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Location DB > Canada > Ontario > Toronto > Don Valley Brickworks
 Name
Don Valley Brickworks
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by Avatar-X on 7/31/2003 2:22 PM
last modified by simmorill on 5/21/2009 2:16 PM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled by its creator as Public, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
A really old brick factory. If you go downtown Toronto, almost every brick building built before 1980 will be made of bricks from this place.
 Basic Information
Type: Building
Status: both abandoned and renovated in use sections
Accessibility: Usually easy, occasionally moderate
Recommendation: check it out if you're nearby
 Physical Information
Address
Bayview Street
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Owner:
  • See a map of this location
  •  Hazards
  • asbestos
  • rust
  • water
  • air quality
  • Security is now on site.
  •  Interesting Features
    Crazy catwalks, huge kilns, machinery, piles of bricks left behind from the closing date.
     Security Measures
  • fences
  • welded doors
  • wooden boarding
  •  Historical Dates
    Built: 1890
    Closed: 1982
     Required Equipment
  • flashlight
  •  Recommended Equipment
    Breathing Mask, Gloves, Long Pants / Sleeves, Steel toe & steel shank footware
     History
    Notable here is the single, last remaining, chimney that says "Valley" on it. There was once four chimneys clearly identifying this location as, each word on it's respective chimney, "Don Valley Brick Works".
    --
    http://en.wikipedi...Valley_Brick_Works
    The Don Valley Brick Works is a former quarry and industrial site located in the Don River valley in Toronto, Ontario. Currently the buildings sit mostly unused while the quarry has been converted into a city park which includes a series of naturalized ponds. The Don Valley Brick Works operated for nearly 100 years and provided bricks used to construct many well-known Toronto landmarks, such as Casa Loma, Osgoode Hall, Massey Hall, and the Ontario Legislature. The buildings are currently undergoing restoration, courtesy of Evergreen, a national charity dedicated to restoring nature in urban environments.

    The wiki has lots more history of the DVBW. Definitely an interesting read.

    During the Depression, a "hobo jungle" appeared along the Lower Don. By 1931, 300 unemployed men were living in makeshift shacks on the riverbank. Two hundred more found shelter at the Brick Works, where the company's general manager condoned their stay, even warding off authorities. The men slept in cooling brick kilns -- or "hot flops."

    (from "A separate peace for city's outcasts", National Post)
     Media Coverage
    http://www.thestar.com/article/535172

    Ryerson documentary: http://www.youtube...atch?v=3J8JEw6Q-b0

    http://www.thestar...ews/article/163503
     Future Plans
    It's a historical site and that isn't likely to be changed anytime soon.

    (May/2004)

    We ran in to some organizers from Evergreen yesterday who were attending a planning/restoration meeting at the Brickworks - and one rep told me they have plans to restore and renovate the place in to some sort of horticultural exhibit site. He was somewhat vague on details, but I checked out their website and judging by the big names on their Board of Directors...they have clout. I'd give his story some credibility.

    --Edit by yokes--
    I spoke with a guy who volunteered with Evergreen regarding the plans for the site. While I can't vouch for the accuracy of his info, here are some highlights:
    -No buildings will be torn down
    -Only one small new building will be built
    -The Gardiner Centre for Ceramics will setup shop and give workshops/lessons
    -The new Jamie Kennedy restaurant will be primarily for servicing the banquet facilities
    -The main brick kiln warehouse will have its roof removed, and will generally be tidied up/made safer.. but that's about it for the structure. Gardens will be created to service the restaurant. In the winter, ice skating paths will be created to skate a circuit through the building.
    -Not sure what the plan is for the "drag line" building.

    A new drop-in visitors centre has opened that is staffed on weekends (located in one of the previously renovated buildings, closest to the parking lot).

    --Another edit by yokes--
    Spoke with another Evergreen person. They've updated the master plan again.. the kiln warehouse roof is staying on and the ice skating paths are gone.
     Stories
    Model Shoot @ The Brickworks
    Sun, Jun 24th, 2007
    posted by CopySix
    DIRECTIONS
    Fri, Jan 26th, 2007
    posted by Yehoshua


    Add your own story
     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    Trip 1
    Sat, Mar 22nd, 2003
    posted by Avatar-X
    48 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Trip 2
    Sat, Apr 19th, 2003
    posted by Avatar-X
    34 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    The Brickworks - June, 2002
    Sun, Jun 22nd, 2003
    posted by Ferret
    30 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    April 21st 2004
    Thu, Apr 22nd, 2004
    posted by Angel of the Damned
    54 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    BW a la Jono
    Sun, Aug 22nd, 2004
    posted by Jono
    29 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Exterior @ Night
    Mon, Aug 23rd, 2004
    posted by oCtAnE
    13 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Two Month Countdown
    Sun, Nov 7th, 2004
    posted by Guy With Hat
    51 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Winter Exteriors
    Mon, Dec 20th, 2004
    posted by lopix
    45 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Historical Photos
    Tue, Feb 8th, 2005
    posted by sigma
    1 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Wildlife
    Sat, Jun 4th, 2005
    posted by lopix
    2 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Two Trips Together
    Wed, Aug 3rd, 2005
    posted by lopix
    15 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Brickworks w/ Jupiter & Quantum-X
    Tue, Aug 16th, 2005
    posted by jonoid
    11 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Yet Another Visit
    Sat, Oct 8th, 2005
    posted by lopix
    30 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Organized outing, Oct 9/05
    Sun, Oct 9th, 2005
    posted by oldtimer
    20 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Organized outing, Oct 15/05
    Sat, Oct 15th, 2005
    posted by oldtimer
    16 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Organized outing, Nov 19/05
    Sat, Nov 19th, 2005
    posted by oldtimer
    8 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Nov 19 - more
    Mon, Nov 21st, 2005
    posted by yokes
    4 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Frozen details
    Mon, Dec 19th, 2005
    posted by yokes
    3 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Quarry in 1977, 1982 Plus Building Ages
    Tue, Jan 17th, 2006
    posted by yokes
    3 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    mutantMandias July 2005
    Mon, Jan 23rd, 2006
    posted by MutantMandias
    19 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Bricked In
    Sat, Apr 8th, 2006
    posted by Gazoo
    6 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Don Valley Brickworks
    Sat, May 27th, 2006
    posted by 350D
    23 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Redrum
    Tue, Sep 5th, 2006
    posted by Hardware
    9 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    2 of my fav photos
    Sun, Oct 8th, 2006
    posted by rz350
    2 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Renderings from Evergreen Master Plan
    Sat, Oct 14th, 2006
    posted by yokes
    4 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Sept 29 2006
    Thu, Nov 2nd, 2006
    posted by Shr-eddie
    9 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    popping my UER cherry
    Thu, Nov 2nd, 2006
    posted by stripes
    10 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    the day boffo took me to brickworks because "i had to see it"!
    Sun, Dec 31st, 2006
    posted by ElectricalFire
    10 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Ballfreezingly Cold Day
    Thu, Jan 25th, 2007
    posted by Yehoshua
    13 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Short Snow shoot - Feb 17
    Tue, Feb 20th, 2007
    posted by Shr-eddie
    10 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    17mm of Brickworks
    Sat, Mar 17th, 2007
    posted by 350D
    14 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Brickworks
    Sun, Mar 18th, 2007
    posted by whats left of the psych
    15 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    She's a Brick *house
    Mon, May 21st, 2007
    posted by phrenzee
    24 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Historical site plans
    Sat, Nov 3rd, 2007
    posted by yokes
    4 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Fall Day at the Brickworks
    Sun, Oct 19th, 2008
    posted by rob.i.am
    8 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    T.O trip
    Fri, Feb 27th, 2009
    posted by Dexplorer
    13 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Vapula's trip to the DVB (finally!)
    Thu, Mar 26th, 2009
    posted by vapula
    20 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Photo Gallery Overload!
    Thu, Aug 20th, 2009
    posted by hilite
    5 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Late 2013 visit.
    Wed, Feb 26th, 2014
    posted by Wong Guy
    22 pictures
     


    Add your own photos

    Mark all galleries as Seen
     Panoramas

    On top of kilns
    Sat, Jul 2nd, 2005
    posted by Avatar-X


    North Building
    Sat, Jul 2nd, 2005
    posted by Avatar-X


    Middle Building
    Sat, Jul 2nd, 2005
    posted by Avatar-X


    Roof Thing
    Sat, Jul 2nd, 2005
    posted by Avatar-X


    On top of kilns 360
    Sun, May 7th, 2006
    posted by Boffo


    another panorama
    Tue, Jul 10th, 2007
    posted by hedd


    and another
    Tue, Jul 10th, 2007
    posted by hedd


    view
    Wed, Mar 3rd, 2004
    posted by Avatar-X


    roof
    Wed, Mar 3rd, 2004
    posted by Avatar-X


    wide
    Wed, Mar 3rd, 2004
    posted by Avatar-X
     Web Links
    Pictures July 2005 : http://www.abandon...ks-toronto/IPP.htm

    Evergreen Final Master Plan:
    http://evergreen.ca/rethinkspace/?p=100

    Archer's Photos (no need to add another gallery for these):
    http://www.locusin...php?page=donvalley

    AOTU's Photos
    http://www.aotu.ca...ngs/dv-brickworks/
     Contribute

    Edit this Location
     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

    Category Rating
    Photography 8 / 10
    Coolness 7 / 10
    Content Quality 7 / 10
     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Avatar-X on 3/25/2021 1:43 AM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Mar 25 21 at 1:43, Avatar-X validated this location
  • on Mar 25 21 at 1:43, Avatar-X made this location public
  • on Aug 4 14 at 19:31, Mike Dijital validated this location
  • on Aug 4 14 at 16:10, EatsTooMuchJam deleted 7 pictures from gallery Blast Patter
  • on Feb 26 14 at 17:33, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Feb 26 14 at 16:09, Wong Guy added some pictures to a gallery
  • on Feb 26 14 at 16:08, Wong Guy added some pictures to a gallery
  • on Feb 26 14 at 16:07, Wong Guy added some pictures to a gallery
  • on Feb 26 14 at 15:55, Wong Guy deleted picture 367062 from gallery Late 2013 visit.
  • on Feb 26 14 at 15:47, Wong Guy deleted picture 367061 from gallery Late 2013 visit.
  •  Forum Threads about this Location
    New Thread
     SubjectStarted ByRepliesViewsLast Post
    You must log in for this feature to work.Flashpointyokes56441/26/2012 6:30 PM by oldtimer
    You must log in for this feature to work.Movie shoot preparationyokes34963/20/2010 2:26 AM by yokes
    You must log in for this feature to work.Coming up - final resedign plansyokes035211/9/2007 7:34 PM by yokes
    You must log in for this feature to work.Age of buildingsyokes043510/18/2006 1:53 PM by yokes
    You must log in for this feature to work.Future Plans for the BrickWorksMaximusNT45953/24/2006 7:16 PM by yokes
    You must log in for this feature to work.Brickworks boarded upGuy With Hat139355/7/2006 7:15 PM by Boffo
    You must log in for this feature to work.Recent trip to the BrickworksPouch88193/22/2004 4:56 AM by parrish
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