Discover Toronto's history as told through its plaques

2004 - Now in our 13th Year - 2017

To see what's new on this site, you can visit the Home Page

Looking at this page on a smartphone?
For best viewing, hold your phone in Landscape mode (Horizontal)

Straightening the Don, 1890

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted September, 2006

With the Dundas Street East bridge in the distance, the Don River flows straight south. I took this photo standing on the north side of the west end of the Queen Street Bridge. There's a plaque on the northeast corner of the bridge erected in 2003 by the Riverdale Historical Society which says:

Coordinates: 43.658077 -79.353476

Prior to 1890 the Don River meandered through an unspoiled valley and was popular for swimming, boating, fishing and skating.The straightened channel, known as the "Don Improvement", was built to prevent flooding and permit shipping and railway access to downtown. Although for a short time pleasure boats cruised up the river to Winchester Street, industrial growth, and later the Don Valley Parkway, discouraged recreational use of the Don.

Related webpages
Don River
Don Valley Parkway

More Heritage Toronto/Riverdale Historical Society plaques
Allen's Danforth Theatre 1919
Cranfield House 1902
Dingman's Hall (later Broadview Hotel) 1891
The Don Jail 1859-1864
The Don River Bridge, 1803
Dr. Garon Cleland House 1906
Frederick Hubbard House 1909
Owen Staples House and Studio 1904
Poulton Block 1885
Riverdale Courts 1913
The Scadding Cabin, 1794
St. Matthew's Anglican Church 1890
St. Matthew's Lawn Bowling Clubhouse
Thomas Hogarth House circa 1875
William Peyton Hubbard 1842-1935

More
Rivers and Waterways

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

> Posted August 15, 2011
Hi. I used to live in the Broadview/Gerrard area and just recently started to do my own research. I lived on Mount Stephen Street (formerly Close St.) and often wondered why the street started at Number 19. I noticed old maps show a curving street which ran from Broadview to Gerrard. Today part of this street is Blackburn Ave. Also, the original street runs at a different angle than the present day Blackburn. Did the alterations to the Don change Close Street? This area is full of early Toronto history. When I was a child (pre expressway) we spent hours in the valley and lamented that it was perfect except for the dirty water of the Don River. Thanks for a very good article!
Kathy Wilson [email protected]

Here's where you can sent me a comment for this page.

Note: Your email address will be posted at the end of your comment so others can respond to you unless you request otherwise.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours (usually much sooner).

Note: As soon as I have posted your comment, a reply to your email will be sent informing you.

To send me your comment, click [email protected].

Thanks
Webmaster

Note: If you wish to send me a personal email, click here.