Click on each image for a closer look!
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On Friday, October 1, the final assessment on the plaque locations was carried out at Roundhouse Park by Gordon Lok (City of Toronto), Richard Knobbs (Fontasy Sign & Display) and Derek Boles (TRHA).
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Since the beginning of planning for the Toronto Railway Heritage Centre, it has always been our intention to install a series of interpretive plaques outlining the stories of various historic sites around the park. Some of them (roundhouse, coaling tower, etc.) still exist; others (railway lands, coach yards) are gone. Each plaque contains a textual history as well as three historical images.
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In addition to providing historical information to visitors, the plaques also help bind the huge site together and suggest a logical path through the park from Bremner Blvd. to Don Station. Upon entering the TRHC near the electronic sign out by the Bremner sidewalk, visitors will be greeted by the welcome sign 46″ wide and 96″ tall. The other eleven plaques are 25″ wide and 33″ tall.
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Given that the entire park sits on top of the Convention Centre parking garage and the relatively thin ground cover is criss-crossed with hydro lines, water pipes, etc., determining the final locations has taken longer than expected.
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Moving clockwise from the image at the upper left, we have:

• Map showing locations of entrance sign and plaques.
• Gordon Lok and Richard Knobbs posing with the mounting frame that will soon hold the plaque for the Watchman’s Shanty.
• Plaque for the Watchman’s Shanty.
• Plaque for Railway Lands.

To view a higher resolution readable PDF image of each of the plaques, click on these links – Watchman’s Shanty and Railway Lands. But do note that these are draft versions and there are some minor typographic errors on them.
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Posting and photograph by Derek Boles
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