Archaeological site, marine history.
Details of Site Location: On the original shoreline at the foot of York Street.
PDM: TBA
Boundary History: The wharf began modestly but grew over time to serve as a major wharf.
Current Use of Property: University Avenue and its York Street extension.
Historical Description: Richard Tinning was born in Cumberland, England, in 1801. When he came to Canada in 1832 he went first to Brampton, coming to Toronto afterwards. In 1834, he had a contract to clear College Avenue (now University Avenue) of trees. John Ross Robertson reported that Tinning built his wharf in 1836, but another source gives the date as 1831. Tinning established a lumberyard at the foot of Bay Street and acquired other shoreline properties, where he set up a lumberyard, a storage yard, and two or three houses. In 1840, He moved to York Street’s east side, where he had a lease for 42 years on a tract of land. This seems to be the better date for the wharf’s construction. On the shoreline he also built a steam sawmill and several houses near the wharf. When Richard Tinning died in 1858, his businesses were taken over by his sons, Richard and Thomas, who continued to run the wharf. Thomas became interested in life-saving, which was a dangerous occupation in those years. A Harbour Commissioners’ Report of 1872 states that Thomas has gone to New York to purchase a new boat, made of metal 20 feet long, with airtight tubes under the seats. That year, the boat arrived in October and was moored at Tinning’s Wharf. His rescue crew was made up of volunteers, and performed truly heroic work. It was many years later that paid professional rescuers were hired by the city. The wharf’s important roles came to an end in 1886 when the CPR purchased and demolished it.
Relative Importance: Tinning’s Wharf, apart from its commercial uses, represents the very beginnings of water safety and rescue programs on the waterfront.
Planning Implications: The wharf site offers little or no opportunity for retrieval of archaeological evidence but should be monitored during change because of its marine and railway history. The Harbour Police or Police Museum or Harbour Commissioners should mount an exhibit about early rescue methods and equipment and acknowledge the role played by the Tinnings and their wharf. On the south side of Front Street at York, a plaque should be mounted, or even a series of murals on the walls of the underpass.
Reference Sources: City of Toronto Archives; Cane’s map (1842); Miles’ Atlas (1878); Goad’s Atlas (1884).
Acknowledgements: Maps Project.