Imagine living through the late 19th century and
trying to keep up with changing technology! Now, we think it’s a challenge to
have our smart phone out of date when the latest model comes out, but
Some things were probably easy to adopt, such as plumbing.
The City of Toronto had a public water system in place as
early as 1872, but many homes in the city were not connected to it. Some
residents still used well water or shared an outdoor city water faucet with
neighbours. Backyard privies were still commonplace, and when they leaked or
overflowed, they contaminated water in nearby wells. Some houses had no toilet
facilities at all and residents simply threw the contents of their chamber pots
into street gutters or their yard. (Ew!)
The first two medical officers of health, Dr. William
Canniff and Dr. Charles Sheard, understood that many diseases can be
transmitted by bacteria-contaminated water. They had a strong influence on the
development of a clean water supply and wastewater disposal system for Toronto.
Both doctors wanted wells and privies eliminated, and all buildings connected
to new city water mains and sewers.
By 1900, most of this work was completed, improving living
conditions for many people.
This was a fantastic development. Except so much of the
downtown area was already built! Imagine trying to hook up this new system to
an established house/neighborhood?
What about electricity?
Toronto emerged from the shadows thanks to the pioneering
efforts of its first electricity company and its leading light, J. J. Wright.
Electricity was rare in the late 1870s, but it wasn't a
total novelty in Toronto - it had been employed years earlier for sending
telegraphs and powering telephone lines. Without a generator or a central
supply network, the messaging companies, including the Toronto Telephone
Despatch Co., the producers of the city's first phone book, relied on
simple batteries.
A few years later, in 1881, John Joseph Wright built the
first Canadian-made generator in a spare room at his father-in-law's box
factory. Wright installed his generator near King and Yonge and sold the
piercing light of the early bulbs to Eaton's department store and a handful of
other local businesses keen to appear technologically advanced. In doing so,
Wright became the first person to generate and sell electricity commercially in
Toronto.
Providing light to the city became a competitive business as
various companies vied for contracts to light the streets. As electricity
became more common in residences, there also became available household “High-tech”
products for the ‘families that kept no servants,’ as the company advertised.
Things such as electric irons, toasters, waffle irons, coffee urns, cooking
ranges, and vacuum cleaners.
Read more about how this type of thing affected people in my
latest book, Torn in Toronto.
Could love be the
greatest adventure of all?
Caitlyn Doherty wanted more adventure than her proper life
in upper class Toronto allowed. It took a struggle against her parents’
restrictive views for her to be able to accept a position as telephone
operator. She wanted to experience more than just finding a rich husband to
marry.
Connor Dalton was too busy overcoming his childhood of poverty
by becoming a fabulously wealthy businessman to even consider starting a
family. But he feels so drawn to his telephone operator, it puts him in a very
awkward position.
When Caitlyn’s mother pushes her toward Connor’s business
rival, Connor and Caitlyn must both decide what they value most.
If you like sweet, swoony love stories set in the
adventurous, late 19th century, then you’ll enjoy every minute of
reading Torn in Toronto.
Get it on Amazon - click here.
Wendy, what a fascinating account of technological developments in Toronto! Thanks for sharing your research. I visited Toronto for only a few hours several years ago and was awestruck by the city. I'd love to go back and stay longer someday.
ReplyDelete