Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Tuesday Treasures

 Tom the backroads traveller hosts this weekly meme.

Travel Tuesday
Our World Tuesday
Image-in-ing
My Corner of the World

Mosaic Monday
Timeless Thursdays is hosted by Stevenson Que

September 2020 - Toronto ON

I have been collecting photos of Toronto lanes for a while now with an idea to post them. I will post here on a random basis.

Just 10 per cent of Toronto's more than 3,000 public laneways have a name. Usually the titles recognize community figures, events or local traditions, but many are delightfully strange with brilliant backstories.






Ching Lane - To commemorate the first person of Chinese origin to own a business in Toronto (a laundry) founded in 1877 at 9 Adelaide Street East. In 1878 Sam Ching was the first Chinese person listed in the City's directory.


It is located near Ching’s original address and not far from what would be Toronto’s first Chinatown. The laneway sign is a reminder of the contributions made by early Chinese immigrants to the city, and the racist attitudes and policies they had to contend with, from special business and head taxes to outright immigration bans.

Ching’s hand laundry — a common way to make a living for early Chinese immigrants who faced barriers of language and discrimination.



Ditty Lane - To commemorate the Ditty Hotel formerly located at Church and Queen



Leader Lane after the Toronto Leader, a newspaper whose offices were located there from 1852 to 1878.

It was the site of York's first jail and "hanging yard". The original jail, a log building, built in 1796, at the corner with Colborne Street has long since been demolished, but several buildings remain on the street which are over 100 years old.







15 comments:

  1. Nice tour, nice City! Just wondering why on earth the memory blank to a Hanging Yard? Lets we forget? Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed it!

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  2. How great to learn the stories behind the lane names. I think my favorite is Ice Cream Lane, but perhaps that is too obvious.

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  3. How in the world does mail get delivered if only 10 % of roads have names??? I'm so confused. Yikes. And what about addresses?
    GPS must be a bear.
    Interesting info.
    Dawn aka Spatulas On Parade

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  4. No, Dawn, these are not streets. They are laneways that run behind the houses on a street, typically they provide entry to the garages.
    If you look at the map the black lines indicate a small lane running off various named streets.

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  5. I enjoyed the tour, Jackie.

    Loved learning about the stories behind the names of the lanes.

    Happy Weds!

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  6. I like the new banner!
    Never heard of such lanes, but the concept makes sense.
    Executed for something worth one dollar?!
    Ice Cream Lane, funny 🍦

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  7. What another great series! It's interesting how the names make perfect sense when you know the origin of the name. Otherwise, you can end up scratching your head :)

    I'm happy to see your link at 'My Corner of the World' this week!!

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  8. Neat photos Jackie :) I've been to Toronto countless times but I have never seen these lanes. I guess I don't pay attention to street signs very much! :)

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  9. I wonder why the 10% have names, if it's not the norm? That's interesting!

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    Replies
    1. These are not streets. They are laneways that run behind the houses on a street, typically they provide entry to the garages.

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  10. Oooh! I want to go to Ice Cream Lane!
    ;)
    Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2020/10/snow-in-september.html

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  11. I had no idea about things interesting historical Toronto facts. Thanks! :) I especially liked the first jail.

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  12. Wow, 3000 lanes, that's awesome. Ice Cream lane should be interesting to visit :)

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  13. great shots...
    love words "Ditty Ln"....

    Have a wonderful day

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  14. Dearest Jackie! Love the different lane signages you shared! All from Toronto but the diversity in designs are just lovely and would be great to distinguish a specific district I think. And the banner Jackie! I LOVE IT!!! Oh how I wish I can visit my best friend from College who now lives there! I was planning to see him this Christmas but COVID said hello to the world ughh!

    Thank you so much Jackie for joining Timeless Thursdays :)

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