GALLERY 1870–1932
MILITARY DRILL, FORT YORK, 1876
Henri Julien (1852–1908)
Canadian Illustrated News, XIII, No. 12, 1876, p185
City of Toronto Museum Collections, 1971-42-241
Militia soldiers of the 1870s take a break from drills to throw cannon balls, i.e. "putting the shot."
GALLERY 1870–1932
FIELD BATTERY, FORT YORK, 1878
City of Toronto Museum Collections, 1987.31.1
Members of the Toronto Field Battery pose during training. In the background is the stockade that surrounded the 1815 Gunpowder Magazine.
GALLERY 1870–1932
QUEENS OWN RIFLES, C-COMPANY, 1880
City of Toronto Archives, Series 327, sub series 3, file 9
In this panorama Josiah Bruce was the photographer; while the background was painted by F.M. Bell-Smith
GALLERY 1870–1932
SIX NATIONS SURVIVORS OF THE WAR OF
1812, ca. 1882
Park & Co., photographers
Library & Archives Canada, C-085127
This studio portrait of some surviving Six Nations warriors who were allies of the British in the War of 1812 was taken in Brantford, Ont. (Right to left:) Sakawaraton a.k.a. John Smoke Johnson (born ca. 1792); John Tutela (born ca. 1797); and Young Warner (born ca. 1794).
GALLERY 1870–1932
CEMETERY IN VICTORIA MEMORIAL SQUARE, 1885
Toronto Public Library, B11-15b
Somewhere between 400–500 people are buried in the original military burying ground for Fort York, since 1837 part of Victoria [Memorial] Square. After the cemetery was closed in 1863 it fell into disuse and disarray. This photograph shows it in the mid-1880's, just before the City removed the surviving monuments to one side and leveled the mounds. Since then it has been a public park.
GALLERY 1870–1932
WEST GATE, FORT YORK, 1885
Toronto Public Library, T 11642
GALLERY 1870–1932
EAST GATE, FORT YORK, ca. 1890–95
Watercolour by Helena R. Smith
City of Toronto Museum Collections, 1967.3.19B
The fort's defences were evidently falling into disrepair when this sketch was made. An end gable of the Artillery Barracks is seen on the right.
GALLERY 1870–1932
LADIES OBSERVING CANNON, 1891
G.H. Orr, photographer
City of Toronto Museum Collections, THB Album
In the latter 19th century Fort York, although still technically a military site, became a favorite place for Torontonians to visit on Sundays and holidays.
GALLERY 1870–1932
VIEW OF OFFICERS' MESS WITH KITCHEN
WING, 1899
A.H.O. Freemantle, photographer
City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 70, series 327,
sub-series 1
Michael Brophy, a Crimean veteran, wearing his military decorations (for which he was renowned around town) in front of the east door of the Officers’ Mess.
GALLERY 1870–1932
"D" BARRACKS, 1899
A.H.O. Freemantle, photographer
City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 70, series 327,
sub-series 1
GALLERY 1870–1932
GUN STORAGE SHED IN ORDNANCE YARD,
GARRISON RD., 1899
A.H.O. Freemantle, photographer
City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 70, series 327,
sub-series 1
GALLERY 1870–1932
FIELD OFFICER OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN DRAGOONS, 1897
R.J. Marrion, artist © Canadian War Museum
The Royal Canadian Dragoons were based at Fort York in 1893 and served with great distinction during the Boer War.
GALLERY 1870–1932
MAJOR GENERAL SIR HENRY PELLATT, C.V.O., D.C.L., V.D. (1859–1939) AS A YOUNG OFFICER
Gagen and Fraser, Toronto, photographers
Courtesy: www.kingofcasaloma.com
Joining The Queen's Own Rifles as a Rifleman, Sir Henry rose to command the regiment from 1901–1920. At that time he was an extremely rich man and very generous to The Queen's Own. In 1910 he personally financed a five-week trip for over 600 Queen's Own personnel, plus officers' horses, to England to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of The QOR in 1860. Unfortunately, a combination of the financial depression of 1929 and many bad investments forced him to declare bankruptcy and he died penniless, living not in Casa Loma but in a small house owned by his former chauffeur. His Regiment lives on, however, with its museum located in Casa Loma and open to the public.
The photographers Gagen & Fraser were in business in Toronto from 1879 to 1898.
GALLERY 1870–1932
GENERAL SIR WILLIAM DILLON OTTER,
KCB, CVO, 1900
From Celebrities Of The Army, by Commander Chas. N. Robinson R.N.
"Lieutenant-Colonel William Dillon Otter, Commanding Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry, South Africa 1900".
As a Captain and Adjutant of The Queen's Own, Otter first went into action at the Battle of Ridgeway in 1866, fighting a group of Fenians. As Lieutenant Colonel he was Commanding Officer of The Queen's Own from 1875 until 1883, when he became Commander of the Infantry School Corps (later named the Royal Canadian Regiment) in the newly formed Canadian Permanent Force. In 1885, now Colonel Otter, he commanded the Battleford Column in Western Canada during the North-West Rebellion and fought and defeated Cree Chief Poundmaker in the Battle of Cut Knife Creek. In the South African (or Boer) War of 1899–1902 Otter commanded the Royal Canadian Regiment, which included members of The QOR. Before his death in 1929 he achieved the rank of General and had been Chief of General Staff in Ottawa.
GALLERY 1870–1932
BOER WAR, SIGNAL CORPS PARADE, 1900
City of Toronto Archives, SC 171
The Boer or South African War (1899-1902) marked the first occasion in which large contingents of Canadian troops served abroad. Here the Signal Corps parade on Yonge Street north of Gerrard Street, Toronto.
GALLERY 1870–1932
BRICK SOLDIERS BARRACKS, ca. 1900
Toronto Public Library, T 11614
GALLERY 1870–1932
BRICK MAGAZINE, ca. 1900–1905
Frank Yeigh, photographer
City of Toronto Museum Collections, THB Album
GALLERY 1870–1932
BLOCKHOUSE, ca. 1900–1910
Frank Yeigh, Photographer
Toronto Public Library, T 11635
GALLERY 1870–1932
VICTORIA MEMORIAL SQUARE DEDICATION,
1 JULY 1902
Library & Archives Canada, PA 138519
The Army & Navy Veterans Association spearheaded the building of a monument in Victoria Memorial Square to honour the Dead of the War of 1812. On 1 July 1902, the cornerstone for a pedestal was laid but several years passed before monies could be found to complete the memorial with Walter Allward's poignant bust of The Old Soldier.
GALLERY 1870–1932
THE OLD SOLDIER BY WALTER ALLWARD, 1907
Courtesy: Matthew Blackett, photographer
The bust of The Old Soldier in Victoria Memorial Square is one of sculptor Walter Allward's earliest works. In the 1930s, he would design the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France.
For more information click here.
GALLERY 1870–1932
WESTERN ENTRANCE, 1903
A.H.O. Freemantle, photographer
City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 70, series 327/1/5; also TPL T-11643
The western entrance of the fort, in 1903. Visible in the distance are the Blue Barracks (on the left) and the Artillery Barracks. The historical plaque on the wall was erected by the Canadian Club in 1899.
For more information click here.
GALLERY 1870–1932
FORT YORK AND RAIL MAP, 1905
Drawn by Owen Staples
Toronto Public Library, T 14143
In 1905, shortly after being given effective control over Fort York by the Government of Canada, City Council proposed to run a double tramline to the CNE through the middle of the fort—in one end and out the other—which would have demolished both the east and west gates as well as the buildings known today as the Blue Barracks and North Soldiers' Barracks. The fort's partisans put up a spirited defence, holding public meetings, lobbying officials and prompting editorials and petitions of protest. And when in early 1907 council asked the electors' approval to borrow $125,000 to defray the costs of bridge-building for the streetcar line, it was defeated by a margin of more than two to one. For more information click here.
The proposal appears on this map by Own Staples which also identifies the fort's buildings and gates. It shows also how Park Blackwell's meat packing plant sat close on the fort's east end.
GALLERY 1870–1932
BLACKWELL MEAT PACKING PLANT, 20 NOV. 1908
M.O. Hammond, photographer
Archives of Ontario, I0000a766
Fort York, showing the encroachment of Park Blackwell meat packing plant on Blockhouse No. 1 at the southeast corner of the fort. In the foreground, obscuring the blockhouse, is the Ablution House built in the 1860s and torn down ca. 1933. The ramparts and bastion beyond the blockhouse were swept away entirely in constructing the packing plant in 1898.
For more information click here.
GALLERY 1870–1932
TORONTO MUNICIPAL ABATTOIR, NOW QUALITY MEATS, 1915
City of Toronto Archives, fonds 1231, item 513
The newly completed Civic Abattoir with its twin Italianate towers is seen here on 14 May 1915 from the north ramparts of Fort York. In the foreground are refrigerator cars and slatted ones for transporting live animals by rail. One freight car is clearly labeled 'automobiles.'
For more information click here.
GALLERY 1870–1932
4TH CANADIAN MOUNTED RIFLES, TRAINING, 1915
Courtesy: www.4cmr.com
First known as the Ontario Mounted Rifles, then subsequently named 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles, the regiment was billeted in November, 1914, at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. Starting out with around 200 horses bought by the City of Toronto and Lt-Col. H. C. Cox of the Mississauga Horse, the unit later received a further 500 horses. For a time bridles and saddles had to be borrowed from the Mississauga Horse, and some early training was even conducted bareback.
GALLERY 1870–1932
MATTHEWS BLACKWELL MEAT PACKING PLANT AND 'OLD' BATHURST BRIDGE, 5 Apr. 1916
City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, item 2190
Matthews Blackwell's plant, successors to Park Blackwell, stood near the south end of the 'old' Bathurst Street bridge and hard by the fort's ramparts, seen on the right. A historical plaque erected by the Canadian Club in 1899 is on the wall of the building. For more information click here.
The 'old' bridge would be replaced by a heavier structure later in 1916.
GALLERY 1870–1932
BATHURST STREET BRIDGE, 1916
City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, item 1913
In 1916 the 'old' Bathurst Bridge was taken down and replaced by a bridge that had carried the Grand Trunk railway over the Humber River from 1903-16. Taken apart, it was reassembled at the foot of Bathurst where it continues to serve today. When Bathurst was extended to Lakeshore Blvd., in 1929-31 the bridge was rotated 22 degrees to stand in line with the new road.
For more information click here.
GALLERY 1870–1932
SOUTH RAMPARTS, 1922
Toronto Harbour Commission, Beales Coll., PC 1/1/6284
By 1922 the south ramparts had deteriorated badly, as seen here.
GALLERY 1870–1932
NORTH RAMPARTS, ca. 1922
TRL. T-11604
When this photograph was taken the streetcar line serving the CNE had just been completed along the north ramparts, virtually destroying them.
For more information click here.
GALLERY 1870–1932
SIMCOE GUNS, 2 May 1924
John Boyd, photographer
Library & Archives Canada PA-86600
Two old guns were used for decades as bollards to stop wagons from hitting the corners of the Brick Soldiers' Barracks. One was made about 1657 for Oliver Cromwell while the other dates to 1737–56. Both are believed to have been brought to Fort York by Lt.-Gov. Simcoe. Seen here in May, 1924, they were taken up a few years later and are now on proud display in the centre Blockhouse as rare artifacts.
GALLERY 1870–1932
AERIAL VIEW OF FORT YORK, 17 NOV. 1926
Fairchild Aerial Surveys Co. of Canada
Ontario Archives, Merrilees Coll. F 1125, A-6, Box 9, photo 4, AO 2773
This rare low-level view was one of the first aerial photos taken of Toronto. It shows Fort York (middle left) south of the rail corridor and buried among the extensive buildings of Canadian Packers (formerly Park Blackwell); the Bathurst bridge before Bathurst Street was extended south of Front in 1929, necessitating the demolition of the packing plant; and the twin gasholders of the Consumers' Gas Company at Bathurst and Front. To the west (left) of the gasholders between the rail corridor and the curve of Niagara Street sit the Toronto Municipal Abattoir (now Quality Meats) and Wellington Street incinerator.
GALLERY 1870–1932
CANNON AT RAMPARTS FACING SOUTH, 1926
City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, f1244, #1507
The state of decay at Fort York between World War I and it's restoration in 1932–34 is evident in the tilt of this gun as it's platform rots out.
GALLERY 1870–1932
MOVING THE QUEENS WHARF LIGHTHOUSE, 1929
Courtesy: Mike Filey Collection
At one time, the 11-metre tall, red octagonal tower, now called the Queen's Wharf Lighthouse (QWL), played an important role in safeguarding ships in the Toronto harbour. It sent out lights to guide vessels through narrow and treacherous channels, helping them avoid the underground sand bar at the western end of Toronto Bay. Built in 1861, it replaced an earlier structure built in 1838; both were located at the end of the New Pier. The pier's name was changed in 1837 in honour of Queen Victoria's coronation. At that time, Queen's Wharf jutted out 215 metres into Lake Ontario. Today, the Queen's Wharf Lighthouse sits further south than it did on its original site. It was de-activated in 1912. By the 1920s there were plans to demolish the lighthouse but the Harbour Commissioners were successful in their efforts to preserve it. In 1929, the QWL was moved to its present location and ownership was transferred to the City of Toronto. In 1988, it was restored to its 1880s working condition.
