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 Sumach Street is a north-south street in the eastern part of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. [1] The street is one of the major streets west of the Don River and is part of a grid of lanes and streets composing Cabbagetown, Regent Park and Corktown neighborhoods.

The street is in two parts;

Sumach Street stands as a testament to the city's history and the resilience of its communities, reflecting the dynamic growth and change that have shaped Toronto over the years.

Sumach Street

Sumach Street at Winchester view South.jpg
Sumach Street at Winchester
Route information
Maintained by City of Toronto government
Length1.9 km (1.2 mi)
Major junctions
South end Eastern Avenue
Major intersections
North endWellesley Street
Location
Country Canada
Province Ontario
Highway system
  • Roads in Toronto
Nearby arterial roads
←  Parliament Street
Sumach Street, Toronto
 River Street →

Toponymy Information

It was named after the Sumac shrubs or trees, a common plant found in the area at the time of its creation (early 19th century). [2]

History Information

The area where Sumach Street is now located was covered by forests and inhabited by Indigenous peoples, primarily the Mississauga of the Credit First Nation. [3]

The Indigenous peoples in the region utilized the land for hunting, fishing, and gathering, living in seasonal camps along the shores of Lake Ontario and the banks of the Don River. [4]

Today’s Corktown neighborhood used to have 3 creeks that meandered across King Street East between Berkeley and Sumach Streets, all likely serving as waterways and fishing grounds for First Nation People. [5]

European settlement in the area began in the late 18th century with the establishment of Fort York in 1793 by the British.

19th century

It wasn't until the 19th century, with the expansion of the city and the development of the Don Vale, Cabbagetown and Corktown neighbourhoods that Sumach Street originated as a result of urban planning efforts, with city officials and developers laying out grids of streets to organize the growing city. During this time, Cabbagetown actually referred to the area south of Gerrard Street, the north side was called Don Vale. [6]

Sumach street is the oldest street name in Corktown, dating back to 1819 when the area was first surveyed. [7]

Until the 1840s, Sumach street’s area was mostly farmland, but Ireland's potato famine was about to change that.

It became home to many Irish immigrants who arrived in 1840s-50s to escape desperation and famine in their homeland. Brick Victorian-style Houses, stately middle-class homes and working-class cottages were built along Sumach. [8]

During this period, Sumach Street was part of the thriving industrial landscape and lined with factories, warehouses, and workers' housing, serving as a hub for manufacturing and trade. Most of the residents found employment at the local or breweries or brickyards. The street was bustling with activity, as workers commuted to their jobs and businesses operated around the clock. [9]

In 1856, the Toronto General Hospital was constructed imon the north side of what was to become Gerrard, between Sackville and Sumach Streets. It was a very grand-white brick building with Mansard roofs. Originally built to accommodate 250 patients, it was expanded repeatedly, acquiring an excellent reputation in the medical world and was a major training facility. [10]

In 1883, the Toronto Women’s Medical College (WMC) was the Canada first medical school for women and opened at 227 Sumach Street through the effort of Emily Stowe.  It moved to a larger building at 291 Sumach Street in 1890 (the building still stands Today). in 1906 when the University of Toronto opened its doors to permit women to study medicine, the WMC at Sumach closed its doors. [11]

In the 1890s, a fundraising drive to build the Riverdale Zoo [12] and in 1899, on Sumach (north side), Riverdale Park West became the home of one of Toronto's first zoos. It housed lions, bears and monkeys (closed in 1974 and replaced by an heritage farm opened in its place and boasts horses, pigs and heritage chickens). [13]

20th century

The 19th century brick houses were not well maintained in this period. [14]

Regent Park was Canada's first social housing complex, built in the 1940s and 1950s and largest public housing communities in Canada. [15]

The nickname “ Cabbagetown” is now applied to the remaining historical which used to correspond to Don Vale (West to Don River, east to Parliament and north to Gerrard Street).

Since 2000

More than a half-century old, the Regent Park projects were aging rapidly and in need of costly repairs. The city government developed a new Regent Park Revitalization Plan  to demolish and rebuild Regent Park over the next many years, with the first phase having started in the fall of 2005. [16]

Sumach Street has been part of the broader revitalization of the Regent Park neighbourhood with efforts to create a more vibrant and inclusive urban environment.

This has involved the redevelopment of housing, the creation of new community facilities, parks, and commercial spaces. Sumach Street continues to evolve, reflecting Toronto's ongoing urban development and the changing needs of its residents.

Sumach Street remains well-connected to the rest of Toronto, with easy access to public transportation, amenities, and employment opportunities. Its history, from its industrial roots to its present-day role in a dynamic urban community, reflects the ongoing evolution of Toronto as a diverse and thriving city.

Public Transit Information

Public transit is at the Sumach’s doorstep for easy travel around Toronto.

Streetcar lines with intermediate stop at Sumach Street [17]

  • 501 Queen / east–west route stretching from Neville Park Loop to Humber Loop
  • 504A King / east-west route stretching from Dundas West station to Distillery Loop
  • 504B King / east-west route stretching from Dufferin Gate Loop to Broadview station
  • 505 Dundas / east-west route stretching from  Dundas West station and Broadview station
  • 506 Carlton / east-west route stretching from  Main Street station and High Park Loop

Bus stations near Sumach Street

Subway line closest to Sumach Street

  • Future Ontario Line (by 2031), closest stop to Sumach Street (Regent Park and Corktown sides) – Corktown Station or Moss Park Station (walking distance)

Bike Share Toronto Stations at Sumach St [18]

Sumach St / Carlton St (Riverdale Farm)

Gerrard St E / Nasmith Ave

Oak St / Sumach St

Dundas St E / Regent Park Blvd

Sumach St / Queen St E

Landmarks Information

Landmarks and notable sites along Sumach from north to south

Landmark Cross street Notes Image
Toronto Necropolis [19] Winchester St Dating back to 1850, one of the city's oldest and most historic cemeteries
Riverdale Farm [20] Winchester St 3-hectare municipally operated farm in the heart of Cabbagetown
The Witch’s House [12] Carlton St Built in 1866 at 384 Sumach, one of the oldest house on Sumach
Spruce Court Co-operative [21] Spruce St Built between 1913 and 1925, model co-operative housing project
Old Toronto General Hospital Gerrard St Built in 1856, remains at the ´Spruce-Sumach-Gerrard’ location for 57 years. It was demolished.
Woman’s Medical College [11] Gerrard St Original site of Women’s College Hospital, Built in 1883 at 289 Sumach, moved in 1935.
Pam McConnell’s Aquatic Center [22] Dundas St Completed in 2012 as part of the Regent Park Revitalization project
Regent Park Athletic Grounds Shuter St Completed in 2015 as part of the Regent Park Revitalization project
Regent Park South Ice Rink Shuter St Rejuvenated in 2015 as part of the Regent Park Revitalization project
Nelson Mandela Park Public School [23] Shuter St On Shuter, east of Sumach, original building created in 1853, one of the 3 first city schools in Toronto.
90 Sumach [24] Queen St Erected in 1956 as a warehouse, it was for decades the CBC's archives, studios, rehearsal spaces and workshops thrived here. in 1998, it was transformed into lofts.
Dominion Brewery [25] Queen St Victorian industrial structure built in 1878, the brewery was active until 1936
Magic Building [26] Queen St Build in 1920 and located at 60 Sumach, originally a warehouse now used as office space. The biulding hosts a 50-foot mural by Elicser Elliott.
JabariElliot Artbox [27] Queen St Situated at Queen-Sumach corner (south east).
Cube House at 1 Sumach St Eastern Avenue Built in 1996 by two Canadian architects inspired by cube homes in the Dutch city of Rotterdam. The three elevated green cubes include a residential unit and two commercial units. With a massive redevelopment plan underway, it might be demolished.
“Sumach Silhouette” Artwork [28] Eastern Avenue Mural sculpture created in 2015 by Canadian Artists Marianne Lovink & Scott Eunson in front of the Inglenook Community High School.

References Information

  1. ^ "Sumach St · Toronto, ON, Canada". Sumach St · Toronto, ON, Canada. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  2. ^ Lemos, Coralina R. (2018). Corktown: The History of a Toronto Neighbourhood and the People Who Made It. Canada. p. 55. ISBN  978-1-7752622-0-6.{{ cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year ( link) CS1 maint: location missing publisher ( link)
  3. ^ "History | The Don River Valley Park". donrivervalleypark.ca. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  4. ^ "Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  5. ^ Lemos, Coraline R. (2018). Corktown: The History of a Toronto Neighbourhood and the People Who Made It. Canada. pp. 13–14. ISBN  978-1-7752622-0-6.{{ cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year ( link) CS1 maint: location missing publisher ( link)
  6. ^ "Don Vale ("Old Cabbagetown")". www.connexions.org. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  7. ^ Lemos, Coralina R. (2018). Corktown: The History of a Toronto Neighbourhood and the People Who Made It. Canada. p. 55. ISBN  978-1-7752622-0-6.{{ cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year ( link) CS1 maint: location missing publisher ( link)
  8. ^ Cruickshank, Tom (2008). Old Toronto Homes. Richmond Hill, Canada: Firefly Books. p. 167. ISBN  978-1-55407-382-5.
  9. ^ Ryerson (2013). "Corktown Heritage Study" (PDF). Corktown Heritage Study. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  10. ^ Coopersmith, Penina (1998). Cabbagetown: The Story of a Victorian Neighbourhood. Canada: James Lorimer. p. 38. ISBN  9781550285796.{{ cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year ( link)
  11. ^ a b "140th Anniversary of Woman's Medical College". Women's College Hospital. 2023-09-14. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  12. ^ a b Coopersmith, Penina (1998). Cabbagetown: The Story of a Victorian Neighbourhood. Canada: James Lorimer. p. 78. ISBN  9781550285796.{{ cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year ( link)
  13. ^ "Learn about the history of Riverdale Farm – Riverdale Farm Toronto". Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  14. ^ "Strolling The Tree-Lined Streets Of Historic Cabbagetown". Urbaneer. 2019-09-18. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  15. ^ "Regent Park Redux: Reinventing Public Housing in Canada". Department of History. 2018-01-22. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  16. ^ University of Toronto (2017). "Regent Park Redux: Reinventing Public Housing in Canada" (PDF). Regent Park Redux: Reinventing Public Housing in Canada. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  17. ^ "Routes & schedules". www.ttc.cahttps. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  18. ^ "Discover our 625 Stations - System Map". Bike Share Toronto. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  19. ^ Lacy, Robyn S. (2018-08-15). "Curious Canadian Cemeteries: The Toronto Necropolis". Spade & the Grave. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  20. ^ "Riverdale Farm Toronto". Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  21. ^ "History – Spruce Court Co-op". Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  22. ^ "Regent Park Aquatic Centre / MJMA". ArchDaily. 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  23. ^ "Nelson Mandela Park Public School > School History". schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  24. ^ The Story of 90 Sumach, retrieved 2024-02-23
  25. ^ "Dominion and Don Breweries". www.lostrivers.ca. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  26. ^ "Moss Park". StrollTO. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  27. ^ "Moss Park". StrollTO. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  28. ^ "Canadian artists to create public art for intersection of Sumach and Eastern | Waterfront Toronto". www.waterfrontoronto.ca. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
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