cover shot c1890 by Frank Micklethwaite – Toronto Archives
Toronto. The cover shot for issue 26-5 is shown at left. The original was taken by Frank Micklethwaite around 1890 when the area was the business district of Toronto. For the cover shot this time, editor Lansdale devotes a full page discussion repeating the image and adding two very recent [spring 2002] ones (George Dunbar and Mike Robinson) with one taken using the very first commercial technique [Daguerreotype] with modern chemistry (the shot by Dr Robinson).
Bob begins his lengthier article on the cover shot like this: “The cross-roads at Toronto’s Front, Wellington and Church streets have seen dramatic changes over the years, but one thing that seems constant is the Flat Iron building which has been a delight to photographers for a century.
“The bottom photo is the earliest and was taken by Frank Micklethwaite ca. 1890 to capture the street action of the wholesale stores and warehouses of the area. A carter hawls his heavy crate along the dirt road, passing the horse drawn street-cars.
“Our attention is drawn to the three story brick building in the centre, known at that time as The Coffin Block since it was likened to the end of a coffin. Originally a portion of the building served as the booking office and terminus for the stage lines that connected Toronto with cities and towns to the east and the west.
“It was the hub of downtown Toronto. Adequate train connections changed that and the Dominion Telegraph Company assumed occupancy for many years. It was the perfect location to serve the business district.” …
Members read all of Bob’s article and viewed the accompanying photos in the issue 26-5 pdf file on the free members-only DVD/memory stick. Not a member? Joining is a snap – look above and at right under ‘Membership’ to see the ways to join. Questions? Send them to member@phsc.ca.
