[steveintoronto]

love that photo, Goldie

in the distance, that triangular spot of bare ground is (was) known as Tumper's Hill -- it was completely levelled to provide fill for the DVP, and the 6 "elephants" or "molars", three on either side of the DVP, are located there

the CNOR line passed south of that hill

That map is exquisite! Googling is only as good as having the right tag, and I've been searching for maps with that kind of detail to get a much more accurate 'lay' of where things were.

Traipsing through the undergrowth around there reveals remnants right by the DVP where there was once a bridge, and some distribution level hydro poles still exist to the east of the DVP along the CNoR approach to the still extant cutting. A lot of detail has been obliterated though, and a map puts it all back in perspective.

Any link for that map? Circa?

"Tumper's Hill" (I've seen it referred to as other names, unless I'm confusing it with others used for building material) renders large amounts Googling. One hit is for this string in days past!
https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threads/miscellany-toronto-photographs-then-and-now.6947/page-697

Addendum: Here's an easy one for many of you: There's what appears to be a man-made channel branching off the Don River just south of the eastern branch of the CNoR bridge over the main river course, and extending past the Don Paper Mills, whether or not it is, it's highly indicative as being a mill chute. I'd guess the Pkwy sits right on top of it now, an overlay map can only be imagined at this time, although that's something someone might wish to produce using digital manipulation.

Any info on whether there's any trace of that 'chute' (diversion, whatever) left? A survey map of the area, if such exists (existed) would also reveal more details on rail spurs and track doubling. Obviously a spur ran to the Don Paper Mill. This is fascinating history...

Second Addendum: Oh man! Fat City!
http://utoronto.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6055c7fbccdf44ac911a4e13b34a825c

https://maps.library.utoronto.ca/dvhmp/index.html

Reams on this online, once the right tags are used. Here's clear reference to a siding going into the (later) paper mill:
[In July 1909 the mill reopened as the Don Valley Paper Company Limited. According to the Pulp and Paper Magazine of Canada, it was a model mill of its day, “refurbished on a lavish but business-like scale with up to date machinery and equipment of a class to turn out the very best product in an economical manner.” To facilitate shipments of paper and to bring in supplies of pulp and coal, a railway siding ran right into the buildings.]
https://maps.library.utoronto.ca/dvhmp/don-valley-paper.html

That appears to the be visible on the "panoramic pic" discussed a few posts back.
1909 - Don Valley - Looking West from near Danforth Rd.

Late Addendum:

I may have to retract the claim that is the Paper Mill. But I also now doubt others' claims that the pic is taken from proximous to the western end of Danforth, overlooking the alignment of the now Bloor Viaduct.

I now think it more likely the pic was taken from "Chester Hill Lookout", and what I thought was the Paper Mill is more likely Todmorden Mills. Due to the lens used, and the panoramic view with such startling depth of field, distance distortions are inevitable, but the CP tracks in the foreground are one give-away as to the location of the shot.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6811...4!1s8Eb_Us-So2s4Vdit2UQReA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Comments?

 

[r937]

Any link for that map? Circa?

1918 http://maps.library.utoronto.ca/datapub/digital/G3400s631261904Sheet341918.jpg

more here -- http://maps.library.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/files.pl?idnum=820

There's what appears to be a man-made channel branching off the Don River just south of the eastern branch of the CNoR bridge over the main river course, and extending past the Don Paper Mills, whether or not it is, it's highly indicative as being a mill chute.

not sure which one you're talking about, can you give a more precise location? maybe zoom in with google maps and post the link?

i'm familiar with all three Taylor mills -- the lower at Todmorden mills, middle which became the Domtar plant, upper in E.T.Seton park -- and also know the location of several of their mill races

see http://rudy.ca/mill-race.html

Obviously a spur ran to the Don Paper Mill.

you mean the middle mill, and yes, the track is still there, embedded in Beechwood Drive

see sketch --

That appears to the be visible on the "panoramic pic" discussed a few posts back.
1909 - Don Valley - Looking West from near Danforth Rd.

no, that view is of the Don Valley near the bloor viaduct... the middle mill (which had the siding you heard of) was further upstream

 

[steveintoronto]

no, that view is of the Don Valley near the bloor viaduct... the middle mill (which had the siding you heard of) was further upstream

You posted as I was posting an addendum to my prior post. It was the CP track that made my prior observation impossible. Just reading up on Todmorden Mills now, it was far more complex than what the popular lore is, being referred to as an "industrial node" in some descriptions.

The common denominator remains that superb panoramic pic though. It captures a scene...a *reality* that one wouldn't have thought possible looking at the bulldozed ditch now running through there.

There's also the possibility, now that I've viewed some of the maps from the link you supplied. that the factory complex is the Brick Works. I'm still weighing the vector lines of sight from a presumed pic location taking depth distortion into consideration.

Here's the possible man-made diversion 'chute' to which I referred:

http://maps.library.utoronto.ca/datapub/digital/34(Toronto)_1909.htm

Since it's not on the 'panoramic pic' it becomes a point of related interest trying to gauge the lay of the valley at that time, and how it started to change by human intervention.

That the plant sat on this 'diversion' is conspicuous, but not convincing. Note that the rail siding isn't displayed on this map. The cartography may be a few years lagging publication.

But note this peculiarity:

See the 'wye' and sidings at the mouth of Rosedale Valley?

Can anyone vector the 'panoramic pic' epicentre from this? The original premise of being on the Bloor Viaduct alignment on the Danforth side seems to fit with what this map displays.

 

[r937]

Here's the possible man-made diversion 'chute' to which I referred:

you have indeed spotted both the head race and tail race of the middle mill

 

[Koolgreen]

1918 http://maps.library.utoronto.ca/datapub/digital/G3400s631261904Sheet341918.jpg

more here -- http://maps.library.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/files.pl?idnum=820


not sure which one you're talking about, can you give a more precise location? maybe zoom in with google maps and post the link?

i'm familiar with all three Taylor mills -- the lower at Todmorden mills, middle which became the Domtar plant, upper in E.T.Seton park -- and also know the location of several of their mill races

see http://rudy.ca/mill-race.html


you mean the middle mill, and yes, the track is still there, embedded in Beechwood Drive


this shot is probably taken from beechwood looking south at the Domtar plant....just caught a bit of it....this scene from a shoot of the old woject cbc series...

 

[steveintoronto]

you have indeed spotted both the head race and tail race of the middle mill

When I was a kid, first arriving in Toronto, I used to stare at the Lower Don, and be amazed at how 'Nature had made the river so straight'. lol...it wasn't until much later that I discovered the obvious. What's notable is how much the Don River (even compared to the Humber) meanders, so when a water course fed from it appears so straight on the map, it immediately raises my sixth sense.

Many thanks for that, and the observations I've proffered might yet have to be revised further. I'm just incredibly immersed in the wonderment of how many of these pics spark the need to find maps and references to make sense of what the pics show. Proportions in pics due to lens distortions may misrepresent context, but the details don't.

I'm trying to do the impossible by trying to imagine myself in these views, even as I look at them through eyes over a century old, albeit even camera 'eyes'. We've lost so much. Is that a 'zero sum game?'. We'll never know until we can quantify it all.

Addendum: @Koolgreen Sorry I missed your post as the content was inside the quoting box. I thought, as I've done myself a few times too many, that you clicked 'reply' and then 'post' right after, but the 'quote' tag was instead misplaced.

All very valuable information from many posters. I had to chuckle on "Wojeck" though. Late Sixties...and I remember it.

 

[r937]

this shot is probably taken from beechwood looking south at the Domtar plant...

yes, from Beechwood Dr, but looking north ;o)

 

[gimbal]

The two people at the bottom left are standing almost exactly in the spot were the Prince Edward/Bloor viaduct was constructed. At top centre is the Glenn Rd. bridge.

 

[steveintoronto]

The two people at the bottom left are standing almost exactly in the spot were the Prince Edward/Bloor viaduct was constructed. At top centre is the Glenn Rd. bridge.

There's a lot on the Glen Rd bridge too in the Virtual Reference Library, here's the first and second ones:

https://static.torontopubliclibrary.ca/da/images/LC/pictures-r-4527.jpg

http://historicbridges.org/ontario/glenroad/historical2_large.jpg

 

[r937]

The two people at the bottom left are standing almost exactly in the spot were the Prince Edward/Bloor viaduct was constructed.

confirm... directly across from them is Sugar Loaf Hill

 

[Goldie]

Exchange Bldg., Wellington E of Yonge, 1856

 

[Goldie]

Temple Building and City Hall, 1913 Ont. Archives

 

[nostalgic]

From the top of the Temple Building, 1913. I think the tall building in the distance is the CPR Building at King and Yonge.

 

[Goldie]

Another building at King-Yonge.
Dominion Bank, King St. W., s.w. cor. Yonge St., 1879 TPL

 

[pman]

Too bad it was demolished.