scheduled for now pending further updates from the City.

Thanks to everyone for your understanding.

Regards,

The Board of Directors
The Etobicoke Historical Society

On Saturday November 16, twenty-one hardy people came out on a cold wintery day to unveil a plaque commemorating George Corsan. The plaque is located in Echo Valley Park in Islington – the original site of Corsan’s unique farm of nut trees which earned him the nickname “The Nut Man of Islington”. Corsan was also an accomplished swimmer, and in the early 1900s became renowned as an innovator in techniques for swimming instruction and lifesaving widely used throughout North America. The plaque project was a collaboration between Heritage Toronto and the Etobicoke Historical Society.

On hand to officiate the unveiling was Toronto Ward 2 Councillor Stephen Holyday; Chris Bateman, Heritage Toronto; Brian Yawney, Etobicoke Urban Forest Activist; EHS President Joel Winter and EHS Chief Historian Denise Harris. The unveiling was witnessed by EHS members and some residents from the local neighbourhood.

​Some in attendance had grown up in the area and remembered George Corsan as an eccentric character who made a connection with local children who played on his property. He distributed the nuts from his Black Walnut trees to the children with the instructions they should take them home and plant them. There are many large Black Walnuts in the Village of Islington neighbourhood today which are most likely a lasting legacy of this unique former resident of Islington.

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This book is a collection of 92 short articles touching on various facets of Etobicoke’s history, including indigenous and early european settlement, farming, businesses, public services, society and culture, buildings, transportation and waterways. The articles were selected from The Aldernews, the newsletter of the Etobicoke Historical Society. Offering glimpses into Etobicoke’s past, they have informed and delighted members of the Society for several decades. Through this compilation, the Society aims to share them with a wider audience.
 
Glimpses into Etobicoke’s Past will be of interest to current and former residents of Etobicoke who want to know more about that community, and to anyone curious about the history of Toronto and of Ontario.
 
The book is available in paperback ($20) or in ebook ($8) from Amazon by clicking the button below:
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May 2019 marks the 60th anniversary of the Etobicoke Historical Society’s newsletter. Originally called a bulletin, it started life a year after the formation of the Society. It has been published regularly since 1959.
 
For the first few decades, the newsletter was short – a page long – and consisted mainly of notices of events and information. Things began to change in the mid-1990s. The newsletter grew in size, a new format was adopted, and longer historical articles began to appear on a regular basis. It also acquired a name, The Aldernews, which had been suggested by Bob Given in a name-our-newsletter contest. The first issue of the newly christened publication appeared in September 1996.
 
To date, a little over 200 articles dealing with Etobicoke history have appeared in the newsletter. The first 30 years accounted for only a very few of these. Things begin to accelerate after that, with 15 articles in the 1989-98 decade, 46 in 1999-08, and 130 in 2009-18. Approximately 45 individuals have written these articles. Denise Harris alone is responsible for almost 40% of them!
 
From its origins as a means of announcing the Society’s activities, the newsletter has evolved into a valued way of disseminating information about Etobicoke’s history. You can help it to continue on this path. Share your knowledge of our local history by contributing your essays to The Aldernews.

The Etobicoke Historical Society participated in an event promoting the history of Etobicoke’s Lakeshore on the evening of November 2nd. Advertised as “a night to remember and reflect on the rich histories of our communities,” it took place at the Assembly Hall on Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive. The event, organized by Ward 6’s Councillor Mark Grimes, attracted a very good turnout with over 80 persons at its peak.
 
The evening featured some 10 displays from organizations including the City of Toronto Archives, the New Toronto Historical Society, and the Ontario Genealogical Society. Each group also gave a short presentation on its activities, with the EHS’s given by our President, Joel Winter.
 
The EHS responded to Councillor Grimes’ invitation to participate by developing a display focused on the Lakeshore neighbourhoods of Humber Bay, Mimico, New Toronto, Alderwood and Long Branch. Our exhibit drew considerable interest. It included a slideshow of historic photos compiled from the Society’s collection and from that of Denise Harris; various items relevant to the Lakeshore area from our archives; a photo quiz; our newsletter; and, promotional material for the Society. Joel Winter, Denise Harris and Philip Enros represented the Society. It was a very enjoyable evening with many interesting conversations, posed questions and shared information about the history of the Lakeshore.