The 1889 Mimico Creek photo is from the forested confluence of Bonar and Mimico Creeks

Forested confluence of Bonar and Mimico Creeks, 1889: John Boyd Collection at the Archives of Ontario

The photo discussed in a previous post appears indeed to be from the mouth of Mimico Creek.

Michael Harrison includes a high resolution version of the photo (showing more detail than is available in the version of the photo, on the left, that I’ve included at the current blog post) in a chapter (p. 157) about the lost creeks of South Etobicoke.

The caption of the photo in the above-noted book reads: “The forested confluence of Bonar and Mimico creeks near Lake Ontario, 1889.” The chapter includes a map showing the confluence of Bonar and Mimico Creeks north of the Lake Ontario shoreline.

The photo is from the John Boyd Collection at the Archives of Ontario. I believe it can be accessed directly through the latter site.

I have have not tried to locate the 1889 photo at its online archival source.

You can also find many archival photos at the City of Toronto Archives.

As well, excellent Toronto historic map resources are available.

To round out the discussion, here’s a message from Denise Harris of the Etobicoke Historical Society:

It’s my understanding that this photo is specifically of the confluence of Mimico Creek and Bonar Creek, just north of the Lake Shore.

I don’t think you could make much of a case based on the canoes being “identical” – most canoes would have had that wooden cladding at that time – in facts lots still do today.

You might check with Michael Harrison, who has written about “The Vanishing Creeks of Southern Etobicoke” and used this photo.  His article appears in a book called HTO: Toronto’s  Water from Lake Iroquois to Lost Rivers to Low-flow Toilets.

[End of message]

Etobicoke Historical Society

Click here to access the Etobicoke Historical Society website.

A June 27, 2013 Etobicoke Guardian article about the society is entitled” Etobicoke’s history sustained thanks to committed group of residents.”

1880s

I’ve recently come across a couple of articles dealing with the 1880s.

A September 9, 2012 New York Times article notes that Vincent Van Gogh completed a newly identified painting, “Sunset at Montmajour,” in Arles in 1888.

A September 8, 2013 Metro Toronto article refers to a couple of buildings – recently demolished – that were constructed in Toronto the 1880s.