Learn a little of Toronto's history as told through its plaques.
The Islington Mosaic Heritage Murals
Photo by Alan L Brown - April 2008
The Village of Islington Business Improvement Area has co-ordinated a collection of murals along Dundas Street West beginning in the west at Kipling Avenue continuing east to Islington Avenue. The first mural, titled "Welcome to Historic Village of Islington" is located on the west wall of 5164 Dundas Street West. It was designed by graphic artist, Peter Lee. The accompanying plaque for this mural says:
Positioned at the western gateway to the Village of Islington Business Improvement Area (BIA), this mural welcomes passersby to our historic community. It also expresses, in graphic form, what organizers are trying to accomplish with the Islington Mosaic heritage murals project. Designed by graphic artist Peter Lee, this mural shows the historic buildings appearing in the BIA's silhouette logo seen on village street signs and banners. The shadowy high-rise buildings represent the present. The road leading to the village is peopled by figures from the past. This mural was painted by lead artist, Jim Bravo, and Etobicoke School of the Arts students, Hannah Reynolds and Tongson Chen. To produce the mural, the design was projected onto the wall, blocked out in crayon and then painted-in with latex paint.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.642974 -79.534246
Photo by Alan L Brown - December 2009
By artist John Kuna 2009, this mural, titled "The Old Swimming Hole", is located west wall of 5126 Dundas St West. The accompanying plaque for this mural says:
This is an artist's conception of the old swimming hole once located on Willow Dale Farm and a fanciful look at the swimwear of earlier times. The 6.5 m x 8.5 m mural was inspired by Mary Appleby's note in Villages of Etobicoke, describing the remains of a mill pond which became a favourite swimming hole for generations of young Islington residents. The mill pond was below what was once a functioning sawmill on Mimico Creek, likely near the little parkette at Burnhamthorpe Road and Burnhamthorpe Park Boulevard, on property now owned by Islington Golf Club. Although there are no known photos of the sawmill, historical interpreters suggest it would have been a wooden structure no more than two stories tall and powered by a water wheel. The swimwear featured in the mural came from actual European swimwear designs from no later than the 1920s.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.644785 -79.532698
Photo by Alan L Brown - April 2008
By artist John Kuna 2007, this mural, titled "Riding the Radials", is located on the east wall of the building at 5110 Dundas Street West. The accompanying plaque for this mural says:
From 1917 to 1931 the old Guelph Radial Line, that ran behind this site, linked communities from Lambton Mills to Guelph. Forerunners of today's electric streetcars, radial trains were so named because they "radiated" from the city centre outwards to neighbouring towns and villages. Long before the construction of provincial highways, radial lines were part of a transportation network that facilitated the integration of communities such as Islington into what is now the Greater Toronto Region. To evoke feelings of nostalgia, artist John Kuna used a painterly style recalling old coloured postcards and turn of the century paintings. Note how the radial masts are painted so as to form part of the adjacent building to convey a sense that the train is presently docked at station before carrying passengers onwards to their destination.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.644785 -79.532698
Photo by Alan L Brown - October 2008
By artist John Kuna 2008, this mural, titled "Harold G. Shipp's 'First High Flier!'", is located on the west wall of the building at 4994 Dundas Street West. The accompanying plaque for this mural says:
In May of 1944 an eighteen-year-old Etobicoke High School student named Harold G. Shipp convinced a pilot, who ferried Lancaster bombers from Toronto to England during the war, to fly over the school's football field and drop cards which could be redeemed for prizes. The stunt was to raise money for bleachers, but it went awry when a wind came up scattering the cards across the Chinese market gardens near Montgomery's Inn. The scene at right shows a football game in heated progress while the massive Lancaster bomber makes its daring low pass over the field, trailing a stream of promotional cards behind it. The scene at left depicts the unsuspecting farmer looking up in disbelief at the shower of colourful paper descending upon his field. Imagine the impending disaster as 600 excited football fans converge on the field to collect their prize cards, trampling the carefully tended cabbages in the process. Mr. Shipp later became a successful Toronto developer. He still has a flair for promotion.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.646626 -79.531059
Photo by Alan L Brown - April 2008
Located on the east wall of 4988 Dundas Street West, this mural, titled "Honouring Islington's Volunteer Fire Brigade", was painted in 2007 by John Kuna. The accompanying plaque for this mural says:
This mural, by artist John Kuna, honours the men of the Islington Volunteer Fire Brigade whose hall was located in this block. Fighting fires, often at great personal risk, was their main purpose; but in the 1940s these men also served their community in a more light hearted fashion. During the winter months they would dam Mimico Creek below T. Montgomery's Inn to create a much used and loved skating rink. Note how the winter mural's design ingeniously incorporates a boarded window in the back of the building, using it as the serving window for the little hut from which volunteers played 'dance' music and dispensed hot chocolate and other refreshments.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.647015 -79.530625
Photo by Alan L Brown - July 2009
Located at 4986 Dundas Street West, just west of the Islington Burying Grounds, this mural, titled "Gordon's Dairy", was painted by John Kuna in 2008. The accompanying plaque for this mural says:
The 3.3 m x 7.3 m mural (at right) depicts Gordon's Dairy, a local landmark once located in this building. The original structure had a yellow-tile front and a lunch counter and diary bar inside. In the 1940s Gordon's Dairy was a popular hang-out for area youth, and the dairy's horse-drawn milk wagons were a familiar sight on Islington streets.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.647764 -79.529858
Photo by Alan L Brown - August 2007
Located at 4984 Dundas Street West, this mural, titled "Islington - The Way We Were, Part II" was painted by John Kuna in 2006. The accompanying plaque for this mural says:
Designed as a companion piece for the mural on the opposite wall, this mural depicts Islington ca 1912. Together they form a unique historical diorama with the first one looking east and this one looking west along Dundas Street. This mural shows the old Islington Hotel and drive shed as well as neighbouring shops then located on the north side of Dundas Street at Burnhamthorpe Road. The Islington Burying Grounds are seen in the distance and in the foreground workers are depicted preparing the road to be paved in the ongoing development of Islington as a thriving community. In 1912 Burnhamthorpe Road was located west of its present location. As shown in the mural, it ran between the Islington Hotel and Clayton's Butcher Shop. The hotel's drive shed stretched across the current intersection which has now been reconfigured to connect Burnhamthorpe Road and Cordova Avenue.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.647244 -79.530464
Photo by Alan L Brown - June 2006
Painted in photographic representational style, this mural, titled "The Way We Were - Islington ca 1900", is part of a unique, historical diorama located at 4972 Dundas Street West. It was painted in 2005 by Toronto artist, John Kuna. The accompanying plaque for this mural says:
Looking east along Dundas Street from Cordova, this mural depicts Islington at the turn of the century. Collaged from images in the photo archives at Montgomery's Inn and posted on etobicokehistorical.com, both the buildings and the people were real. The family shown at left was inspired by figures in a photo by famous Islington photographer, Walter Moorhouse. Hopkins' store was located at 4906 Dundas. The old Wesleyan Methodist Church and manse - which were also seen in our first mural, "Faith of our Fathers" - were across the street.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.647407 -79.530271
Photo by Alan L Brown - July 2009
This mural, titled "Mimico Creek, ca. 1920", is located at 4968 Dundas Street West. It was painted in 2008 by Toronto artist, John Kuna. The accompanying plaque for this mural says:
Mimico Creek was a key factor in attracting settlers to the Islington area, as was Dundas Street itself. Islington Avenue did not extend south of Dundas Street until around 1962. Before that time and before the Shell station was built on the north side of Dundas at Islington, artists gathered on the steps on T. Montgomery's Inn to paint the glorious fall colours. In this mural we see Mimico Creek winding through the valley, framed by sumac, spruce and pine, with Montgomery's Inn shown at right.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.647127 -79.530501
Photo by Alan L Brown - August 2007
Located at 4959 Dundas Street West, is this mural titled "Timeline: Islington Then and Now" by John Kuna, 2006. The accompanying plaque for this mural says:
This mural depicts Dundas Street at three stages in Islington's history. The shops on the right are currently located in this block. The cars in the centre are from the 1950s. The buildings at left are from the early 1900s. At that time, flowering catalpa trees graced the south side of Dundas Street stretching from Mimico Creek to Cordova Avenue. They had been planted by Mr. J.D. Evans and lent a quaint yet exotic feel to the village. Dunn's Store was located on the north east corner of Dundas Street at Burnhamthorpe Crescent. The store sold dry goods, groceries and hardware. It was also Islington's Post Office. That site was later home to Old Mill Donuts and is now the Second Cup.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.647558 -79.529541
Photo by Alan L Brown - December 2009
Located at 4946 Dundas Street West is this mural, titled "Pub with No Beer", by John Kuna, 2009. The accompanying plaque for this mural says:
This mural depicts a scene from the prohibition era (ca. 1928) with a pop truck rounding up empty bottles outside of the old Islington Hotel, which was once a local watering hole. At the time Burnhamthorpe Road was on the west side of the hotel and the hotel's drive-shed stretched across what is now the intersection of Dundas St. West and Burnhamthorpe Road and Cordova Avenue.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.648132 -79.529445
Photo by Alan L Brown - April 2008
Painted in Post Impressionist style, this mural, titled "Briarly - Gone but not forgotten", faces 4937 Dundas Street West. It was painted in 2007 by John Kuna. The accompanying plaque for this mural says:
Also known as the Gunn house, Briarly was built in the 1840s. Originally a frame Regency style cottage built just east of T. Montgomery's Inn, it was redesigned to have an Italianate appearance in the 1850s. From 1970 until 1985, the home was owned by the Montgomery family and their descendants. Although the heritage community lobbied to save the home from demolition, Briarly was demolished by developers in August 1989. Town houses now occupy the site at 4681 Dundas Street West. This mural, by artist John Kuna was designed not only to illustrate a part of Islington's history but also to convey a sense of comfort, peace, home and family. Rather than becoming a theme of mourning and end, it is instead conceived as an image of endurance and renewal.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.647966 -79.529166
Photo by Alan L Brown - December 2009
Painted in 2009, "Faith of Our Fathers, 2", overlooks 4901 Dundas Street West. It was painted in 2009 by John Kuna and replaces the original mural here, "Faith of our Fathers", which you can see below. The accompanying plaque for this mural says:
This mural depicts the history of Islington United Church from its early Wesleyan Methodist days on Dundas Street West to the building of the church now located at 25 Burnhamthorpe Road. As early as 1815 circuit riders, ministers on horseback, rode from hamlet to hamlet attending to the spiritual needs of perhaps 30 rural communities. The first Methodist Church in the village was located at 4946 Dundas. When the congregation outgrew the building, it was sold to the Etobicoke Township. The Township added a red brick facade (shown above) and the building became the Municipal Offices and Police Station. Much altered, it is now the Fox and Fiddle, Precinct. The circuit rider in the mural has the face of Dr. Stewart East who, along with other ministers, as part of the dedication ceremony, rode up the steps of the new church at 25 Burnhampthorpe. This re-enactment created quite a spectacle.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.648940 -79.528377
Photo by Alan L Brown - June 2006
Painted in 2004, Islington's first mural, titled "Faith of our Fathers", was a pilot project painted on plywood panels secured to the tall, thin, wall overlooking 4901 Dundas Street West. It was designed by graphic artist Peter Lee and painted by Islington muralist Olaf Schneider. The mural was removed in 2009. The accompanying plaque for this mural said this:
In the early 1900s, social and religious life in Islington revolved around the old Wesleyan Methodist Church located just east of here. Though the building depicted in this mural has been demolished, part of the parsonage still remains as the shops at 4879 and 4883 Dundas Street West. This was the second Methodist Church in the village. When the congregation outgrew the first building, it was sold to the Etobicoke Township and became the Municipal Offices and Police Station. It is now the Fox 'n Fiddle. From 1885 - 1949, area worshippers met in this building which was renamed Islington United Church in 1925. In 1926 the church's spire was damaged by lightning and replaced with a tower. Today Islington United Church is located at 25 Burnhamthorpe Road.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.648940 -79.528377
Photo by Alan L Brown - October 2008
By artist Sara Collard 2008, this mural, titled "Portraits From Our Past", is located on the west wall of the building at 4884 Dundas Street West. The accompanying plaque for this mural says:
Inspired by old area photos, Manitoba artist Sarah Collard has created a gallery effect on this 6 m by 10 m wall. The mural is actually four separate works, each depicting a "slice of life" from our village's past. These include: "Apple Packers", Bigham family orchards ca. 1917; "Islington's First Car", a 1917 Chevrolet owned by the Appleby family; "Sunday Afternoon", a scene showing famous Islington photographer, Walter Moorhouse's own family on their veranda at 34 MacPherson Ave (now Aberfoyle); and the "Village Shoemaker", Mr. Nelson, as he appeared early in the 20th century.
Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.649669 -79.528270
Here are the comments for this page.
Posted June 16, 2009
It is fascinating to get a peek into life as it was at various times in the history of Islington Village. I attempt to connect the historic views, activities, building and road locations with our present time and uses. Apart from appreciating the history of and reviving the neighbourhood, these murals are just plain enjoyable to look at.
Cheryl Mullock
Posted December 26, 2008
Hello. As someone who spent many wonderful hours at the Central Park Skating Rink in the 1940s ans 1950s, I am wondering if anyone could help me locate a photograph of the rink with the hut built by the Kingsway Kiwanis Club in 1946. I am also looking for a set of the Max Boag and the Skaters Band played at this popular up until 1957. Please email at bmartin42@cogeco.ca. Thank you!
Posted December 1, 2008
The way you have displayed Islington's murals, with the plaques and little maps is just excellent. Your photos are beautiful, too. You have gone to a lot of trouble to promote Toronto's emerging Mural Town. Thank you very much for your interest.
Linda Pedersen for the Islington Mosaic, Village of Islington - Village of Murals
Posted September 13, 2008
I love them! The murals are an outstanding addition to the streescape, gracing a jumble of undeserving old retail strip malls and new condo development. Here's hoping that their presence will elevate the area and encourage stores and new businesses that better deserve this artistic installation (while maintaining the buildings that contain the murals!). It deserves to be more widely appreciated.
Kudos to the local business community that supports this, and to John Kuna for imaginative and impressive murals. It is on our tour for all visitors.
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