The first footage of Toronto ever taken(1904)

The first footage of Toronto ever taken. The Great Fire of April 19th, 1904.
credit: Library & Archives of Canada

[jpt]

Wow! I think I saw the Eglinton Cross Town LRT starting construction in the background.

[bradwalton]

I met a woman back around 1982 who had been born in Toronto on April 19, 1904. Her family called her "the Fire Baby." She worked as a gerontologist in a hospital. She was also a nun.

[blabbinglobster]

I didn't know that film footage of this event existed. Thank you for posting this.

[Glipsnarp]

I do emergency water and sewer in Toronto. I dig up stuff older that this video. Old pharmacy bottles. Horseshoes are everywhere. Old shoes. Coke bottles.
Also near Liberty village there was some sort of by products from munitions factory or something cause 4 feet under ground there is highly toxic, fuming black sludge that seeps out. Burns your skin

[carolbrooks]

My grandfather was born in Toronto in 1890! I wonder if he or his brothers were involved. I also notice the Canada Cycle and Motor sign which brought to mind that he rode a motorcycle as dispatch rider in France in the First World War.

[steelcom]

The standards for electrical wiring were almost non-existent. No one knew the dangers of overloading cables, arcing, uninsulated wires, a lack of grounding and bonding. It was a time bomb waiting to happen

[briangraham]

Lived in Toronto between '84 - '88. It was great time to be there. Some fun places were Madison's, Chicken Deli, Blue Note, Caps, Brunswick House, Horseshoe, Bamboo, Whistling Oyster, etc. The Blue Jays were always in the hunt and a weekend series against Detroit at the CNE was a plus. Thanks for the memories.

[Magdalene]

Imagine all those people without cell phones, tv or internet, going outside to actually do things, living lives where they interacted with others, face-to-face.

[RPRIMICI]

This is very close to where I formerly worked (Sterling Tower - 372 Bay St) at Richmond and Bay. Right in the heart of the city since Old City Hall is just north of it.

[davidgiles]

My grandfather was born in 1888 and would have been 16 when this occurred. Maybe he's in the picture. He lived in the area.

[radar]

That fire was so incredibly devastating. Amazing footage.

[alistersutherland]

Such a terrible loss. The core of Toronto might have been so different today.

[pathologicallyfriendly]

Toronto's population at this time was around 210 000, and Canada's was around 5.5 million, smaller than the GTA today

[jacobrocks]

Wow born in Toronto and had no idea about this massive fire ..recognize the old city hall which is now a court house ..118 years later ..wow ..thanks

[neiladlington]

Something about the primitive photography makes watching this recording of the burning building seem extra horrific.

[carterfifteen]

So odd how countless major cities around the world all experienced these massive destructive fires all within a relatively short time from one another. Almost like something was deliberately being done

[JoeGrow-pjnr]

Every city had a great fire in the 1900’s

[WRXDEMON]

Lol @ 00:11 CCM!!! Wow. They’re one of the older Canadian companies.

[VC-moyg]

Truly amazing, how fabulous, and how my blessed and beautiful Toronto has grown. 🥰

[randomrazr]

"a more civilized time" - obi wan kenobi