ROMwalks

Monthly Archive: December ROMw

The first Church at York and the War of 1812

Posted: August 15, 2012 - 11:28 , by royal
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Written by Paul Vaculik, ROMwalks volunteer

The first Church at York (later renamed to St. James) was built in 1807 by soldiers of the British garrison. The church and its rector, the Reverend Dr. John Strachan, became central to events of the War of 1812.

ROM Walk: Sculpture and the City

Posted: July 30, 2012 - 13:41 , by royal
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By Valerie Fairclough, ROMwalks volunteer

ROM Walk: Queen’s Park Circle

Posted: July 23, 2012 - 16:11 , by royal
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By Bruce Salvatore, ROM Walks, Department of Museum Volunteers

Queen’s Park, located in central Toronto, was opened in 1860 and dedicated by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) to his mother, Queen Victoria. Brimming with history, this ROM walk uncovers the controversy that surrounded awarding a contract to the building the legislature to an American architect.

St. James’ Cemetery ROMwalks

Posted: July 3, 2012 - 09:13 , by royal
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St. James’ Cemetery, opened at the corner of Parliament and Bloor Streets in 1844, is the eternal resting place of many of the prominent families of York and Toronto.  Monuments and mausoleums are engraved with the names Jarvis, Ridout, Gooderham, Cawthra, Baldwin and Osler among others. Stories of success and scandal abound.

Historic South Rosedale Artist Studio

Posted: June 29, 2012 - 13:47 , by royal
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Submitted by Regina Virgo, Department of Museum Volunteers

On our ROMwalk tour of the western section of South Rosedale, we’ll descend into the Rosedale Ravine via Park Road, originally a corduroy road constructed by Sheriff William Botsford Jarvis to make the trip to Rosedale more convenient and facilitate sales of his Rose Park subdivision lots.

Discovering Hidden Treasures in the heart of Toronto

Posted: June 13, 2012 - 09:27 , by royal
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Getting to and from work and home can be hectic.  Most of us use TTC or drive, and in doing so we miss much of what cyclists or pedestrians see clearly every day.  Did you know, for example, that a herd of “bunny dogs” romp on the boulevard at Wellington and John?  Or that Glenn Gould is amongst us, and invites us to join him on a bench to watch the world go by?  Where is Toronto’s newest wonder, created in China from 22 tons of stainless steel, and what message does it convey??

The ABCs of Rosedale

Posted: May 8, 2012 - 11:15 , by royal
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By Regina Virgo, ROMWalk Volunteer

Did you know that South Rosedale is a Heritage Conservation District (HCD)? It is protected because its buildings are considered to be historically or culturally significant and require special care and attention to ensure that they are conserved. The application for the HCD designation was due, in part, to the loss of a number ofRosedalehomes to demolition or unsympathetic alterations.

Every building in South Rosedalehas been evaluated and given a rating.

A Historic Defense of Toronto’s Morals

Posted: April 30, 2012 - 09:02 , by royal
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Submitted by Virginia Van Vliet, Volunteer with ROM Walks

How could this building – the Spadina Gardens Apartments – ruin the morals of Toronto?

ROMWalks: Coming soon to a neighbourhood near you!

Posted: June 24, 2011 - 17:06 , by royal
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Every time you turn a corner in Toronto, you discover another venerable stone building resplendent with arches, turrets, gables, or statues perched in a niche. Some are nestled between the encroaching skyscrapers of the banking district, others sit proudly on their original estate. The heritage houses, churches, government and university buildings, even the industrial areas, are still brimming with rich history – all have fascinating stories to tell of life in Toronto’s past.