Lost watercourses.
Details of Site Location: All three little creeks were located in the area west of the original shoreline fish market in the area of the present St. Lawrence Market.
Boundary History: Each creek begins south of Queen Street and flows south into the harbour, reaching the water at the original shoreline. The routes of the creeks were parallel and at a slight angle from northwest to southeast; however, the angle was not as pronounced as in the case of the city’s larger watercourses.
Current Use of Property: Buildings in the market area north of Front Street.
Historical Description: For some time it was believed that there was only one Market Creek. The confusion lay in the fact that all three did not flow all year. These creeks were, more correctly, freshets (seasonal flows) that formed on consistent routes when the level of precipitation and runoff was sufficient. Among the three, there was a flow of some use during the entire year, as horses bringing goods to market were watered by these creeks. At an unknown date, during the period when buildings were becoming larger and closer together, the creek routes were buried, but a pump was installed. (The pump is believed to exist today inside the walls of the market buildings.) In the first half of the 19th century, all of the surface waters on the mainland and the waters of the harbour were becoming increasingly polluted. Frequent newspaper articles of the period complained about the stench and water quality. It is thought that these three flows were not enclosed in any kind of storm sewer but were simply driven underground where they are believed to continue to flow. Occasionally, Public Works Department excavations south of Front Street give evidence of the continuing flow and its distribution underground.
Simcoe’s own plan for the Town of York (never implemented) shows a bridge over a watercourse close to the shoreline; however, since only one stream is shown, it is not clear which of the three it is. The gully of one of them is evident in an engraving of the fish market by W.H. Bartlett, circa 1810. These streams are among the many that kept the market area very wet and muddy.
Relative Importance: These periodic flows and their duration should not be underrated as important influences on the character of the market area. Instead of being utilized and controlled on the surface, they were driven underground, where they exerted no less influence on the muddiness of Muddy York.
Planning Implications: These creeks should be commemorated, but should never be brought to the surface again. Rather, every effort should be made to trace their now-disturbed courses and to capture the flow in storm sewers, in order to avoid damage and mould in the foundations of buildings in the area.
Reference Sources: Alexander Aitken, Plan of York Harbour (1793); Map of Fortifications, Royal Engineers (1813); James Cane, Toronto City and Liberties (1842).
Acknowledgements: Toronto Reference Library; Archives of Ontario; Maps Project.