Parkdale in Pictures: Its Development to 1889

Victor L. Russell is the manager of the City of Toronto Archives.

This is one in the Toronto Public Library Board series of small books on
the history of different neighborhoods in Toronto. Like its
predecessors, this book was co-authored by Barbara Myrvold, a librarian
and local history co-ordinator for the Toronto Public Library Board.

Myrvold and co-author Margaret Laycock begin the book with an essay on
the development of Parkdale from the early 18th century to 1889, the
year the area was annexed to the City of Toronto. This essay chronicles
the emergence of Parkdale as a municipality, and discusses the local
events that led to annexation. Part 2 (“Highlights”) focuses on the
personalities who shaped Parkdale during this period, and on the history
and architecture of its major buildings, institutions, and landmarks.
Included in the book are two useful appendixes on the origins of
Parkdale street names, and a list of elected officials for the years
that it was a separate municipality. Fortunately, the work is well
documented with endnotes and contains a bibliography.

The well-written and informative text is accompanied by more than 50
illustrations, including photographs, maps, drawings, and paintings.
Sidebars add to the information contained in the narrative.

Parkdale in Pictures is a sophisticated work of local history. No doubt
having learned some “tricks of the trade” in her experience with
previous neighborhood studies, Myrvold has produced the best one yet.