THIS appraisal of the lot of the colored population of Toronto in 1908 presents a fairly positive and upbeat portrait, but it is clear nonetheless that the “negro” of a century ago faced genuine discrimination in this city, with many doors closed in his face. The era was one in which the vast British-descended Anglo-Saxon…
From The Toronto Star Weekly, May 16, 1914 That well-known Toronto residence occupying the northeasterly corner of Jarvis street and Wellesley crescent, and formerly occupled by Mrs. Treble-Massey, was recently sold to Thos. W. Watkins, long prominent in Hamilton departmental store connections. The large structure and its beautiful grounds went for a good round sum,…
Increase of Jewish Citizens Astounding From The Toronto Star Weekly, February 24, 1912 Is the problem—for a problem there assuredly is—in connection with Toronto’s Ghetto sufficiently realized by Torontonians in general? Ten years ago the Jewish population in the whole of Ontario only numbered just over five thousand people. To-day there are something like twenty…
Special to The Star by Staff Reporter, Oakville, March 1, 1930 The Ku Klux Klan resorted to direct action for the first time in Canada’s history here last night, when 75 white-hooded figures invaded the, town, and, after burning a fiery cross on Main St., removed a white girl from the home of her negro…
From The Canadian Jewish News, December 2, 1960 Beirut, Lebanon – The turbulent Arab world was shaken by a new controversy this week over – of all people – that “dangerous Zionist” Elizabeth Taylor. The United Arab Republic, leader in the unrelenting Arab assault against the state of Israel, was painted as a culprit for…
by Ben Lappin (from Commentary, 1955) Spadina Avenue, the main street of the needle trades in Toronto, looks very much the same as it did ten, twenty, thirty years ago. The same kind of old-fashioned haggling still goes on between the employers and the handful of tense harassed business agents – former pressers, operators, and…
From the Toronto Telegram, Sept. 1 1931 As it looks today:
From the Jewish Virtual Library (Encyclopedia Judaica) Rafah (Ar. Rafaḥ; Heb. Rafi’ah) is a town near the Mediterranean coast at the southern end of Gaza where it borders with Egypt. Rafah is first mentioned in an inscription of the pharoah Seti I (c. 1300 B.C.E.) as Rph; it also appears in other Egyptian sources, in…
From the Globe, October 27, 1902 A Centre of History: Frank Yeigh Conducts a Farewell Pilgrimage through old Parliament Buildings A farewell tour of inspection of the old Parliament buildings, now in process of dissolution, was paid by the Canadian Club on Saturday afternoon under the guidance of Mr. Frank Yeigh. Probably 400 persons, including many…
The extraordinary story of Eli Hyman first came to my attention with the following notice that appeared in the Toronto Daily Star of December 20, 1902: * * * WILL BE BURIED SUNDAY Rabbi Jacobs Will Conduct the Funeral from Holy Blossom Synagogue The funeral of the late Eli Hyman, the Jewish miser who died in…
