Preston Springs Hotel by Stan White, c1996
Toronto. Various photographers have chosen to pick popular city locations which were photographed many decades ago, and show what they look like today given roughly the same field of view, etc.
In our journal issue 22-1, the late Stan White chose to compare stereo views “then and now”. The example here is the “Preston Springs Hotel”, just a bit west of the city. In his article titled, “Then and Now”, Stan begins, “Many people think that history finished the day they were born. It comes as surprise to an old man to find that the young consider him history. Many of us see our short sojourn through life as though from a railway station looking back down the tracks of time.
“We should be thinking of ourselves as passengers on a train speeding into the future at the same speed it is leaving the past behind – a train whose passengers are feverishly making history.
“It behooves all historical societies not to become s0 involved in the past that they have no time for the present, for the present is the history of the future. We live in a young society. In Ontario, even if we include the aboriginal tapestry, there is little tangible pictorial, historical evidence that goes back more than 250 years. Perhaps a little more or a little less in other parts of Canada.”
Members can read Stan’s thought provoking article in the issue 22-1 pdf file on the members-only free DVD which contains the first 40 volumes of “Photographic Canadiana” including an index of all articles (the index is in various formats). Those not a member at present can follow the instructions above (paying by cheque, etc.) or at right (paying by credit card or PayPal account). Questions? Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca. PS: Help us out, please indicate whether your membership is NEW or a RENEWAL. Enjoy!
