Long Branch in Toronto used to have its own Fire Hall

These days I don’t spend as much time as I used to in writing posts at this website.

Instead I spend much of my time on a multiyear, independent research project centred on a bibliography about a speech therapist in Alberta.

As part of my research I’ve been reading about the history of Alberta – with a focus on how such a regional history relates to the history of Canada and the world. A multitude of valuable resources that I’ve been studying closely include God’s Province (2016), Orange Chinook (2019), and Blue Storm (2023).

The latter two texts are available online at the University of Calgary website. The online versions are handy but the print versions are easier to read in my experience. Nonetheless the online versions offer a great way to get acquainted with Orange Chinook and Blue Storm – valuable resources featuring the work of many authors.

Also of interest: First World Petro-Politics (2016), Fundamentalism and American Culture (2022), Rule of Darkness (1988), Dark Vanishings (2003), and Time’s Monster (2020).

Until I became involved with the successful effort to save Parkview School starting in 2011, I did not have much interest in history. However, since that local history project I’ve been reading widely – for example, about world military history and the history of the British empire. I’m interested not just in history but also in historiography – how history gets written, and whose needs – and purposes – are served by the writing of it.

On occasion I still write about Long Branch, as in a recent post about Exmoor Drive. The latter post began with an inquiry from a site visitor. Every once in a while, as a result of things previously posted, I get an inquiry about information I might be able to help with.

In a recent such case, I’ve received an inquiry from Peterborough regarding where the Long Branch Fire Hall once stood.

The inquirer’s great grandfather returned to Peterborough after the First World War and found his job gone. “He went to Long Branch Volunteer Fire Department,” the inquirer notes, “and gradually became the Deputy Chief in the amalgamation with Etobicoke.” The question that interested the inquirer was: Where in Long Branch was the Fire Hall located?

Where was the Long Branch Fire Hall located?

One of my local history contacts has been very helpful in enabling me to access the information which follows below. First, it may be noted that a picture of the Long Branch Fire Department can be found on the Etobicoke Historical Society website.

Long Branch Fire Department. Source: Etobicoke Historical Society website. CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT

https://www.etobicokehistorical.com/long-branch-image-library.html

I work at these things slowly. In the next day or two I will share some additional information including aerial photos of the Fire Hall. However, what I’ve written today will do for a start.