This church was originally non-denominational when it was constructed in 1880. Built on a lot donated by John Foreman, it was to be both a union meeting hall, and place of worship for the farmers and woodsmen in Bear Cave.
When I arrived at this place, my expectations were low. I had checked it out on Street View, and it appeared that everything was boarded up pretty tight. Still, I wanted to have a look just the same.
As I understand it, this place has been closed since at least 2000. Certainly, it appears from the satellite imagery on Google Earth that it has been some time.
This mine has apparently had several incarnations over time. The ore body was first staked in 1930 by L.O. Hedlund. Several organizations obtained options to the property over the next few years, but did little with it, and let their options lapse.
This facility began operation as a TTC streetcarhouse in 1921. In 1954, it was converted to a bus garage as it served until closure in 2002 when it was replaced by another, larger facility.
This was intended to allow TTC streetcars to run the length of Queen Street, but keep them underground, thereby reducing traffic. It was to run from Trinity Park in the west to Carlaw Avenue in the east.
The Bay Lower station was opened in February, 1966, as part of the University Y subway line. It was built directly underneath the known and still-used Bay Street subway station.
In 1958, it was decided that a nuclear shelter to protect the seniors of the Canadian Government would be built. In addition, several other such shelters would be built around the country to aid in dealing with nuclear emergency and rebuilding. Construction of CFS Carp, the largest facility, began in 1959 in an abandoned gravel pit that was found to have an underground water spring.
When I arrived, I was immediately taken by the commanding position the church held atop a fairly high hill surrounded by grave markers. As I walked up the hill, I wondered how the town's older worshipers might have made it up.
The Don Jail was designed by architect William Thomas in 1852. The city purchased 117 acres of land outside of city limits in 1856, and construction began in October of 1859.
