I cannot count the number of times that, during my downtown wanderings, I have wondered why a certain street was thus named. Now I can cross Croft St. off my list thanks to the stunning and surprisingly informative mural in this wide alley, which I believe was done via a partnership between the City and the Harbourfront Community Centre. Heritage Toronto has contributed a lovely standing plaque, reminiscent of museums and art galleries everywhere. Together, the mural and the plaque tell the story of the worst fire in Toronto history, and its only fatality: John Croft.











These murals are win-win: they beautify our alleyways, teach us about Toronto history and encourage City-community centre parterships which allow youths to express themselves creatively. It saddens me that many business owners put this type of urban art in the same category as 'tagging', and thus refuse to have anything to do with it. More urban murals please!

1. Hi Liza;

   You might be interested in Leonard Wise and Allan Gould’s book, Toronto Street Names: An Illustrated Guide to their Origins (Firefly, 2000). I picked up my copy at Type Books on Queen near Ossington a few weeks ago. It (both the book at Type Books) is a great place to begin a search for local history at street level.

   The book’s entry for Croft Street:

   “This street commemorates the life of John Croft (1866-1904) a part-time dynamiter who was killed in an accident after the great fire of April 19-20, 1904. The worst fire in the history of Toronto broke out downtown, at 58 Wellington St., just west of Bay. By the time it was fully extinguished by the combined efforts of 250 firemen nie hours later, the fire had destroyed 123 buildings, obliterated 139 businesses, and put 5,000 people out of work. Croft volunteered to help blow up the ruins of a building on Front St. On May 4, after only two charges out of three detonated, he waited for a few minutes and then attempted to defuse it. The dynamite exploded in his face and he died the next morning of his injuries.”

   Very nice pictures!

   Posted by Amy Lavender Harris  on  04/28  at  07:49 AM

2. Thanks Amy. I’ve been meaning to check out Type Books, so this should give me a kick in the butt to get me to go!

   Posted by  on  04/28  at  12:39 PM

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