Beneath our feet lies a secret a hidden bridge. The Crawford Street Bridge plaque marks a spot of engineering ingenuity. It speaks of a time when Garrison Creek flowed freely.
Let’s journey back to the late 19th century. The area was developing fast. Crawford Street needed a way to cross the Garrison Creek ravine. So in 1884 a wooden bridge was erected. It was a practical solution for the time.
But as Toronto grew so did its ambitions. Enter R.C. Harris Commissioner of Works. Harris was a visionary. He is the man also responsible for the Bloor Street Viaduct. In the early 1910s Harris decided the wooden bridge needed an upgrade.
Between 1914 and 1915 the Crawford Street Bridge was reborn. It was a graceful triple-span concrete structure. Its design showed Harris’s flair for dramatic public architecture. The bridge’s spans railings and lampposts added elegance to the area.
Garrison Creek became more polluted over time. By the 1880s it was channeled underground into a brick sewer. In the 1960s the ravine was filled with earth. This earth came from the subway excavation. The Crawford Street Bridge was buried. It was hidden from view but not destroyed.
Today the Crawford Street Bridge lies beneath Trinity Bellwoods Park. The park is a popular spot for recreation. Few people know a bridge rests intact just below the surface. The original sidewalks and roadbed were rebuilt in 2004. The remainder of the bridge still exists.
The Crawford Street Bridge shares design features with the Prince Edward Viaduct. It is a testament to early 20th-century engineering. The bridge allowed residents to cross the valley from north of Lobb Avenue to south of Dundas Street West.
The Crawford Street Bridge now lies silent. Only the plaque and sidewalk markers reveal its presence. These markers were added in 2008. They serve as a reminder of what lies beneath.
Imagine what it must have been like to walk across the Crawford Street Bridge in its heyday. The ravine views would have been beautiful. The sound of Garrison Creek flowing below. Today we can only imagine. The bridge is a hidden gem a secret of Toronto’s past.
So next time you are in Trinity Bellwoods Park take a moment to reflect. Think of the Crawford Street Bridge buried beneath. It is a reminder that there is often more to a place than meets the eye. The bridge stands as a symbol of Toronto’s ever-changing landscape.