Bombs in Liberty Village

January 19, 2025

Author

Insider Toronto
January 19, 2025

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Bombs in Liberty Village

Bombs stored on Liberty Street, looking east from Dufferin Street. 1915.
Many of the factories produced armaments, bombs, and weapons during both World Wars.

Munitions workers line up for last pay, southeast corner of King & Dufferin streets in 1918

During World War I and World War II, the John Inglis Company operated in Liberty Village. The company manufactured shells and shell forgings during the First World War.

A really interesting fact is that the John Inglis Company producers 60% of the global output of Bren Light Machine Guns during the Second World War. Here are some pictures:

Lord Halifax watching female war workers at John Inglis Co., Ltd. in 1944

100,000th Bren gun ceremony, John Inglis Co., Ltd. in 1943

Although the photo below was not taken in Liberty Village, it shows you Toronto’s involvement to aid the war effort.

The "East Toronto bomb fields" near Ashbridges Bay in 1916.

ANNOUNCING A NEW SECTION: MUST READS
Toronto: Then and Now

If you’re fascinated by Toronto’s history, Toronto: Then and Now by Doug Taylor is a must-read. I love this book and keep it on my desk at work. Even though I bought it in 2018, I still flip through the pages!

This book pairs stunning vintage photos with their modern counterparts, showcasing how the city has evolved over time.

My copy of Toronto Then and Now. I keep this in my office.

RARE TORONTO FACTS
Three Inventions Created In Toronto

  1. The rubber whoopee cushion was invented in the 1930s by the JEM Rubber Co. in Toronto. It was deemed too vulgar and would therefore never sell. JEM then offered the idea to the Johnson Smith Company, which sold it with great success.

  2. The modern day Sphynx cat is actually a Canadian breed and was first bred in Toronto in the 1960s! It was originally called the Canadian Hairless.

  3. Pablum was invented in Toronto by pediatric doctors at the Hospital for Sick Children

VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Evolution of Toronto from 1900 - 1921

I found this video last week. Posted by Evo Of, the creator shows the evolution of Toronto using old and new video footage. The historic footage of Toronto in the early 1900s is fascinating.

Here is the link:
Click here to watch