City
Toronto's Forgotten Landmarks: The Rochdale Project
The infamous Innis College Rochdale Project of the late 1960s, one of Toronto's greatest tragedies, was born of the best intentions. A statue at the corner of Bloor West and Huron street commemorates this dark chapter of the city's history, and even this is overshadowed by the building itself. The statue, entitled "The Unknown Student," is a sullen monument to the University of Toronto students who died in this education co-op gone horribly wrong.
The tragedy was produced by a combination of two forces: the pan-liberation ideology of the time, and changes to Toronto's zoning laws. At that time, Yorkville was a haven of drug-use, a faux-utopia for those seeking refuge from the drudgery of ordinary life. However, the neighborhood was changing, and the gentrification of Yorkville forced the motorcycle gangs which supplied its drug-rings to move westward - at the same time that the Rochdale project was being built.
The name "Rochdale" alludes to an English township of the same name which became the world's first co-op society. Unfortunately, due to poor zoning, this building (the sister of the Tartu building across the street) soared to seven times its originally planned size. Its sprawling mass made it difficult to police, and it quickly became a hive for crime and villainy. Ironically, during its transition from idealist experiment to inner-city slum, co-op rules remained in place: one person, one vote - even if the voters were bikers and squatters. Despite the presence of the occasional undercover cop, things continued to spiral out of control, with gangs forming their own police force. One news source from the day called the Rochdale Project the "largest drug distribution warehouse in North America".
The Ontario government finally resorted to desperate measures, and set up an independent security system, but the bikers infiltrated even this. In 1975, the Rochdale Project declared complete insolvency and, in its final days, police could be seen dragging people away from the building, which is now titled the Senator A. Croll apartments.
In the course of my research about this building, I have been in contact with several individuals, who all refuse to be named, and whose stories confirm what little is documented about this black mark on the history on the University, and of the city. What at first sounded like an urban myth - a grossly exaggerated tale of 1960s drug-use and misplaced idealism - turned out to be true. The tragedy of the Rochdale Project is an untold story, whose victims (the bodies of the U of T students which were found after the final police raids) are commemorated only by a twisted figure in black stone.
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While doubtless rather poetic, this piece clearly requires sources. And perhaps a gallon less melodrama.
The mystery is how it was able to run for so long; people at UofT don't really like talking about it (I found this out when i tried to write a piece on it for a college paper while attending the school). The TO archives don't have a lot of information (articles, etc), and a friend who is an ex-worker there told me that the University attempted to have the archives stripped of this, as well as info. about the Christ Church St. James 'mystery' I wrote a piece on a few months back (on here)...
I found out in the last few days that my girlfriend's father was a resident (non-student) there at the time! I wish I had spoken to him before writing this!
J->
My research suggests that Rochdale was more of a free-thinking "college" that just became a drug haven. I'm interested to learn how your research suggests it was much more sinister than that.
So many Toronto people around today have Rochdale connections, and many of our cultural institutions (Coach House Books, Theatre Passe Muraille,etc) came out of here.
We've got a bunch of [murmur] stories from people that were there, that can be heard here:
http://murmurtoronto.ca/place.php?284618
Note, the Unknown Student used to face the building, but when it became the retirement home, that seemed "weird" so it was turned to face the street.
Otherwise, I can think of many other things that would better qualify as "one of Toronto's greatest tragedies" than a once-nice apartment building that turned dumpy.
Rochdale was just to most visible of several somewhat similar stories. Similar stuff (drugs and bikers) also happened in the co-op apartment buildings at Waterloo (however, unlike Rochdale, WCRI managed to survive and is still active today).
Hardly a hidden story when there are at least three books and a documentary film and many web sites about the place.
Forgot to mention two additional sources of info on this:
Essentiall viewing, Ron Mann's NFB doc "Dream Tower":
http://www3.nfb.ca/collection/films/fiche/?id=31610
Reg Hartt often does his "The Night they Raided Rochdale" monologue. Excerpt here:
http://www.blacklistedjournalist.com/column27a.html
http://filmswelike.com/dvdswelike/mann/mann.html
As for deaths, many of the bodies found 'later' were unfortunately from overdosing; many of the 'jumpers' there are suspected to have been pushed - as someone mentioned above...
You guys know a lot about this place, but keep in mind, to many, it is a mystery ; P
Thanks!
Jonathan@blogto.com
(Yes, he was one of the druggies-but he stopped that and became the best dad ever!).
a.
http://books.google.ca/books?id=Wc0I2KatfrgC&;pg=PA180&lpg=PA180&dq=%22unknown+student%22+statue+toronto&source=bl&ots=Ln9LzAD_9v&sig=EqilaeIwIs5qYIcSuuzZcd87D6U&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=8&ct=result
While it is a monument that reminds us of the history of this building, your wording suggests that it was a tribute specifically to the dead.
Happily, urban planning is 'trying' (success of this to be determined) to shoe us away from single-class, hyper-cellular, confined hives, and the desperation and reclusiveness that breeds within them.
Though likely half-urban myth, the kernel of truth here is still a moral for 'our' future T.O. story.
http://archives.cbc.ca/society/youth/clips/3204/
This is not 'reporting' - it is a blog about the city we love, and this was meant as a neat story that digs a bit below/behind an ordinarily mundane-looking building.
jonathan@blogto.com
I surmise it's like a cenotaph such as to the Unknown Soldier as one finds in most cities. I surmise it has to deal with the anonymity of students in large lecture halls and being unknown to their professors. But that's merely a guess.
I can't remember Ed Apt's explanation for titling it the Unknown Student. I was busy typing up 1000 address labels for his invitations to the unveiling in April(?) or May 1969.
I've written about Rochdale before, and looked into who did the Student, but haven't found anything. If there was a plaque it has still gone missing. Ed Apt doesn't seem to have an net presence. What else did he do?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochdale_College
Ed Apt. It is here:
http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/sculptures/sculptures1.html
Ed Apt's studio was in the garage behind the Hassle-Free Clinic on Dupont St. I clearly remember him telling me about it and showing some photos of it.
There was a plaque at the base of the sculpture but I guess it's been removed.
By the way the Google search I used was sculpture: Ed Apt.
There was essentially the one article.
I hope this material is of some use to you.
Sorry, I can't help you further.
the statue of the student is a generic student, not a memorial to some poor innocent that was shoved down the maw of horrible, bestial rochdale!
and some of the assumptions about yorkville and rochdale are just plain wrong. it would be better to interview someone who lived there at the time to get a first-person account rather than speculating on latter-day interpretations founded in large measure on rumour.
I know more than a few people who were involved in the creation of, and the living out of the project; the statue is indeed a memorial, and who are these people who researched for me? Anyhow, I appreciate your comments, just find them rather unfounded.
J->
ps. for the record, I do NOT know who - heh.
In the last sentence of your article you make it seem like there was some kind of police massacre of students and the statue commemorates the dead. But in the comments here, we've learned there was no massacre, just some overdoses, and the statue,
created during Rochdale's heyday, is not a memorial, but rather, symbolizes the unknown student who goes to a traditional University and feels alienated by the big system.
Why do you continue to insist it was a memorial?
Re deaths in Rochdale there were 3 DOA overdoses, and 4 deaths from other causes, over the 7 years that the College existed.Given the transient nature and high turn over rate of the residents, the nature of the times, the large number of people who were coming to Rochdale to purchase soft drugs such as pot,hash,and psychedelics--the figure is extraordinarily low. I recall discussing the stats with members of 14 and 52 divisions of Metro's Finest and their comments that any highrise tower in St. Jamestown area(then the gay area of Toronto) would be somewhat similar.
Of the deaths mentioned above I as a member of Rochdale Security was present and witnessed the investigation and aftermath of several.
One of the drug DOA's was a girl named Linda. Linda had a long list of suicide attempts and had had long before seeking shelter at Rochdale. In the year or so she was in Rochdale, Linda made numerous attempts at suicide and we (Rochdale Security)managed to get her medical help every time up until her last. She was successful on attempt number 33.I remember what sadness and what a waste I felt as we entered her apartment to find her and then later loaded her on the gurney to leave.
Another death that I was privy to was when a bank robber and his girlfriend successfully entered Rochdale and were hiding out in an alias rented apartment. 10 days after moving in the bank robber killed his girlfriend and was caught.Didn't really have anything to do with our community per se.
One of the deaths mentioned by Andrew was the "daytripper" kid. This was another instance where a 15 year old from I believe Hamilton had been thrown out of his home by his parents. Having no where else to go he came to Rochdale seeking a place to stay and drugs. He managed to get into the building but was rebuffed in his attempts to buy drugs. Within a matter of one or two hours after reaching Rochdale he apparently became so despondent that he launched himself out of the laundry room on the 17th floor commiting suicide. He was not known or related to the Rochdale community in any way.
Another death I witnessed occured on a very cold and blizzardy night at about 3 am in the morning when someone came to report to me at the Security desk that there was a body on the back patio. The body turned out to be an American draft dodger who had lived in a ashram(communal living space with individual rooms) room whose wall butted my own apartment on the 16th floor. I had heard this person screaming and shouting profanities for about two weeks before this happened. I had asked other members of the ashram what was going on with the guy and whether we should intervene as Security to try and get this guy settled down so the other residents could enjoy their premises more quietly. I was told that the chap was quite distraught because even though an Amnesty to draft dodgers had been in the cards his parents somewhere in the Southern USA still rejected him and his right to return. It is believed that this or an accidental fall was the reason for his death. No Drugs were involved.This was one of 3 "Resident" deaths that I was privy too.
Another death had occured before I came to Rochdale and this had happened when two "residents" had gotten into a fight while drunk in the 7th floor elevator lobby. During the fight they crashed through the heavy plate glass windows and fell to the pavement below. One of the two died and the other 'Wolf" survived through with many broken limbs.
Another "non resident" death occured one morning at approximately 4am as I was smoking hash with my Jamaican CRUD radio announcer friend, Patrick. We heard a large *Wham*!! I knew without looking that it was not a cat that had fallen but a human.I instructed Pat to call emergency and the police and went outside where I was joined by other members of the Security force. It turned out that a visitor from outside had been drinking tequila in an apartment on the 11th floor. He started retching and rather than attempt to run to the bathroom he started to puke out the waist level high window into the back alley. He toppled over and landed half in and half out of a garbage bin setting 11 floors down.It was a bit of the macabre death obviously sent from on high since it was such an odd way to die. I mean how many people die by falling into a garbage can while puking 11 floors. It was pretty unique.
I hope that leaves those of you who were wondering about Rochdale a little about what really went on there. As for myself, I went on to complete my batchelor degrees in History and Archeology at York University which was what I had mostly been doing at Rochdale besides working as a fulltime member of Rochdale Security.
Most informative,
Jonathan.
It was so delicious that I stopped in nearly every week for lunch. I'd give ANYTHING to have that recipe!!
Does anyone out there know how to find it out?
PS Great to see Rochdale rememberd so vividly.
Jeffrey Snider Aka "Shades" had a white shepherd mix that was definitely a foul tempered mutt. Dog's name was "Fritz".
re story on us hanging him out the 10 floor window for theft-well, heh- we on Rochdale security were a bunch of nice guys-we would never treat a thief like that, would we? :-}
Shades had served on the Security force just prior to my starting. That had been headed by Ed Walsh. Everyone on that Security force was fired and Security was revamped under Billy Litler. Besides Billy there was myself, Don Ferguson, Mike Vance, Mike Franklin, Prince & Charlie from Ohio, Charlie Taylor, Tony Zenker, Alaska,Bear, Mickey Russell(George Chuvalo's sparring partner)and Francisco( former policeman from Uruguay). This was the Security force that did most of the heavy cleanup work on the building including removing the speed freaks, and all the other hard drug users and dealers. By the end of 1970 everything was running a lot smoother. In 1972, Billy was let go as Chief of Security and replaced by Rudy Hierk. While Rudy was a nice guy he wasn't particularly that effective as Chief. He elected as his No#2 a guy named Mark Smith. Both were musicians as well as running Security. Neither were cut out for the rough & tumble stuff that sometimes occurred at the front door.
14th floor commune.
I was there from Sept 1968 to July 1973.
It was a wonderfully exciting time. If john q. public weren't there having a fullfilling, exhausting time then perhaps the same john q. public was busy bringing its own negative baggage into the building. No sense being envious about it now, slagging it and denigrating the Rochdale experience and those who benefitted from it and who matured physically, artistically, academically and politically there. In the intervening 36 years it seems I've only heard people say that they wished they'd been there during those halcyon days!!!
years. I shared #1111 in Rochdale with "Doc" Call in 1971--
I believe you were living in the 11th Floor Ashram. Rudy and
April were in 1103, Danny in 1101, and several dozen Czechs
were in 1105. Please get in touch with me! mrsandoz(at)gmail
(dot)com. Dave Witton
You pair are on the money but:
1) the Vagabonds had "almost 700 members" Muahahaha. Bravo Sierra.
2) Jeff Snider was no thief. Not then. Not ever. He never owed anyone a dime, never was short of lolly, came from a wealthy family up in Bathurst Manor and was a talented merchant in his own right in rare coins and stamps, motorcycles etc.
A slob, rude, abrasive, demanding, psychotic even, but always honourable. The only thing illegal Shades ever did was to middle some resin. Hardly public enemy number one as the cops who hounded him would have the courts believe.
I dont believe he was hung out an upper storey window to confess to stealing money. I think that's a myth someone invented for puffery. But yeah, there was an upper storey involved in that episode but it went like this....a couple of rounders with balls like church bells lowered themselves down a rope from maybe the tenth floor type of thing to the balcony of Robert R's stash room and cleaned it out.
Suspicion wrongly fell on Snider, I am not sure why. Anyway, what did happen as I know it, Security roughed him up and stabbed him with a sabre or a sword or some such weapon in an effort to get him to confess to something he didn't do. I seem to remember maybe it was Billy Littler but not really certain on that. That just sticks in my mind somehow. But I could be wrong on that. I think Littler also had a shepherd when Shades had Fritz. Littler wasn't a clubber but he had a scoot, not a hog, maybe a Velocette or a Moto Guzzi, something different.
The only Vagabond I remember ever being on security was Ed (Newfie) Walsh.
Of course there were a few so called Vagabond 'riders' around, such as Barmy Bobby Leytas (RIP)...the only thing I ever saw him ride was the Red Rocket, whereas Shades I remember had a spanking new blue and white Electraglide right off Mouldy. (Russell Winter)
Due to serious aggro from the cops, Jeff moved to Israel in 71 and has never returned.
Last I heard he owned half of Nablus.
re your comments on Shades-well Billy Litler and Don Ferguson were definitely there, as were others- but I was not. Neither of those two guys were on the Security Force when whatever happened happened- and no one from Security was present during that session. I don't know why they suspected Shades and his friends had pulled the ripoff but they did. Knowlege of the Stash room would have been limited to very, very, few people.
Now I never actually asked Ferguson or Litler what happened in that room but the details of your story have the facts quite correct. But-you are the first person I have ever heard that said Shades and friends didn't do it. Litler and Ferguson were both close personal friends of mine and both lived in my house when they came to the West Coast- though they arrived at different times. I heard both the stabbing and the hanging out the window story back when the events occured so there was never any need to ask further. You say that you think the hanging out the window was puffery -my question would be if you got the jam to stab somebody why wouldn't you have the jam to hang them out the window? Billy and Ferguson were both hard men when so inclined- and Ferguson was certainly one of the most evil men I have ever met-the man was capable of anything.So-did Shades get hung out the window-who knows-I'm sure old Shades does if he is still alive.I don't recall him ever coming back to Rochdale after that. Billy and Fergie are both dead so they ain't going to tell. And, it's all close to 40 years ago so it really doesn't matter now.
That was an exceptionally rare incident however you cut it.Violence did happen at Rochdale but after the building got cleaned up in the 1970 period it happened very little -at least within the building. I worked Security for 5 years and I never had a physical encounter with any resident living there. My battles were always with the "Outsiders" who were trying to get in-hence most occured at the front door.I worked El Mocambo's door back then as well and believe me the front door at the Rock was far heavier place to be, especially on any hot Friday night during the summer, with more than 3000 people in an 8 hour shift trying to get in-hah!
Bobby Leytas(RIP) -got his picture up on my screen sitting on his bike out in front of the Rock-and I'm having a toast and a toke to his memory as I write. Loved Bobby -great guy and a good friend- but crazier than hell when he got drunk and mean.I always figured he was worse after he got that steel plate in his head.I was very sad to learn of his death but what could ya say -he lived the creed "Live fast-die young-leave a good loooking corpse". Hard to imagine Bobby living to be a fat old man in his 60's or 70's. Just wasn't gonna happen.
The business about the sculpture is pure fiction as is the Title "Toronto's Forgotten Landmarks: The Rochdale Project" how many books have to be written and documentaries made for this dude to be able to do some research? and the lead line "one of Toronto's greatest tragedies". You'd be hard pressed to find someone who lived there that would agree it was a tragedie.
There was a fair size transient population at different times and, as long as there where no really hard drugs involved that was alright, some of the street kids out there today would be Lucky to have a place like the Rock to go to and gather their lives together before having to face the big bad world..
Rochdale the 11th. floor gave me the 'Time and Place' to learn to Paint which is what I do Today, and I am ever Grateful for that.
I don't know about Doc.& Donna 1111 how or where they are, but Fitzy and Danny (RIP)and Gord B. Jeremy D.&; Jimmy M.all from the ashram are doing fine living Good lives as am I.
Ever yours; Sharon Blanchfield,
my paintings can be found at..
WWW.peacockstudios.com ..P.S. Lorraine Darlings'(8th.floor) Bronzes can be found there also..
I am sorry about any inadequacies etc. in the article; I am not old enough to have experienced the place first hand; all I have is the lore that professors (I studied at UofT) told me. Keep in mind, this is a BLOG, not a news-source.
I am so glad to see you guys re-connecting on here -
No hard feelins'
jonathan@blogTO
Was it the theory that he was connected to the burglars somehow?
I knew the pair who did the deed, experienced pros, both well-known second storey men in and totally unknown in Rochdale. Not dope users or hippie types. They targeted Robert R on hearing tales about the boy wizard who weighed his money. Loose lips sink ships. And in 68-69 security was a lark...the 101st Cannibis Brigade on Guard for Thee.
Ironically, some years later the pair ended up in Collins Bay with Robert. So we have Al Mundie and T.H.E.Cat in the same pen as their mark. Despite backgrounds poles apart and as I understand it Robert fit in well to the mosaic and they liked him and told me they gained a lot of respect for him and in loose moments ruminated on fessing up to him how his goods walked, but thought ah lets leave well enough alone.
Both those guys are gone now, one murdered and the other a suicide
I had no way of knowing about Littler and Fergusson passing. I never knew Littler personally but saw him around, a greasy looking piece of work right out of central casting, black hair and stubble beard, full black leathers, maybe 5'10 or eleven. It's been almost four decades but I am virtually certain thinking back, Shades pointed him out and told me it was he who stabbed him in the leg. Now that wasn't Fergusson by description.
I had little to do with the Rock, but I knew Fergusson previously (I believe he spelled his name with the double s) If it is the same one, he came from Elgin Mills Rd up in Richmond Hill....lived on the north side of Elgin Mills just west of Yonge. I think it was his parents home. Met him him now and then at Normie Black's scatter called the Black Hawk Inn. Later on in Rochdale was hooked up with a Mary Anne Big****, I never knew her but knew her Uncle. I remember Don as a tall, slim handsome dude, fair or sandy hair. I think they had a bairn they called Rising Star or Bold heart or something odd.
Looks like all the actors involved have screwed the pooch but Snakeshit as we called Shades, survives, at least as of two years ago. I haven't seen him since '71 but he is in contact with one or two in Toronto from time to time. I think it is people that were involved with the ledain commission he contacts. He would be about 63 now. Fergusson if alive would be about 67-68. No clue on Littler.
I often surmised Shades might have been suspected as he may have had keys to the room door (don't know if security even did) but I know for sure they rappelled down a rope and left by opening the door from the inside. Those guys weren't interested in ripping dope, they expected to find mountains of cash.
I would know Robert R by sight, having seen him on the jelly belly, he's a wee grizzled elf of a man now, and if I should cross paths with him I might give him the gouge. Hell, there's a lot of water gone under the bridge and it will be forty years in another six months and he will prolly get a kick out of it when he realizes he shared so many jugups and often swapped spit with them. I think one of them was even on the inmate committee with him. It'll rock his bones!
Tis a pity the grand experiment was shagged up by the Murray-the-speed-freak types.
Popeye sends and ends.
Mr Tony< I haven't seen in many a year-last I heard he drove airport limosine but that a long time ago.It's only been recently that I have gotten back in touch with any of "the people".
I've been spending a lot of my time overseas in SE Asia and Latin America the last 20 years or so.Recently hooked up with Scotty and a few other Toronto folks.I haven't been in TO myself since 1982.Recently Cindy, for Karen and Cindy(the HotRocks twins) got ahold of me through Facebook. She is trying to get back in touch with Lorraine D if you happen to have a current email or phone number for her.
Been talking with Deloris D, Flanigans ex wife and apparently Terry(809) is in very bad mental and physical health these days.
Anyway, paid a visit to your website and nice to see you are still painting all these years later.You can always contact me through Facebook , if you use it-just plug in my email Blackeagle@shaw.ca and it will bring me up.
Check out this exhibition and free school we're presenting along with students in October 2009. http://studentsutac.ning.com/events/rochdale-college-exhibition
4th floor, with one of Rochdales well known residents Phil Decant ( he was my home away from home, that kept me safe) . The Vagabonds and Hells Angels became part of my family back then. Don, President of Vagabonds taught me how to flick my bic. Big John Hells Angel Canada always give me shit for one thing or another. Like trying to kill him off the 4th floor with water balloons.HaHa earned my PHD in Pharmecutical Engineering by the time I was sixteen, making drugs.Thanks to all the bikers at Rochdale for being my family back then
Billy Litler passed away 3-4 years ago I think. I was down in Central America at the time so I actually didn't know that msyelf until one of my fellow Rochdalians told me that both he and jay Boldizar(former President of the College) had passed on. I was quite shocked to hear the news as we had always been good friends. He had moved up to the Sunshine Coast so I didn't see him as often as before when he lived in Van. re pic of Bobby Leytus I would be happy to send you but I will need an email address.
any Rochdalians living in Montreal.
please get back to me if so...would like very much to talk to you.
would you happen to remember a little girl by the first name Dawn who lived at Rochdale?
i would like to reunite with her friend at the tine Laura...
kind regards,
Olivia
Cheers, my dear.
Ironically Bambi died September 11 2003 , May he now Rest in Peace . We had a hell of a ride and so did all of you that knew and loved him and you know who you are ! He finally taught me how to ride a bike just a couple of years before he passed. Rest In Peace Billy my brother as well. I thank all of you for teaching me well. Cindy The Brat ...
i love your comments you posted. i am starting to rap up on a Rochdale interview project...would love to talk to you more. i am located in toronto. please contact me if you can help us out.
thanks so much.
kind regards,
Olivia
cheers,
Olivia
oliviamizzi@hotmail.com
Hi Sharon .
Cheers,
Cindy
As ever...Sharon
Wow ..Gord a Pop , that's far out. I last saw Karen at Billy's wake at Howard's in Toronto. I haven't seen her since then but she is still living where the lemons grow. Email me at cindy6@shaw.ca if you like .
Cindy
we are open to setting up a few more story share video interviews for those of you that missed out in Jan.
lets get in touch,
oliviamizzi@hotmail.com
Olivia
You must be in your 30's by now
Larry Claypool
Rochdale has been gone for 40 years now and closing it down really stopped the flow of drugs into the city. Didn't it?
Would have been interesting to see what would have happened if the horn-rimmed glasses set had supported the culture of Rochdale rather than doing whatever they could to shut it down.
its obvious that you were never there
yes there were some deaths, just like anywhere you choose to live
but to blame them on bikers or a culture is just plain wrong
I knew one of the people who died personally and it was a fight along with falling out the window during the fight. they were both DRUNK at the time)
Jonathan you really should have talk to some one from the building before you wrote your stretched version of the truth
My friend Larry has explained a lot of the occurrences most accurately, so I need not add more.
Claypool
My husband Mick used to play guitar and a sitar (given to him by Candy Cane who is mentioned earlier in this blog)often with Jim Heineman (the saxophonist)or elsewhere in the building for whoever wanted him to play. We also had our two black dogs called Keely and Louie (named after two famous jazz muso's, Keely was well known for manically putting out peoples cigerettes. We used to take them out to do their business at "dog shit park" as Frank Zappa used to say "watch out for that yellow snow cos thats where the huskies go".