City
Nostalgia Tripping: Cabbagetown and Regent Park in the 1960s
After the completion of Regent Park North in 1956, Albert Rose, one of the most vocal proponents of the housing project, hailed it as a "symbol of successful public action and public housing experience" in his book, Regent Park: A Study in Slum Clearance.
For some time after this, Regent Park was considered a success in terms of rehabilitation of a previously so-called "blighted area." Eventually, it began to deteriorate, however, both physically and socially, and it slowly turned into an insular area with a less than kind reputation.
So when exactly did trouble begin for the project? Although I have read a number of books and articles related to this question, there is no definitive answer. Some sources point to the early 1980s, while more skeptical ones claim that it all started in the 1960s. What's more interesting, however, is the fact that the deterioration of Regent Park and the gentrification of the Don Vale/Cabbagetown neighbourhood across the street, started at roughly the same time - in the late 1960s.
In 1967, James Lorimer was a young professor, who moved with his wife, Myfanwy Phillips, to a rented house on a street he lists as "Minster Lane" in his study, Working People: Life in a Downtown City Neighbourhood. The actual name of the street, located in the northern section of Don Vale (now known as "Cabbagetown," which used to the name of Regent Park before the advent of urban renewal), is Laurier Avenue. He also deliberately provided fictional names for his neighbours in order to protect their privacy. Lorimer moved there in order to undertake a study project for his research on inner-city poverty, at the time when what he describes as a respectable blue-collar neighbourhood east of Parliament Street started to attract middle-class professionals, who began to buy up and renovate the charming, even if run down, Victorian houses.
Prior to the arrival of the middle-class residents, the houses were mostly owned by absentee landlords, but others, belonging to older, more established residents in the area, were owned by residents with well-paid blue-collar jobs. Many of them worked as truck drivers, warehousemen, labourers, mailers, bakers, and carpenters. In contrast, their white-collar counterparts were interior designers, photographers, city planners, and professors.
By the time Lorimer and Phillips moved in, the gentrification had already been set in motion. He was the first white-collar person to rent a house on Laurier Avenue, which had been bought by his landlord from an absentee owner. By the time he and his wife moved out nine months later, fifteen of the eighteen houses on the street were bought and renovated. Their property value increased every year: the first nine were being purchased between $7,000 and $9,000. A year later this figure increased to $11,000, and two years later, it was $18,000.
Meanwhile, the neighbouring Regent Park began to fall on hard times. Lorimer and Phillips write that the residents of Cabbagetown, especially the homeowners, did not like to be associated with the people inhabiting the nearby project and that Gerrard Street was already the social divide that it has been in more recent years.
In December of 1968, the Toronto Star conducted a series of investigative articles into the life of the residents of the project, which harshly describe it as a "filthy, crime infested human jungle." Most of the residential complexes in the north part were already over twenty years old, while the ones in the south part, although built only ten years earlier, were described as prematurely aging.
The series was preceded by a report, which appeared in July of the same year. It described a daily beat of two police officers, who patrolled the area between 7:00 pm and 3:00 am, keeping their eye on the Regent Park youth, who were often believed to engage in petty crime and vandalism. Prostitution, homelessness, and alcoholism were also on the rise.
Rose, who continued to study the project, blamed the lack of recreational facilities and employment opportunities for the younger residents, but the tone of his quotation betrays disappointment with the gradual decline of the quality of life in Regent: "I don't know what you can do about this."
Thankfully, as revitalization efforts in the area continue, not everyone felt the same way.
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Revisionist history is always a great parlor game - and a fool's game at that!
I wouldn't believe the Star if they said Monday followed Sunday, but their own photo essay on Regent Park a year or two back poignantly illustrated an obvious part of the problem: with women sitting on the front steps of their 'new' apartments in Regent Park, chatting amongst themselves with their gaily decorated prams nearby. Juxtopose that with any photos of that area from the past 25+ years and there are some pretty obvious conclusions to be made.
However, if I had to draw one conclusion, to make one assertion about why social housing in the modern, 'enlightened' world never seems to work, that would be that there has been a slow, unerring degradation of moral standards in the past 50 or 60 years.
People expect too much. They demand Big Brother and Big Government do it all for them. Responsibility is out and 'rights' are in. Many people don't even want to think for themselves anymore. We expect medical miracles daily and we anticipate everything will have a happy ending.
That is just not realistic. Crappy housing and housing projects will always exist, despite Star Trek's assertion to the contrary. There will always be lazy people, there will always be stupid people and there will always be motivated, smart people that have bad luck or have had bad things happen to them. None of these things will change as long as humans remain, well, human.
But as long as experts believe they have found the Holy Grail, and their sycophants follow in droves, we will be forced to endure urban renewal after urban renewal, each followed by the same old hand wringing and tsk tsking by the chattering classes.
- Watches Star Trek
- Reads the Sun
- Voted Ford
- Dislikes those newfangled hippies
- Distrusts espresso (Communists drink espresso, of course)
- Has never heard of the St Lawrence mixed housing project
- Is Very Smart and Motivated
- Digs words like “juxtapose” and “sycophant” (but can't spell the former)
- Thinks Nostalgia Tripping is about dropping LSD and taking about the good ol’ days when Toronto was a colonial backwater
- Enjoys crapping on other people's posts.
Agatha, thanks for posting this article. There have been so many 'hoods in Toronto that have been gentrified, and I think the stories of gentrification are interesting (mostly because in my 5 years here, I generally see neighborhoods only after they've arrived). The house price info is handy.
Now, to find the 'next Cabbagetown'...
- never took to Star Trek (it's too campy), but it is synonymous with 'the future.' I preferred Babylon 5 or the more recent BSG, but that's just me.
- do not read the Sun. The guys at my last workplace used to. Loved Susan Levy. Learned to respect Clair Hoy, as he tempered his ways over the decades. I enjoy his blustering on Michael Coren. Hate the Star - wouldn't use it to line a bird cage. Flip between the Groan & Moan and the Post. Read the NY Times AND Detroit News, occasionally the L.A. Times
- yes, voted Ford (one out of 3 aint't bad, PG)
- newfangled hippies are just like the old style hippies: they think they've stumbled upon an original thought but they haven't
- if you want to pay $5 for a coffee, that's up to you
- lived in Crombie Park for 6 months back in 1980 - was mugged, had laundry stolen, and couldn't get in half the time because the kids in the grade school would unscrew the door handle from the entrance lobby - yeah, I'd say St. Lawrence was a success
- not sure about the smart, but certainly observant, and, yes, motivated by the mass stupidity I see around me every day
- I'll go up against your non-spell checker essays any day
- a bit of LSD might help some of the ideas coming out of City Hall and Ry-high these days
- don't enjoy 'crapping' on anything, but I'll leave the potty language to your obvious superior knowledge of it
And kudos to Agatha for taking her free time and posting something for the rest of us to chew on. Even if some people take it waaay too personally.
(Rebut the opinions, don't attack the messenger.)
You are correct in the 'interesting and controversial history' and my parents saved and saved, scrimped and saved to get out of Cabbagetown, but for me growing up there, it was a tight community. Names like Gary - PeeWee O'Donnel, Jinx the Jimmy Garrington, Gordie Beaver Glenn, big Alex Glover blowing his trumpet, Mark Thurman, who became a well respected artist, Bobby Stepaniuk who lived at 347 with many of us - then there was the Kelly Twins, Gail Goddard, Elaine Shamandroff, who's mom owned a beauty parlor. Teachers and pricipals, Mr. Patterson, Dr. Goldring, Mr. Philips, violin lessens, a dentist in the school and no freezing when your teeth were being drilled. Dr. Holland was the art teacher, all of these people and more made up the fabric of Cabbagetown, they were characters, all of them, the stuff that books are made of. Back then, there was a sense of community, albeit a poor community but it was full of colour and passion. I've been writing about Cabbagetown my whole life and left when I wa 13. I've travelled through Central and South America, Mexico, the United States, Europe and the Middle East and nothing inspires me like Cabbagetown, that is because it was my real lived experience while innoscence still abounded. The milkman came in a wagon drawn by a horse when I lived on Spruce Street. Lord Dufferin had a cinder playground, but how proud we were when our hockey boys kicked butt at Maple Leaf Gardens one year. The school trips to Niagara Falls and the Royal Winter Fair, ah, I can smell the popcorn from the push cart outside my house, when against my grandmother's will, I bought red candy apples instead of popcorn.
I remember a place that was alive with real people. Write about it Agatha, it's full of stories.
As for the politics, well, I don't live there anymore, and will leave that to Gadfly and the Peanut Gallery whose comments I really enjoyed. Maybe I'll make it back for a visit some time. Thank you for posting this Agatha, I've been thinking a lot about my roots lately.
What a wonderful trip down Memory Lane! I intend to share this with both teachers and students who attended Sprucecourt PS as well as some other Jarvisites who lived in Cabbagetown. Interestungly, Andy Stabins, who attended Duke of York PS with me, had his house on Carlton Street appropriated to form part of the Sprucecourt schoolyard.
Thanks again and more later after others have commented.
Chuck Carr
I'd love to see your photos, they sound so interesting. It's hard to find images of the area as it was before gentrification. Lorimer and Phillips included some photos in their book, but not many.
If you would like to contact me, my e-mail address is agatha@blogto.com
An apartment in Regent Park was a Godsend after my parents & two siblings had been literally living in a single room in the Cabbagetown vicinity. No more bathroom or kitchen to share with strangers. Hard to believe now, but it was akin to winning the housing lottery.
When Regent Park was originally built and set up there were indeed many forms of recreation provided - playgrounds, sprinklers for hot summer days, Clubhouse for crafts and the staff to work with us on craft projects, kite making, etc. We played on sports teams both in the public school system as well as within the project. We never thougt of it as a "project". An ice skating rink was flooded every winter on the baseball diamond between Sumach and Sackville Streets and we skated every evening until our mitts froze along with our toes from our oversized or undersized hand-me-down skates. The 'always icy cold' Riverdale Pool was over the bridge next to the Riverdale Zoo and The Greenwood indoor swimming pool was a hike along Gerrard Street, Mutual Arena for roller skating, the Gay Theater as well as the Parliament Theater, next door to the variety store that had the wooden indian chained on its wooden front porch by the door with it's Red Setter companion who was indifferent and friendly to all who passed.
There was also green grass and trees surrounding each of the apartment buildings until the cost became too high to maintain them and then they were paved over and Regent literally became a concrete jungle.
The "Yummy-Man, The "Dickie-Dee" and various other ice cream trucks made several trips daily in the summer to offer cold treats while Popcorn, Candy Apples, roasted Chestnuts and hot Peanut carts were also strewn about the downtown area for treats that most of us could not afford. Our parents were poor, had large families, one or both parents had drinking issues - (isn't it interesting that the only advertisement on this page is for vodka?) Ironic isn't it ?
We all knew who each other were, even if we were not personal friends with one another and it seems to me that over the years we did chum with most of the other kids at one point or another, depending on our stage, grade, teacher at the moment.
Mrs. Boyd in kindergarten who had the heart and disposition of an Angel, Miss Hansen with her long painted fingernails was strict, yet worldy, as all the teachers were, to us kids from "The Park"
Perverts that popped out of the woodwork like a seasonal illness and preyed upon us youngsters. There were no drugs that I was aware of. Neither amongst the adults or the youth.
Mr. Brown, the janitor in our building that kept the halls swept and had zero tolerance for any loitering whatsoever, even when we were just babes playing quietly with our dolls. He sprinkled a powdery green substance on the floor first then began his trek up one side of the hallway and then down the other with minimal dust in front of his broom. Followed by a hot steamy mop that he hauled out of a giant galvanized bucket and then waxed and polished by machine.
When tragedy struck any member of any family word spread like wildfire and we all sympathized with them. Someone in our own little clicks personally knew the affected family and our hearts went out to them.
A bottle of pop was 10 cents, the deposit 2 cents, potatoe chips came in small 5 cent bags or bigger 10 cent bags, as did chocolate bars. I believe us Parkers invented Salt & Vinegar potatoe chips because we used to slit the paper/foil bag horizontally and sprinkle them with vinegar and tried our best to eat them before they became a soggy, acid puddle. But, who had 25 cents at the time? If we did, you can count on it either being stolen or a "found" quarter from somewhere?????
A found pop bottle was a ticket to penny candy at the corner store and the dry cleaners on Parliament Street would buy wire coat hangers from us for a penny a piece. My brother Rick pulled women's groceries home on his wooden wagon for a donation - usually a nickel and he gave service with a smile. What a cutie. Later, he sat on the corner of Yonge Street and shone shoes.
"Kiddies Day" at the CNE where our mother clipped Tely coupons out of the newspaper for weeks so that we could have free rides at Kiddyland and stay out of her hair while she scrubbed and waxed those linoleum floors in our apartment. Sprucecourt School gave out free admission passes to the CNE with our report cards at the end of the school year and that along with a dry peanut butter sandwich on day-old bread from the Parliament Street Dempsters Day-Old Store and a dime for a drink was our ticket to the summer event of the year. We won't talk about the time my brother stole a the entire five pound European Salami from under the watchful eye of the vendor that we feasted on behind the Food Building then couldn't tear ourselves away from the water fountain where it was virtually impossible to quench our thirst from the strong, salty, spicy meat. We had bellies like a Haggis - slorshing meat laden water tanks.
My eldest sister still has the last and final edition of The Telegram tucked away for keepsake.
We knew nothing of dining out, new clothes, the finer things in life. Vacations involved either Kiwanis Camp or The Salvation Army Camp where we languished over three square meals a day, swimming lessons, crafts, games and daily "tuck" at the Tuck Shop - that is if our parent(s) made the $1. donation for such ahead of time. The Army also, by the way, provided most of our Christmas's with their basic dinner fixins in a box along with a toy for each of us. Thank God for The Salvation Army !
Oh! and let's not forget the infamous "Star Boxes" where we all came out of our apartments on Boxing Day with the same tourque, mitts and a copy of Moby Dick.
The Riverdale Zoo was free admission and we often hung out there as kids to kill time. The monkey house reeked and offended every orifice in the body with its stink and screaming monnekijns. We fed the goats with paper that we found on the ground outside their compound and they gladly ate our offerings. By the time we got to the water buffalo we knew it was time to head home and dodge any strangers along the way.
Ironically, it was the now "yuppified" homes of grandeur to the north of The Park that we were wary of in those days. Those rooming houses held the bottom of the heap often...drunks, druggies, let's just say "the unsavouries" of the area. Unknowns and to be wary of.
We were not strangers within The Park. Everyone knew who everyone else was by sight. We knew which building or townhouse they lived in, who they were related to and whether or not to keep up our guard as we passed. Strangers stood out like a sore thumb. Newcomers were quickly assessed and accepted.
I can only speak from 1954 to 1970 or so, when we moved out of Regent into a rental home in East York where I continued my 4 year diploma at Jarvis Collegiate by commuting thereto and to my part-time job at Shoppers Drug Mart on Parliament Street. That in itself is another story.... and a good one at that !
It took my mothers full time job at Sunnybrook Hospital as a Ward Clerk plus my sister's full time job and my part-time job at the drug store to afford non-Regent housing. My sister and I paid room and board plus made the financing payments on our decent furniture. We also paid our own personal expenses for transportation to and from school/work, clothing, lunches, toiletries etc. and for the first time in our lives could give our mother things that she needed...a warm winter coat, boots, niceties and one year we all chipped in and flew her to Vancouver to visit her own mother whom she had not seen in 20+ years. The Grandmother that we never met though corresponded with and received birthday and Christmas gifts from each and every year. She was a constant, though a faceless entity.
We were poor. Our father was addicted to alcohol with no resistence to its pull. We were 5 children and several still borns who managed to get out of The Park with it's good and it's bad...it's grace and it's humour. It was not our comfort zone.
Today, my mother is 95 years old and lives in her own apartment in my home. Her health is declining rapidly but she is of good Irish stock and has more pride, independence and stubborness than the Taliban.
We have all survived financial, mental, emotional, physical and marital trauma. Some of us remember The Park with affection while others choose to block it out. It's a matter of personal perspective. For what is 'reality' other than our own 'perspective'.
We all knew we lived in Cabbagetown,regardless of the current debate. We knew the differentiation between those who lived in 'Regent Park' and those who lived in the houses on streets like Berkley and Spruce. Once moved into Regent Park, we heard comments like "don't play with them, they live in Regent Park" or "they're just a bad influence". I remember often being looked upon with disdain and disgust from outsiders to the area when they learned where we were from; especially shop keepers or even street car drivers.
We were just kids but learned fast that we were regarded as inferior by many self righteous Torontonians, some of them just a little better off than we were.
I remember teachers at Lord Dufferin being kind and caring. I was fortunate enought to be given free violin lessons, Mr. Kauffman used to come once a week, and the art classes where some of us created murals that won awards each year gave us a sense of pride. I also remember the poverty, the hard life for our parents and the slim pickings at birthdays and Christmas, but I would not agree that there was 'no life or culture' besides work and just living. However, I'm sure there were many who were worse off and saw it that way.
Georgina, you captured it beautifully, that's not to say that there weren't people out there who suffered more and perhaps had a sadder story and yes, there was bitterness by many, but that is not my memory.
Georgina, thank you, you tweaked my memory of things I forgot about.
Do you remember Seymours Grocery on Parliament? I remember the Gay Theatre and the fish and chip store next door, I remember Mutual Arena on Saturdays and the scooters boys made out of old roller skates and wooden boards. Pop bottle caps stuck to hats, marbles and lilly dillies - frozen ice, a kind of super sweet sherbert kind of treat in a little white paper cup.
Swimming at Lord Dufferin - a swimming pool! A rare luxury, even for wealthier schools. Playing my violin on stage with others at events at Lord Dufferin. Playing at the May Festival at Massey Hall with Elaine Shamandroff, two little kids from Cabbagetown, playing with the best in the Toronto Youth orchestra, we practiced for over a year and while we only played 'second fiddle' it was incredible to participate. My parents didn't even come, I had to take a streetcar by myself, they were too insecure and would have felt out of place. Poverty and living in a housing project, challenged me with a sense of curiosity and adventure.
I remember a young boy(Billy Proser) I believe was his name, getting run over by a car on Parliament Street right before our eyes, he died later and the sense of loss was overwhelming.
You're right Georgina, in spite of the poverty, and what we now call 'marginalization' gems grew out of that place, whatever one wants to call it now and wherever its borders are.
Agatha mentioned sharing photos, I'd love to see some so if any of you out there has some, please share them.
I lived there from when I was born in 1948 till 1961.
How nice to read your memories/contribution. You have brought back memories long forgotten. Connie was the name of the proprietor of the variety store on the east side of Parliament Street and "Red" her Irish Setter. I used to pick up my "Telegrams" from Connie and "Stars" from Clare whose office was in the laneway directly accross the street. Cabbagetown was my paper route and how I loved it.
Let's go back further in time when you and Rick weren't even Born. In those days, Cabbagetown extended from about Front Street on the south to Carlton Street on the north and west from the Don River to Jarvis Street.
My first memories of Toronto stem from living in a "rooming house" on Sherbourne Street with, as you described, a stove and refigerator in the hallway and shared bathroom. The cockroaches and bed bugs came gratis. My Dad had just been released from the army and moved to Toronto from Ottawa for better job opportunities. Over time, we lived at 200 Berkley Street and 81 Bleecker Street and lastly 190 Duchess Street. My Mom, who cleaned rich peoples' houses for a living, supplemented my Dad's income from a variety of jobs including, washerman at the Ontario Laundry at Dundas and Berkley Streets. Acme Dairy was just beside it.
Duchess Street ran from Parliament on the east to Jarvis Street on the west. It was part of the original City of York. I remember riding my bike down to the Consumer's Gas coke ovens on King Street to pick up unburned coke and selling a gunny sack full to neighbours for 10 cents.
Our row of five townhouses had a dirt floor and just boards separating the basements. There were three bootleggers among our neighbours and the cops came once a week to Mitch's to collect what we call protection money today. Life was colourful and exciting. Our cousin, Don Pelletier, and family lived in one of the houses and Bernie Barnaby next door.
Our neighbours included Latvians, Estonians, Ukranians, Poles, Italians, Japanese, etc. We were the the original "multicultural society" and felt this was normal.
Tony Boldt, Andy Stabins and I attended the Duke of York PS from Kgtn to Grade 8. We then moved on to Jarvis CI after that. Thanks to the Jarvis 200th anniversary celebrations, we now keep in regular Email contact and I have discovered many more Jarvisites who lived in Cabbagetown.
Duchess Street is no more and our row of houses were recently torn down to make a parking lot.
More later! Let's hear from other Cabbagetown Kids.
Chuck Carr
In all honesty, I have no sense of any awareness of being "looked down upon" by the other Jarvisites in high school because I came from Regent. My own insecurites and sense of inferiority were my own inhibitions, not what was imposed on me. Lord I was shy !
Sunday School at Stone Church on Davenport Rd definately felt like we were the slum kids visiting the outside world. Despite the church being of a mercenary mandate - they sent missionaries to Africa as their spiritual and financial benefactors they seemed to look right through us kids from The Park. Again, this is my perception. "Jesus loves the little the little children. All the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white ,they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world". I became convinced it was all a lie and the song was trumped up by these well-to-do hypocrites. Perspective.
Chuck, thank you for the information on Connie of the old store and for "Red's" name too. Who knows? Maybe "Red" is partly responsible for my love of dogs to this day? I once had an Irish Setter myself. Her name was "Shandy" and she was a total and complete air-head. But, I loved her all the same.
John Micheluk stands out as the most fantastic teacher at Jarvis. He held an after school "insight" program for anyone willing to participate. It surely was "insightful" and he was the best !
I don't remember Billy Proser but there were others who also came to untimely deaths such as Emanuel Jacques, Kirk Deasley to name a few and I believe, that in recalling them, they continue to live. Perspective.
And yes, there were certainly other families/kids who were much worse off than we were...at times we would connect with them and whether anyone believes it or not, they were without a doubt much worse off, more ill mannered, less connected than we were. As dysfunctional as our families may have been due to poverty, alcoholism, controlled or uncontrolled circumstances - we had each other...and we had our teachers. I maintain to this day that they were our Inukshuks, pointing us in the direction of love, life, survival, civilization and citizenship. It was up to us to move forward or remain rooted where we stood, wondering where? when? how? why?
This has been our adventure and our perspective and it's lovely to meet you all whether I knew you then or not. Wanna build a tent out of an old blanket and some broken clothes pins? Awwww come on !!!!
Please thank Rick for sending Agatha's link to me. As always, I enjoy your eloquent and erudite writings. You really should consider a writing career. This little stint on Agatha's turf proves that you "have the right stuff".
You mentioned Joanne Boyd in an earlier missif and John Michaluk in this one. Joanne and her husband Ray "adopted" Marcia and me when I began teaching at Sprucecourt. Joanne loved her kids fiercely. We remained close friends for decades until both of them died. I knew John's sister, Natalie, better than "young Johnnie". The Michaluks had a restaurant on the east side of Parliament Street just north of the Embassy Theatre. Nat was a cheer leader and sang in the Jarvis Glee Club under the direction of Jack Overholt, who is the man who convinced me to become a teacher - and escape the cycle of poverty we had grown up in. Like you, I attribute much of my success in life to the influence of my teachers both at the Duke and Jarvis. While they weren't perfect, they dressed and behaved professionally, which is more than I can say for far too many of today's "3:30 p.m. track and field club" teachers.
Chuck Carr
The North Regent buildings and townhouses were laid out along the perimeter of the property and then up through the center, like monoopoly cubes with playgrounds, baseball diamonds and parking areas in between.
I have no idea whether this was in the plans or not but once outdoors you could be seen virtually from every direction.
The South Regent apartment buildings were your standard fare - tall flat high rises with the main floors being larger, almost townhouse units. I have to say that they went into decline very quickly. Long before we left The Park those buildings were ghetto-izing with filth, broken elevators, urine soaked stairwells filled with trash and it seems to me that those kids ran the streets unattended much more than in the families to the north.
Even the playground equipment in the north was much more sturdy it seems. Large cement tubes to play in and on top of, steel monkey bars, sturdy swing sets, sand boxes and the infamous 'sprinklers' that were turned on only during peak summer hours and consisted of no more than a mound of asphalt with a brass spigot that popped up and sprayed the kids while they cavorted for hours and then moved on to the playground equipment.
The North Regent buildings were well maintained in that windows were reputtied routinely, broken panes were replaced with a phone call, the laundry rooms with their wringer washers and giant blower room was kept immaculate by the janitor, sporadic "visits" from an inspector who came through with his clipboard to assess the condition of each apt AND to make sure that there were no "guests" living in the quarters. He was a tiny, scarey little man with a mean scowl on his face like a miniature ghestapo. We always passed his muster with flying colours because our mother was a clean person who kept our apt in good order but I suppose he got after others who did not keep their places up to decent standards.
Regent Park was well planned in its lay of the land, size of units, equipment within, recreation facilities with the playgrounds, baseball diamonds, horseshoe pits, etc. Nobody can fault their attention to detail and it was far superior, hands down to South Regent.
As for the decline at the hands of the tenants at the end....all I can guess is that it had a lot to do with the changes in society and the sub-standards of each individual tenant that treated it disrespect.
The truth of the matter is that we can live in a cardboard box beneath a bridge but if it's our cardboard box we can take pride in it and not pee outside our own door.
It's called "making the best of it" and we are all capable of that. The hundreds of families that occupied Regent Park back in the day are a testament to that. It's a lesson that every child should learn in life regardless of what economic group they come from or under what circumstances.
This opinion is of the writer and does not necessarily reflect upon the originator of this blog. Nor was it written while under the influence of any vodka or other libations.
All the best
Georgina
You are an amazing writer, when I said I have written a lot about Cabbagetown, the writing has been sporadic and mainly for myself but you have really made me think. Your sense of detail, especially the vivid way you desribe things, like your last post describing the layout of Cabbagetown is so amazing.
I am wondering, did our paths cross? I wander the same thing about Chuck; his stories really touched me too. Andy too!
I never went to Spruce Court but I remember when they tore down the houses to build the school. I had a very sick great aunt who lived in one of those houses. She passed away there.
I believe everything happens for a reason, this blog, our discussions . . . I'd like to see it go on and learn more. I'd like to know if we ever met. Are we close to the same age? Did we know any of the same people? My goodness we went to the same school.
My parents moved us to East York, then North York where I went to high school. I can barely remember high school, it is a blur, but not Cabbagetown.
Georgina,Chuck and Andy, what if we did a Cabbagetown anthology - stories from our lived experiences? Would you guys be game? I'd love to get Mark Thurman involved too. I mean it, I don't want this to end, it's been cathartic and everyone's input has given a different slant to the total experience.
If you're interested, then let's exchange emails. You are all great story tellers and I think those who live in Cabbagetown now and others would like to hear these stories.
What do you say?
Agatha, you have really started something here!
I'd be happy to join Georgina, and Andy. Is Mark Thurman Wendy Thurman's sister" I taught Wendy at Sprucecourt. I am disappointed that more former Cabbagetowners haven't logged on. Tom Davison, Benita Ho, John Milosh and so many more have great stories to tell.
In addition, I have many pictures from the Sprucecourt 50th anniversary. How do I upload them and how many can your blog support?
Chuck Carr
I don't know if Mark is related to Wendy, he went to Dufferin and lived in Regent Park but I've emailed him.
You seem to know Georgina and Andy and they seem to know you but I want to be involved for sure so let's decide how we can do this.
Agatha, are you wanting to be involved since you posted this and started it all?
This is my first foray into Face Book/Blogging, so please forgive my understanding of protocal.
As you have read, I am a Cabbagetown Kid who had a chance to "give back" to education what it gave me. I switched from being an auditor in chartered accountancy in 1959 both because I found CA boring and had always wanted to become a teacher. My first school was Sprucecourt which suited me to a tee. Other Jarvisites who preceeded me included Kaye (McIllhaggart) Donaldson, Olive Finlayson, Bev (Kondo) Uyeno and Helen Hansen. Rick Smith, Georgina's brother, was one of my students. At the Sprucecourt 50th Anniversary celebrations, I met up with a number of my former students. We exchanged Emails and communicate regularly usually via "chuckles"" - pun intended. Georgina began to email me after the reunion. I was struck by the extraordinary quality of her writing. Her attention to detail and sentence structure make her writing so enjoyable (She also has a wicked sense of humour.)
I am also happy to report that I just received an email from Linda (Kitamura) Sasabuchi. She has promised to contribute.
Linda was in my "gifted" gade 5 class. We had to teach our own music in those days. (I had 45 kids in the classroom and 35 coat hangers. Winter was very interesting.) I could read music, but not play a piano. (The trumpet was not an option.) One day, I learned that Linda played the piano. For the next two years, Steve Briggs and Doug Codner would roll the second floor piano in our room and Linda would accompany me. I used to teach the class about classical music, e.g. Tchaikowsky, Grieg, Ravel, etc. The students often asked me to play pieces softly in the background as they read, etc. More later!
Chuck Carr
While I have not directly given back to Cabbagetown, I am also an eductor and have travelled and lived in a range of places. If we meet in Cabbagetown/Don Vale, I'll have to travel far but would love to do that. I still have family near Toronto.
Let's exchange emails, like you Chuck, I'm not great with blogs etc. but this has really been informative and exciting.
Where to start?
Firstly, yes a coordinated get together would be awsome. I'm thinking that we could initially meet up at the museum, do a little tour ourselves and then head wherever for lunch/dinner/coffee nearby?
Gayle,
If you can manage a trip back you are more than welcome to bunk with me in my Oshawa home.
I don't recall your name, nor can I put a face to your name but that is only reflective of my lost memory for names and faces of that time. I am sure I would remember Mark Thurman too, but not by name.... Guess I am more of a visual person?
My brother Rick (Smitty) is in touch with many of the 'kids' from those days and he often asks if I remember this person or that person and I have no recollection. However; I could well recall them in person...I just don't remember the names. I am the same with movie titles, authors, names, etc.
I am sure we would have known each other at the time, if nothing else, by sight.
History was not my forte - the details, dates, names, but I could imagine the times and people, places and lifestyles. I didn't care when the War of 1812 was or who won! Math was impossible, but, I did pass (barely) and I know my passing grade was solely dependent on Mr. Kochenko's good grace. I didn't care what time a train arrived in Toronto if it left Montreal at 3 o'clock and what the calculated cost of a dozen oranges were if I ate 4 of them on the train ride. hahahaha and I still don't !!! hahahahah Cracking up ! I get there when I get there and the cost of 4 oranges is whatever I paid for them. Period. ( I can see Chuck cringing as I write). I have no doubt that me ma'am dropped me on me head when I was a babe and I know for a fact that my sister did.
As far as my recollection goes there were three options when we graduated from grade school, in the way of continued education:
Most of the boys went to Central Tech and studied a trade or art. We had some amazing artists living amongst us by the way.
Most of the girls went to Central Commerce and studied secretarial/office skills
or
There was Jarvis Collegiate for those of us who just could not fathom getting coffee for an executive or carpentry, welding, etc.
Oh, and there was also a fourth school - Castle Frank? that was 'recommended' to students who were learning challenged. Castle Frank? They had classes in sewing, bowling - yes bowling ! I kid you not.
I opted for Jarvis mostly out of an elimination process without having a clue what I would 'become' and all I can say is that my inferiority complex, shyness and discomfort within my own skin occupied most of what I was.
I remember the hippies that were in the older grades and wondered how they could feel such confidence (fool that I was) sporting wrinkled flanellette oversized shirts, army boots, hairy legs and armpits and "just got out of bed hairdo's". In Regent, we tended to be very aware of our outward appearance.
I am sure that we all struggled with our own identities, just as any youth group tends to do but, at the time, I was oblivious, shrouded only in my own self-consciousness. And so, midway through Grade 12 I still had no idea what I wanted to do or study in college or university. Not a clue.
A session with the Guidance Counsellor and an 'aptitude test' revealed that my natural inclinations and highest scores were in English, Art and Geography...with my lowest scores and appitude being Math and History. Surprise ! Surprise ! Without much confidence I inquired about an Interior Design career because it held a great interest for me and I couldn't think of anything I might do in the way of Geography. With that the counsellor discouraged me about studying int. design claiming that if I didn't already know somebody in the biz, could attend college without working outside of school (too demanding) and accept that design no longer included doing over private residences but instead being almost exclusively focused on designing, restaurants, hospitals and offices... I should instead look into becoming an Airline Stewardess. How discouraging was that? I might as well have gone to Castle Frank and bowled for 4 years.
Without any passion or decided inclination for a course of study I resigned myself to the working world. I was unable to pay for school and not work in addition so I could see no other way out.
Anyway, I am off topic here now so will come back to the present.
Agatha I went to your 'Asylum by the Lake' blog and I am very impressed with your work on it. Bless you for your coverage of it and as you state - it's in memory of and in respect for the staff, patients and their families. What an amazing subject. What impresses me the most is that it's in the here and now with a present focus. Not some old book that may or may not be read or even discovered unless one was to specifically do a search for personal reasons. I love it. And I have to say that without reading a single word of your blog I felt a sense of reverence and awe, fear and curiosity. Truly. I definately want to learn more...now that's a sign of a GOOD STORY.
Believe this or not - 11 years in the advertising of the Toronto Star and I never read the newspaper save for the Wed. recipes and the Horoscopes. I kid you not. I could not and cannot handle the sensational negative news. It frightens me and I stand my ground on that. I have no interest in politics though I served on the Toronto Aboriginal Council as Female of the East which is no longer in existence...need I say more?
I did win a contest at the paper. The only publisher that should ever head the paper (John Honderich) asked the staff for ideas - editorial, circulation, whatever...it was open for any and all ideas. My suggestion was that the paper should have a "feel good, inspirational" story each and every day which would be located on the same page daily to uplift the readers and give them encouragement in their lives. Enough of the bad news sensationalism...leave that for the front page. I loved the idea that the readers could turn to a specific page every day and be uplifted, inspired, encouraged, cheered, no matter how bad their day, week, month, year or life was going.
I won the contest, along with a dozen or so other idea gifters and we were awarded a cash prize and treated to a Blue Jay vs NY Yankees game at the Starbox in the Skydome, along with the publisher. John Honderich being who he was sat amongst us chatting away and being as down to earth as he naturally is. He is a wonderful man and very approachable.
The Toronto Star has periodic "Special Sections" on a specific race/subject as a feature to its readers also. Chinese Culture, Black History, etc. etc. It occured to me that the paper had never done an Aboriginal Special Section when we went outside during a fire drill one day. There is a bronze placque outside the Yonge St. entrance that brags about how the natives used to gather there from all over North America to trade and do business with one another. Right there at the foot of Yonge St. It got me thinking....
and thinking some more....oh oh !
I called the publishers secretary and booked a personal appointment with him. While I waited in his outer office I noted that there were framed Special Sections in the seating area - but, there was no Aboriginal Special Section. Never had been. How could this be? How could Canada's largest newspaper share and celebrate all of these other cultures with never having acknowledged the Original People. Surely it was an oversight?
After I was greeted by John I was invited to sit in his personal office and then asked what brought me there. Ummm, let's just say that I spoke for my allotted 30 minutes non-stop from the heart while infusing every conceivable advantage to the newspaper that I had added to my muster. John's eyebrows shot up and stayed up while he intently listened to me. When I was done he said that he had never met anyone with such passion and was very impressed with my idea, input, and perspective. He said to leave it in his hands and he would see what he could do. I believed him. And I do believe he did his best to implement the section which fell into conflict with the semi-planned "Gay Pride" section for June 21st...National Aboriginal Day in Canada and thus the significance of that date.
In the end, Gay Pride won out. What can I say? John did dig out his Aboriginal artist paintings from his storage closet after that and hung them on his walls...that's something...
I have probably said too much at this point so I will end this here.
Please let me know if I can help plan the proposed get together. I am unemployed and available to do whatever.
Guess I should have ignored that 'Guidance Counsellor" and studied English (writing) after all? Gotta stop writing these 'novels'.
All the best
Miigwetch
Georgina
Remembering what we did for free fun and games back in The Park. FREE being the key word. Here are a few of my favourite things....
Found popsicle sticks - Involved walking around the perimeter of my building whilst holding the top edge of a popsicle stick against the bricks as I walked and until it was sanded off into a point. Followed by the other rounded edge for the same results which yielded a pointy tipped popsicle stick that could be used to dig for worms or poke around in the dirt for a very short-lived geology excavation project. How sad and boring is that ?
The outer sleeve of a cigarette package was clamped onto one of the rear spokes on a bicycle with a spring-type wooden clothes peg and when the bike was ridden it made a cool flap-flap-flap noise. How cool is that ???
Jump rope made from weaving elastic bands into a long strand that would circle and could be tied to the metal poles at the front entrance of the apt building where we had a full menu of songs, goals and games that went with the crossing over of the elastic rope.
A rubber ball inserted into a swiped ladies stocking then tied into place and swung across our bodies while we leaned against the brick wall and sang a coordinating rhyme that befit the exercise. Under arm, under leg, back and forth singing gleefully...that is...until an occupant in the apt on the other side of that brick wall yelled at us to cut out the racket and go somewhere else...which we did. Because we almost always did what an adult told us to do. We respected and feared them. Plain and simple.
Wrigley's Gum wrappers and foil liners that were folded Origami style and then woven into bracelets.
Red Clover stems and flowers picked from the grass (we had grass then) and the stems tied just beneath the "flower head" to form exotic necklaces and bracelets.
Hikes up the Don River to the spot where the soap suds from the Colgate Palmolive plant were taller than we were. We made hats, beards, objects of every kind out of those innocent suds. I recall walking home one day along the train trestle from there with some kids and one of the girls was doubled over with intestinal cramps from the pollution. Who knew back then ?
Avoiding "Sandy Hill" where the perverts hid like the Keebler Elfs. A glimpse up Rosedale Road where "the rich folks lived".
Sojourns to "Bare Ass Beach" - aka Cherry Beach which was pretty desolate...no public bathrooms or any "civilization" that I can recall. No idea why it was called "Bare Ass Beach"...maybe someone else does?
Who could forget the walks to Riverdale or Greenwood swimming pools wearing bathing suits with a rolled up towel beneath our arms. Which pool we went to depended on how thick skinned we were that day and how hot it was out.... Greenwood was indoors and a comfortable swimming temp whereas Riverdale was icy frigid cold even in August. Did they use that pool as a hotel ice cube refuse at night?? Guaranteed blue lips within 10 mins of entering that pool and by the time we walked back home we were hot and sweaty again. It just didn't work out well.
Bouncing an indian rubber ball or if need be, one of those 5 or 10 cent rubber balls - half red/half blue with a white stripe down the middle against the apt building at that delicate spot where the cement foundation met the brick wall where it would riquochet upward in an arc towards us - like a boomerang if it was thrown just right. Again, until an adult on the other side of the wall couldn't abide the bang bang banging on their dwelling. "Cut that racket out and go somewhere else to play !!!!" Gulp, OK...
Donie-Wackers: a chestnut with a string tied around it and used by the boys mostly to whack trees or each other...... Besides tongue lashings we got Donie-Whacked.
Last of all but not least - my favourite - blanket tents which consisted of a blanket sometimes taken without permission that was affixed to one of the chain link fences that served whatever purpose by impaling the long edge of the blanket to the wire prongs at the top of the fence then stretched forward where it was banged into the ground with divided spring loaded clothes pins with any heavy object. A second blanket or towel(s) was also poked into the fence wires and hung straight downward for a sense of privacy and another blanket was laid out on the grass inside the tent. Usually it took several kids to round up the necessary equipment but that was part of the project.
Once inside the tent we could clothespin bath towesl onto the sloped edges of the tent for absolute privacy but usually the boys came along and snatched them off, ruining the entire structure so we either persisted with the tent flaps or gave up.
Books were read, stories were told, secrets were shared and by and large it was 'quiet, priviate, cozy and intimate time with friends. Intimate in the real meaning of the word - ~characterized by warm friendship, relating to one's deepest nature~
Birthday parties:
Invitations were always passed out to a birthday party in our world and it was a real treat to be invited and popular when one came your way. Next came taking the invitation home and presenting it to our mother who would usually ok the atendance though it caused her financial duress to buy that 10 cent item that we gifted the recipient.
Atypical gift haul at a birthday party in Regent:
One of the famous, well loved red, white and blue balls that were well used and part of our gear until they either wore out to a stub and or were lost.
A colouring book and/or crayons - 10 cents ea.
Bubbles 10 cents
A single skipping rope - 10 cents or a double dutch rope 25 cents in neon colours and so pretty while they were spanking new and had that fragrant rubber smell to them.
A comic book - 10 cents
Rubber ball and jacks - 10 cents
Plastic sunglasses - a nickel
Indian rubber ball - 25 cents
Cut out paper doll books..they were great fun and lasted til them lasted in our uncoordinated paws.
If you were "rich" you might bring a real doll or even a Barbie Doll ! That was beyond belief. AND we never judged each other by the value of the gifts given. We loved and appreciated them all and boy were they put to good use. Far superior to a sharpened sticky ant crawling popsicle stick! Pay dirt !
Sometimes a crafty kid in the group would actually build/weave a rubberband jump rope and gift it.
Peanut butter and jam, egg salad, tuna sandwiches cut into tiny triangles were served along with some pickles...maybe a few veggies sticks. Always always a homemade birthday cake from scratch...single layer covered in homemade buttercream icing that was tinted a soft colour with wax candles aloft and usually paper birthday hats and maybe some blowers were worn at the birthday table and balloons were part of the decor then handed out when the 'guests' left the party.
Sorry Mr. Duncan Hines and Miss Betty Crocker - our mothers did not contain your mixes in our understocked pantries that I can recall. It was scratch baking and for the most part - those cakes tasted heavenly.
And who could forget Koolaid. I think my mother actually added enough sugar to it on those 'special occasions' that we could enjoy it without our lips puckering - otherwise it was twice watered down and as sour as get out.
We played Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Musical Chairs, I Spy and who knows what else. It was great fun.
No boys allowed. We dressed up in our finest dresses, socks and shoes for the occasion. Usually had our hair curled and it was quite the event. Some kids threw up from the excitment and richness of the party fare. Seems to me that somebody always threw up.
Consumable foods varied with each household and financial circumstances:
I remember some families squandering their funds on welfare cheque day. Taxi to the bank to cash the cheque then taxi to the beer store, followed by taxi to the grocery store and taxi home. One kid in the house would be sent to the Fish N Chip shop to buy dinner for the kids while the parents went to the Gerrard or the Avion to whoop it up. No idea how they survived for the rest of the month but that was certainly not the case in our house.
Money was guarded with life and limb in our apt. Meals were frugal at best and non-existent at other times. We ate porridge for days on end until the financial situation was relieved.
I remember 10 cent margarine that came in a plastic bag and was white in colour with a red dot that was kneaded until it turned the contents that sickly margarine yellow/orange. To this day I cannot abide margarine of any kind. It's butter or nothing, thank you very much.
Campbell soup was heated up by whoever got home first from school at lunchtime.
My brother Rick would not even TRY soup...he refused though I don't believe he ever sampled it....his "impression" of it was enough to repulse him. No, instead he lived on ketchup or mustard sandwiches on white day-old Dempsters bread. Or - if it was available...and when the bread got too dry to eat he would tear it up in a bowl, cover it in brown sugar and pour milk over it...brown sugar/bread soup.
For years he ate nothing for dinner but smashed potatoes that he spent forever mashing out onto his plate like a pizza crust then smeared ketchup on top and ate it by the forkful while we all ewwed and were grossed out. What nutrition he was living or growing on is beyond me to this day.
Let's just say that our mother was no gourmand. My introduction to Home Ec classes at Lord Dufferin were heaven sent. There is REAL FOOD out in the world... !!! WOW ~
I remember that our first "cooking class" was how to make a pot of tea. We had photostat copies of the step by step instructions on how to make a proper cup of tea. We set the tables with cups & saucers, sugar cubes in a fancy bowl that matched the creamer filled with fresh milk and I think we were waiting for the Queen of England to join us while we poured the tea properly and just so. Heaven !
Regent Park kids heathens ? I think not ! The "gangs" that were referred to were merely kids of the same age group that hung out together and chummed just like any other kids would in such a densly populated confined area.
Were an outsider to bring harm to one of our own, yes, there would be a retaliation by the boys but nothing like in the movies or with any real dire outcomes.
We were kids being kids. Youth being youth. I don't remember anyone being on Ritilin(sp) or out of control. Some of us were brighter, some dumber. Some cute, some not so cute. Some nicer, some grumpier. Even the toughest kids had soft spots and loyal friends. And some slipped through the cracks.
I knew nothing of "A.D.D., A.D.H.D, dyslexia or other learning disabilities. If the teachers analyzed such things we were oblivious.
If you stunk - I mean literally - there was a tendency to stay downwind.
We were good kids by and large. Just ask any one of us.
Georgina
Here's one on bootlegging. Bernie Barnaby's Mother, Emily, was a bootlegger but poor business woman. She ran out of Catawba every Sunday. I talked Bernie into buying me 12 bottles of 75 cent Catawba when he purchased Emily's. On Sunday's, when Emily "ran out", Bernie and I would open one of the boards that separated our basement and I would sell him a bottle for $1.50. Emily sold it for $2.00. It was a win win situation. Things went on well for several months and I doubled my "paper route money" weekly - that is until my Dad discovered my cache. Who knows? I might have become a Joseph Kennedy with enough time.
Cheers, Chuck Carr
Gayle
I remember all too well the visiting school dentist who used to brutalize us, drill out teeth with no freezing and then yell at us and slap us if we cried. I bet all of those now grown kids are still petrified of dentists to this day.
Peggy
Mr. Thompson was also my teacher. I remember when the classroom phone rang one day and Mr. Thompson answered it cheerily & then became very sad and somber before hanging it up and announcing to us that President John Kennedy had been assassinated. We were all very upset,some were crying. We had no idea who Kennedy was but we knew it was a traumatic situation and we felt the pain of his loss. Mr. Thompson was very special. Kind, patient, soft-spoken with a good sense of humour and tolerace.
In 1967 I was in Grade 7 and we went on a class trip to Expo 67. It was magnificent. State of the art science and technology demonstrations, the award winning architecture and guests from all over the world.
In recollecting the free games & entertainment of our day I forgot some good ones - Winter Games
Standard fare snowball fights
Snow forts that were always a work in progress and we never seemed to get cold while we designed and created these awsome structures. Ambitious kids would add tunnels to the forts from each other with endless hours put into their making. Sometimes we just built a snow wall/shield to launch our snowballs from behind. Ever and always one boy who would act like we really were at war and fire snowballs to mame - that would soon end the snowball fight. We were there for fun. Not to inflict damage or knock anyones eye out.
Licking icicles that we found dangling places ewwwwwww
Neighbourhood games of "Red Rover" which involved all the kids in the apron of the building wherein we formed human walls, elbows locked and then invited invididuals to come and break thru out chain.
"Red Rover, Red Rover, let Billy come over"
Billy would then calculate the best way to break through the human chain and if he succeeded he joined our chain. If not he was sent back to his side to try again later. I guess we got point for those who couldn't infiltrate our locked wall. It required placing the girls strategically along the chain because we were the weak spots in the chain but if we were holding the arm/hand of a strong boy he could maintain his grip better and keep the chain unbroken.
There was no fighting or issues during these games other than loud boistrous participation. Always held after dinner in the early evenings - our families were inside the apts that we were shouting outside of but nobody seemed to mind the noise. They knew where we were and it was all in good fun.
Another game called Rilievio? nothing whatsoever to do with arthritis relief...though it surely would now. I can't remember how it was played but it was akin to Red Rover - kids having fun without any violence or gang-like behaviour. Norman Rockwell !
Street hockey with either a puck or a tennis ball in the parking lot.
Climbing the big old trees in our Huckleberry moments.
Double-dutch skipping with a girl at either end of the double rope where they swung each side in unison while the "skipper" jumped inside at just the right moment and jumped to the rhythm of the ropes while the girls operating the ropes sang songs that coordinated with the jumping. Speed up. Slow down. Jump forward , turn, jump backwards, hop from leg to leg and beginners jumped with two feet until they progressed in their skill.
Once puberty hit those games went to the younger kids and the boys got into stealing cars while the girls fussed over their appearances trying to beautify themselves.
My brother Rick was probably the King of the car thieves. He kept a fullscap piece of paper under his mattress listing the year, make, model, colour of each stolen vehicle along with whomever had been with him on the joyride.
One Sat. night Rick and some boys had stolen a car that was obviously owned by a construction worker because as they careened up the DVP in the stolen car they donned construction helmits on their heads. I guess the cops saw this car full of midget helmets and chased them down. The boys all jumped out of the car and raced into the DV but Rick forgot his wallet or something and went back only to be caught by the police officer who took him to the boys reformatory where they interogated him, demanding the names of the other boys who had been with him. Rick refused to talk so they held his thumb back towards his wrist as they questioned him and in frustration at not getting him to give the names up they snapped his thumb. He was left in juvie hall until Mon. when my mother was allowed to come and retrieve him. She was very upset that his thumb was not only broken but it was hanging askew from his hand, swollen badly and he had not been attended to by any medical staff all wknd.
The cops played dumb about his injury and suggested that perhaps he had hurt himself during the altercation.
Great fun - NOT !
Maybe you remember some ? I double-dog dare ya ~
Georgina
A Lord Dufferin Dental Annecdote: As you know, I attended the Duke of York PS on Pembroke Street in the 1940s. It was an amazing school with amazing teachers. We had "specialty" teachers from grade 2 on, (e.g. science, social studies, music, phys ed. industrial arts, etc.) and started rotary at grade 2. We even had our own "in school" library.
Once a year, a visiting dentist examined all the kids in the school and referred those students who needed dental work to the free clinic at Lord Dufferin. Since my Mom & Dad both worked, I had to go on my own. (I think that I was in grade 3.) We were living at 200 Berkeley Street then, so the trip, while dreadful, was short. I arrived at the front doors on Berkeley Street to be greeted by a giant of a man. He asked me, "Can I help you sonny?" and led me by the hand to the dentist's office. His name was Al Sweetman, and he was the principal. Later in life, when I had become a principal myself (I was principal for 20 years before I retired in 1995.) Al was the Director of Education for the Toronto Board of Education. He directed the Board with the same grace and distinction that he led Lord Dufferin. I believe that the best teachers in the city taught in the "Inner City". When we went home after school, we knew that we were "making a difference" in our students' lives. We spent long hours before school, during lunch hours and after school offering choirs, sports teams, craft clubs, etc. - just like our teachers before us. We slept well at night and did not belong to the 3:30 p.m. track and field club.
A Cabbagetown Kid and proud of it!
Chuck Carr
I recall my little sister Heather having her cavity drilled and crying out in pain. The dentist slapped her in the head and told her to shut up, then, he proceeded to drill her tooth and she white knuckled the dental chair arms with tears streaming out the corners of her eyes and with her terrified eyes as big as saucers. Brutal ! I wanted to kick that guy in the shins for brutalizing my lttle sister. Lining up in the hallway outside the dentists makeshift office couldn't have been any easier than waiting on death row in prison. OY !
Yes, we had gym classes, complete with ugly blue issued 'uniforms' that were hideous with their ballooning puffy bottom ends and fitted bodices. Pity the fat kids who squeezed into them like sausages..talk about restricted movement.
We also had sports teams that we could sign up for after school, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, track & field plus music classes, lessons in struments - Viona played the Saxaphone, Heather the Violin, Rick played truancy, as often as possible.
I was hand picked to sing at Massey Hall one year where we formed a massive public school choir and gratefully got out of class on certain days to attend those practices. I bet we sounded awsome all together in harmony. Goosebumpy even.
I was very good at Hurdles, High & Long Jumping that is, until other schools came to compete with us on Track & Field Days. I remember a black girl that moved like an elastic band with more spring and muscle than I could have ever dreamed of. But, again, those outside kids were the ones who misbehaved and had attitudes that almost cancelled those meets. It was a bit like hosting the kids from Northern Ireland down to Dublin. They were GOOD but they were BAD.
I think you are right about the teachers being the finest. Each one had their own personality and some were hard asses but I believe they created their individual personas in what they felt would be the best way to deal with us inner-city kids. Each had a distinct reputation amongst the kids and we were either thrilled or crestfallen, depending on who we got for our homeroom teacher.
Madame Baird was my homeroom teacher in Lord Dufferin - Grade 8. I think she was a nervous wreck with us kids and truthfully I think we settled down for her out of compassion for that nervousness. Who knew she was a great cook/baker? I wish I had known then, it is one of my great passions.
Not many people probably realize that when I was in Grade 5 at Sprucecourt they 'introduced' French language classes as an experiment to see if we could absorb or learn a language so early in our educations. Normally French was not given until Grade 7. It was great ! Taught in an "immersion" fashion where the teacher talked to us exclusively in French and expected us to know what she was saying by pointing to objects or mimicking. It worked. We learned well and to this day I maintain that the MOST french I learned during my school years were in that first immersion class. Later, it became about masculine, feminine, plural, singular and I was lost. Hated it after that. Too structured and formal for my personality to grasp and I was out of there after Grade 10. "Sur la pont d'abinyont, onle dance onle dance...ridiculously spelt but it was immersion...not so much written. The formers is what counted. Excuse moi ma francais...ouvrez la bouche et introduuire pied.
~ Hava Nageela, Hava Nageela ...~
Georgina
My dating experience was probably typical of the time and place. Others may have different experiences that they would like to share.
Home Girl Friend (HGF): There was always someone special in your neighbourhood whose company you enjoyed. These people changed over time.) You sat on the front porch and patted my dog, Shiner, (a Heintz 57 terrier with a white body and black patch over his left eye.) Can anyone tell me how to upload pictures?) You talked, but never held hands, kissed or dated.
Church Girl Friend: Similar to HGF, but you attended church events together, (e.g. pic nics, Sunday Fireside meetings, AYPA events). She usually taught Sunday School like you. You both held hands and "smooched", but did not attend non-church events.
Skating Girl Friend: Most Saturday afternoons were spent roller skating at mutual Street Arena. There was always some special person there (who changed over time) whom you skated "dances" with and held hands as you skated in countless circles. You held hands and smooched with her/them, but never dated ouside the arena. A Winter variant of this ritual was ice skating on the Riverdale "flats". Same rules as roller skaing applied.
School Girl Friend: School girl friends "ruled"! They were your "main flame". You not only attended all school events together, (e.g. dances, class parties, sports events), but dated outside of school, (e.g. movies, family pic nics, bus trips to Niagara Falls or the Toronto Islands, etc.). School girl friends were invited to Sunday dinners and all family events. You held hands and smooched with school girl friends at school and, in later years, she would let you "cop a feel". I still have great memories on my SGFs.
Just rambling in my old age!
Chuck Carr
Well, weren't you the smoochy ladies man? A woman in every
(s)port. hahaha. Just joshin!
Dating huh?
First day of kindergarten at Spruce Court P.S. the teacher took us into the gymnasium and had us sit on the painted circle on the floor (basketballs lines?). We all sat quietly, cross legged with our hands neatly folded in our laps then without any warning a boy named Patrick (forget his last name) crawled across the circle, kissed me gently on the lips then crawled back to his place and resumed his position. Nobody laughed. Nobody said a word. It was all done very matter-of-factly. haha
Crushes on boys and boys with crushes on me....that were intermittent and with no rhyme nor reason.
Johnny Tahir was a beau of mine briefly and more gentle innocent kisses. Mostly shyness and little ever said between us. His twin Jimmy, I heard passed away and I was so saddened to hear it.
A boy from the island was said to have had a crush on me in the after school 'insight' class held by John Micheluk. His face would turn glowing red when I looked at him and he never did have the nerve to speak to me in person ????.........
I once went to a dance with a girlfriend of mine, her soon to be husband - yes they wed right after high school and a double-date situation with a guy I knew but had no interest whatsoever in. He was a NICE guy, funny, charming but there just was no chemistry at all. Anyway, we walked to the Riverdale Zoo for some reason after the dance ? My girlfriend and her lova walked off into the dark to have some privacy and I flopped onto a park bench...followed by my "date" who put his arm casually around my shoulder.......which sent me racing to the giant wire waste basket where I threw up and threw up some more. He was so hurt and offended that his impact on me was to make me sick. I couldn't help it ! and I felt so badly for him but.........He never forgot that evening and probably still remembers it......as I am reminded. EEK!
There was an official boyfriend from age 13-16 that we won't talk about. He was very abusive, twisted and perverted. We won't go there.
Better to remember the "crushes" and the innocent kisses.
Georgina
Chuck, I remember Al Sweetman aka Mr. Sweetman. He was the principal when I started kindergarten with Ms. Patterson. I got to give him a good bye bouquet at as ceremony out in the school yard. He left and RR Patterson came to take his place.
Georgina, you are so gracious to offer me a place to stay when I come, and I will do that. I still have family in the area, well Oakville and Burlington, Hamilton.
Chuck, my aunt Theresa Wayne went to Lord Dufferin perhaps the same time as you. She was 13 years older than me and played volleyball. She had white blond hair and huge blue eyes, an anomoly in our family who were mostly dark.
Speaking of bootleggers, my parents and uncle and aunts used to have some pretty crazy parties at 124 Spruce, us kids would be on the second floor and there was a hole in the floor where a stove pipe once passed and it was plugged with a little round piece of wood that we could lift up and look down to see what was happening. Lots of beer, dancing and singing. Dad and my uncle Bill bootlegged for awhile, then they passed the business on to my uncle Joe who got nabbed.
My grandmother used to sit in the window and drink tea and smoke her Matinee cigarettes during the day. She was the cook for the three families that lived together. The kitchen was in the back of the house, gas stove but an ice box, no fridge. Coal for heating, dropped down through a basement window box. Rats too! My dad hated rats and would actually sit downstairs with a 22 and wait to shoot them. Can't believe I'm admitting this because we were told to never tell anyone he was shooting in the basement.
We went to St. Barts when we moved into Regent Park and Sister Theresa is a whole story unto herself. I visited her way back in the late 80's with my children and she was still wearing her brown habit with a cross around her neck. I remember thinking she'd shrunk but then I was just a peanut myself.
I sucked at hurdles Georgina, I was better at swimming, and won some awards for that. I hated the cinder school yard and if anyone remembers being a girl, not being able to wear pants to school and falling while playing onto those cinders, scraping your knee and bleeding, you'll wince.
I had a crush on Carl Goldberg, the only Jewish boy in the school. Pee Wee O'Donnel used to make fun of him and he told me that when Carl would turn 13, his people would throw peanuts at him. I had no idea what that meant but later found out at orthodox bar mitvah's, they sometimes throw candies and nuts at the bar mitvah boy.
I also had a crush, later in grade 6, on Donny Fox, who lived on Ontario Street, I believe. But mostly I remember just hanging out with the gang - Pee Wee, Jimmy, Gordie Glenn, Alex Glover and others. We laughed and poked fun at one another, there was also Topsy Dickenson who punched the crap out of me and many others. She finally moved on to others she could batter.
I remember Jarvis Street Baptist Church doing a march up Spruce Street and promising those red, yes candied, but we called them red taffee apples to those who would follow them to the church. I made my little sister tag along and she came screaming from behind a white sheet divider and told me some lady was laying her hands on her head and saying "Jesus saves, Jesus saves" and we never did get the apples.
Yes, Mutual Arena was the best fun. The smaller rink with wooden floors where I could practice skating backwards so one day some cute older guy might ask me to roller waltz, it never happened but I'd get butterflies watching those older guys and girls, the girls with the pointy boobs from the kind of bras they wore and the guys with their slicked brylcream hair, and cigarettes rolled in the shirt sleeves. Oh, I used to just pray one of them would pay attention to me, but alas I was left to continue dreaming.
Yes, I remember the theatre on Parliament on Saturdays, matinees, sponge toffee, boys and girls throwing things and teasing one another. I remember seeing Elvis in "Love me Tender" and thought wow, this is the man of my dreams.
Oh, thank you Chuck and Georgina, you've made me remember so much. There's a lot of pain and sadness mixed in with these stories and I think they are important too but for now, I love these memories.
So, how do we collate all of this Agatha. How do we make our stories come together in a volume?
Hey Georgina, do you remember the ball in the nylon song called "Lady in a tightskirt can't do this?" Dubble dutch, yes, and indian rubber balls yes, and lillie dillies yes! Fish and chips every Friday night, and we weren't even catholic, we were "high Anglican" and I'm still a little confused about what that meant except that we were almost catholic.
I feel like I know you both so well. Yes, Massey Hall and the May Festival. The choir, all in white dresses.
Let's keep going.
Yes, I remember "Lady 'In The Tight Skirt Can't Do This" while swinging the ball in the ladies 'hosiery'. And I had forgotten about not being able to wear pants to school.....
I do know that we 'dressed up' when we went anywhere out of the ordinary ie the doctors office, birthday parties, shopping at Eaton's or anywhere that was on the 'formal side'.
One time when we were quite young my brother Rick, who is 2 yrs older, asked me if I wanted to go to the Eaton's store. I didn't believe that he knew how to get there but he assured me that he did and we set off on foot (of course).
Once inside the store, there really was no entertainment value for us as the merchandise was mostly kept behind the tall showcase counters (we were young and short) so we quickly got bored and decided to leave.....
Do you recall that the Eaton's store (dry goods and haberdashery - I love that word "haberdashery")covered an entire square block and had doors at every street with the heavy wooden/brass/glass revolving doors? Yonge St., Dundas,
Albert and Queen St.
We would always have entered the store through the Queen, Dundas or Yonge St. entrances and so when we passed through the big revolving doors and came out onto Albert St. I was terrified. We were lost !
Rick assured me that we had just come out the wrong doors and all we had to do was go back inside the store and exit through another door and we would be in familiar territory again....and so we did...only to come out once again to a street that I did not recognize. With that, I panicked, burst into tears and accused Rick of getting us LOST.
A policeman was standing nearby and approached us, asking if we were lost. Rick tried to sound confident when he said "no" and I wailed and said "YES WE ARE SOOO LOST!". Rick was probably ready to kill me for confessing but I was not having any of this lost business. We needed help !
The officer couldn't have been kinder to us. He took us to the Laura Secord shop and bought us candy and an ice cream cone. Treats that we NEVER got EVER.
Then, he drove us home in his police car while we dined on our forbidden, unattainable goodies. Happier than kids at Disneyland. Oblivious to the being lost. Safe, protected and being escorted home by one of Toronto's finest.
That is, until the officer knocked on our apt door to return us to our mother who took one look at us, cracked our skulls together and sent us packing to our rooms.
The officer must have been taken aback but we survived the skull cracking while we lay on our beds with ice cream encrusted faces and remembered each and every candy.......life was GOOD.
Georgina
Thanks for your memories. I was afrain that Georgina and I were overwhelming people. I really want to heat other stories - like yours.
Chuck
It was typical to have to work six days a week in the 1940s. Working until noon ocurred in the 1050s.
Queen Street between Power Street and Yonge Street looked much like Kensington Market today - except for the outdoor fruit and vegetable stalls. We Cabbagetowners were far to fleet footed for store owners to catch us, so those goods remained indoors. It was an adventure to walk home from school past stores displaying live carp; second hand shoes; clothing stores; pool halls; meat markets (remember the blue circular rationing circles during WW2); restaurants and delicatessens; pawn shops, beer parlours (that closed from 6 - 8 p.m. so alcoholics would have to go home for dinner); drug stores, banks, and "fortune telling stores" with very pretty young girls lounging on rugs in the front window. I later discovered that you could have more than your fortune told, if you had the money.
My Dad used to give my sister, Jean, and me a quarter after lunch each Saturday. We usually went to the Regent Theatre on Queen Street, just west of the Canada House beer Parlour (Sherbourne Street). Admission was six cents and you typically saw: two feature movies, (e.g. Lassie Come Home, Son of Flika, The Desert Song); a western movie featuring Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, The Lone Ranger, Hop-a-long Cassidy, or John Wayne; a "serial" like Tarzan, King of the Apes, Baboo, Jungle Boy; three cartoons (Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck) and a newsreel.
After the movies, Jean and I crossed the road and had a hot dog and half pint of chocolate milk - five cents each. We then visited some of the used book stores and bought two used comic books for five cents, (e.g. Superman, Batman, Rubberman, the Green Hornet, Archie, Mutt & Jeff.)
It was only later in life when we had kids of our own that I began to understand Dad's generosity. Three hours of peace and quiet for 50 cents.
Chuck Carr
Ron was in my "gifted" class in both grade 5 and 6. We shared many memorable experiences together as a class including field trips to the Royal Winter Fair; planting daffodils and hyacinths in clay pots to give to Mom on Mothers Day; looking after Iggy the class per iguana; ice skating and tobogganing down the hills onto Riverdale flats followed by hot dogs and hot chocolate prepared by some of the Mothers in the school lunchroom, and publishing a monthly class newsletter highlighting the students' writing and artwork.
On my last day of school at Sprucecourt in June 1964, the Ohtakes invited Marcia and me to dinner. (Marcia, who was a an RN at TWH was "great with child" and our first daughter Lesley, who is now a urologist at Sunnybrook MHS was born the following October.) We saw slides taken on the Ohtake's vacation to Japan and enjoyed a very pleasant evening. As we were departing, we discovered that about a dozen of the class had been watching the Ohtake's slides from the porch and had waited to see Marcia in person. What a pleasant surprise. I cried most of the way home because I knew that I would miss those people so much.
Ron Ohtake, who lives and works in Buffalo and has two delightful daughters sent the following personal email to me. He has given me permission to print part of it.
Ron Ohtake's Cabbagetown memories:
-Mark is Wendy's brother. (he was in my sister,Kay and Linda's (Kitamura/Sasabuchi)sister, Gail's years) Your Grade 5/6 class with us was transforming. If you recall, I lost my hair during those years and you did give me confidence to "hold-my-own" through the "Hair" years.
-Also there was the library at Parliment and Gerrard that allowed you to read anything you wanted - even sports books and joke books!! What a gift to be told that "it is not what you read but that you read!!!" and then be given that permission.
=The owner's of the store who had "Red" lived up the street from me on GIfford St. - Mr. and Mrs. Duck's??? I think.
-We did have fights and "gangs" but we had our rules. We did have our honour systems and we had each other's back. Stevie Briggs and Gordie Nott protected us but still let us hang out and they relied on us too.
-There was an Ice- man who had a horse-drawn cart that brought us our ice. (I have dad's ice chest with me still as a cupboard - a "FROST_KING")
-Another neighbour worked in an ice-cream factory and once in a while brought the truck home and complained and fought until he finally "gave in" to his wife's urging to unlock the side door on the truck and give us kids ice-cream. It's funny how they always made such a scene of their "arguing" that by the time he did bring out his keys, their were usually a dozen of us kids around!!!!!
I loved the reminders of our "better times"
- hockey ( a friend in the US that I work with asked me what I did in Canada as a kid and I said I played hockey. He asked me if I played baseball in the summer?. I said no, we just played street hockey!!!! Makes sense to me.) I used to play at the Kitamura's backyard until Brian and I were big enough to go down to the "Flats" and play with the big guys.
- Red/White/Blue rubber balls used until they were browny-red!!!!
- Doney-Wackers I showed my girls the thrill of those - we used to swing them and try to break each others!! When it was with the boys,It's funny how many times we missed the chestnuts and hit our hands, or arms, or.....
-Ledgers!!! Wow I forgot about that.
- Marbles and cards
- popsicle stick boomerangs (5 sticks intertwined to a triangular flying saucer) I loved making the pointy diggers too.
- "Box" stickball
- street hide and seek (all of Gifford street playing and running everywhere and trying to see who had the guts to hide in the Evan's yard!!!)
- coaches in Regent Park who were beat cops and firemen. Trips to Maple Leaf Stadium when we were good (and later trips to Cheery beach when we were bad)
- The Riverdale Zoo was our salvation. we could be in a completely different world!
- Hikes into the valley - remember the cows and there was a horse stable on Pottery Road. My mom gave us hot dogs to "cook" on our hikes but no matches. And the terror of the tressel to get over to the other side. ( In high school it was the Big tressel over the brickyard that we challenged ourselves on.)
- pools !!!! Grab onto the back of the streetcars to get to Greenwood!!
Lots of memories. We were never poor. We were kids and could do anything!!
Thanks for sending this site.
If you guys do get together, let me know.
Cheers!
Seiji/Ron
I remember an incident that has never left my thoughts. My mom had given me money to buy some rubber bands that were wrapped in paper. Kids were weaving them into a long ropes to jump and twist in and over . . . never did learn the game, but to continue. I had badgered my mom for money to buy the bands and she gave in, this in and of itself unusual. Anyway, Kay my mom must have told Kay she had given me money and probably asked her to watch over it and me. Kay told me she would to take me to was it Kresghes???(spelling), after school to buy the elastics. In the meanwhile, I can't exactly remember what I bought, where or how, but I spent the money on something else. So after school Kay took me to Kresghes and I was too afraid to tell her I already spent the money. Anyway, I went over with her and picked up a package of the rubber bands - elastics. She told me to go pay the lady at the counter for them. I walked away and and made like I was going to pay for them, Kay was talking to someone else, so I waited a minute and then came back. She looked down at me, right in the face, straight into my eyes and asked me if I paid for them. I looked down, then up at her and whispered, "yes". Kay said,"alright, let's go home." She said good bye to whoever she was talking to and we left.
She knew I had lied, she knew I didn't pay for the elastics, but she let me off the hook, she sensed I needed something,she treated me with gentleness and compassion and over the years I have gone over this story many times and I'm convinced that Kay was brought into my life at that time as a light, a gift; someone, a thought, an experience I could treasure over the years. Kay expressed a love that was subtle and healing. I have never forgotten her. She was beautiful, inside and out. How can it be that this memory of Kay, is one of the most vivid I have? And how incredible and wonderful is it, that I am now writing about it.
Thank you both for your stories, oh yes, the memories, they keep flooding in. I had forgetten names of stores and other details, but these stories, these narratives are bringing them back.
We had an ice box, I remember the ice truck delivering ice, and the ice being covered in sawdust, I think. I don't remember ice cream, but I remember being given a chip of ice to suck on.
Riverdale Zoo, oh yes, yes, I used to love to go there, any time and alone was great. Like you said 'another world', or worlds. The polar bear, the brown bear, I remember them the most, I always felt so sorry for them, they looked sad but they were my friends. And the rabbits, all their different furs, and their pink little noses, I loved watching them eat.
I loved that we had diversity back then, only we didn't get hung up on the words, we were kids, just like Ron and Chuck said and Cabbagetown, well how can you even begin to describe how completely unique and crazy it was to live there. I am so happy right now, so happy.
Please keep writing, help us all to remember more.
Georgina, yes, I remember Eatons and Eatons fancy foods, where my grandmother worked for awhile. I remember the big sculpture of Timothy Eaton and the wood escalators. Remember the windows at Christmas?
I'm worried though that I'm forgetting people and names. I remember a Tom Lo, or Low, he was Chinese and very smart, a little shy but nice.
Help me out, am I confusing things here?
I don't recollect Kay Ohtake at all though I do remember Seiji/Ron because of his patchy hair. I believe he was in my brothers class, therefore older than I.
What is the book about the Ohtake Family? I googled it but can't find anything on it ?
Siji/Ron you got hot dogs to go hiking with ? You must have been rich !!!!! "Excuse me sir, would you have any Grey Poupon?" We would have killed to have had some weiners on our DVP hikes and no doubt one of us would have had a book of matches. hehe
Wondering what has happened to Agatha? Have we sent her AWOL?
Don't mean to hog the blog so will leave this here.
All the best
Georgina
Georgina, I found something about oral histories on the Ohtake family on google but haven't been able to track down the transcript.
Agatha, where are you? You started this.
Anyone out there remember Sister Theresa and St. Bart's?
I grew up in south regent at 605 whiteside place!
Like you I am the product of a family where my mother (god bless her) never drank but my father was a severe alcoholic with no resistance.We thought we were in heaven moving into the building as soon as it was built!
There were 3 boys and 2 girls in the family of which I am the oldest!
3 of us have done well but my 2 brothers died from alcohol related problems!
I went to St. Pauls school but only for 1 year and then I started at st. Ann's on Boulton Ave , I would walk across the Don River every morning to get to school!
I recall the Gay theater on the southeast corner of Parliament and Dundas!
I also recall the Empire theater on Queen St.
We would go on Saturdays to the matinees where we would see 2 or 3 movies and cartoons for 25 cents!
My dad would take me at the beginning of every summer to a barber shop at the northeast corner of Sumach and Queen and they would give me a buzz-cut that would last all summer!
There was a used book store on Queen across from St.pauls Church and I could buy comics for 5 cents,some 2/5cents!
I had a CCM wagon and I would put a box in it and head down Sumach to Cherry St. then along Commissioners St and pick up empty pop bottles from the guys working down there!
I would get a 2 cent deposit for a regular pop bottle and a whopping 5 cents for a large size (not often)!
If I had any money I would go up Parliament St. to the Woolworth store and spend it on something foolish!
I went to Danforth Tech but my good friend Eddy MacDonald went to Jarvis!
He set me up with a blind date one time with a Jarvis girl-her name was Suzie Campbell-I was out of my element-her dad was Stirling Campbell (movie director) her mother was Margaret Campbell (city politician)!
They were great people -very down to earth and later in life I discovered that Margaret had been in counter-espionage in WWII and been instrumental in capturing some German spies!
I loved cabbagetown-the first pool I ever played in was the wading pool near what is now Riverdale Farm but was the Zoo when I was young! Down the hill on the East side of the Zoo was a confectionery building where my mom would buy me cracker jacks and a small bottle of coke! There were pin-ball machines!
I remember the monkey house and the bird house but the Kodiac Grizzly bear was the big attraction until someone with mental problems shot it dead one day!
There was no Bayview Extension or Don Valley Prky!
In the summer we would put on our backpacks and go exploring up the valley!
We sometimes ended up at Bare Ass Beach (under and slightly north of the bloor viaduct)
We had a rope on a tree and we would swing out over the Don River and plunge in! We did this while all the city was worried about polio! Some older kid had told us that that particular part of the Don was clean!
I remember my mom telling me not to go near the Gerrard Hotel because of all the fights that would happen there!
Reading these posts have made me recall a few thing;however,I am not the writer or typist that you are Georgina!
I still visit the old area and sometimes take my little granddaughter with me to visit Riverdale!
I now own a couple of homes and live in Lorne Park but Cabbagetown is part of my makeup and will be as long as I live!
Nice to meet you and thanks for sharing your life in the park with us. Your writing is every bit as adept as mine. I know because I was there with you when you described your rendition of life in the Park.
It's great that you still go to the zoo - they can call it a farm all they want - to us it will forever remain "the zoo" eh?
I'm glad to hear that despite the dysfunction in your family, like most of us, you are able to look back with fond memories too.
All the best
Georgina
I just talked to my brother Rick (Smitty) and mentioned your name to see if he recalled you or your family. He said that your brother Billy used to drive for them at Collins Auto?
Wow, the stories are still coming in, it is so wonderful to hear varying takes on life in Cabbagetown.
Mark Thurman emailed me and he's interested in being a part of anything we decide to do, his artwork would add so much to the stories.
You all seem to know one another really well, and while I lived in Cabbagetown till I was 13 years old, I guess I missed a lot of the older year stuff, so thanks for filling me in.
Mark sent me a grade four class photo, I have none to remember. I had Ms. Pritchard in grade three and woul love to get any class photos posted from everyone's time at Lord Dufferin.
Agatha, how would we do this? Georgina, are you still in, your writing is important and Agatha, yours too.
If anyone has a contact for Alex Glover, Pee Wee O'Donnel, the Kelly twins or Gordie Glen, Jimmy Garrington, please pass them on. Gail Goddard as well.
Thank you everyone who contributed.
Gayle
Good to hear from you again. And it was great of Jim to post his rememberances recently too.
Ummmmm, haven't seen any updates or postings at all from Agatha so am wondering if she has moved on to something else?
I don't recall the names you are mentioning but, that doesn't mean I wouldn't be able to place faces to those names. I do know that my brother Rick (Smitty) might know or at least remember them so I will email him with the names and see what I come up with.
Somewhere I do have grade school photo's put away and as a matter of fact I need to dig out my Jarvis Report Card for a full time college course that I am planning to sign up for.
Is there a way to post photo's on this blog?
Coldest day of the coming up tomorrow so everyone please stay safe and warm.
All my relations
Georgina
My two nephews ( Mike's boys) own Cousins Plumbing in Toronto!
My brother-in-law Tom Fehr grew up in the area but he is 10 yrs. younger than myself!
Some of you may recall a little girl that opted to out-run a train on the RR bridge just north of the current pedestrian bridge that connects West Riverdale to East Riverdale!
That was my sister Marie and she was hit by the train and thrown 30 Feet she lived to have another major car accident 8 yrs. ago and lived through that also! She is like the unsinkable Molly Brown!
She and her friends were coming back from the pool (up on the hill at Broadview)Her friends all made it to the end of the bridge but she was the smallest and had shorter legs!
I was in high school and was working at Simpsons on Mutual St. (the catalog building)!
Do any of you recall roller skating at Mutual Arena?
So nice to hear your stories-it jogs my memory and that is good at my age!LOL!
I remember going to Center Is around the time that they were closing up town that was there! We played in the deserted buildings breaking windows and helping to demolish the place!
Irecall the Don river running bright red for days at a time!
Canada Brick would dump stuff into it!
I warned you -my memory is starting to kick in!LOL!
I am so sorry to learn of your brothers and though I don't remember your sister being hit by train, I am sure that I knew about it then...some memories are lost out of fear, shock and sadness. She is one remarkable gal !
Speaking of "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" I remember seeing that movie at the show and we stayed and watched it over again. It was a great film.
Yes, I remember roller skating at Mutual Arena. It was great fun though I wasn't a whiz on the wheels. My eldest sister Sandra married one of the DJ's from Mutual Arena and they had 2 daughters together.
The name Lafferty sure rings a bell. I know I was friends with at least one of them....is there a Theresa? Somehow that name rings a bell?
Jimmy Maybin was playing on the old Brick factory on River St. one day and fell thru the roof and landed in the basement of the building. How he survived know-one knows. He was hospitalized for a long time afterwards and is still around.
Do you remember swimming and playing in the soap suds in the Don River from the runoff from the Colgate plant?
What year were you born Jim?
The colgate plant would have been further south-south of Queen!
It's good to be back in contact again and once again I'm taken away with your writing and the details you remember, same with Jim now adding things and his perspective adds to everything. It's all so colourful and takes me right back. I remember soap suds in the Don.
Listen, I got a hold of the Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum and asked about sharing photos and stories, I told them what an incredible forum this is and I got a letter back from Carol Moore-Ede who is out of town for a few days but she said she'd set it up and loved the idea.
It would be great to have all of these stories on the museum site to share with others and who knows who we'll find.
I'm going to get Mark Thurman to join in and maybe some of you could contact others who might want to join. I still think we should create an anthology with photos and art work. I'm going to be out of town again for a couple of weeks but will stay in touch.
Georgina, should we exchange our emails? Agatha, are you out there, we don't want to leave you out.
Remeber "shooting the duck" and the "hokey pokey"? How about the guys who could skate like lightening and suddenly turn backwards and do cross overs.
I was actually born on Mutual Street in a rooming house, when my grandmother, who was from Yorkshire originally, finally was able to buy the house on Spruce Street, three families moved in. My mom, Dad and me and my sister slept on the third floor, my mom's sister and husband and three kids on the second floor, and my grandmother, her son, wife and four kids on the first floor, They made a dining room into a bedroom and the little parlor or living room faced the street.
Do you remember the popcorn man and the red candied, we called taffee apples? The knife sharpener, the rag man who came up the laneways with a cart to collect stuff? The milk delivered by horse from Donland's Dairy? The ice truck, the coal truck dumping coal into a basement window.
How about swimming at Lord Dufferin? Anyone out there go to St. Bart's on Dundas? I was baptized at St. Peter's but we went to St. Barts. Anglican but 'high Anglican' which was more like catholic.
Anyone remember Miss Hunt and music? Dr. Holland and art?
O.K. enough. Let's see what happens with the Cabbagetown Museum.
By the way Jim, we lived for a short while on River Street, I got to keep a pet rabbit while we were there but when we left, the rabbit stayed.
Gayle
Please send yours and then we will be all set.
Keep safe and warm
Georgina
I am just now speaking with my eldest sister Sandra and read her your entry. She clearly remembers Miss Hunt and says that the kids nicknamed her "Olive Oil" because she was tall, thin & wore her hair in a severe bun at the nape of her neck. Miss Hunt called our mother to ask if Sandra could participate in the school choir but my mother insisted that Sandra had to come straight home after school to look after us younger kids. She was our surrogate mother.......
This is so funny, I had just told my daughter that we nicknamed Miss Hunt Olive Oil and I'll send you the photo and you'll laugh because she looked exactly like Olive Oil.
I am very excited about the forum on the museum website and you have to promise to send in your writings and keep writing. We really need to do a book, anthology, we have to! I'll email you from home.
To the rest of you out there, don't worry about writing skills, spelling or anything, just send us your memories, please.
Gayle
kearin lafferty...passed on in a river st fire i believe
some of the folks that lived in 605 whhiteside were the PATRICKS...ESKINS...PHIL/LARRY/GREG ETC/THE MARTINS DAVE MONTY/KAREN....POSSIBLY THE HOLDLEYS...THE FEHRS I WORKED WITH BILL FEHR LATER IN LIFE ...HIS YOUNGER TWIN BROS. ALSO HUNG AROUND REGENT....WHICH BRINGS US TO THE BARRIERS....
DEVIDERS OF SUMACH ST AND SACKVILLE ST SO YOU COULDN'T DRIVE FROM DUNDAS TO GERRARD ON THOSE STREETS AT OAK ST...PERFECT FOR KID'S SHOOTING TENNIS BALLS AND OR HOCKEY PUCKS AT....
SMALLER KIDS RUNNING TOY CARS AND TRUCKS ALONG IT ...BUT WHEN NITE FELL!!! OR ACTUALLY WHEN THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE YOUNGER ONES SCURRIED TO GET HOME THOSE AREAS BELONGED
TO THE TEENAGERS AND LATER TO THE OLDER CROWDS THAT HUNG THERE...I RECALL MARIES INCEDENT WITH THE TRESSELL AND SADLY
LOST JODY PHILLIPS ...MY FRIEND CRYSTALS KID BROTHER SEVERAL YEARS LATER...THEY BUILT A MEMORIAL POOL/RINK OUTSIDE OF GEORGINAS OLD BEDROOM!!!!DEDICATED TO HIM.....WELL OUTA TIME WILL FIELD SOME MORE MORE RESPONSES WHEN TIME ALLOWS...OH!
PEE WEE ODONNELL IS A EMS ATTENDANT AND LIVE IN DURHAM...LATER...THANXXXXXX
My best friend was Adrian Lafferty and Kieran was his younger brother!
I felt bad for Kieran he had a real problem with drugs-I remember he had a girl named Diedre!
I lived with the Laffertys for a while- great bunch of people!
There are a lot of Fehrs around that area-I have spoken to Bill on occasion -at family Bar-B-Ques!
When I was in high-school I worked as an usher at Lowes theatre at Young and Bloor! I was at the door taking tickets when Cassius Clay walked in with 3 body guards!There was an older maintenance guy there and he told me "don't call him Cassius -call him Mohammed-so I greeted as Mohammed and wished him luck!
He was here to fight George Chuvallo!
Will talk more later!
REGENT PARK - THE EARLY YEARS
Remembering the year nineteen fifty-three
We lived in a rooming house
One room held my Dad, Mom, little sister
Baby brother and me
Most families did in those early years
And everyone got along with their peers
To own your own home you had to be rich
So we were happy in our own little knitch
I attended Lord Dufferin Public School
Grade four, my teacher Miss Hunt
Also taught music. she was really cool
We took swimming once a week
Cause we had our own pool
Our house was just up Berkely Street
So living so close was a treat
Then one day Dad said we were moving away
Where we would have more room to play
The building was new, the apartment was too
Three bedrooms, our own bathroom and hall
A large living room, kitchen and that's not all
Every room had a window of it's own
I never dreamed I would have such a home
The front concrete steps had not yet been poured
We walked over a wood plywood board
To take our belongings inside to our place
I can still remember the look on my face
When I first stepped inside, eyes wide
My sheer happiness I could not hide
Our new home was in North Regent Park
Living there for quite a time
Has really left it's mark
Green lawns and flowers in spring
On the last day of school in June
We always saw they had put up the swings
The playground was open for us to enjoy
And play school in the summer mornings
For the youngsters brought much joy
The baseball diamonds were used all summer
Many hours spent at the Riverdale Zoo
And a day of rain was always such a bummer
Saturdays were fun at the Parliament Show
When off to the movies we would go
With twenty five cents we would have a blast
Through the whole matinee, a nickle toffee would last
Grab bags were cheap at the corner store
Penny candy galore, Who could ask for more?
The friends we held close may have drifted away
But through the the stillness and silence
They arrive to visit me today
My memories have kept them young
Our older years had not begun
Regent Park was so different then
A world unto it's own
We lived it and breathed it
To us it was our home
Now Regent Park will be no more
Time has taken it's toll and closed the doors
But we have our memories to last
Until we too become part of the past
Sandra Lea Maharaj, maiden name Smith
I am Georgina's elder Sister
We lived at 229 Sumach St apt 106
Our phone number was Empire 6-9265
We had one of the old black dial phones that weighed a ton
Yes, the memories of those days never will be erased as long as we keep them alive.
The Ward's lived next door to us and I chummed with Carolyn Graham who live at 230 Sumach, as well as Camella Hogarth.
Dorothy Holly, and Gary Annis also, Wally and Bobby Cooper. Beverly Anderson and many others.
I attended Lord Dufferin School from grade four to grade eight
I remember Mr. Thompson and Mr. Stewart in grade six, Mr. Daley in grade five and the year I started in grade seven, the school had built on a new section which housed a speach and Drama room. an art room, science lab and music room also
In grade six the boys took Home Ec. for six months and us girls took shop. It was fun to see the boys coming down with their gooey fudge and us girls with wooden door stops and two tiered wooden dessert plates.
I remember the old streetcars coming south on Parliament
st. where we all got on and filled each car. We were going to have our annual school picnic at the Exhibition Grounds. We always went to the building beside the flower building. We had sandwiches and ice cream sundaes with the wooden spoons. I remember the smoke coming up off the dried ice as they were passed around. We had races and games and we all arrived back at the school, full, tired and so happy.
track and field events each year, our spring concerts put on in the auditorium and Rememberance Day with our minute of silence took place there also. Our graduation ceremony too.
The school dances with the old coke machines that dispensed the small coke bottles with the green tinge to them. They were a dime and ice cold and so delicious, that was before they changed the formula. Coke Classic does not even come close to the original taste that made Coke so popular back then.
Yes, Regent Park was filled with baseball games played outside our bedroom window which was finally covered with green wire to stop the baseballs from breaking our windows.
I remember collecting the pop bottles from the six storey building on Sackville st that was being built. I had a girlfriend who moved into that building. Her name was Sharon Gigniac.
We used to go skating at Mutual Arena on Saturday afternoons once in awhile. I continued to go there every night when I was through school and on my own. It was my home away from home and everyone that was a regular looked forward to seeing one another. I ended up getting married to Derek Johnson who was the DJ there and continued to be the DJ when the Mutual Arena became the Terrace.
It is hard to believe that the front of our buildings had a garden of flowers that ran across from the two front doors at each end. The back of the buildings had green lawns and a lovely tree was in the middle where I used to sit on a blanket in the summer reading while my younger siblings napped in the afternoons.
South Regent had not yet been built and there used to be a drugstore on the south west corner of Sumach and Dundas Sts.
Beside the drug store was a variety store and next to that was the fish and chip restaurant. The owner hired four or five boys who had bikes to deliver the orders of fish and chips to all the surrounding area on a Friday. He provided the wire baskets in front of their handle bars that held those newspaper wrapped delicious and affordable fish and chips.
You could buy a cone of chips for a nickel back then.
Most of the mothers stayed at home and the fathers all worked.
It was a simpler life back then. Regent was built for working families as there were no apartment buildings available then.
They were few and far between in those days.
It was not until I was older that living in Regent Park had a stigma attached to it by others who looked down their noses at us. I could not understand the reasoning behind this as I thought we were no different than anyone else.
Those were the days when the security guard checked out every building and we were told no loitering if we happened to be standing talking at the time.
The apartments were inspected and re painted every five years and that included the hallways. The janitor would be washing and waxing the floors till they shone and we could not take the garbage to the incinerator. We were told as soon as any one of us attempted to walk on his clean floor before it was dry.
I never saw a cockroach in all the years I lived there. Silver fish in the bathroom once in awhile was the extent of bug infestation. We were plain ordinary kids but we didn't live plain ordinary lives. There was always something to do to keep us busy. Tap and baton lessons in the gym under the senior building where the boys played floor hockey.
If you ever went to the Gay show at Parliament and Dundas, I hope you didn't find a dead mouse in your box of popcorn. lol. Ladies night they gave out drinking glasses and following that it was melmac dishes. I think every one owned a set of green melmac dinner plates, smaller bread and butter plates and of course the famous soup bowls. Imagine that free with your admission to the show as well as they played three movies for the price of two. Those were the good old days and I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Dear, I am sounding like my forefathers before me who walked ten miles to school in snow up to their waists. The old one room school house where your lunches froze in the cloak room because there was only one little pot bellied stove in the main room.
The Mutual Arena was the one place where we could go and skate to all the latest songs, waltz to Put your head on my shoulder, Young at heart Frank Sinatra. etc etc. The only thing I could not understand was the fact that the beginner rink was off to one side at the far end of the main skating floor. It was made of polished hardwood, three times as slippery as the main floor and you had to hold on to the bars to move an inch in those rented skates that were molded to someone else's feet. One foot went one way and the other foot the other way and to keep your feet straight enough to skate was almost impossible.
you always knew the beginners as they would be holding on to the side of the wall all the way to the beginners rink. The cruisers that skated backwards all the time and blew their whistles if someone fell, they were amazing to watch as they stopped dead on their stoppers and rushed in between all the skaters to reach the poor slob who had fallen and could not get back up. Sometimes there was a domino effect as the skaters could not go around the fallen one and ended up tripping over him with a dozen others.
Those experiences are gone now but how lucky we were to have enjoyed them and now we can appreciate them so much more than we did at the time.
I must remember to tell my children about what it was like back then, whether or not they can relate is another story but By George I am going to do my best to explain it so they can get a glimpse of what they are missing today.
Sometimes when we look back it makes us feel old and then again, it can keep us young at heart at the same time.
Happy Memories
Sandra Lea Smith
I remember Beverly Anderson, if it is the same Beverly, she came to Saint Barts and for some reason took a deep dislike to me in the beginning, I think there were other influences at work but in any case, one day in the basement washroom of the church, she knocked my lights out . . . I was no dummy, she was a big girl and tough, so I just stayed on the floor, after that she loved me. She had a great voice, then just like that we lost contact. I left Cabbagetown shortly after.
I sent a class photo of Ms. Hunts when I was in grade four to Georgina, if one of you Sandras remembers it, please let me know.
Keep writing everyone, you're all great writers, and we all see things from different perspectives, that's why this forum is so important. I really would love to get together with all of you sometime. Thanks!
Everyone who has submitted writing to this blog is amazing. The stories paint the canvas of what life was like living in Cabbagetown in the 50's.
Do any of you guys remember the wooden scooters made from old fruit boxes and roller skate wheels on the bottom?
Still looking for Pee Wee, Alex Glover, Gail Goddard, and Gordie Glenn.
Keep writing everyone!
They sold hot chocolate, potato chips and chocolate bars and popcorn also. We used to sit on the benches to put on our skates and there were wooden boxes above to house your boots.
One side of the rink was sectioned off for the boys to play hockey and the other was for pleasure skating. It was lit up at night and we skated for hours, hobbling home because we could not feel our feet as they were frozen. We came home happy, content, tired and hungry. Those were the days!
I think if we had Nintendo or Wi back then we would have left them behind to go outside and enjoy the pleasure of the outdoors and the fresh air and fun with our friends. It was not time for these indoor time consuming, eye straining activities.
Woolworth's and Kresge's were the two stores on Parliament St. where you could spend the little bit of money on so many things. The Sip and Bite Restaurant on Parliament had the best chips and gravy and cherry cokes. We could stay there and hang out together, giggling and chatting and we never were told to leave for being too boisterous. The jukeboxes on the wall by each booth where we deposited our dimes and got five songs to play which we drooled over. AAhh the memories and to be back there once more in those good old days. If only we could and know what we know now. God Bless all.
High above the Queen St. bridge over the magnificent Don there is a saying posted in metal! It says "The river I stand in is not the river I stepped in!" you through your memory takes us all back to the river we stepped in and that is fantastic!
Wally Cooper hit me like a ton of bricks-he went to St. Pauls with me! Do you know whatever became of him?
I seem to recall a soda bar in Woolworths and you could sit at the counter!I would walk downtown sometimes and I never seen people begging or sleeping on the streets like now! We had vagrancy laws then! It was in a way a kinder world and people cared for each other!
We would rent horses at the mill on pottery road and go for a little ride and little escape from our normal routine!
We would take our bikes down to Cherry Beach and try to swim in the 50 F water-you would literally turn blue!
We would save the cotton fluff from the pill bottles and on our way downtown we would stuff the coin return with it-in the pay phones -pushing the fluff way up and out of sight! on the way back home we would pull it out and collect all the money that was stuck up there!We had lots of ways to get money!LOL!
Memories, memories, sweet as can be, the ones not so sweet have forsaken me. The good ones remain in our minds eye, bringing us closer to those days gone by. I guess that is why, the old folk
s tell stories with a smile on their face. As they recall a special time and place. Friends and loved ones that have gone on before. Come back in time as we open the door, to the days of yesteryear, still etched in our hearts and souls. Some we remember as clear as a bell as our stories we tell. Others have faded somewhat through the years, and the faces we once knew and loved bring us to tears. But where would we be and what would we do? If we had no such memories to see us through, the times in our life when we go back in time, to younger and happier memories that we share, you and I.
Sandra Lea Smith
Oh to be that age again and know what I know now. lol.
Who would have thought to put cotton batton in the pay phones. I could try it now if I could find one that wasn't broken. Cell phones have taken over I'm afraid.
I remember the phone numbers from back then, Empire, Walnut. Hudson etc. and the digits took forever to dial. you always knew what part of the city you were calling by the prefix. Now there are just too many people and the numbers have changed drastically.
We used to play games on the telephone when we were bored. We would call a number out of the phone book. We would say we were calling from the Hydro company and as if their fridge was still running. When they said yes, we would say, well you better run after it and catch it. lol.
Or we would phone Mahar Shoe store and ask if they had polka dot shoes. They would say no, not right now and we would say
Don't be silly, shoes can't so the polka on their own.
Now I look back and wonder how we could be so nervy. Oh, well, nobody was perfect back then.
Do you remember getting cleeks put on your shoes at the Shoe Maker at Parliament and Gerrard. One on the heel and one on the toe of each shoe. We would click along the sidewalk making noise and though it was great. At least it kept our soles from wearing out sooner eh!! Fifteen cents it cost to get the cleeks put on, imagine and we thought that was a lot. lol.
That was when you went roller skating on the sidewalks and they strapped onto your shoes and we tightened them with a key. One good thing was if you lost your key, another key could be used just the same.
Does anyone remember the time the insurance salesman was shot in front of 229 Sumach St. in the parking lot in front. That was just around the time that little Judy Carter was found murdered under the Bloor Viaduct.
she was nine years old and for some reason that stuck with me all these years. I remember the write up in the paper where an elderly couple were on the streetcar and the woman noticed there was something not right with Judy and the man she was with but her husband told her not to bother the driver about it. If only she had.
That was when the streetcars went along the Danforth. Now we have the subway. The day the subway opened from Eglinton to Union Station, my girlfriend and I rode it free and we sat in the front car so we could see where we were going. We thought it was so much fun cause it went so fast. Now I hate riding the darn thing. lol. We rode it for hours that day. Good memories and bad. I guess that is par for the course. Leaving you with more memories to share I hope.
Sandra Lea Smith
I remember the Hockey Game (Lord Dufferin 10 Kent 0) It was a first for me to see a Hockey Game at Maple Leaf Gardens. Frank Simpson & his brother along with Carl Goldsberg were in the line up. The Garringtons made the front page of the Star paper. They were considered NHL prospects. We all knew Mark Thurman was going somewhere with his art work. I can remember the murals doctor Holland had him paint for the walls of Lord Dufferin School. He is also known as a writer of children books. He was the only one that Doctor Holland gave an 'A' to on our report cards. I was shocked in grade 8 when she also gave me the same honor. Then there was Miss Hunt the music teacher who lived in that huge property on Spruce St. - Miss Hall for Guidance & Vice Principal until the wonder man came into the picture - Mr Moore. There was always Miss Patterson who appeared ancient that had the kindergarten class. For classmates there was Shirley Ann MacDonald from Spruce St. She also was in the newspaper for having the longest hair. She won the title of Miss Toronto. Michael Prue is now with the NDP Party who lived in Muriel McDavid's building at Parliament & Dundas. For Regent Park itself, I never considered us as 'Poor People'. The property my family lived in prior was demolished in order to build Regent Park. My family was given an apartment at Sumach & Dundas. My grandparents would eventually move to Sackville St & my parents to Dundas. Other then pensioners most of our parents worked. Although Regent Park always had a bad mark it simply was affordable housing for those with large families. There was not too many in those days that had 1 or 2 children. If you remember Mr. Mercer, patrolled the entire project. If you were seen outside after dark you had to be accountable to him as to what you were doing! He reported back to your parents if he thought you were doing something wrong. When the City of Toronto controlled the project there were strict rules. I still have the pamplet my grandparents were given when moving into their apartment. I, too am proud of my heritage and yes there are so many wonderful memories of our childhood living in that project....Linda
It's so nice to meet you. What wonderful detailed memories you have of Cabbagetown.
My mothers family all worked at Eatons' in Winnipeg, Manitoba before and during the depression. My mother and her siblings took the transit down to the Eaton's store daily to wait for work. If they were hired on for the day the pay rate was 50 cents.
On the other hand my father was a chauffer in Toronto (they met here) and he drove for Timothy Eaton at one time.
My mother is now 95 years of age and lives in her own apt in my home. On Monday night she had a stroke and is now Palliative with DNR orders. Family members - grandchildren, great-grandchildren and my siblings have been flocking to the house since it occured. Tonight is quiet - just my daughter and my eldest sister who has now gone back into Toronto but tomorrow promises another busy day with her newly assigned PSW and more family members who will come to see her.
I am honouring her wishes to pass away without being institutionalized. It's been a nightmare but will get through it.
All the best
Georgina
In looking through some keepsakes I have, I found a two pictures of Ken Ohtake. One was when we were in the same Gr. 4 class at Lord Dufferin in 1955-'56. The other was from when we played on the same hockey team in 1957 - '58. We played together for the Canadiens in the Little THL at Varsity Arena. I left the area after June of 1958.
Many memories and thoughts are flooding back as I read through the reminiscences.
For four years in the 1950's, I lived at 223 Berkley St. between Dundas and Schuter Streets. I have a class picture from each of these 4 years.
I attended Lord Dufferin School for 2 years.
In 1954-'55, I was in Grade 3 in Mrs. Pritchard's class.
In 1955-'56, I was in Gr. 4 with Ms. Hunt.
Mr. Paterson was the principal both of these years.
Then they changed the school boundaries and I was required to attend Park Public School. This was the school my mother attended while growing up on St David's St. in the 1910's and 1920's.
At Park, in 1956 - '57, I was in Mrs. MacEwen's Grade 5 class. One of my classmates was Gary Metcalf.
Gary and I were together again in Gr. 6 the next year (1957-'58). B.A. Hinds started as our teacher. I believe it was Miss or Mrs. Hinds.
Part way through the school year, a Mr. J. Smith took over. I don't remember too much about him except I think he was from the East Coast.
A fellow named Gordie Brown moved into Regent Park South during my Gr. 6 year and was in my class as well. We played hockey together. Mr. Redford was the principal both years.
I remember working the lights in the gymnatorium for the opening ceremonies of this addition to the school.
I lived on Berkley St. south of Dundas. They changed the school boundaries at the end of June so I was moved to Park School for the following school year.
Cheryl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj7bPEKIsvA
Dr, Holland and Miss Hunt were still there...
The Dufferin dances ,, We had so much fun Jean Lou was the D.J.
he still is an active D,J with Tommy Crew they have a Cabbage Town Toy Dance every year..To all that post Thank You for The Memories,
At the time we lived on Spruce St., near Riverdale Zoo.
Thanks again
Nice to meet!
I was born on April 7th, 1954 (evening) and there was a tornado that hit Toronto that night but yes, Hurricane Hazel also happened in October of 1954. Pretty scarey stuff. I know that it caused a lot of damage and Toronto does not normally experience that type of severe weather.
I agree with John Newton: "I recall the life of poverty while living in Regent Park south from 1958 to 1968, but it was still a pretty good childhood".
There was an innocence back then that seems to be lost now in many ways....along with manners and respect.
I went to visit my sister today at Sunnybrook Hospital and I was shocked and dismayed at how many young people in the hospital hallways and lobby that stood their ground and would not step aside when we passed them. Unbelievable !
Anyway, thanks for commenting and again, lovely to meet.
Georgina
My mother passed away on March 7th after a series of strokes in her final week. Unfortunately I did have to call 911 when I discovered her in a coma caused by a stroke in the early hours. It was a mixed blessing....family were all able to make it to the hospital to say their goodbyes and my siblings were there when she passed 2 days later.
Our mother was one tough lady with a sharp Irish tongue when she was crossed but, during that final week she softened and showed her underbelly to me for the first time in my life. It was both surreal and precious.
Having worked as a Ward Clerk at Sunnybrook Hospital in the Veterans Ward for 17 yrs she was both fearful of ending up in an institution at the mercy of staff members and adament that she wanted a no-muss, no-fuss, no-service cremation. And so, we honoured her requests and divided her ashes between her 5 children to do with and deal with them as they see fit.
We held a "Celebration Of Life Gathering" here at my home a few days later to honour the mother, grandmother and great-grandmother that we had shared our life with in the best way that we could.
For me, there is a peace that I would never have anticipated in her passing.
Rest in peace Mum.
I should remember Charlies Garage because I worked after school at the Shoppers Drug Mart at Carlton & Parliament and came along Wellesley St. from Jarvis Collegiate to get to work....I just don't remember Charlies Garage...I bet my brother Smitty does though. I will pass this along to him and see if he has any recollections.
Will let you know if I find out anything.
Til then enjoy this new spring weather. My magnolia tree is almost ready to fully bloom...barring any severe cold/wind.
Georgina
I DO REMEMBER THE GARAGE THAT WAS THERE EAST SIDE ACROSS AND DOWN A BIT FROM WHERE AUNT VERNA LIVED
ON PARLIAMENT WEST SIDE ALSO FROM WHEN I WOULD STOP AT SAM'S VARIETY FOR MY VERNOR'S...TOOK YOU THERE A COUPLE TIMES AT WINCHESTER AND PARLIAMENT...DON'T RECALL ANY OTHER DETAILS EXCEPT THAT IT WAS THERE! SMITTY
All the best
Georgina
R.I.P. STAN ..MY TRUE CONDOLANCES TO ALL THE FAMILY
Then we moved frequently around the neighbourhood(economic necessity). Lived on Chestnut in a basement apartment and later on the corner of Parliment street about a chinese rstaurant. Every month when the restaurant was funigated the roaches ran upstairs, my mother would then run outside and pace up and down until we got home to chase em away.
I loved the old zoo. My brothers and I haunted it often, the keepers would even let us help with the animals.
Sunday mornings there were always religous groups playing in the park, Evangalists, Salvation army. My mother wanting to give us a good religous base and (... have a few hours free of kids) would give us a pittence for collection and then herd us onto a sunday school bus, didnt matter which one, they were all connected to God she found.
On sundays after a good week we would get pocket money. For a ticket to the movie theatre and just enough for a coke and chips. We had to wait outside the theatre until opening time (not until about 1 pm as I remember). Shouting taunts at the salvation army kids waitning to go into their hall across the street.
After attending St Martins catholic school I went to Lord Dufferin. We wore the ugliest gym suits ever, Dark blue belted one pieces with puffy panty parts. more like a baby romper. If gym was held outside in the yard facing Parliment street the girls were required to put a short skirt over the bottom, just in case we shocked passersby.
I remember the principle Dr Goldring, A small man with a hunched back appearance.He was determined to prevent miniskirts and such from entering the school. He would at times stand at the door and measure the length og yout skirt. Too short and you got sent home.
The school pool meant swimming lessons which I tried to avoid. But eventually had to take the Deep end test. When the tacher (Miss Brown) paid more attention to the janitor and thus held the safety pole out of my reach I panicked and almost drowned. Never did take another test.
Lunch was often the best part of the school day, with your 35 cents you ran to the Fish and chip shop beside the school and got delicious meal in a newspaper.
That the rough neighbourhood produced some "difficult "kids... A girl in my grade 8 class (Janet) was involved in a prostitution scandel which made use of the school basement,the school janitor was rumoured to be part of the organization.
But I loved the old victorian house we lived in. Upstairs we 2 adults and 4 kids: downstairs my brother his wife and 2 kids.
Whenever I am in the area I try to visit the old street but you can hardly recognize it now.
Johanna
Also he was not happy with my very sloppy left handed writing. I recall him using my script as an example of how not to fill a notebook.
I also had Ms Hunt as a teacher later, we used to pass her house on the way to and from school, but do not know which street it was anymore.
The music lessons at Lord Dufferin were actually boring, first having to memorize every note in a song before we were even allowed to attempt to sing it. Even then I was requested to not sing aloud as I could not keep the tone required.
I recall that we then had a younger male music teacher who was a bit more upbeat and even claimed to have been a friend of Paula anka in their youth. I still couldnt sing well even for him. His name will not come back to me, anyone rember him?
We would put our ear to the RR tracks and listen for a train then scoot across the RR bridge just past the brickworks!
I watch tha movie STAND BY ME and I get a real chuckle out of it because in a lot of ways it was like that!
We made a lot of mischief but we had a ball doing it!
It was great to read all the old remember when in Cabbagetown.
I lived at 289 Carlton street went to Winchester Public School. FROM 1958 To 1967,I hung around Winchester & Parilment area with a group called the Cross Gang.But there was a lot of good times Bare ass beach zoo riverdale hiil in the winter.using a cardboard box. or a old house for sale sign. the gay show. we use to call the police toss a egg or something at them to start the cat & mouse game for hours. but if you got caught oops. I MESS MAPLE LEAF GARDENS , off hours they would chase for hours around the building.I thank you all for reminding me of the past in Cabbagetown The one thing I would change is I would stay in school. Im doing ok will great for not staying in school. I NOW LIVE IN PORT PERRY BUT WORK IN TORONTO, Love my JOB, Take Care All
I will forward this update to my brother "Smitty" - Rick Smith. He seems to remember everybody from back in the day. Will get him to post something if he recalls that Garringtons.
All the best
Georgina
Some of you may know my family, some may not. There is another a website for blogging cabbagetownhotline.com, it is run by, "The Crewe" family the same family who hosts the Re-unions, christmas dances, toy drive, etc. They carry on the work of the late Tommy Crewe Sr. and his late wife, (whose name I can't recall at the moment. Without, "The Crewe's," there would have been a great number of kids at Christmas without gifts, and goodies. I remember the gift boxes from the "Toronto Star," but there was nothing like getting personal visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus.
Growing up in Regent Park, had great advantanges, we were brethern, we were proud, and many of us still remain friends, after all these years. Not many people can say that.
My father was Paddy, my mother was Ernestine, they have both passed on, as well as my eldest brother Paddy Jr. My other siblings are Michelle, Mary, Danny, Alex and Mike. We lived at 439 Gerrard St. E. (across from the Avion,) and prior to that we lived at 150 River St. Apt. 112.
I remember swimming at Bare Ass Beach, The Gerrard K Club, and their camp was always a welcome getaway. 600 Dundas (boxing ring) The Gym in North Regent, The Hootenanny dances on the east side of Riverdale Park, toboggoning on the west side. Wallers Restaurant at Sackville & Gerrard as well as Blakes Variety. Going to St. Cyrils to bowl at Sackville & Dundas, The Ice Cream trucks. My first job at 14 years old was at the Library at Parliament and Gerrard Sts. Banana Island was there as well. How many times did someone put soap in that fountain?
I will forever be proud of being a "cabbagetowner." I hope to hear from some of you soon, take care everyone. "Thanks for the Memories!" And if you care to, check out the cabbagetownhotline.com, it's free and you do not need to sign up. CHEERS!!!
I too lived in Cabbagetown. My family moved up from N.B. In 1954. First we lived on Bright St, moved to St Paul St.I remember roller skating on the street with the clamp on roller skates and you kept the key around your neck on a string.Made lots of friend there. I had to have heart surgery and since we were not rich people I attended a Health school in the west end. I was 10 yrs old. Been trying to find out about that school as I met lots of other kids there from Regent Park area . Its like its non-existant..It was a catholic school.My best friend at that school was Teresa Burns
she came from a large family also,and when they moved to Regent park I was so jealous as It was much nicer then where I lived.Does anyone know about that health school?
Duke of York, 14 Pembroke St., then Jarvis Collegiate. There
is a hugh apartment building where our house was, the end one
of row houses. My 2 brother and sister and I walked to St.
Lawrence Market on Saturday mornings quite often. I remember
especially the summers, my dad planted morning glories that
climbed up each side of our veranda. During the winter when
we walked to school, the snow was piled high on each side of
Queen Street. It's probably funny, but I think those were the
happiest days of my life. Ann
I would really like to connect with some people from that area and era. Please email me i would love to reminice.
Jim
Went to Park School..(got our shoes from the box in the Kindergarten room where Miss Scott taught.Also got the Star boxes..orange, appled..hat and scarf which we refused to wear as we didn't want anyone to know bcause they were all the same lol Before that we lived at 76 Sydenham St. which is now Shuter... everyone sat out on steps at night all the neighours