Cleaning up some drafts over at the Curio Emporium, today's post features a marmalade expert who may look slightly familiar to anyone who has roamed near Sankofa Square over the past few decades... #TOHistory
jbscurioemporium.substack.com/p/april-9-ma...
looking northwest to the Don Mills Rd concrete arch bridge over the East Don, taken from Tumper's Hill, which no longer exists... the West Don, before it was re-routed, joined the East Don just on the other side of the bridge (you can just barely see it)... the wooden pilings on the other side of the river are the beginning of construction of the new Don Mills Rd bridge, and the East Don would be diverted under it in that gap (it's where those canoe sculptures are found today)... in the background, you can see the access road descending from Thorncliffe Park
in case anyone is interested, here's a shot of the old white concrete bridge taken from Tumper's Hill, which was levelled to provide fill for the DVP project (it was where the elephants/molars are today)
#TOhistory
#TOhistory the first Great Toronto Fire
Were Toronto filmgoers in 1960 prepared to enjoy the wonder of "AromaRama" at the Towne Cinema?
@veilletteinto.bsky.social picks up the scent #TOHistory
thedowntowntheatre.substack.com/p/aromarama-...
1952 James Salmon photo of the Sir William Campbell house, Adelaide Street East, north side, head of Frederick St
#OTD March 31 1972, the 1822 Campbell House was moved from Adelaide St East to Queen St West
historic background by @jbcurio.bsky.social jamiebradburnwriting.wordpress.com/2022/03/31/c...
pics of the move by @swanboatsteve.bsky.social stevemunro.ca/2016/08/25/c...
#Toronto #TOhistory
Groundwater spring from top of the ridge in Bridlewood park.
Bridlewood park in 1969 soon after the subdivision was built.
Water finds a way.
Groundwater spring flows from a manmade ridge down into a dry storm pond.
In comparison to a 1969 @torontoarchives.cityof.toronto.ca photo of the same area when the subdivision was 1st developed. The trees have grown certainly.
#LoveTheRavine #Scarborough #ParksTO #TOhistory
looking northeast towards the Glen Road Pedestrian Bridge from the accessibility ramp that leads to it from Bloor St East (there are also stairs at the south end of the bridge, beside the tunnel under Bloor)... down below, Rosedale Valley Road... someone has written HOLD ME on the ramp's railing
GLEN ROAD PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE Morley Callaghan Footbridge "The Glen Road Bridge has served the South Rosedale neighbourhood for over 140 years. The structure is approximately 107 metres (351 feet) long and it spans the Rosedale Ravine, where Castle Frank Brook once flowed before draining into the Don River. Edgar Jarvis was one of Rosedale's earliest developers. He envisioned it as a residential area for the affluent. To connect the neighbourhood to the city, he commissioned a bridge across the ravine. After 1877, a wooden bridge for vehicular traffic was in place, and by 1882, an iron version had replaced it. The City of Toronto annexed South Rosedale five years later and purchased the iron bridge from Edgar Jarvis for $10,000 in 1889. By the 1950s, when the iron bridge was over 60 years old, the City adapted it into a pedestrian-only crossing. It was replaced with a rigid-frame steel structure in 1973. The design is well suited for this type of crossing; the angled legs remove the need for supports on the ravine floor. The Glen Road Bridge is a rare example of this design in Ontario. The bridge was extensively rehabilitated starting in 2020. Designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, 2003." Heritage Toronto 2020
north end of rehabilitated Glen Road Pedestrian Bridge... note suicide barriers... Morley Callaghan plaque on the right
MORLEY CALLAGHAN 22 February 1903 - 25 August 1990 "Morley Callaghan wrote 18 novels and over 100 short stories, all about Canadians. Critically acclaimed around the world, he has been compared with Chekhov and Turgenev. He sold his first story while attending Riverdale Collegiate and worked as a reporter for the Toronto Star during his student years at the University Of Toronto. In 1928 he published his first novel, Strange Fugitive and in 1929 he married Loretto Dee. They lived in Paris - where they were befriended by Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Joyce - then in New York and Pennsylvania until the early thirties, when they returned to Toronto. Callaghan moved to Dale Avenue in 1951. Neighbours often saw and talked to him as he crossed this bridge with his wife and dog, Nikki, then with his dog, then alone until he died in 1990." Toronto Historical Board 1992
Glen Road Pedestrian Bridge
#Toronto #TOhistory
NEW! For Toronto Today @torontotoday.ca I look at the history of attempts to expand Toronto Island/Billy Bishop City Airport. With at least one surprising guest star? #TOHistory
www.torontotoday.ca/local/histor...
Finally a resource on the area, from the Scarborough historical society.
There is more to delve into in this part of Scarborough, an entire lost community in fact, but that must be left for another time.
Today was about a creek and a bridge.
#lovetheravines #highlandcreek #ravineramble #TOhistory
1939 - red circle shows the location of Midland as it crosses the creek. This could very well be the same bridge as in the previous photo.
1954 - even almost 10 years post WW2 suburban and industrial expansion has not yet reached this part of midland ave. The Highland creek flows freely, but not for long.
1965 - the channelization of Highland Creek has begun, the creek east of Midland is now in concrete. The Midland Ave itself is now a proper two lane arterial road.
1985 - The current state of affairs is complete.. The creek east and west of Midland in encased in concrete, Midland Ave has been widened and the new bridge as seen before is in place. Furthermore the Scarborough RT has recently been complete and can be seen mirroring the creek on the south bank.
The aerial photos tell the story of industrialization and channelization.
From idle farm county at the corner of the community of Ellesmere to industrial post war suburban boom.
The roads got bigger and the creek got forgotten.
#lovetheravines #highlandcreek #ravineramble #TOhistory
An image of a boy fishing on the Highland Creek near Midland Ave in 1920-30s.
Highland Creek just east of Midland Ave in 2026 in a concrete channel.
Creek itself has changed much since then. It was wild once, flowing thru sparse farm lands of Scarborough until 1960s when all of ifs branches north of HwY401 were cast in concrete channels.
Below is an example of how its changed in 100 years
#lovetheravines #highlandcreek #ravineramble #TOhistory
Midland crossing Highland Creek in the 1920s on a small wooden bridge.
Current Midland bridge was built over the 1960s channalized creek in 1981. In the background the former Scarborough RT elevated station strutted the road.
Time for a short Pontist based #TOhistory moment.
Midland Ave has crossed West Highland Creek for over a hundred years. Today I was in the area and wanted to quick look at the historical progress.
The comparison is between 1920s and today, 2026.
#lovetheravines #highlandcreek #ravineramble
Side research find: that time RFK Jr. came to Toronto and noted his opposition to a bridge to the island airport.
Toronto Star, October 9, 2003 #TOHistory
another "tout est possible" tag, on a colourful building beside the York Beltline trail... note the separate entrance to the club for birds, with the bouncer's chair momentarily vacant... on the wall at second storey height is a mural of three triangular women's faces looking very judgmental
same location as "tout est possible" -- this jumbo mural of the head of a green striped monster which looks like a bear but also a tiger
this structure commemorates the Caledonia station on the Beltline railway, and might have inspired the designers of today's TTC so-called shelters, ha ha just kidding
this faded, dirty, defaced commemoration has seen better days -- you can make out street names in the inset map, but nothing in the larger Toronto map is legible
remember a couple weeks ago, when it was spring?
here's the York Beltline trail
#Toronto #TOhistory
For those of you enjoying this piece, here's a bonus feature: from the May 3, 1980 edition of the Star, a profile of the PATH and the worry it would become a "city of moles" #TOHistory
Side research find: Maybe it's best if I present this find with no extra commentary, other than I doubt you'd meet Sophia Loren if you signed up.
Varsity, September 16, 1968 #vintagead #TOHistory
Side research find: the president of the Leaside Property Owners Association made it clear in 1970 he really didn't want new residents in his community...especially if they were "new groups."
G&M, July 7, 1970 #TOHistory
Tales of Toronto returns with a 1945 Saturday Night article that goes behind the scenes at the Royal Ontario Museum. #TOHistory
(This seemed like a nice, quick post to do while I'm navigating a late winter cold. Blergh.)
jamiebradburnwriting.wordpress.com/2026/03/09/b...
Final notes;
I'm still not at the end of this. Still looking for info on the actual dates of construction of the dam?
When the woolen mill closed down?
How long the family owned the property?
And many more.
But for now this is the end of this #TOHistory tread.
Thank you for joining me.
But we're not done just yet.
Badgerow name lives on in Badgerow Ave in Leslieville.
Renamed in his honor, it was named Franklin St previous.
This renaming happed soon after his 1892 passing, Toronto Star list the street under his name in 1895.
Family lives on, but our journey end
#TOHistory
The most famous sun of Martin and Elizabeth, George.
An insert from Canadian Biographical dictionary. Page 365 https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.08545/5
His 1982 obituary in the Globe.
Meet George Washington Badgerow..
Teacher, Lawyer, Politician and namesake of a Leslieville street.
He taught school, practiced law and finally served two terms as a Liberal member of Provincial Parliament for the Riding of York East.
He is buried at Mount Pleasant in Toronto.
#TOHistory
Elizabeth Harrington Badgelow
But not all was lost for the Badgerow family name. For humble Martin and his wife Elizabeth had 6 children of their own.
Some left their own marks, from postmaster to judges and even politicians.
But the one son central to Toronto, who etched the name onto the map will be the focus.
#TOHistory
Plaque at Oliver's grave in Greenwood Conservation area, his former farmstead now turned into a protected parkland. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/133432252/oliver-badgero
But now to Oliver Badgerow, outlaw brother.
He was 1 of 14 siblings of Martin (property owner) who immigrated with his family from NY state in 1810.
He joined McKenzie rebellion of 1837 & then was a member of Markham Gang until he was caught for stealing a saddle and serving 7 years.
#TOHistory
The gang had a reputation that even warranted a book detailing their history and a Wikipedia inclusion.
Sadly the public library only has one copy and I've not been able to get a hold of it.
archive.org/details/mayh...
#TOHistory
Toronto Star - Jan 8th 1921 Even some 60years after the events. The Star wrote about the Gang.
Toronto Star, Nov 21st 1925 Tales retold of the Markham Gang.
Toronto Star - May 18th 1982 Even a 120 years later stories lived on.
Toronto Star - Oct 3rd 2004 Even into the 21st century their stories lived on.
Badgerow family name is tied a rather seedy past in the area via his brothers affiliation with "Markham Gang"
A notorious 1840s gang of well off farmers who staged robberies, cattle thefts & high jacking.
Information is hard to find on the brothers, but 1 brother does stand out, Oliver
#TOHistory
An insert from Canadian Biographical dictionary. Page 365 https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.08545/5
Martin Harris Badgerow was a farmer from a well off family who migrated to Ontario as a child.
His story is rather ordinary, but his family's is anything but. From rebels to outlaws, from lawyers to politicians. The name is literally edge into the city maps.
Join me as we explore more.
#TOhistory
Only photo of Martin that appears anywhere I've looked.
A name on the map leads to a man in history.
Meet, Martin Harris Badgerow, the owner
Born 1808 in Bristol, New York. His family moved York County in 1810. He acquired property in 1843 & started woolen factory soon after. The ruins could date to 1843.
But there is so much more
#TOHistory #HighlandCreek
www.findagrave.com/memorial/666...
The pond appear on the same spot. Note Danforth Road in the bottom corner, this is the current allotment of Military trail. This is how we know we are in the right place.. And here we got a name and a function. Martin Badgerow and Wollen Factory/Mill.
The 1981 metro Toronto street map still shows the pond, but the pond has been gone for several years by this point.
A tale of 2 maps.
These maps are of the same area, 120 years apart.
1st map is 1860 county of York map - maps.library.utoronto.ca/hgis/countym...
2nd map is 1981 City street map. Pond is show, but the map is false, pond was drained for years
But 1st map tells a #TOhistory story of #HighlandCreek
