Arthur S. Goss (1881-1840), and his legacy of 35,000 Toronto images

Just north of Arthur Goss Lane, at 20 Metcalfe Street,  is the former townhouse of TORONTO’s first city photographer.  For 37 years, Mr. Goss, a Cabbagetowner for most of his life, spent his time photographing day-to-day life in our city.  The accumulated trove now resides in the City Archives, and some of it can be seen online.

PHOTOS – 1) Constructing the Prince Edward Viaduct, July 18, 1917  2) Slum housing in the Ward, site of the City Hall skating rink, 1913;  3) Woodville Avenue Dump, 1914; 4) new bubble drinking fountains, April 13, 1917;  5) Sandwasher, water filtration plant, 1914;  6) inside the Civic Abbatoir, 1914;  7) a tuberculosis patient in a hospital tent, 1912;  and his most famous picture – the Group of Seven artists + Barker Fairley meeting at the Arts and Letters Club on Elm Street, 1920 (left to right – Varley, Jackson, Harris, Fairley, Johnston, Lismer and MacDonald).  CLICK ON IMAGES TO MAKE THEM BIGGER.