Leaside and its Aerodrome

[r937]

EDIT: Oops, I may have posted this earlier!

not a problem, always a joy to revisit old leaside

that map is from the toronto world newspaper in 1918, and was printed in jane pitfield's leaside book

also, that racetrack is not "the" thorncliffe racetrack, which was built in the early 1920s

 

[brewster]

Finally found a photo of the Leaside Thorncliff Ski Jump. ---- https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...41132104.59461.256041347799190&type=1&theater

 

[Goldie]

Finally found a photo of the Leaside Thorncliff Ski Jump. ---- https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...41132104.59461.256041347799190&type=1&theater

Excellent - that's certainly a rare image!

I'm trying to imagine the location of that hill.

The bridge in far-background is a clue.

 

[r937]

Finally found a photo of the Leaside Thorncliff Ski Jump. ---- https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...41132104.59461.256041347799190&type=1&theater

that is so awesome!!

i know exactly where that is, it's between the 3rd and 4th holes on the e.t.seton park disc golf course

if you look at the runoff area of the jump, it extends out onto a "tongue" of land where the west don river makes a big curve

approximately here using geohack

the above link lets you choose multiple mapping services, i personally like flashearth for the aerial view, and bing map to see the bend in the river

that tongue of land is completely overgrown today, but i've been in there (it's a bit difficult to get to, but not impossible) and i have pictures

no sign of the ski jump's remnants, though

 

[r937]

I'm trying to imagine the location of that hill.

let me help you out...

in this post of yours the "tongue" of land that was the ski jump's run-out area is clearly visible across the river on the far side, straight ahead... in the middle picture, you can see the jump on the side of the hill as the white area clear of trees... in the third picture, you can see the bend in the river and the overgrowth behind it even back then

 

[mattelderca]

let me help you out...

in this post of yours the "tongue" of land that was the ski jump's run-out area is clearly visible across the river on the far side, straight ahead... in the middle picture, you can see the jump on the side of the hill as the white area clear of trees... in the third picture, you can see the bend in the river and the overgrowth behind it even back then

Rudy's right on, the clue for me was the three (what I suspect are) hydro lines crossing the picture. The first lines crossed just south of the science centre.
So the ski slope would be between them and the rail bridge, basically just south of the end of Wicksteed, across from the archery range. Very cool!

 

[brewster]

Thanks all , I knew you guys would verify this. Some of the peeps over at V.T. think this might be the Don Valley Ski Club but they never had a jump there. It would be kind of the same view if you were looking south from Lawrence to the railway bridge sans ski jump.

 

[Goldie]

Yes, thanks. I clearly understand the location now.

It's amazing that such a wonderful activity was being held in the "wilds" of the Don Valley in 1930.

Although, that's relatively close to the Thorncliffe Racetrack.

 

[Goldie]

The cut on the hillside for the ski jump is still visible in this 1947 aerial.

 

[brewster]

That must be the road and parking lot for the ski hill Goldie. I found a couple more photos of the ski jump, the site is devoted to Don Valley Ski Club but I think they have it wrong. Scroll down a bit and click on "Old Times" ---- http://www.ontarioabandonedplaces.com/upload/wiki.asp?entry=2481

 

[Goldie]

Thanks, brewster. Those are great historical documents.

There's also a nice film-clip of skiing at the now-abandoned Don Valley Ski Club site (immediately E. of DVP at Lawrence):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYUWejmDWAU

 

[r937]

wicksteed business park

the wicksteed business park, 201-209 wicksteed avenue at leslie, starts to take shape

photo taken yesterday from the railway tracks, looking northwest, "scenic" condos in the background

just to the right would be the location of the cold storage fire mentioned several pages back in this thread (http://www.thestar.com/news/2007/02/01/3_firefighters_injured_in_leaside_blaze.html)

also, apropos of nothing, if anybody is interested in pilfering a few railway spikes in great condition --

 

[r937]

p.s. i was on my way to the end of wicksteed avenue to take pictures of the location of the thorncliffe ski jump

i have it located fairly precisely, although once you reach there, it's terribly anti-climactic

holler if you want to go there yourself and i'll post them

 

[Goldie]

p.s. i was on my way to the end of wicksteed avenue to take pictures of the location of the thorncliffe ski jump

i have it located fairly precisely, although once you reach there, it's terribly anti-climactic

holler if you want to go there yourself and i'll post them

Does anything remain of the ski-jump structure itself?

 

[r937]

Does anything remain of the ski-jump structure itself?

there are some rotting timbers but they could easily be from something else

also many railway ties, as there used to be a spur line that went right to the edge of the ravine wall (a "tip" perhaps)