Local History
As a neighborhood in transition, it is as important to know its history as it is to prepare for its future.
Fort York | Streets | Parks | Garrison Creek | Industry
Fort York
The niagara community was originally part of the 'Fort York' military reserve.
In 1793, York was established as the temporary capital of the Province of Upper Canada .The lands along Lake Ontario between Peter St (the west limit of York) all the way to modern Dufferin Street were reserved for the military. The first British military post in Toronto was Fort York, established near the foot of modern Bathurst Street in 1793. This location was chosen for the fort because at that time the Toronto Islands were a peninsula attached to the mainland; therefore there was only one entrance to the harbour, at its west end. People called it "the Fort at York," or "the Garrison at York" -- or just "the Garrison." Since then, the shoreline has been moved nine hundred metres to the south through lake fill operations between the 1850s and the 1920s.
As early as the 1820s, military officials wanted to replace Fort York with a new garrison due to its condition and small size.Accordingly, Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Colborne had plans developed for the 'New Fort' location. In 1833 Lieutenant Governor Sir John Colbourne opened lots for sale between Bathurst and the creek, hoping to fund construction of the New Fort . On its rebirth as the City of Toronto in 1834 the city's western boundry was set at Bathurst, taking in part of what was still the Military Reserve. Some lots there were granted to officers, encouraging them to settle.
Today the Officers' Quarters(on the exhibition grounds)is the sole surviving component of the 'New Fort', now known as Stanley Barracks. One of the City's oldest surviving buildings, the Officers' Quarters is an early stone structure in Toronto. As an example of early-19th century military architecture, it is unique in the city.
Streets
Strachan
Reverend doctor John Strachan arrived in York in 1812 a deacon and became
a bishop in 1839. In 1850 he travelled to London England and came back with
£15,000 (pounds sterling), a new charter from Queen Victoria, to back
a new college: Trinity. He bought 20 acres north of Queen Street and Trinity
College rose in 1851 The gate can be seen from Strachan Avenue looking north
to Queen St. Strachan Avenue was once a grand street; twice the width of
most city streets and lined with trees.
In 1925 on theUniversity of Toronto campus a new Trinity College rose. The old Trinity college stood, seeing other uses, until torn down for Trinity Bellwoods Park in 1956.
Trinity College (above)
Canada's Digital Collections National Gallery of Canada 2001.
Tecumseth
Named after the great Shawnee warrior chief who fought in the war of 1812.
Niagara
Named after the former military capital of upper canada.
Wellington
Named after the Duke of Wellington.
Parks
Stanley Park
named for Frederick Arthur, Baron Stanley of Preston, 16th Earl of Derby
-- Governor General 1888 to 1893, also recalled in the Garrison's Stanley
Barracks, Vancouver's Stanley Park and, more famously, hockeys' Stanley
Cup
Victoria Memorial Mark
tucked south of Wellington, east of Bathurst. Much of the park was once
occupied by the Garrison Burying Ground. In 1794 Elizabeth Simcoe's daughter
Katherine, age 15 months, was the first person buried there; the last was
Private James McQuarrick, in 1863. There are a few headstones naming the
dead, many worn beyond legibility, gathered beneath a monument erected in
1902 . A bust sits on top of the monument: a soldier, his cap cradled in
his arm, his face griefstricken.
Garrison Creek
Another important original feature of the area is the Garrison Creek .
The creek ran from above Bloor to the waterfront. North of Bloor the creek was wide enough to use a boat and bridges were erected to provide passage over the valley .In the 1880s Garrison Creek was sent underground in a sewer starting in the south and finally by 1913 the north end of Garrison Creek had been sent underground. The City's motive was that streets were meant to run straight.
Above: Photos of Garrison creek/sewer (City of Toronto Archives).
Today the area shows only scattered remnants of the Garrison Creek. At Walnut Street and Wellington a plaque set in the sidewalk shows that path from the lakefront to Davenport Road. Niagara curves gently southeast-- laid out more than 160 years ago along the old creek's east bank.
Industry
In the 1850's the area became a busy industrial area and created a need
for housing in the area.
Many of the rowhouses and cottages were built in the late 1800's
Many families that settled in this area were employed by the businesses
that occupied the factories.
Some of the businesses that existed were:
45 Niagara St Lancashire Dynamo & Motor Co
93 Niagara Dart Union Co (pipe couplings)
107-109 Niagara National Casket Co
109 Niagara Dominion Manufacturing (caskets)
Foot of Tecumseth Municipal Abbatoir
705 Wellington St W Western Cattle Market
55 Strachan John B Smith and Sons
915 King St W Massey-Harris Co
The area that created the industrial factories now sees them being turned into loft spaces for live/work.
