Asbridge Estate - A Historical Home

One of the oldest homes in Toronto is right out front and personal on Queen Street in the east end near Coxwell (between Leslieville and the Beaches).   It's called the Ashbridge Estate and dates back to the late 1700s when the Ashbridge Family (United Empire Loyalists) came here from Pennsylvania and were given a large plot of land.  Can you imagine that?

So out they set clearing and farming and constructing several buildings including the main house, which still stands today.  The Ashbridge's (hence the namesake of Ashbridge Bay of course) were one of the first families to live here in our great city of Toronto and as the city grew, they eventually sold off most of their land by the 1920's leaving only the current 2-acre property which is now listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places, thanks to the two remaining family members who donated their estate to the Ontario Heritage Trust.


But back to the beginning for a second.  When they arrived in Toronto as Quakers, the Ashbridge's were United Empire Loyalists (which simply means that they remained loyal to the British crown after the american Revolution) Fearing politicial persution, they fled to Canada and were officially granted 600 acres of land.  This land stretched from from Lake Onatrio to what is now known as Danforth Avenue.  If you know east Toronto, that is a huge spot of land!

I read that a log cabin was built on the trail close to the shoreline of Lake Ontario on a bay formed the mouth of the Don River, and boy I can imagine how beautiful that must have been.   They survived like most did back then on fishing and waterfowl from the bay and pigs that they raised.  They also were able to grow wheat and sold it to market, and ice in the winter.

If you take the time to learn about the places you visit or pass for that matter, you'll be amazed at what you'll learn.  There's a bit of history in everything you see.  It's important to take the time to appreciate that.  I think that's why I take pictures.  To remember that piece of history I left behind.

Cold Port in Toronto

Winter, snow and ice never stop the Ships in the Port of Toronto from connecting the city to every continent on earth!  In fact this has been a system of a seamless network of inter modal links to road, rail and air transportation for over 100 years in the downtown core.

On average there are over two million tonnes of cargo that pass through this Port relieving our already congested highways of over tens of thousands of truck off the roads.

The Port also does warehousing and staging.  As well, there are cruise ships and passengers from around the world who pass through the International Marine Passenger Terminal.

The picture below of the pipe converging in the centre is the location of the now de-commissioned Richard L. Hearn Generating Station on January 3, 2012.  This turned out to be one of my favorite pictures I've taken, only because of the nostalgia to me.

The steam you see in the foreground drifting past the old stack is from the Portland Energy Centre.  the Portland Plant uses natural gas to produce electricity and the old Hearn plant originally used coal but was using natural gas as well prior to being shut down in 1983.

There is also a nice view off of the Outer Harbour Marina on Unwin Avenue looking across the Lake Ontario.  Not much activity these days, that'll all change soon though.

Finally, another picture of the iconic Life Guard House, which does stand out on Cherry Beach now that the swimmers and sunbathers are gone and there is nothing but snow and ice.  The house has been here since the 1930's and other than the occasional wood treatment or paint job, it remains exactly as it has always been.

 

St. Lawrence Market (Heritage Walk)

Here's another famous historical site in Toronto.  This is the time of year when we focus on family, friends and food.  The St. Lawrence Market shows up big with over 50 vendors that sell fruits, vegetables, meats and cheeses on the lower and first level.  At the South Market you can sample some of the worlds most exotic foods, flavours and desserts.  I sampled my first Turkish Delight, and loved them so much I bought a small bag of them.  They look like gelatinous cubes made with a hint of rosewater dusted with icing powder.   

If you are like me and don't really bake much or end up burning the cake, they have all kinds of Christmas goodies here to show you up well.  I love cheese but usually end up buying what I know, which is Cheddar or some times Swiss or Monterey Jack.  That's the fun part of buying from a market, because you can sample different cheese squares before you buy.  Makes a lot more sense.   Yes cheese is very expensive as it is.   I also know someone else who likes cheese ! 

In fact you can find samples of everything all day long here from over 60 vendors 'marketing' their wares.  Like most Markets, you will find the quality here is fresh and they use words like 'organic' or 'free range' a lot.   You should expect to pay more for that though.  If not, you can also support your local fruit and vegetable markets.  Guaranteed to save a ton on your weekly food bill.

 

This is known as the South Building and is located at 92 Front Street East which surrounds a block from Market Street, The Esplanade, Lower Jarvis, to Front Street.   Currently, it is one of the major markets in Toronto’s downtown core (the other one is The Kensington Market).  

The building also has The Market Gallery, operated by City of Toronto, on the second floor and a cooking school (market kitchen) on the mezzanine floor.  I loved Buster's Sea Cove, a small diner very reminiscent of the 50's, where they have my favorite, haddock and chips, crab cakes, Red snapper, Grilled shrimp in herb sauce, chicken fingers and salads just to list a few items on their menu! Come here empty, leave satisfied.

Speaking of nostalgia, when you look up at the windows, high arched ceilings and rod iron gate heads, you can imagine this place being a jail at one time.  I wasn't surprised to find out that it was in fact home to Toronto's first permanent jail from 1845 to 1899.  Since then, the new steel truss roof was built allowing more open space with a high ceiling and letting in more natural light.   

There is also a newer North end of the St. Lawrence Market.  It transforms to become different things on different days, but principally it is the associated with the vibrant and fresh Farmers' Market, the largest in Toronto that starts bright and early on Saturday mornings from 5am.  Then on Sundays it opens from 5am to become the the Antique Market.  Christmas trees and holiday greens are offered daily from now until Christmas eve. Hopefully if you ever make it to the Market you will always leave with something.

Gooderham Building and The Brookfield Place (Heritage Walk)

I have seen this red-bricked building dozens of times in Toronto.  It commands the entire block as it sits wedged between Front and Wellington Streets to form a triangular intersection.   The other night I was so drawn to the night lighting as I was looking west down Front street towards the building's prominent rounded corner, I decided to take some pictures.  

circa 1894

Later, I finally looked it up and discovered it was called the Gooderham Building, or as it is more commonly referred to,  the 'Flatiron', and was built in 1892.  

The design and construction was made for the famed distiller George Gooderham (son of Gooderham and Worts distillery founder William Gooderham).  You may remember Gooderham and Worts from my blog posts, The Lowes Christmas Market and another post Historical Distillery District.


Here it maintained its function as the office of the Gooderham & Worts distillery until 1952 and then was sold by the Gooderham Estate in 1957.  

If you look beyond the 'Flatiron' along Front street, you can see entire blocks of commercial skyscrapers of the Financial District, and even the CN Tower is also visible from certain angles.  One of the most hauntingly beautiful is the Brookfield Place.

I worked just a few blocks away many years ago when this was once known as BCE Place.  I didn't even recognize this place.  Inside it looks like a crystal cathedral and outside it has these gorgeous purple pillars.  It was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

This office complex takes up the entire block from Yonge to Wellington Street West, Bay Street and Front Street totaling 5 acres.  I would love to work here!  In total there are two commerce towers: The first one Bay Wellington Tower and the second is the TD Canada Trust Tower, linked by a six-story pedestrian walkway.  The Galleria is like a forested canopy structured by eight freestanding supports on each side.

The design of this Galleria was incorporated in the Brookfield Place to meet the expectations and satisfy the City of Toronto's public art requirements, and it did! It is often featured as a backdrop for TV and film productions and is photographed constantly. 


The Financial District in Toronto proves that sometimes 'creative accounting' can be stunning.

Liberty Grand (Heritage Walk)

The Liberty Grande is a unique, three-sided structure and was built in 1926 to house the exhibits of the Ontario Government during each CNE. It was constructed with the influence of the Beaux-Arts style by the architectural firm of Chapman & Oxley (who won architects of the year in 1926).  It marks the entrance to the grounds from the Dominion Gate of Exhibition Place.

In 1986, the Ontario Government Building was designated as historically significant under the Ontario Heritage Act.  It now operates as a multi-room and multi-use special events facility.  In 2008 the Liberty Grande was featured in the Toronto Doors Open for Photographers.

There was a special function going on during the heritage walk, so most of the facilities were cordoned off for over 3,000 guests.   These pictures I took don't come close in showing the beauty of the ballrooms and dining areas.  This was the service entrance off to the side of the building.

The Liberty Grand has 27 foot hand carved wooden ceilings, 10 chandeliers, marble foyers, water falls and an outdoor and private courtyard, that I'm told is stunning in the summertime.  Every year they host over 400 events consisting of weddings and corporate galas, product launches, fashion shows, film festival parties and fund raisers. 

Their website has some beautiful pictures of the interior, and dinner menus.  I love looking at fancy dinner menus that describe food in such a beautiful way  

Medieval Times

Originally named the Government Building and later the Arts, Crafts and Hobbies Building, the Medieval Times Building was constructed in 1912 to showcase the exhibits of local and foreign governments.

It was designed by George Gouinlock and looks a lot like the Horticulture Building on the CNE grounds with its domed like centre piece.

Inside these walls is quite literally like stepping into the Medieval Times.  After paying quite a handsome fee, you will see jousting,  sword fighting, and medieval style games performed by over 70 actors and 20 horses. 

It's family friendly, so there aren't any gory details.  There is quite the hierarchy of training that a 'knight' must go through before performing on the horse before a crowd of eager onlookers.  You first start off as a squire.  No instant glory as they start their training by cleaning and brushing the horses, by helping load the weapons and by setting up the props and effects for the show.  From that point on, it's up to the Squire if he wants to take it to the next step in training.  This training comes from the crew who will show you how to fight and not get trampled on by the horses.  Like dancing, there is a real choreography to the stunts they perform.  Then only then do you become a Knight.

This location on the Exhibition grounds in Toronto is one of nine locations in North America, which is headquartered in Irving Texas.  Because it's such a unique building it sometimes gets picked up and featured as a backdrop in movies (The Cable Guy and Garden State as well as a few episodes of TV Show like Hell's Kitchen and Celebrity Apprentice).


While watching the show you enjoy a dinner as well.  The waitstaff refers to the audience as lords and ladies and the salespeople at this venue pose as traveling merchants.  They have a very strict no-tech policy for all workers at all times during show hours. So that means you won't catch them looking at their cellphone during showtimes.


The performance is a bit of an illusionary spectacle.  After all they are trying to convince you in this round arena thst doesn't miss anything that you have been transported in another place in time over 600 years ago.  The shouting between the Knights, the thunder of horse hoofs and the roar of the crowd makes the entire experience worthwhile. 

In reality the Knights (or performers rather) are very competitive and that plays a big role in the satisfaction for them.  As they are striving to be the best of the lot, so they can attain the glory spot of the weekly highlight show which happens every Saturday night.  The Saturday night shows get the largest crowds and most feedback.




I'd say although it is a hefty fee, its worth seeing the show once in a lifetime and although it projects a pure imaginative fantasy, it's still a good feeling to be there to satisfy the historical need at least.  I won't give too more away about the highlights of the show so you can experience that magic yourself.

Please understand no pictures are allowed during performances.

Princes' Gates (The Heritage Walk)

With the autumn nearing its end, and winter soon approaching we began our heritage walks around town once more, looking for the historical value I love, but this time with the architectural merit.  I don't usually enjoy photographing buildings but the Heritage Walk offers so much background it was worth exploring further.

Here is the Princes' Gates, designed by the architectural firm of Chapman & Oxley.  The opening of the gates were in attendance by the Prince of Wales and his brother, Prince George in 1927!

Goddess of Winged Victory

There are 9 pillars on either side of the centre of the arch and each one represents the participating province of the Confederation (Newfoundland later join in 1949).  I suspect by that time, an extra arch was not a necessary addition esthetically or functionally.

A very familiar and distinct figurehead on top of the arch, is the "Goddess of Winged Victory" this was sculpted by Charles Mckechnie and underwent some major restoration in 1987.

The Princes' Gates (often mispronounced as Princess Gates - myself included) were designated as historically significant under the Ontario Heritage Act later in 1987.  These gates marked the first place of our Heritage tour with much more interesting historical buildings, monuments, plaques and pavilions to follow.