Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Curious Things at Birchmount and Sheppard



Beside the Tam O'Shanter Golf Course, near Birchmount and Sheppard, is this dilapidated old house. Creepy, no?  There's no road access to this house, by the looks of it.  It's in total disrepair--boarded up windows, caved in roof, and piled up trash.  There's even a door that leads to nowhere.




I have scoured the Internet, but I have no idea why this lonely house is still here. Standing between a golf course and a field, across from Stephen Leacock C.I., this structure is a curious spot. D




These pictures were taken with Kangdi's iPhone. I'd like to go back and take some close-ups--like this door that leads to nowhere.  I guess there was a balcony at some point?  It just seems like this place has such an interesting story. Anyone know?
Posted by Clara Jean at 6:54 PM
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6 comments:

  1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6IG6F6E5Ac

    I think you will really enjoy this.

    ReplyDelete

  2. Passion4Food here to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year. May 2011 bring you lots of happiness and friendship. Have an awesome day with your love ones!!

    jen @ www.passion4food.ca

    ReplyDelete

  4. FYI: When I was a kid (45 years old now) people actually lived in this house. They were farmers who had sold most of their land to the golf course, but still had chickens so they sold eggs in front of the house. They also sold some flowers and potted plants. This would have been approx. 1975.

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  5. This building is right in my neighbourhood and in the summer I cycle past the building on my way to buy groceries. In the summer a local farmer sells corn there, $7/dozen, a little expensive but high quality. The farmer's field is near the Pickering Town line (edge of Scarborough and Pickering) and Steeles Avenue.

    The building is owned by a developer named Birch Mount Park Limited, who wanted to build a 4 storey columbarium for the local Chinese community. A columbarium is like a condo for the cremated ashes of the dead. This proposal was not passed because of community opposition. People thought that during Qingming, when Chinese people honour the dead, there would be a huge parking problem that would clog Birchmount. The developer took his case to the Ontario Municipal Board and lost. Therefore right now there are no plans for the site.

    The door on the second storey is interesting. I have seen barns that have these doors, used for putting wheat into trucks. In Quebec and Alberta I have seen similar second storey doors in houses. These are used in the winter when the snow piles up so high and blocks their front door. They therefore use the second storey door. Today there is not enough snow to justify and use the door.

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  6. @Don Tai
    Oh wow! Thank you for the info. I'm going to go back in the spring and take more pictures.

    And now I can do some more research, as well. I just read that they're thinking of putting in a church... But I'm not sure how that would have less traffic than Qingming...

    I guessed the door was for a balcony, but your guesses seem perhaps a little more legitimate.

    Thanks for the visit!

    ReplyDelete

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