Category Archives: News

A post that pertains to an event that effects or took place in the community of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.

Cedar Ridge 100th anniversary to be celebrated

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16-D-1.1 Cummings house

“Uplands”, the Cummings house, c.1915.

By Jeremy Hopkin.

The building known today as Cedar Ridge will have its 100th anniversary celebrated on Sunday, September 23 with a garden party and open house.

Cedar Ridge was constructed in 1912 as a summer home for the family of Charles Cummings, who occupied the premises until 1927. It was common practice for homeowners of the 19th and early 20th century to give a title to their houses or property, Charles Cummings dubbed his family’s house “Uplands” in recognition of its prominent location on the hills overlooking the greens of the Scarborough Golf Club.
Uplands was eventually purchased by John. C. Fraser, a Toronto financier, who renamed the house “Cedar Ridge” and resided there for several decades with his family.

The City of Scarborough acquired the property on December 15, 1976 in a land exchange with Metropolitan Toronto. Today, Cedar Ridge Creative Centre and Gallery is an arts hub offering a diverse range of courses, now owned and operated by the Culture division of the City of Toronto.

The Cedar Ridge Anniversary Garden Party and Open House runs from 1 to 4 p.m., with a historical gallery exhibition, artist demonstrations in the studios, and afternoon tea in the garden.

Cedar Ridge is located at 225 Confederation Drive.
For information call 416-396-4026 or visit Toronto Culture’s Cedar Ridge webpage.

In the news: R.C. Harris to be honoured with exhibit

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R.C. Harris Filtration Plant, 1952. Photo: Toronto Archives.

 *Excerpt from the Scarborough Mirror, Aug. 30, 2012.

Scarborough filtration plant’s namesake honoured
Exhibit celebrates 100th anniversary of R.C. Harris being named Toronto’s waterworks commissioner

Article By Joanna Lavoie

An exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the appointment of Roland Caldwell (R.C.) Harris as Commissioner of Works for the City of Toronto is being presented Sept. 15, 2012 to March 2, 2013 at The Market Gallery, 95 Front St. E., Second Floor.

The exhibition – titled “The Water Czar: R.C. Harris Works for Toronto, 1912-45′ – chronicles the remarkable 33-year career of the Toronto public works legend as the head of the city’s works department through archival photos, maps and plans, and rarely – or never-before-seen artifacts.

Roland Caldwell Harris, 1933.
Photo: Toronto Archives.

WONDERFUL TRIBUTE

“This exhibition is a wonderful tribute to a remarkable city builder. When Torontonians drink a glass of tap water or cross the Prince Edward Viaduct, they are benefiting from his work,” said Scarborough Centre Councillor Michael Thompson, chair of the city’s economic development committee, in a release.

An international engineering firm, CH2M HILL, is sponsoring the exhibition. The company’s history includes a merger with Toronto-based Gore, Naismith and Storrie, which worked closely with Harris throughout his career.

Harris, who became Toronto’s works commissioner following a series of water-related scandals that led to the resignation of the city engineer, was appointed not necessarily for his technical acumen but for his administrative ability.

CIVIC VISION

Before long, he developed a civic vision where public works were viewed as the cornerstone of greater Toronto. During his three-decade career, Harris tackled a number of the city’s water challenges notably developing bridges and making the harbour more accessible, obtaining a secure supply of tap water and getting rid of the city’s wastewater.

DRINKING WATER

The circa-1941 water treatment plant at the foot of Victoria Park Avenue and Queen Street East, which currently provides 45 per cent of Toronto and York region’s water supply, is named in honour of Harris’ many accomplishments.

The Market Gallery, a program of the City of Toronto’s Cultural Services that presents exhibitions dedicated to Toronto’s art, culture and history and offers educational programs for school groups and adults, is open Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Please visit The Market Gallery website for more information.

Historical plaque unveiled at St. Nicholas Anglican Church

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St. Nicholas Church, Birch Cliff. Photo: Jeremy Hopkin.

By Jeremy Hopkin.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the St. Nicholas parish of Birch Cliff village, a historical plaque was commissioned by the parish in co-operation with Heritage Toronto and Scotiabank. The plaque was unveiled on August 9, 2012 during a special ceremony held inside St. Nicholas Church, with several parishioners and visitors in attendance.

Six people of interest were chosen to speak of the history and importance of the church to the community and then together unveiled the plaque; Archbishop Colin Johnson, Diocese of Toronto; Deb Chapman, Pastoral Associate; Sonia Halloran, Church Warden; Councillor Gary Crawford; Alexandra Smith, Scotiabank Branch Manager; and Patrick Forster, Heritage Toronto Board Member.

Unveiling ceremony of historical plaque in St. Nicholas Church. Photo: Jeremy Hopkin

The plaque reads as follows:

“The Anglican parish of St. Nicholas was founded in 1912 to serve the growing village of Birch Cliff. This building, opened in 1917, was designed by Toronto architect Harold Carter. Its steep roof and pointed arch windows are characteristic of the Late Gothic Revival style. Carter’s original plan was finally completed in 1953, when the congregation expanded after the Second World War. As one of the first churches in the area, St. Nicholas Church has played an important role in the development of Birch Cliff. – Heritage Toronto 2012 / dedicated August 9, 2012.”

Harold Carter (1885-1956) was also involved in the design of Hart House (University of Toronto), Emmanual College, Toronto; Birchcliff Heights Public School, R.H. King Collegiate (demol. 1976; archway and wall fragment relocated to the Guild Inn, Scarborough), Winston Churchill Collegiate, West Hill Collegiate and W.A. Porter Collegiate, Scarborough.

On Saturday, September 29th, St. Nicholas will hold a 100th Birthday Party Community Picnic from noon until 3pm.

Scarborough Archives verandah restoration begins

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Scarborough Archives after restoration of wooden verandah. Photo: Don Allen

By Jeremy Hopkin.

The Scarborough Historical Society is pleased to announce the restoration of the upper woodwork on the verandah of the Scarborough Archives building is complete. The facility in which the Scarborough Archives now resides was formerly the W.J. Morrish general store. Constructed during 1891, the building served residents of Highland Creek and surrounding rural areas as a general store until closing its doors in 1967.

Although essential repairs to the exterior of the building were made when the Archives first occupied the building, the verandah could not be included as it did not work within funding guidelines. In the meantime Scarborough Historical Society volunteers continually painted all exposed woodwork on the verandah to protect it from further deterioration until project funding could be acquired.

Earlier this year, Hydro One stepped forward to provide the Scarborough Historical Society with a donation to commence with restoration. A request for tender was publicized and the architectural restoration specialists of Colonial Building Restoration were awarded the work contract. They began the process of dismantling and stripping the wood on July 3rd, 2012.

Scarborough Archives verandah woodwork under restoration, 2012. Photo: Rick Schofield.

Over a century of accumulated paint was painstakingly removed from the wood by use of heat guns and stripping tools. This revealed that although most of the underlying wood is in great shape for its age, time has taken its toll – two of the main posts had to be replaced along with other small deteriorated areas. Sections with dry rot or damage were replicated and replaced so that the entire verandah could be properly reassembled and painted.

As paint was removed, notes were made on the layers of coatings which once covered the wooden members over the years. Deep under the paint remained evidence of a coat of linseed oil from what most likely is the original sealing coat made during construction in the 1890s.

Molding details which had disappeared from the posts several years ago were also re-created, utilizing an 1894 image of the W.J. Morrish general store front as reference.

The tin plated roof of the verandah, also in need of repair, was not included in the current restoration project, although the Scarborough Historical Society plans to undertake this secondary task in the near future when additional funding can once again be acquired.
The existing tin roof is not original when one examines the 1894 photograph. However, the original roof material needs further research and in the short term, to protect the existing tin,  the Society will repair the joint where the roof meets the building and repaint the existing tin with rust inhibiting primer/sealer and quality paint.

Verandah restoration image gallery:

Scarborough Archives after restoration of wooden verandah. Photo: Don Allen
Scarborough Archives verandah woodwork under restoration. Photo: Rick Schofield.
The Scarborough Archives verandah is propped up during restoration. Photo: Rick Schofield.
The Archives verandah is propped up as a post is replaced. Photo: Rick Schofield.
An employee of Colonial Building Restoration heats and scrapes paint from the verandah of the Scarborough Archives. Photo: Don Allen.
Wooden spindle from the Scarborough Archives verandah during restoration. Photo: Rick Schofield.
Verandah of the Scarborough Archives during woodwork restoration. Photo: Don Allen.
Verandah of the Scarborough Archives during woodwork restoration. Photo: Don Allen.
Verandah of the Scarborough Archives after woodwork restoration. Photo: Don Allen.