Sewage pumping plant or top-security prison?

Photo by Barry Wallace

The new sewage pumping station on the west side of Hwy. 27, at the south end of Nobleton has three strands of barbed wire atop the surrounding chain-link fence.   I don't recall seeing this security treatment on installations of this type elsewhere in the villages.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace 

Scenes from the day after Boxing Day

Where is this new installation by the Township of King?   Answer at bottom of this blog*.

One of the many tributaries in King City of the East Humber River ~ west side of Martin St.

The Laskay Hall has a new sign, courtesy of the township...overdue, but much appreciated.

Snow fence, seen above on the south townline has been under-utilized so far this winter.

Il Giardino Toscano Italian restaurant (above) is the dining room that replaced Daniel's of Nobleton, alongtime favourite eatery of many King Township diners.   Many years earlier, this building was the home of the Nobleton Press printing shop and the King Township Advertiser weekly newspaper and the York-Simcoe Farm Weekly newspaper.   Prior to that, before the 1960s, the building housed a very successful apiary.

Above is one of two gargoyles that flank a driveway on the 7th Concession of King, north of the 15th Sideroad.   This creature appears to have a nasty pain in its tummy.

*The picture at top of this blog is part of the detail of the new municipal pergola on the the north-west corner of the King Road and Keele Street intersection in King City.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Snowball turkeys safe until next spring

                                                                                                                                                                                 Photo by Barry Wallace

Pictured above is part of a group of 30 Wild Turkeys my wife and I spotted on Boxing Day, just east of the hamlet of Snowball, at the Aurora Sideroad and Dufferin Street.   They appeared to be gleaning post-harvest, remnant grain seeds in a farm field, close to nearby woods.   King Township is part of Ontario hunting zone 78C, which also includes Aurora, Newmarket, Whitchurch-Stouffville and northern Richmond Hill (Oak Ridges/Wilcox Lake).   The spring season in zone 78c lasted for 37 days in 2014, between April 25 and May 31.   The fall season lasted only 13 days, between October 14 and 26.   Last year, in zone 78c, 8,272 turkeys were reported taken in the spring season, while 240 turkeys were taken in the fall season.   The spring season allowed a maximum of two birds to be taken and just one bird in the fall season.   It really doesn't show in the photo above, but these lucky survivor birds looked sleek, handsome and healthy, as they warily strutted about. 

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Open water...lots of geese

                                                                                                                  Photo by Barry Wallace

Mild temperatures over Christmas opened up the ice on parts of Lake Jonda at Seneca College on Dufferin Street.   Between 400 and 500 Canada Geese seized the opportunity to make a stopover on the open water, as well as on the ice.   The old Eaton boathouse is seen in the background as it slowly sinks into the water; just one of a number of original structures on the 75-year-old Eaton estate falling into disrepair.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace 

Christmas on King horse farm

 Photos by Barry Wallace

These two gals, with their festive holiday ribbons, on the horse farm at the south-west corner of Jane Street and Highway 9, were spotted a few hours before Christmas eve.   Is it just me or does anyone else see what looks like a skunk lying atop the mane of the horse below?   Very interesting.   Best Christmas wishes everyone.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

What then of Eaton Hall?

 Photo by Barry Wallace

Above is a fairly recent photograph of Eaton Hall on the grounds of Seneca College's King Campus. Below is a photo of Eaton Hall shortly after it was built in the late 1930s.   I have been told recently that the Eaton Hall building is no longer an active part of the day-to-day functioning of Seneca College: that it is closed and not open to the public.   It last served as a conference centre.   Apparently, the famous King Township landmark is falling into disrepair and is the subject of much speculation as to its future.   It seems there are many large question marks as to its future.   Surely it is inconceivable that this Canadian landmark could cease to exist.   This French-style chateau is now 75 years old, but must still be structurally sound and could last well into the next century and beyond. The municipality of King Township could never alone afford to rejuvenate this historic building, but could certainly lead a coming-together of other levels of government, business interests, charitable foundations, private support, and of course Seneca itself, to preserve a key part of the township's cultural and community history.   Who shall step forward?   

Photo: Cairns family collection

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

New Dufferin Street bridge open in Ansnorveldt

The new bridge
over the canal at the intersection of Dufferin Street
and King Street, at the south
end of Andsnorveldt has been opened, after several
months of detours for many residents.   View below is
looking north.

Photos by Barry Wallace

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Coppa's is coming

Photo by Barry Wallace

It's been almost six months that the King Sentinel published the news that Coppa's Fresh Market was to be the largest tenant in the new King's Ridge Marketplace at King Road and Dufferin Street.   Not much news has been heard since then but the sign pictured above was erected this week.   The family-owned and operated Coppa's store will be a large 50,000 sq. ft. undertaking, but Coppa's president John Louie Coppa still describes it as a "market-style grocery store".   The nearest Coppa's store to King City is on Rutherford Road, south of Maple.   The Coppa family has been in the grocery store business for 50 years, so if experience translates to success, then King City and Coppa's will likely be a good mix.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace 

Continuous construction at King's Ridge Marketplace

Photo by Barry Wallace

Construction is unabated at the King's Ridge Marketplace in King City.   In the photo above, workers and a crane were at work this week, installing false dormers on part of the roof of the newest section of the development, along the Dufferin Street frontage.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace 

Thaw hard on snowmen

Photo by Barry Wallace

Banner Lane ~ King City

Light snow was falling on Wednesday, but temperatures above freezing for a few days had already taken a toll on neighbourhood snowmen in King Township.   The one above looks like it could do with some repairs.   Or maybe a new snowman might be fun to make.   After all, it's not that there will be any shortage of the essential ingredient for a while.

Please comment if you wish   

Barry Wallace

Great way to finish the year

Photo by Barry Wallace

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

31 years of Christmas trees at Temperanceville

Photo by Barry Wallace

If you've lived in the King City/Temperanceville area for any length of time, you probably bought a Christmas tree at the tree lot on the northwest corner of the King Road and Bathurst Street.   This the 31st year that Christmas trees have been for sale on this spot.   For 24 years, it was Ivan who sold the trees here.   After Ivan passed away seven years ago and his niece Dana, (pictured above on the left with one of her helpers) took over the business.   The King City Lions Club has been a recipient of a portion of the monies from the sale each tree for many years.

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace  

Finally...under a dollar!

99.9 cents a litre in King City

It took a while but it finally has happened.   The price of a litre of gasoline in King City dropped to under 1 dollar this weekend.   Not much under a dollar (99.9 cents), but lower than has been seen in a few years.   The lower price did not produce line-ups at the pumps on a chilly Sunday morning, but it gave one a warm feeling just to drive by and see the magic numbers.

Photos by Barry Wallace

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

After the storm...

Photo by Barry Wallace

16th Sideroad between Jane and Keele

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Warren Road ~ King City

                                                                             Photo by Barry Wallace

Christmas lights on Maple tree trunk

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Beavers take over fishing hole

 Photos by Barry Wallace

This is a popular King Township fishing hole on Pumphouse Rd, just south of Bridge Street (old Yonge Street / Hwy.11), east of Bradford.   I often stop here looking for birds for my 'BarrytheBirder' blogsite.   There were no birds to speak of on Tuesday but there were three beavers (one adult and two youngsters) busily stripping bark and branches from old 'Creek Willows' that had fallen into the west branch of the Holland River.   I watched them for about a half hour as they went about their work, totally ignoring me and others on the opposite side of the river.   The pictures were taken using a 70-300 mm lens, which wasn't quite enough lens, but I can't seem to bring myself to pay a king's ransom for a bigger lens. 
   

A youngster follows the adult out of the water up onto the riverbank.

 The beaver were climbing up fallen branches to a height of almost 3.5 metres.

 The youngsters (above) kept moving to what they thought were better spots.

 Whenever the adult (above) found a spot to its liking, it seemed content to stay put.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Day and night on Dufferin Street

                                                                                             Photos by Barry Wallace

Former Eversley Presbyterian Church

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Near the East Humber River...

 Photo by Barry Wallace

Hurry no man's cattle

- Early 19th century proverb

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Pizza Nova opens in King's Ridge Marketplace

Photo by Barry Wallace

Another fast-food outlet opens its doors in King City

Pizza Nova is the newest tenant in the King's Ridge Marketplace on the northwest quandrant of the King Road and Dufferin Street intersection. 

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace  

King Township Historical Society and Villanova College present special concert at Marylake

And now, and ever after,

Their fame will grow with years;

They came with songs and laughter

We leave them here with tears.

Frederick G. Scott, Senior Chaplain

1st Canadian Division, B.E.F.

1914 Christmas Truce Concert

The King Township Historical Society and Villanova College Concert Band combined to present an evening concert which featured a University of Toronto Faculty of Music vocal quartet (pictured below), on Friday evening, December 5.   In addition to 16 musical selections, the evening featured recitations of poignant letters from the trenches.   Two of the evenings musical selections were O Tannenbaum and Auld Lang Syne and the audience of 300 sang along to both songs using lyrics printed in their programmes  

Pictured left to right:  Will Ford (tenor), Nicholas Borg (baritone), 
Melissa Peiou (mezzo soprano) and Amanda Cogan (soprano) 

Pictured above is Grant Armitage with one of two banjos that were played by his great-great-uncle Joseph Howe, while entertaining World War I troops.   Grant is a guitarist who only took up the banjo a month before the Marylake concert.   He started the musical portion of the evening with a traditional rendition of 'It's a Long Way to Tipperary'.   The military uniform that Grant wore during his presentation was a 75-year-old original outfit worn by a relative of King Township historian, Gavin Watt.

While many people were recognized for their contributions to the successful concert, special thanks were extended to historical society member, Diana Armitage, for her efforts and leadership in producing a moving and memorable evening of music and historical sentiment. 

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

No horse blankets needed here

Photos by Barry Wallace

19th Sideroad  near Thornton Bales Conservation Area

A bit of snow and freezing temperatures do not mean these Clydesdale horses need blankets, like their thoroughbred cousins.   Most of the world's biggest and best draft horses had their origins in places with temperate climates, but which included harsh and cold winters.   The beauties above seemed only too aware that one way to keep warm was to keep eating.   The 13 horses (including a mule) are part of the new Dog Tales/Horse Haven rescue facility.   For more information about this remarkable undertaking, go to www.dogtales.ca. 

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

45 years ago King City was "raped"

Photo by Barry Wallace

Watching the fellow in the photograph above, earlier this week, I couldn't help but remember the traumatic part of the village's history, back in the late '60s and early '70s, when Keele Street was widened to four lanes.   Apart from a  new dramatic, dispiriting deluge of transient traffic through the village, the cruelest cut was the cutting down of mature, 100-year-old maple trees, on both sides of Keele Street, from the centre of the village to the southern end of the older part of the village.   After the trees were cut down, property frontages were altered and lowered to such an extent that stone retaining walls were extensively installed, where required.   For the last few years, many of the walls have required remedial work.   That is what was taking place in the photo above.   45 years ago, in response to citizens' appeals against the road widening and stonework retaining walls, a York County official was quoted as saying: "You'll love the new road...we've done this before against opposition and the road becomes so popular we eventually have to take it out of the village and re-route it".   The quote is to be found in the booklet opposing the road widening published under the leadership of the inspired John Belknap who had his business premises and his home on Keele Street South.   He and his dedicated band of protesters were defeated of course and it was John Belknap who claimed King City had been "raped".   And now, after 45 years, yes, commuters and transients love the widened Keele Street (and later the King Road), as they pass through to other places.   And there has been a clamour by villagers for taking the widened roads out of the village but after decades of pleas the Region of York refers to the possibility as decades away, still.   A quote by the American writer , Philip Wylie, was included in the "raped" booklet.   It says: "Nothing nature created is allowed to stand in the way of any artifact of man, however slow and marvellous was the former in becoming, however quick and rude the latter".

Please comment if you wish.
BtheB     

A wee taste of Scottish links

                                                                                                                                         Photo by Barry Wallace

King's Riding Golf Club

Bathurst Street ~ near Aurora

"In scoring, every course has its 'par', as the score an expert would be expected to make on it (The word is interpreted by cynics as an acronym of 'pretty average really'.)

- Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable

Please comment if you wish.

BtheB

St. Bernard on duty

                                                                                          Photo by Barry Wallace

I was driving through Kingcross Estates, between Keele and Jane Streets, on the weekend and drove by a house with a magnificent St. Bernard posed on the front lawn.   So handsome was this lounging beauty, that for a moment I thought it was a lawn statue.   I quickly knew better and turned the Jeep around, rolled down the window, and fumbled with my camera to capture a photo of this splendid-looking beast.   I hesitated a second or two and by that time the dog was up, staring me down, barking and heading toward me.   It was tied up, of course.   Oh well, I didn't get a great portrait shot but I did get a picture.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Nails in 2014 ~ eggs in 1956

Photo by Barry Wallace

The building on the north side of the King Road, directly opposite Fisher Street, in the middle of King City, appears to have a new business about to open there.   The signs for "Spa di da Nails"  went up this past weekend.   I wish this new venture every success, but so far know very little about it.   I can tell a story about this building from almost 60 years ago, back in 1956.   I was a young teenager who had been living in King City for less than two years.   On Hallowe'en of my second year in the village I was out and about with a couple of new friends.   At one point we passed by the building above, which was a restaurant then and operated by a fellow who everyone knew as a "real character".   The fellow was standing on the front porch of the building with a basket dangling from one hand. My friends and I, on the south side of the King Road (in front of the old Baptist church) hollered over: "Shell out, shell out, or we'll break your windows inside out!"   I don't recall ever hearing "Trick or treat" back then.   The next thing my friends and I heard was the diner operator calling out to us and reaching into his basket for what we thought were Hallowe'en treats.   He threw the treats across the street to us but it wasn't candy - it was raw eggs in the shell!   He laughed like a madman while we stumbled about covered in gooey egg yolks and whites.   We were momentarily dumbfounded but soon took off down King Road toward the four corners before the second and third round of eggs found their mark.   We weren't the only young fellows who got 'egged' that night.   For the next couple of days, no matter how much we denied it, we were notorious for having been 'egg-bombed'.   My memory is a little foggy after all those years, but I don't recall anyone ever retaliating against that "real character" restauranteur.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace 

First of December Trees

                                                                                                                                    Photos by Barry Wallace
Cawthra Mulock Nature Reserve
Bathurst Street ~ on the moraine

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace