EVCco
Senior Member
...that should just about do it.
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Urban Wilderness!
- Thread starter EVCco
- Start date
EVCco
Senior Member
Emery Creek - the extra mile, pt. 1
I had initially only intended to finish off the Toronto stretch of the Humber yesterday. The walk from Summerlea Park to Steeles Ave seemed quite long enough. But another little creek soon appeared in my way. Unnamed, my map showed it heading from the Humber, north through St. Lucie Park, and ending at Lindy Lou Park. The Lucie (Lucy) Lou (Liu) Creek, perhaps? Sadly, no - merely the Emery Creek. But, at merely another half-mile (or so), I figured "what the heck":
As the creek heads under Lanyard Road, at the foot of Lindy Lou (also Lindylou) Park, that appears to be the end of it. But a hunch, a patch of greenspace on my map, north of Finch, compels me on:
Just getting into the area above Finch proves a bit difficult due to an environmental quarantine. But persistance pays off and I manage to find my way to the other side of the fence:
After a good few minutes of fruitless searching through dense underbrush and discarded bicycles I'm nearly ready to head back. But, at last, my hunch is justified and the Emery re-emerges, bigger and better than ever:
The creek forks in two, about a half-mile in, to end in separate outfalls. First, the rocky east branch:
And now, the more subdued west end:
I've now added a whole 'nother mile to my trek - and then some. Not to mention the fact I have to walk all the way back to the Humber now, too. Also getting out of here poses the same problem as getting in...damned fences!
I had initially only intended to finish off the Toronto stretch of the Humber yesterday. The walk from Summerlea Park to Steeles Ave seemed quite long enough. But another little creek soon appeared in my way. Unnamed, my map showed it heading from the Humber, north through St. Lucie Park, and ending at Lindy Lou Park. The Lucie (Lucy) Lou (Liu) Creek, perhaps? Sadly, no - merely the Emery Creek. But, at merely another half-mile (or so), I figured "what the heck":
As the creek heads under Lanyard Road, at the foot of Lindy Lou (also Lindylou) Park, that appears to be the end of it. But a hunch, a patch of greenspace on my map, north of Finch, compels me on:
Just getting into the area above Finch proves a bit difficult due to an environmental quarantine. But persistance pays off and I manage to find my way to the other side of the fence:
After a good few minutes of fruitless searching through dense underbrush and discarded bicycles I'm nearly ready to head back. But, at last, my hunch is justified and the Emery re-emerges, bigger and better than ever:
The creek forks in two, about a half-mile in, to end in separate outfalls. First, the rocky east branch:
And now, the more subdued west end:
I've now added a whole 'nother mile to my trek - and then some. Not to mention the fact I have to walk all the way back to the Humber now, too. Also getting out of here poses the same problem as getting in...damned fences!
EVCco
Senior Member
Humber River - the extra mile, pt. 2
All the way back to the Humber, and Summerlea Park now, to where I last left off on this river - near the West Humber:
Now entering Bluehaven Park:
Continuing through Albion Gardens:
In under Islington, and out under Finch:
Up through Humberview Park:
Panoramic views of the Rexdale skyline greet me in Rowntree Park:
The Humber takes a sharp, eastward bend around Riverside Drive...:
...where I locate the remains of an old bridge (somewhere north of Apted Avenue ?)...
...before continuing along to Steeles:
Typically, Steeles Avenue marks the northern end of the city limits, and thus, my northbound journeys. But, in this instance, Steeles takes an uncharacteristic dip southwards, leaving the municipal boundaries some indeterminate distance ahead. So, once again, I'm forced to go that extra mile - up to the 407, just for good measure - heading first, past the Humber Pumping Station, through the Thackeray Conservation Lands:
I now encounter the CN rail bridge, while appreciating how lacking in infrastructure my last couple of trips have been:
Ending, at last, under the highway in Vaughan - looking back from where I came:
All the way back to the Humber, and Summerlea Park now, to where I last left off on this river - near the West Humber:
Now entering Bluehaven Park:
Continuing through Albion Gardens:
In under Islington, and out under Finch:
Up through Humberview Park:
Panoramic views of the Rexdale skyline greet me in Rowntree Park:
The Humber takes a sharp, eastward bend around Riverside Drive...:
...where I locate the remains of an old bridge (somewhere north of Apted Avenue ?)...
...before continuing along to Steeles:
Typically, Steeles Avenue marks the northern end of the city limits, and thus, my northbound journeys. But, in this instance, Steeles takes an uncharacteristic dip southwards, leaving the municipal boundaries some indeterminate distance ahead. So, once again, I'm forced to go that extra mile - up to the 407, just for good measure - heading first, past the Humber Pumping Station, through the Thackeray Conservation Lands:
I now encounter the CN rail bridge, while appreciating how lacking in infrastructure my last couple of trips have been:
Ending, at last, under the highway in Vaughan - looking back from where I came:
EVCco
Senior Member
...additionally, on the off chance that anyone has been wondering about the "Unnamed Creek" running through Duncanwoods Park, pictured on page 4 of Appendix B to the 2010 Transit City Finch West LRT Project Assessment Environmental Report (http://www.toronto.ca/involved/projects/etobicoke_finch_w_lrt/pdf/epr/appendix_b_part_2.pdf [also, not to be confused with the Duncan Woods Creek, running through Duncan Creek Park]), well, it appears the creek is no longer there...and nor is Duncanwoods Park for that matter (at least, for the time being):
Directly south of Finch, there is little else to suggest the existance of said creek, save a slight gap between Faulkner and Bluehaven Crescents:
It may emerge yet, somewhere in the wooded east of Bluehaven Park. I'll have to re-investigate whenever I get back out that way...perhaps to check out the nearby creek in Humberview Park.
Directly south of Finch, there is little else to suggest the existance of said creek, save a slight gap between Faulkner and Bluehaven Crescents:
It may emerge yet, somewhere in the wooded east of Bluehaven Park. I'll have to re-investigate whenever I get back out that way...perhaps to check out the nearby creek in Humberview Park.
EVCco
Senior Member
Home all day with nothing to do but research. I'm still puzzled by these ruined bridge foundations at the upper end of the Humber...
Can't seem to find any info online about them.
They seem too small to have ever supported anything but a single lane, if that. Maybe just a pedestrian bridge?
The staircase underneath is also strange, assuming its part of the original structure. If there was a span across there wouldn't you just be walking up into the bottom of it?
Here's the 1947 aerial of the general site (Islington & Steeles in the upper right), with no sign of a bridge, and no apparent reason for one either (not even Steeles crosses the Humber yet):
I'm wondering if it was either built earlier, as part of one of the mills in the area, or later as part of the former Riverbank Park cottage community, and then washed away by Hurricane Hazel, along with the rest of the neighbourhood - in which case, it wouldn't have been around very long... Or, if I'm completely of base. Anyone happen to be at the city Archives right now with access to the later scans?
Can't seem to find any info online about them.
They seem too small to have ever supported anything but a single lane, if that. Maybe just a pedestrian bridge?
The staircase underneath is also strange, assuming its part of the original structure. If there was a span across there wouldn't you just be walking up into the bottom of it?
Here's the 1947 aerial of the general site (Islington & Steeles in the upper right), with no sign of a bridge, and no apparent reason for one either (not even Steeles crosses the Humber yet):
I'm wondering if it was either built earlier, as part of one of the mills in the area, or later as part of the former Riverbank Park cottage community, and then washed away by Hurricane Hazel, along with the rest of the neighbourhood - in which case, it wouldn't have been around very long... Or, if I'm completely of base. Anyone happen to be at the city Archives right now with access to the later scans?
mattelderca
Active Member
I was thinking rail, but the stairs are a mystery. I think you may be on track with the Hazel washout.
J T CUNNINGHAM
Senior Member
"I'm wondering if it was either built earlier, as part of one of the mills in the area, or later as part of the former Riverbank Park cottage community "
QUOTE: ECCco.
Just saying, could it have been only that what we see here now was built with no span ever being included, aka "Arrested Development"?
Regards,
J T
QUOTE: ECCco.
Just saying, could it have been only that what we see here now was built with no span ever being included, aka "Arrested Development"?
Regards,
J T
mattelderca
Active Member
Is this the right area?
http://library.mcmaster.ca/maps/airphotos/zoom/1954-1955_437793.htm
Or am I off? I do see a rail line going over just north of the city limit.
Edit: added the next link south,
http://library.mcmaster.ca/maps/airphotos/zoom/1954-1955_436793.htm
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Vaucluse
New Member
Lone Primate
Active Member
It looks to me too substantial for a pedestrian crossing. I think your instincts are right about it being an access for the cottagers. As we can all see all too well, Steeles itself wasn't up to the task of providing access, but the community just to the south was. I was trying to find the shots I took of the plaque I remember from the area but no luck so far. But I think that's the most solid guess. As for the stairs, they couldn't have led anywhere but to the riverbank. I'd say they were for the convenience of bathers... folks who lived to the south on one side and cottagers to the north on the other.
Just guesses, of course.
adma
Superstar
Interurban rail; exactly what I was thinking (it seems to be often the story w/these "mystery bridge foundations")
Lone Primate
Active Member
Doesn't look like it. The maps to be found here seem to suggest that the route was to the east and avoided an unnecessary river crossing there. I'm still persuaded an auto bridge to cottage country is the most likely explanation, particularly given the stairs.
EVCco
Senior Member
Another problem with the rail theory is that the foundations, as I recall, were sort of at the bottom of the whole slope (which you can't really see from the pictures), without really enough room for a rail line to continue anywhere except right into the side of the hill. There's hardly any evidence of anything else around that spot, except a faint trail which is why I thought it might only be a pedestrian bridge. But, as Lone Primate points out, it does seem a little grand for that too.
JT's theory may be the most likely, and the foundations where only the start of bigger plans for the whole landscape which never materialized - though the first aerial mattelderca posted seems to show something...possibly...I think? But its hard to make out.
JT's theory may be the most likely, and the foundations where only the start of bigger plans for the whole landscape which never materialized - though the first aerial mattelderca posted seems to show something...possibly...I think? But its hard to make out.
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Lone Primate
Active Member
I've been to an abandoned campground up in Bolton that once sported an actual private suspension bridge across the Humber; the bracing supports for which are still dug into the earth at either side (though the bridge is long gone; probably sold for the metal content). What you found there doesn't seem too much for me to believe the campers put it up. I don't know much about the cottagers there but I got the impression they were well-heeled and had some kind of formal, organized existence at one point. There is a plaque along the path dedicated to them, as I recall. Your problem is you didn't stick to the trails.
P.S. I took this infrared photo of the Humber in August, 2007, so now I have a reference for looking for the plaque... assuming I had the presence of mind to take a picture of it. But this shot would have been taken just a little downstream of where you found the bridge.
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Lone Primate
Active Member
Incidentally, EV, did you know that this bridge used to be an important road crossing? It was part of Rowntree Road, as was the trail up the far side, and skirted past a substantial mansion about half way up.