Always preserve the

In My Opinion Remember and preserve buildings that make Beach unique

Clyde Robinson

Guest Column

MY FIRST introduction to the Beach was in June of 1973.

A school mate of mine asked me if I wanted to go to the beach. I said what beach, there’s no beach in Toronto? We skipped school and I remember for the first time seeing Lake Ontario in a different way.

We drove south on Kippenda vie Avenue through the canopy of trees, looking like a tunnel with the water at the end. Wow, this was cool! Now, 47 years later, I live around the corner and remember that moment. I often think of how fortunate I am, not only to be living in the Beach, but also Toronto and Canada, especially during these new times of ours.

The chiming of Corpus Christi’s Church bells in its 100th year anni versary are wonderful to hear during the pandemic and take me back to a simpler time.

Did you know that Queen Street East in the Beach was once voted the Best Main Street in Ontario and won an award from TVO in 2002? After living in the Beach for 40 years now I always love being in vited into the Beach along Queen Street (formerly Maple Avenue) from the west, and passing what I call our “twin towers”. The fire station on the north and the Henry Hogarth Residence, 1903 Queen St. E., on the south. The Henry Hog arth residence was built in 1893. It preceded the fire station. A few years before the fire station was built this area was a dairy farm. Smith’s Dairy Farm was located north of Queen Street to Kingston Road and from Woodbine Avenue to Elmer Avenue. The property at 1903 Queen St. E. is now up for sale. It is partially protected by be ing listed with the Toronto Historical Preservation Services. Henry Benjamin Hogarth (1858-1940), the builder, was the eldest of at least eight children.

Two of his sisters married Beach men. Mary Sophia Hogarth (1862–1919) married builder William Williamson (for whom Williamson Road is named), and Emily Maud Hogarth (1874–1893) married Ro land Caldwell Harris, of R. C. Harris Filtration Plant fame.

Emily and her young child died in the early 1890s, not long after the marriage, and R.C.H. remarried and lived until 1945.

Henry Hogarth died in the home on June 26, 1940. He lived there for close to 50 years. He is buried in St. John’s Norway Cemetery.

The former Henry Hogarth Resi dence has been in need of work for years. I hope the new owner will bring this house back to its original shape and glory.

Time and thought went into this Bay and Gable designed style of home. For me it is homes like these that add so much character to our area and make the Beach.

It is sad to think that some of these homes are usually replaced with what I call square boxes. Some people call this progress – not me.

Now I don’t like every design of house, but homes like the Hogarth Residence to me, make areas such as ours unique.

Around the corner from 1903 Queen St. E. the two beautiful homes at 40 and 42 Elmer Ave. will soon be demolished. In the near fu ture they will be a vague memory. They were built in 1905 and are of Queen Anne style having an identifiable character of a low rise, turreted, two-storey sloped roof appearance. The wrap around porches add a welcoming feel to the entrance. Not only residences, but retail stores have left us and are now memories from days gone by. To name a few are the Balmy Arms, Griffith’s, Nova Fish and Chips, Scratch Daniel’s, Nevada, Lido’s, Fitzgerald’s, Hobbit Town, Mir acle’s, Surf Sailor with the wind surfing board projecting out from the store front, the original Gio’s and Whitlock’s where the minstrel used to swing by the tables playing his tunes.

Cherish what you see now, it may not be there tomorrow because as Bob Dylan says: The Times They Are A Changin’. Please support our local businesses.

SERVING THE BEACH, BEACH HILL, BIRCH CLIFF, CLIFFSIDE, CRESCENT TOWN, EAST DANFORTH, GERRARD INDIA BAZAAR, LESLIEVILLE AND UPPER BEACH

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Letters to the Editor

Readers share differing views on Destination Danforth

Re: ‘Destination Danforth work to start soon,’ Beach Metro News, July 14.

I was so pleased to read Ali Raza’s article on the beginning of the installation of the Destination Danforth project.

I am confident that this will be a win-win for everyone – businesses, residents, pedes trians, people who travel by bicycle, and yes, even drivers.

Other such installations have been shown to improve safety for everyone.

Also, an Ekos poll from earlier this year found that 79 per cent of Toronto residents were in favour of bike lanes.

The additional focus on economic recovery for the Danforth as part of this project makes it particularly unique.

I can hardly wait to visit the various parts of the Danforth by bike to support our local businesses and be participate in the success of Destination Danforth!

Mary Ann Neary

Bike lanes, lack of parking hurt Danforth merchants

I visited the Danforth bike lane installation this afternoon (in late July). There was the usual traffic jam up, including unhappy fire fighters whose truck was stuck right in the middle.

But the worst impacts have been on the lo cal merchants who I talked to.

First the COVID-19 pandemic, and now the City of Toronto who they pay taxes to clobbers them with the removal of customer parking and loading space.

One merchant I met is seriously thinking of closing.

Where are the BIAs in all of this?

They are not sticking up for their members very well.

Michael Ufford

Pleased to see protected bike lanes along Danforth Avenue

Re: ‘Toronto police put focus on cycling safety this week,’ Beach Metro News online, July 15.

We’re glad to see the police promoting safe road use amongst both drivers and cyclists.

But as local doctors, we know that safe streets don’t just come from enforcing rules and laws, they need to be built.

That’s why we’re so pleased to see the City of Toronto is building protected bike lanes as part of its Complete Streets project on Dan forth Avenue.

The bike lanes will make Danforth safer for everyone, including cyclists and people who drive a car.

The lanes are also an important part of Toronto’s COVID-19 strategy, since being on a bicycle helps you to keep two metres from others.

We look forward to seeing lots of folks safely exercising, shopping and enjoying family-time when the Danforth Avenue bike lanes and the Destination Danforth patios are open.