Tom the backroads traveller hosts this weekly meme.
Travel Tuesday
Our World Tuesday
Image-in-ing
My Corner of the World
Timeless Thursdays is hosted by Stevenson Que
Continuing with Toronto lane names.
Laneways, also known as alleys, are narrow streets that add to the diversity of the overall public space network, supporting the fine grain character of a city. ... Laneways can work as a network for pedestrians to navigate the city and build an overall identity for the city center.
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.
This week I am just going with some random downtown lanes I have in my archives.
Biscuit Lane is named for Brown’s Bakery where Mr Christie first started baking cookies.
There really was a man named Mr. Christie and he actually made good cookies. He made such good cookie that Toronto named a street after him. William Christie moved to Canada in 1853 and was the co-owner of Toronto’s first bakery. The bakery sold over 4,300 boxes of cookie each year. After a few years of success and many returning customers a company slogan was made, “Mr. Christie, you make good cookies.”
Mr. Christie moved to Toronto's west end in 1948 and built a factory in Etobicoke which closed in 2012.
We can still see its landmark water tower from our place.
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Reverend James Porter lived at 1 Wood Street. Reverend James Porter was the local superintendent for Toronto City Common Schools from 1859 until his death in 1874. He would have worked with Egerton Ryerson and previous Toronto mayors during that period to develop the foundation for Ontario’s education system.
This street sign, marking the laneway running on the western edge of the Wellesley subway station, is new. Chechalk Lane takes its name from one of the two chiefs of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation who signed the 1805 Toronto Purchase.
...in a city like Toronto with all of its development, it's interesting to see that Mr. Christie's water tower is still stand! Thanks Jackie for this history lesson, take care.
ReplyDeleteNice to see a name honoring a chief of the Mississaugas.
ReplyDeleteLove the fact that a high-rise makes a background for a watertower. That adds real charm to such a huge city.
ReplyDeleteSuper love the Christie Water Tank! It gives some kind of a rural and country feel in the middle of bustling Toronto! Thank you so much for sharing this Jackie! Wishing you warm days (my best friend said it's starting to get freezy there)
ReplyDeleteI am so enjoying your Lane names! And the story behind the names are fun to learn, too.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see your link at 'My Corner of the World' this week !!
Fun to see these lane names. I always find it interesting where those names came from and what is there today.
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