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Colleen O’Marra writes: Just reading a fascinating biography of Mimico-born David Hornell. That name might not be familiar to our community or Toronto for that matter. Hornell joined the RCAF, flew over 60 missions and became the first RCAF recipient of the Victoria Cross in 1944. The medal was awarded posthumously to his widow. Hornell […]
Update – Dec. 23, 2013 message from Mississauga Ward 1 Councillor Jim Tovey’s Office: Good morning Jaan The fencing around the site is for the Hanlan Feedermain shaft. Once the shaft is dug a boring machine will be lowered into it to tunnel up Dixie Rd. There is another location being setup at South Service […]
Colleen O’Marra writes (Dec. 8, 2013): Just surfing the net this evening and found an interesting set of old Long Branch photos on a site titled NORTH YORK/TORONTO HISTORIC PHOTOS AND MAPS. There are five pictures of: Long Branch Villa Lots(1887) drawings and floor plans of residences designed for George Farquhar, R.B. Ellis, J.J. Wilkes, […]
Updates: Colleen O’Marra – see Comments at the end of this post – has added details about Police Chief Smythe that I read with much interest. For additional comments about Toronto-area postwar emergency housing, click here > [End] I had the good fortune to spend a couple of hours on the morning of Dec. […]
The following message is from Colleen O’Marra: In September of 1935( and it really was a dark and stormy night) a small plane crashed onto a field. Two men climbed out and were confronted by a security guard and his dogs. The guard asked the men if they were okay.They were fine but the men […]
Sandy Bray has a question that you may be able to answer “I’ve been enjoying your site very much,” Sandy Bray writes, “and have been thinking alot of memories and questions, etc. etc.” Sandy has recently sent a question to her dad, Jim Bray, asking if he remembered the address of the house called “Robins Nest” […]
Colleen O’Marra writes: I’ve just read the obit of a great Canadian and a local hero as well. Bruce Melanson, World War II veteran ,honoured his fellow soldiers with the planning and financing of the Juno Beach memorial in France. Also very active at The Legion and of course proud to have served in Remembrance […]
Colleen O’Marra writes: Not sure if you have viewed a documentary film called A TRIP THROUGH SMALL ARMS. It’s in seven parts on YOUTUBE, a rather shaky old reel but a fascinating local piece filmed by one of the employees. Fun to see American actor, Ralph Bellamy, giving a short talk to the Small Arms […]
Long Branch (Toronto not New Jersey) has many characteristics. The characterization depends upon the observer. I much appreciate a recent message from Colleen O’Marra (see below), which has given rise to this blog post. My friend Sid Olvet of Oakville has remarked that each person who encounters Long Branch encounters it according to the era, […]
Aviation in Canada: The Pioneer Decades (2008) by Larry Milberry is described as “the first general interest book dedicated to Canada’s beginnings in flight.” I became interested in the book as a result of receiving a JPEG file of a photo (see below) by Bob Lansdale of a photo of the “Y” Squadron air crew, Long Branch. […]