News from the Archives v05-3

News from the Archives v05-3

• Created by: Albert Fulton
• Date: 1996-09-01
• Provenance: Collected by members of Toronto Island Connections group, scanned by Edward English, OCR by Eric Zhelka, PDF by Eric Light
• Notes: v05-3

Vol 5 No 3 September 1, 1996 One Dollar
GARDEN TOURS
Many thanks to the friendly gardeners who let us visit their hideaways and share their gardening know-how on the last 3 Sunday afternoons in August. We were blessed with 3 perfect summer days, and our visitors came from far and wide–even Wales, France, and New Zealand! We heard many, many favorable comments about the gardens and the Island Experience. Enthused one lady, “I much prefer the natural gardens here to the formal ones at Centre Island!”. A common question: “How much does the tour cost?/I “Nothing, ma’am.” Future fund raising potential? Maybe house tours also?
Gardens open for one or more of the tours: 32 Omaha, 12 Nottawa, 5,12 Ojibway, 4,11 Oneida, 11 Wyandot, 3,13,23,33 Seneca, 28 Lakeshore, 2 Withrow, 1 Channel, 4 Second. Thanks again, folks! You provided great p.r. for the Island, and our numerous visitors contributed to the local economy by pausing for refreshment at the WIA and Rectory cafes. Let’s do it again, maybe during an earlier month?
A chance encounter between Vivian Pitcher and Patricia Singer while waiting in line for a cashier at a garden centre in the spring of 1994 led Patricia to the Island garden tour that summer. She was in the midst of preparing a book listing private Ontario gardens which are open by appointment. Her 20B-page book, The Good Garden Guide–Ontario’s Outstanding Gardens, was published by Boston Mills Press this spring. Of the more than 200 gardens described, 4 are on the Island–11 Wyandot, 4 Second, 2 Withrow, 12 Ojibway. From Patricia:
Hop on a ferry at Queen’s Quay terminal and in ten minutes or so you will disembark in a world far from the one you left behind. Wander through a myriad of tiny streets no wider than a sidewalk. Shaded by huge old sycamores [sic] overgrown with ivy, higgledy-piggledy houses, reminiscent of a once brightly coloured toy town, are now slightly chipped, and utterly enchanting. Faded turquoise, hot pink, yellow and blue colour the buildings and gardens alike, where giant sunflowers, delphiniums, artichokes, thistles and roses are grown in orderly tangle along with tomatoes, beans, strange sculptures and children.
TRIMARANS
A major event in the history of boatbuilding on Algonquin occurred on July 27 when Little Wing was launched from Matt McDonald’s 4-wheeled trailer into the lagoon. Frustrated while gunkholing with conventional hulls and their deep drafts, Chris Perdue decided that a multi hull was the way to go. Mter obtaining plans from Ed Horstman of California, he started work in his boatshed behind B Nottawa 9 years ago. The result is a 23′ trimaran having a 171 beam, displacement of 1600 lbs, and drawing a mere 22″ of water (great for Sunfish Cut). She is built of cold moulded I’ wide strips of l/B” mahogany plywood laid diagonally, with 3 laminations on the main hull and 2 on the amas (pontoons). A useful feature is the folding mechanism so that each ama can be snugged up alongside for more convenient mooring or trailering. The forward end of the cabin contains a head, sink, and V-berth for two. Fair winds and happy sailing, Chris & Jill!
Little Wing is reminiscent of a previous trimaran built on Algonquin by Ray Lye at 29 Seneca and launched in the fall of 1961. From The Toronto Star, October 23, 1961, by Constance Mungall (7 St Andrews):
It’s pretty late in the season for sailing, but just a few days ago a new type of boat was launched in Toronto harbor. It is a trimarran [sic], first of its kind on the Great Lakes. The 24-foot sailboat with three hulls and a 14-foot beam was built on the island by Ray Lye [29 Seneca] and Gene Greathead [5 Ojibway].
It is a close relative of the type of outrigger canoe which the daring deep sea sailors, the Polynesians, used to explore the ALGONQUIN ISLAND ARCHIVES c/o Albert Fulton 5 Ojibway Ave Toronto Island MSJ 2C9 203-0921 or 537-5006
Pacific from Southeast Asia to Peru. On a deck above double hulls the catamarrans carried whole families with food and water to three or four weeks. and pigs to stock the new lands were to the POIltO()ns. This new three-hull boat has the stability of a compared to a unicycle. And it space. Three foot decks out from main hull to pontoons on either tent could fit over cockpit and side decks to make ”””_I-‘LL’/’, space for six people. It could even, points out family man Lye, be converted with stanchions and lifelines to a ……………… playpen. It has stowage space in wing decks and in the forward end where a small cabin, convertible to a berth, contains a toilet. Another berth can be made up aft.
It is for the size. The have $1,500 on best materials for their trimarran. It could be cheaper–tlley have mahogany and and bronze fittings. And with all solid family virtues it have sailed up to 20 top speed a big motor cruiser. When rigged it carries 220 square feet of sail.
The trimarran is the third boat Lye has built for his sailing family. Five of his six children sail. All are members of the Queen City Club near their Algonquin Island home. Only wife Marg and Joanne, go along for the ride. Daughter Linda, a school teacher of 20, sails her own Firefly. John, 18, is sailing instructor for the junior club of the QCYc. He and Richard, crew on Internationals out of the club. Eric, shares his crew mates the Aphrodite Cup for sailors in Toronto area clubs. and Mike, 10, sail an pram their father built in the
room the of one March and “I got nsed to sawdust and decided it was clean dirt anyway,” Mrs. Lye. “The boat came in handy down as a coffee table. The kids often sat in it it got crowded in the room, and learned a lot helping their dad build it.”
Partner Greathead also wide sailing experience. He sailed to Toronto via England and the nOI)ean. His trip, in a conventional 36-foot “White Seal”, took IWO and a The Lye-Greathead is first on the lakes, but it will soon be joined by others. partners intend to build a second. Still another is under construction in Toronto now. There are about 100 on the Pacific coast, most of them from San Francisco. Though based on the ancient idea, the trimarran is by new materials and methods. old catamarrans were 60 to 80 feet long. Some were over 100 feet, but, lacking modern of and hull they were comparatively and not as efficient as the modern versions. Lye saw of the tri.””” .. “,,,,,’! He sent for sketchy plans from the in California and worked out his own
Accompanying the article were 3 photos of the boat. One showed and Mike working on the main huH their yard at 29 Seneca. Ray me he named the boat Kia Hawaiian for Ilong ones/. Linda (Poulin) tells me that a friend saw the boat written up the Weekend Magazine while she was travelling in England! Neither Ray nor Linda has a copy–has anyone it?
Although was a daysailer with an open cockpit, Ray Marg did quite a bit of cruising, always heading down to Picton and Hay Bay the holidays. they sold the boat to the Schoenborns (13 Ojibway), who in turn sold her to a member of the Multihulls Club the Outer Harbour. Sadly, about 8 years ago, one of amas was stolen during the and
2 are presently out of service Colborne, Ont.
Lyes lived at 29 Seneca from 1952 until 1970 and then sold to Murray Donna Seymour, who built another sailboat on the property. christened her Taron and launched her 1971. According to different sources, other boats built by Algonquin residents their launch dates were: Fiddlers Green, Alan & Joan White, 4 1960; Touche and/or Porn Porn, Al 9 Wyandot, c.1960; Frank Lawton, 18 Omaha, 1965; Eryngo, Frank Mary Madricl<, 8 Nottawa, 1967; Owl the Pussycat, Otis Staples, Seneca, c.1968. Is of this information incorrect? Do you of any others? story of Fiddlers Green by Barnett appeared in the 1, 1994 of this newsletter. LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS precious Pitchers are responsible for the new improved covered version of the Bench. account the history of this valuable by Krzyzanowski appeared the March 1, 1996 issue of newsletter. And Ferry Shack! At end of term as chair of committee, Doreen Harnilton/s generous parting to the community was the donation provide the recent spectacular interior renovation. Greg Butler and McCusker Gloria Pierce) carried out the work, at bargain as their donations. Greg installed kick-proof plywood painted the walls benches. Sheila designed and painted the flowery motif (make sure to check the back of the door). folks are an inspiration to the rest of us for further improvements around and about. me a note if you about other neighbourhood enhancements mention in future ~"''''u ... ,''. A few Doreen to our COltIlITlUnl1t could use some help. A resident usmg our persistent nocturnal urinator, and the ambience is gradually freshening. Reactivating the interior lighting would probably help discourage him or her, and an exterior light over door would add a cheerful touch. With a sensor, cost of hydro would be Having window open would also help. If anyone renovation mode has an opening window to discard of approximately size, please Doreen or myself. Eventually we may be to provide a screen door as well, creating a comfortable to sit and read awrutmg an in the rain. the province nor city has shown any interest in the entirely One end would make an excellent Ward's of the Any The Shack is a significant architectural relic. It was built 1916, and its flared eaves are consistent with the the charming neighbouring buildings of time--Ward's Hotel, Wiman Baths, Wiman Shelter, others. Only the survives. 8x10 photo of the newly constructed 'waiting shelter was to the Archives by Wilson and Hustler. It shows a wood-shingled ,uUJ'UL", at the ends of the pole, hinged windows on the north and west sides, and an exterior bench. This last would be useful to recreate. OUR by Cartwright Dunbar Following is an excerpt from a description of life of Henry and Cartwright and their 6 children at #3 Pawnee (the second east of the Filtration Plant). A copy of Frances' account was recently donated to the Archives by sister Madge. includes floor plans of the 2-storey building and a site plan, and Miss Cartwright donated a photo mother standing on the front verandah c.1908. The attractive wood-shingled cottage remained Cartwright family until it was demolished in 1958. Additional photos of #3 and of most other homes at Centre and are in the Archives. My frrst remembrance of the island house was when I was seven. I went with dad one Saturday afternoon in the summer of 1907 to see the on the site at 3 Pawnee Centre Island. Pawnee was a one sided street building lots only on had been established some time and were only one or two lots vacant. The gardens of its east Pawnee. All had low fences with and all had a wood-shed with their outdoor privy hidden inside. I've heard dad say he picked #3 because it had a Balm-of Gilead tree in Our front gateway with an arbour trellis was at one side of the tree, and the side on the other. A few years there was a cement laid down the centre of Pawnee and willow planted at intervals on either I noted that these were from 1 to 3 inches in diameter. I had been told how easily willow cuttings grew, most of these sprouted and grew. There were over the years but 60 years later there were a few still in line if you took a sighting from the end of the rock breakwater towards the lagoon, though every other landmark had gone. The on the island was low, puddley in in anticipation feet of was to be pumped in the lagoons were carpenter who the house built at the back the lot, and he lived in 'tool shed end' the summer he was building the house. I next saw the house in the following 1908. It was and there it stood on its six foot piles in its own pond. We to into it over stout placed end to on nail kegs. I remember lying on my tummy on verandah a catfish at its nest that was around the corner post. Some years later I remember digging round that post wondering if I would fmd the skeleton. For a year or two the promised three feet sand had been put in by the sandsucker, we children would dig up a nail had been buried. The house was connected to both water and gas mains that were laid down when the vacant lots began to I think the had a gas stove, but two of the six rooms ever had gas Coal and candles were used I seem to remember the water boiler and gas did not go with hot and cold water went in at the same time. Also the gas fixtures lighting. The one in the ""',\,. .. " .. k .. ",'Ir",t affair and some years later we had a gas iron that was connected to one bracket by a rubber hose. The gas stove mats under them for insulation. The man came days a week. I the ice had been cut from Long Pond for we did not use it in drinking water. There was no pan to empty for a hole had been cut in the floor and the ice dripped away to the sand below. any old-timers would like to read the other 22 pages of Mrs Dunbar's fascinating account life at Centre Island mentions many names), you may do so at the Archives. HALLOWEEN CONFESSIONS by Peter Lye, 1995, (formerly of 1 Nottawa) A Raid at Recess, 1954. About a quarter a mile west of through dense brush, sat Chetwood Terrace. These had been used as a barracks the Norwegian expatriate air force during w.w.n and now provided temporary housing during the post-war boom. Its inhabitants, I now know, had included actress Liv Ullman and her family, but the airmen had gone and I had never seen the older lady who had supposedly sicked her dogs on US poor Island children. Recess at I.P.S. was girls on the east wall, boys on the the school an H. This was junior recess for 1-4. Grades 5-8 took a We numbered about 40 of 100 grade 1-4ers, and we were definitely out of bounds. first went through a window and the sound of glass was added to the cacophony of howling guard dogs. The of younger children like myself was all but drowned out by the chant of the rock-throwing, confident eight and nine year oIds: "Kill the witch!" This unauthorized sortie didn't seem so far from the war games we played every recess; the sharpened stick with which I defended myself from the dog just across the dead-wood fence was only one step from my toy gun. Some the older boys had easily turned us into a mob with the tale of the witch and the dogs and injured comrades. But this was not a game; pretty soon every pane of the living room window was smashed and the spectral pack turned the particular hound that was jumping and yelping at me. ten minute recess was not only for the innocents inside Chetwood, but for me! I never climbed that fence, I ran away, back to the my weapon in the grass as I ran. I was late for class, and the others straggled in as I made a explanation to the incredulous teacher. I don't know if anyone was harmed, or who paid for those broken windows. At a school reunion no one would admit to taking I how a mob could and just how close to the surface are our darker instincts. because the this threw on school I was never to day I haven't a word about this nightmarish Halloween incident in 1954. NOISE POLLUTION From The Toronto Telegram, February 15, 1960, by Andrew MacFarlane: The war of extermination being people who to their untrammeled way of life on Toronto's is bitter, and relentless. The islanders have stuck fiercely to their shrinking beachhead in the of bureaucracy's bulldozers. Bucking tugboats and cable ferries have not budged them. Threatened with airy-ferry funiculars and submarine cross-channel crawl-trenches, they remained steadfast and stouthearted. But intelligence has reached me today of a new and devilish plot against this hardy that may drive them all the wintry bay. Never in the annals of this brutal ~'p"",,,'" has such a demoniaca1 gambit been unleashed. The immensity of its inhumanity the They are trying to rock 'n roll the into "'''lll ... ,uVU; Twenty-four-hour-a-day broadcasts beamed from a top-50 commercial radio station's transmitter on the island are being dinned into the residents' ears day and night. They cannot escape, for the broadcasts are received not on radio sets but through telephones, windows, and plumbing. Mrs. Peter Boswell [5 WyandotJ told me: "There is no place we can go to away from it. me, I was rocking and all last The of my bed pick up top ten tunes and the news and whatever else they're broadcasting. I put my on pillow it starts. And it just goes shrieking right through your eardrums." Another islander woke up at three o'clock one morning to sounds of riotous song, dance and laughter. He put on his gown and for neighbor's house to see why no one had invited him to the party. On the sidewalk he met neighbor, bound for his house on the same There was no party. It was all of Plot. One of them has the island. The other is thinking about going. Mr. Lawrence Reid [3 Seneca] can record the station's output without a microphone. He just holds a wire into his tape recorder in his hand. He gets the same results putting the bare end of wire on anything metallic in house. The most horrifying experience so far has been suffered by a woman resident. She was seated in her bathroom when a voice suddenly boomed the toilet: HAnd now the news!" Throughout Algonquin Island, residents report that their party-line telephone conversations are often out in a tide of top tunes. "We about it," said one. "But it's not so funny when you have to live it all the time." Who are the shadowy behind this latest plot? I have my suspicions, but they cannot yet be disclosed. I simply record the diabolical facts as another page in the history of the savage times in which we live. The two CHUM towers were located the meadow to the SW of the AIA Clubhouse, and the white equipment building was across the from 3 Wyandot. The maintenance attendant, Frank Norris, and wife Grace, lived at 17 Wyandot. RAY & VERA'S NEW HOUSE Congratulations to Ray Putt and Vera Baker for their improvements in both architecture and landscaping on Seneca. It's a Viceroy home, and Ray & Vera claim to be very happy with the results. (I get no commission on future sales!) The complete shell, including roofing, siding, insulation, windows and interior framing arrived on one barge load. The crew moved into a trailer on site, worked seven days a week, and assembled the structure exactly two weeks! In case anyone thinks that the 1900 sq ft limit on Algonquin in our new zoning is inadequate for a substantial family home. take a careful look at the new 23 Seneca. It has 5 bedrooms plus study, 2 bathrooms, a spacious feel with the cathedral ceiling, and the floor area is 1750 sq With their low-maintenance new home, Ray & Vera should safe from type of hazard encountered by a previous occupant the old house. From The Globe Mail, April 29, 1963: (In the days before spellcheck--how many errers can you detect?) Alvin, squirrel, rabid or was he defending his nest? Whatever the answed, Alvin is in a Toronto Humane Society because he attacked Donald McKay, 40, an Ontario of pub lic re lations officer, while the man sat on the roof of an Algonquin Island house. ' Mr. McKay moving a a windaw in Ave. about 6 p.m. when he encoutered Alvin, the pet his landlady. Ray Putte. had taken part of the' cover ing off, and at that point a freighter' was passing by. I picked UP my binoculars to get i better . look; I was sitting on roof at the time, of course," McKay 'continued. I "The squireU came scamper around the corner of the roof and crawled up my jeans: I was used to him a ·bit. He used to crawl up on my should er from time to time-but this time he my leg." With his hand he off truculent squirrel,. Alvin ran up back bit, . his neck. Annoyed, Mr. 'McKay' flung it 1;>ack on the roof. At this point Alvin sank his teeth into Mr. McKay’s thumb. and hung on. Mr. McKay shook the squirrel off and, with Alvin’ in hot pursuit. fled through a hole in the window
covering.
His thumb oleeding, Mr Mc Kay. aboard a Toronto; Harbor Police launch to mainland. then to St. Michael’s: Hospital, where he was given: an anti-tetanus injection. ‘
Meanwhile, Toronto Humane . Society Inspector Ted Brant trapped Alvin in a nest he wasl bUilding between the pane and’ screen on a s~cond-floor window.1
Inspector Frank Hibbitti picked up Alvin at midnight Sat-! urday and brought him to To·! ronto. If he dies in 14 days, hisl
will be sent for examina tion rabies. . If he lives, Alvin will set free in a . somewhere – probably as away as possible from Queen’s Mr. McKay works.
#23 Seneca was the family cottage jeweller Albert Gabel on the Western Sandbar and on Algonquin after it was moved in 1938. Later it was converted to an official duplex, with the upper and lower units having different city tax assessments. Au.brey Ireland, well-known estate and mortgage broker for many of the apartment and rooming houses at Centre and Hanlan’s owned 23
from 1958 to 1972. Ray & Ruth Putt moved 320 Lake Shore to when the former was demolished 1958. Front and rear photos taken on the Sandbar of the 31 floated over to Algonquin are in Archives.
OWEN STAPLES (1866-1949)
The current exhibition at the Market Gallery (until October 20) features the work of this Toronto artist. Included are paintings of the city with Island scenes in the foreground, as well as paintings of the Algonquin lagoon Ward’s Beach. When the present RCYC clubhouse was rebuilt in 1922 after the fire, Mr Staples was commissioned to paint the 9’x30′ lunettes at the ends of
the ballroom. His preliminary paintings are on display, one of which is after a painting by the well known marine artist William Armstrong of Hanlan’s Point, who was a great-uncle of Frances Cartwright whom we met earlier in this newsletter. The lucky Cartwrights own a number of Armstrong paintings.
Mr Staples was fortunate to have a wealthy patron in the person of John Ross Robertson, historian and publisher of The Evening Telegram. Mr Staples drew cartoons and illustrations for the Telegram for more than 50 years, and hundreds of his historical drawings appeared in Mr Robertson’s Landmarks of Toronto which he published from 1894 to 1914. Copies of the splendid 6-volume set, with fold-out maps and panoramas, are in the Archives. Volume IV includes Staples illustrations of the original exterior and interior of the Church of St Andrew-by-the-Lake. (Three historical pieces about the church appeared in the June 1, 1996 issue of this newsletter.) Mr Robertson commissioned Mr Staples to paint 11 large scenes of the Toronto waterfront during the period 1793 to 1908, and 2 of these magnificient 10′ works are in the exhibition. Mr Robertson donated them to the city between 1905 and 1914, and one or two of them usually hang at the new City Hall.
A number of history buffs had the good fortune to tour the Staples studio-house and gardens on July 13. The house was designed in the Arts & Crafts style by Mr Staples and another historical illustrator, C W Jeffreys, and was built by Mr Jeffreys’ father in 1904. (Our school history textbooks contained many drawings by C W Jeffreys). Fortunately the property is still occupied by members of the Staples family, and the walls are adorned by a large collection of Staples paintings. If you are interested in walking by, I’ll give you the address.
Owen Staples’ grandson, local artist Rod Staples, has 4 of his own paintings in the current harbour area art exhibition at the Marine Museum (until September 22). The Island is well represented by Mitch Fenton, Judi Frost, Allan Rae (formerly of 3 Nottawa), and Laurie Jones (another freighter). In her autobiographical sketch Laurie states that “freighters arouse and excite me.” Laurie is lucky to have found her ‘man with a boat’!
Incidentally, if you take your car to the Market or environs, a good place to park is the huge St Lawrence Garage, with entrances at the foot of Church and off Y onge. There are 2000 spaces and the Saturday rate is $1 per hour for the first 2 hours. You can pay automatically with a credit card.
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FABERGE IN AMERICA EXHIBITION by David Hustler
David visited the exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York last spring. It will be remounted in New Orleans from December 7 until February 9, and in Cleveland from March 12 until May 11. David is President of the Canadian Enamellist Association, and the following is excerpted from the Spring 1996 issue of The Enamellist. If you are interested, David has a copy of the superb catalogue of the exhibition.
The breathtaking enamelling, the gold, the silver, the jewels, the hardstone carvings, the fantastic eggs, the brilliant unparalleled craftsmanship, all in one exhibit; it was too much to wish for, but here it was. Peter Carl Faberge (1846-1920) was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, son of a jeweller, Gustav Faberge. He was educated as a jeweller and businessman, first in St. Petersburg and later in Dresden, Germany where he studied the great work of decorative art in the Dresden Royal Collections. Contrary to popular belief, Faberge and his brother Agathou and later his four sons who joined the family business, did not make any of the pieces that bear their name. The Faberges stood at the apex of a pyramid, overseeing a design studio and delegating production to a head workmaster, who in turn supervised the execution of all important commissions and farmed out lesser or specialist pieces to subsidiary workshops. Final approval of the finished item, however, lay with Carl Faberge himself.
Faberge’s worldwide reputation is due chiefly to his incomparable series of Imperial Easter eggs produced between 1884 and 1916. Of the 44 eggs known to exist, 19 of them are in this exhibit. Given as an Easter gift first by Czar Alexander III to his wife, the tradition continued with his son Nicholas II, who presented his wife and mother each with one from Easter 1895 to the outbreak of the Russian Revolution in 1917.
Based on his studies of French art objects in the treasury of the Hermitage, Faberge mastered the difficult technique of enamelling in the round. By continuous experimentation, he developed an incredibly varied palette of more than 140 colours. The fruits of his labours can be seen in the amazing and varied Easter eggs on display, and in the other superbly enamelled
the Easter flowers were his most spray made of gold and semi-precious stones set vases of rock crystal to water, to the woven gold basket of Lilies of the Valley, Faberge’s flower creations are unsurpassed. Hardstone animals and figures based on realism or pure flights of are well represented in the exhibit. With over 400 it’s too much to every aspect of this superbly crafted
Jl’Lll”‘-””’ LOUBERT & NELVANA
Excerpted from a Toronto Star article, July 18, 1996,
To anniversary, has assembled an now on of Ontario. There you’ll Care Bears, Little Bear, Rupen The Bear, Eekl The Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, Babar The Elephant, TinTin and Pippi hanging alongside many, many others. Most of the
acetate These frozen were made for a medium between 16,000
a television hour. If nothing else, meant there was lots to choose from.
Nelvana donated to the AGO in recent years–are said to resemble the warehouse in Raiders Of The Lost where Arc of the Covenant was at the end of the movie.
In Nelvana’s case, it’s a quarter-century of animation. Founded in 1971 by Michael Hirsh, Clive Smith and Patrick Loubert, the hugely fum has grown from the original three to 400 Last year, it $56.5 million. In addition to its Toronto production facilities King/Dufferin area, there are offices in Los and Paris.
exhibition at the AGO until November 11. In addition to the eels, the exhibits emphasize mechanics of storyboards, character colour charts, and models.
WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT by Ann Beauregard
Excerpted the Summer 1996 of the Harbour Square Quarterly.
What are we most on the waterfront? President’s Choice, If all goes well, the ULU.l.UJ.lll~ presently demolished at and Lakeshore will be by a 70,000 sq.ft. centre including a The retail entrances will be on Quay and Jarvis with behind, Approval of proposal is still about three months away. Construction start this fall with a
In case you been down that way a new factory outlet They have a huge selection and bedding at very low to Sherbourne Street on Lakeshore. That building will be with a new courier centre. will begin soon. In September East Bayfront Working ‘-‘UJu.lLIJ’UL<,,", will be making a submi"sion to the city proposing the liberalization of the current to allow for the of recreational, entertainment and other commercial uses of this entire area. BICYCLE REGISTRATION Toronto has centre, and this nuisance spread to the Island. Each thousands bikes which they auction off because they cannot locate the owners. police provide an free-of-charge service--fill out a form describing drop it off at police station, and you will get your bike if they it. Forms are available at the Archives. SCAVENGER In late Maya geography class from Cobourg District High School Algonquin and Harbourfront in afternoon. Their on Algonquin was to answer 10 questions length of time, with of students the other couple of pairs of tried to coax some answers from me! questions: ·Watch you walk. How old is the sidewalk? "'Find the that has three windows and flower boxes below How small panes are in the three windows? "'Find a house that has a red door and ".....,.,.."""rt on the window shutters. Beside it is a with blue shutters white sails carved on them. numbers of two houses. Multiply them together. What number do your A hunt with more sophisticated questions was during a Mount Hospital on August 23. Sample questions: "'Drosophila-like to.? "'In what is the Brontosaurus looking? *What are the hours of the Algonquin Island Archives? In case a teacher or camp counsellor wants to go scavenging, copies of the maps and questions are in the Archives. TORONTO ISLAND MARINA TRAIN TOURS the travelogue in late afternoon on August 24, on pulling out of Ward's Station: The pathway on your left is the entrance to the island boardwalk. If you like to enjoy a walk along the you should take particular notice of the foundations of some of the old homes that were once located there. These homes were moved the 1950s to Algonquin Island. Across the lagoon on right is the Queen City Yacht Club, where the entrance fee is $150,000 and $25,000 per year after that. Later we be an even more exclusive yacht club, the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, where the is Prince Edward. The most exclusive yacht club is the Toronto Island Yacht Club on Island. It is most exclusive because the public has no access to it because it is on an island with no OOOl{lel!~er J. J. Muggs, who was a very smart man. During Prohibition he would bring barrels liquor across the lake from the United States, and he would big of salt to the barrels. When the police got hot on his would dump them overboard into the lake and they would sink to bottom. Three days later when the salt had dissolved, the barrels would rise to and he would come and collect them. He did this many years and was very successful, and when crook that, name an island after you. The story of the naming of Muggs Island is somewhat less colourful--see More Than An Island Sally Gibson. woman prepared the scripts called in the season find out the Archives are open. Unfortunately never showed up. RECENT ACQUISITIONS Enid Cridland the results of votes on a variety of matters over past few Bob Johnston (builder 9 Wyandot) donated his original annotated for the Madam Ginsberg fashion shows using male Gonkies in drag which he staged at the QCYC and AlA Clubhouses. Descriptions appeared in the December 1, 1995 issue of this newsletter. The scripts are hilarious! Bob Kotyk and Kay Walker each deposited a carton of their papers pertaining to set-up of the Trust. Copies of correspondence and minutes of meetings a valuable primary source historical to evolution of our governance. With help of Sandy Krzyzanowski, Archives obtained tapes of two lengthy radio interviews with Christopher Pinheiro and one with and Eric Zhelka about the history of the Island entries in the Caribana Eric, an engineer, designed an improvement to the stilt kneepads which is now used most of the other stilt-walkers in Toronto and Trinidad. On his stilts, Eric is 11 feet tall! Doryne Peace donated a copy of a real ....,,,LaL...., newspaper written Chinese which contains Island photos articles. Appearing are pictures of 35 Seneca and 17 Wyandot--are properties being advertised to Hong investors?! We await translation. Vivian Pitcher donated copies of the July and August of Canadian Living. The former has a article about Grahame Beakhust's fathers magnificent gardens in Ont (3000 in June). The latter contains a article written by Bill Roedde's daughter Gretchen about her medical work in Bangladesh (8 in the last 5 years). son Stephen is also a medical doctor, and Bill himself is well known for homemade medicinal brews. Trust Office provided extra copies of surveys of Algonquin and Ward's, plans for the development lands, and the tree which gives the name and location of tree between the dock the new fire halL The Archives are retaining one copy of each; if you would any of the others, ..,.""'....,,"" ask. Ruth Tytler (186 Lake Shore) donated a hard cover copy of Toronto ObseIVed, an excellent 328-page book on Toronto architecture by Wm Dendy and Wm Kilbourn. Gertie Weinhart donated a 6-page printout from Toronto Island Park Web on Internet sent by her son Ernie ___ .... "". from Yukon. Adam Zhelka donated a framed ink drawing by B M Carson of the sailing ship W R Taylor, built at Port Milford, Ont in 1877. is being towed the Nellie Bly, owned by Joe Goodwin of Toronto. Does anyone have information about the ship, tug or artist? Many thanks to kind folks their generous donations apologies to anyone I've missed. Their ODDS may be examined during of this newsletter are ENDS _,...,. ___ Archives hours on v .... ,u ....... "'f and subscriptions by mail are ... "';LuaUl.., about 30,000 images during 16-hour days for 11 which appeared in the of National magazine? by Island Archives. are on display at ROM including a night shot of Bruce February sculptures fired up on North Ward's Beach with the city skyline in the to move fast--September 2 is last day of the exhibit. you seen the beautiful ads for Absolut Vodka in recent NOW were painted by Barbara Klunder and Irina Schestakowich, and more are exr)ec[eo such as Laura Shepherd and A few extra copies are Sunfish Cut: The channel is about HY to the west We will tow the old bedspring through a few times. access to a Lu.,.",\J,a Infonnation Requested: A member of the Swalwell, of the late Tom & Jean Archives. 1VII ..... t"* In March the City provides suggested _ ..... ·_ ...... n labour, media, religion, VU'LJ.U""uvu forms are available at markers and is presently "u.~="'''U'JJJ.i:> for better
lost touch with Patsy and
11 Ojibway). If you can
to “persons who have helped
arts, business, community, education, others. Deadline for nmninations is
fire parade, house reI1Q’\i’atlOns. watermain work, etc. are
available
The Pleasures of Since EInily was away for 2 I have more exciting to do than preparing food washing dishes, it seemed to an ideal opportunity for another 10-day I’ve enjoyed this a number of times in the past, but not retiring from .”” …. “‘ .. AU};. from shedding 20 excess pounds, there are several If anyone is lnt,~r””c:t I have half a dozen on the benefits of fasting which borrow.
COMING ATIRACTIONS
Toronto Field Naturalists Visitors and are September 4, 10:45 am. September 7, 8 am . ….,..”, …. ..,
Tours:
welcome, but NO
Point nature reserve. Meet at Hanlan’s ferry dock. walk (bring lunch). Meet at foot of Leslie St.
September 7,2 pm. at Western Gap and the Meet at the SW comer of and Bathurst.
Vegetarian Food Fair, September 6·8. At Harbourfront. Free. North America’s largest. Casa Loma Gardens. on September 9 and October 14 10 am to 4 pm. Also
on
Tuesdays from 4 pm to sunset.
St James Cathedral, September 27 to 29. 40,000 flowers will be to commemorate the 200th of the congregation and Club of Toronto.
to create an interior 90′ carpet anniversary of the Garden
Metro Parks Walking Tour, Sel)teln~er 29, 12:45-3 pm. Ward’s areas. Meet Olivia Chow and naturalist Ken Towle at dock.
If you know of an event, including of your own that you wish to please slip me a note at one week before December 1, March 1, etc.
THE TORONTO STAR Thursday, September 21, 1995 H7′
An artful addition to T.O.’s lost shoreline
Sundial installation’s a thrill, but you need X-ray specs to see it TORONTO HAS always been a
backward city. That point has been made yet again with the completion of our latest public artwork.
Titled Sundial, the marvellous cre ation decorates and enlivens the rear of two lakefront condo towers yet re mains invisible from the street Of course, the way shoreline has been al· lowed to develop, it’s one or the other at this point The real estate-foroQ1lture philosophy of the Harbourfront Corpo ration led to the give-away of the lake shore, now hidden behind a wall of highrlse slabs.
But for those who do make it to the foot of York St, Sundial is well worth the effort. Concocted by T·Zero Design – the art collective, not the band – it’s a work that succeeds despite having to bear the heavy load of its creators’ in· tentions.
According to Paul Figueiredo and
MONUMENTAL EGG: Hidden behind York Quay, Sundial is stunning for those who can find it.
sphere si’l: metres In diameter. It’s big
ered in rust and grime, it exemplifies the rough industrial esthetic favored by contemporary architects and artists.
A ramp runs along the wall and into the sphere where it dead ends. The pool of water below empties into Lake Ontario, to complete the cycle initiated by the work.
Chosen in an open international competition from 187 entries, T·Zero’s creation is a wholly positive addition to the downtown lakeshore. It manages to be both monumental yet intimate. It reveals itself slowly, bit by bit To force it to open up, you have to get near and walk in and around. Its secrets are ac
cessible only to those who take the time to learn them. Sundial engages the individual rather than the commu
nity, or the city. Theatricality notwith standing, it invites viewers to look within, not without.
Situated at the west end of a new boardwalk that extends almost to the feny dock, the work is part of larger scheme that includes a “sextant ..• at the western entrance of the inner har
bor,” “a water clock .. . off the shore line of Centre Island” and “a wind tow er … on a pier near the Eastern
Jonathan FUng, who fonned T·Zero in 1992, “The proposal was based upon the premise that Toronto has histori· cally derived its sense of place through its relationship to the lake. This con· nection back to our point of origin has traditionally been a point of reflection, perpetuating an image of the dty through its successive transformations as an esthetic dlrection as well as a recognizable fonn.
“The project,” they continue “lniti· ates a renewal of connection, evoldng
Art
CmuSTOPHERHUME
the spirit of the lake In the creation of a recognizable icon. What will be ren dered will be a series of pseudo-scien. tific Instruments each dealing with a perceived natural phenomena. Their placement throughout the inner harbor will establIsh a series of identifiable
markers, visible from the water as well as from the perspective of the dty.” Oh really.
X-ray vision might help, but other wise forget it In fact, the beauty of T-Zero’s Sundlal is the way the visitor comes upon it so Wlexpectedly. Tucked ilway on the east side of York Quay, it demands to be examined up close; one
-doesn’t look at it so much as experi. ence it
The most dramatic element of the multifaceted piece is an enonnous
enough to enter Into and like some gi. ant egg, it provides a wonderful sense of enclosure.
Slit through the middle, the interior space is filled with sunlight as well as water and whatever else is happening climatically. Made of concrete and sus
pended above the groWld, the huge shape seems to hover magically. The second major component of the work is a wood and steel wall that sep arates the sphere from the dty. Cov
Channel”
If and when T-Zero’s ambitious plans are complete – so far it has co!>t $750,000, paid by Graywood Develop ments – the harbor will clearly be a
more interesting place. They won’t al· ter the skyline, change of image of our· selves, or help us get closer to the lake. But they will make possible a series of unique encounters of a sort that has never before been a part of Toronto lakeside experience.
Whatever that is.