[nostalgic]

By coincidence I just read a fascinating piece about the effect of summer heat in Toronto – social, economic, etc. – before A/C. Here's an interesting excerpt:

"Sturtevant's fans and blowers, together with vertical ventilation shafts and high industrial ceilings were adopted by many of the large industrial and commercial buildings of the city in the 1890s and early 1900s. The Temple Building, for example, the city's first real skyscrapers, had Sturtevant fan ventilation by 1898, drawing its air supply from the roof, above the worst of the city's heat, dust and smoke. The 1898 City Hall on Queen Street also used Sturtevant fans. These were placed in the building's basement while the clock tower functioned as a vertical air intake shaft. The fans in the basement could supply 120,000 cubic feet/minute [56.6 cubic metres/second], enough to change the building's air supply in eight minutes. Filter screens in the basement provided dust filtration on the intake air. By 1905 a humidifier had been added to regulate the building's internal humidity in winter. The King Edward Hotel was the only other Toronto building to be so equipped."

I hadn't thought of the city hall clock tower as an air shaft.

http://www.yorku.ca/anderson/geog3040 f11/chapter 6 draft heat.pdf

 

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

"By coincidence I just read a fascinating piece about the effect of summer heat in Toronto – social, economic, etc. – before A/C. Here's an interesting excerpt:"
QUOTE: nostalgic.

There was/is a rather huge fan within the south basement of Massey Hall for reasons of ventilation.


Regards,
J T

 

[nostalgic]

On this cold May day (with wind chill?) I keep thinking about Toronto heat waves before A/C and how stifling hot it must have been in public buildings. Here's East General in 1928, baking in the sun, no shade anywhere, all the windows open, but with small openings and no cross ventilation.

 

[LowPolygon]

By coincidence I just read a fascinating piece about the effect of summer heat in Toronto – social, economic, etc. – before A/C.

http://www.yorku.ca/anderson/geog3040 f11/chapter 6 draft heat.pdf

that is a extremely interesting excerpt. thanks for posting it. i also like his other chapter, which details how the industrial pollution in Toronto's downtown was so toxic in the 1950s that it had the effect of dissolving women's stockings! it seemed almost like a joke until i looked up the Globe and Mail articles on it.

"Chapter portion on the Great Hosiery Disaster of 1952 from Richard Anderson":

http://www.yorku.ca/anderson/geog 2220/hosiery holes.pdf

 

[thecharioteer]

Arch erected at University Avenue and College Street to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (the future George V and Queen Mary), 1901 (TPL):

 

[Lone Primate]

Arch erected at University Avenue and College Street to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (the future George V and Queen Mary), 1901 (TPL)

That's really kind of cool. Any idea how long it lasted?

 

[thecharioteer]

That's really kind of cool. Any idea how long it lasted?

Not sure, but probably only for the visit (given it was probably wood and plaster).

There was also the more famous arch at Richmond and Bay:

 

[nostalgic]

It seems that building an arch to honour a visitor was the thing to do back in the day. Here's one at Bloor and Avenue Rd in 1900 (for what I don't know).

And two on King St for the visit of Edward VII in 1860. Masonic arch in the foreground, Orange arch in the background. (TPL site)

 

[DSC]

The IODE was founded in 1900, this from their website:
http://www.iode.ca/OUR-HISTORY.aspx

IODE was founded in 1900 by Margaret Polson Murray of Montreal who recognized a need for loyal support for Canadians departing to fight with the Empire forces in South Africa.


She encouraged the formation of a federation of women to promote patriotism, loyalty and service to others by sending telegrams to the mayors of Canada’s major cities urging them to call together the prominent women of their communities. The first chapter was formed in Fredericton, New Brunswick on January 15, 1900. The next month in Montreal, a draft constitution and the aims and objectives of a national organization were reviewed. Chosen were a name, Federation of the Daughters of the Empire, a motto, “For Queen and Country”, followed by a prayer and badge. Primary chapters were formed in quick succession across Canada, as were children’s (later called junior) chapters.


In 1901, the head office moved to Toronto, the federation was incorporated as Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire and Children of the Empire Junior Branch, and Edith Boulton Nordheimer was elected the first National President.

 

[nostalgic]

I had no idea – thanks for the information DSC.

 

[thecharioteer]

It seems that building an arch to honour a visitor was the thing to do back in the day.

Visit of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to Belfast 1849:



Visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Ireland 1886:




Visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to Winnipeg 1901:




Dewey Arch, Madison Square, New York, 1899-1901:

 

[thecharioteer]

Back to Toronto.

Visit of the Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, 1872. King Street East, looking west at Church:

 

[thecharioteer]

Happy Victoria Day!

1870, (labelled in the TPL: Queen Victoria monument in Queen's Park at the head of University Avenue):



1910:



1913:

 

[DSC]

Queen Victoria's Birthday was subsequently known as Empire Day and then (now) Commonwealth Day. This from Toronto Archives. Item 5322 - Empire Day, club drill by girls, general, above - May 22, 1925

 

[DSC]

From Wikipedia:

Clementina Trenholme introduced Empire Day in Canadian schools, first in Dundas, Ontario in 1898, on the last school day before 24 May, Queen Victoria's birthday. It was celebrated more widely throughout Canada each year. A typical Empire Day in Canadian schools occupied the entire day and included inspirational speeches by trustees and songs such as The Maple Leaf Forever and Just Before the Battle.[2]

Empire Day was instituted in the United Kingdom in 1904 by Lord Meath, and extended throughout the countries of the Commonwealth. This day was celebrated by lighting fireworks in back gardens or attending community bonfires. It gave the Queen's people a chance to show their pride in being part of the British Empire.

Empire Day was also celebrated in the Cape Colony before the Boer War and thereafter throughout the Union of South Africa. General Jan Smuts was born on Empire Day in 1870 (24 May 1870).

In 1958 Empire Day was renamed Commonwealth Day, in accordance with the new post-colonial relationship between the nations of the former empire.

The National Council in Canada of the Royal Commonwealth Society expressed in a 1973 letter to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau that Commonwealth Day should be observed on the same day throughout all countries of the Commonwealth. They asked that this notion be included on the agenda of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in Ottawa that year. The item eventually appeared on the agenda of the 1975 meeting, and it was agreed that the Commonwealth Secretariat select a date, preferably one without previous historical connotations. At the meeting of officials in Canberra in 1976, the Canadian proposal of the second Monday in March was adopted.[3]