Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Architecture

Have You Noticed, The Landmark Crane In Aurora Is Gone

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sun, 05 May 2013 00:43:24 +0000

The famous landmark crane that was standing on The Ridgewood condominium construction site on the John West Way is now gone.

The crane was with us for a while and if you paid attention that crane was visible from few spots in Aurora. The St. John’s sideroad, Bayview Street and Industrial Parkway are just few places the crane was visible.

Partial Crane Left

I have been tracking progress of this building since the foundation. Since the crane is gone now, one can assume that this is the height of the building. The glass windows and doors are now being added, and at night lights are on. It used to be the crane that was lit up before.

The other day I was lucky enough to see departure of the crane sections. I didn’t notice anything at first. Funny how it goes, it was after few snaps that I realized that the crane was missing, but I was fortunate to arrive and to see what was left of the crane.

Taking Crane Parts Away

In addition, visiting this site many times, I encountered few interesting incidences like lifting some major concrete walls, lifting portable toilets and pumping concrete from the concrete truck right across the building. What can I say, I like construction sites.

Just in case you missed the crane, here are some pictures I took last winter – Winter-y Evening Drive Near John West Way, Construction Site & Year 2012 In Review.

This will be probably the biggest yet condominium in Aurora, if I am not mistaken.

Wide Load

And below is an evening shot of one of the building faces I took around nine o’clock after photo shooting the Aurora Art Show at the Town Hall on Friday.

At night, Installing Windows

Drive Through Town of Aurora Streets, In Black & White For Change

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 21:11:02 +0000

We have been stranded in Aurora, more like in the house. It is not even cold outside, but the influenza got us and since New Year most of the time we have been staying home. Doctor’s visits and x-ray appointments were only things we went out for.

Gabriel’s Cafe, Yonge Street, Aurora Downtown

Aurora United Church, Yonge Street, Town of Aurora, Ontario

We are all good now. Matthew is finishing up his second round of antibiotic. Of all of us he got hit the most that resulted in pneumonia. Last Monday I rushed him to the doctors office as he developed chicken pox like rush. Doctor didn’t agree that it was chicken pox, but he didn’t ruled out.

Apparently, something I didn’t know, but children not supposed to get chicken pox now days because they are vaccinated. But they still do, I have seen it.

Poplar Villa, Yonge Street, Town of Aurora

Sunrise Senior Living, Town of Aurora, Ontario

Today I asked for a drive around Aurora. I needed fresh air and so the rest of us, but we couldn’t keep Matthew in the cold air too much so walk was out of question. Our path was improvised, we didn’t anticipated, just making unexpected turns starting with Yonge Street and heading South.

We took unexpected turn on Brookland Avenue, somehow merged onto Fairway Drive, then to Murray Drive and ended up on Kennedy Street.

Kennedy Street is a interesting street, mixed with old and new houses, and some empty lots.

Well, I already been driving on Kennedy Street few times last summer, but never made a turn on Temperance Street. We did today.

When I met with seniors at the Hollandview Trail Retirement Community I found out that Jean Baker-Pearce once used to live there, and apparently there is a log house hidden inside one of the houses. There is lot of history on this street of which I am not aware of.

Temperance Street, Town of Aurora, Ontario

Temperance Street runs parallel to the Yonge Street that means you get to see the back of all the buildings that face Yonge Street. Interesting views and they do remind me downtown like Toronto.

Temperance Street, Town of Aurora, Ontario

We decided to end our trip when we headed towards Wellington Street. I have seen it before, but never paid attention – the barn. I must return and find out more, or may be someone can share a story.

The Barn, Wellington Street, Town of Aurora

And when I snapped my last picture of the barn someone was really anxious to get home, so we did. Turned North on Yonge Street and headed home, just like the biker.

The Biker, Bossa Nova, Yonge Street, Downtown Aurora

Hope you enjoyed my black and white photography. The day was kind of dark and moody so color photography just didn’t go this time. All these are shots from the car behind the window, so if you see any reflection there and there, no worry no ghost was following us.

Art At The Manor 2013, Put Your Creativity To Test

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 05:58:14 +0000

So I heard – Art at the Manor 2013, an upcoming opportunity for artists of all mediums, an opportunity for expression. So I got an idea. Perhaps this may be a good time that I try something new with my photography just here on my blog while talking about this great opportunity.

I have seen it others do it, but I didn’t want to break the rule for my photo journal blog. Digital art is fun, I have done it before and since I don’t know how to use a real paint brush, I still have the opportunity to mess with the pixels on the screen.

Hillary House, National Historic Site, A Sketch

Well, if you an artist and love the challenge – Art at the Manor 2013 presented by the Aurora Historical Society is just for you (check the their website for more details). I got excited about the range of categories included (Oils & Acrylics, Textile, Watercolour, Encaustic, Drawing/Illustration, Printmaking, Photography, Time-Based/Video, Digital Media, Mixed Media, Sculpture etc).

A real fun project to be involve in. Unfortunately, timing for me didn’t work out this year as we have been battling flu season and poor Matthew ended up with pneumonia this time. I am also getting more web development projects to work on and more photo projects around the town.

However, it is not too late for you to get involve, and let me tell you – you don’t have to be an artist. This is a great opportunity to test your creativity and evolve. We all have it somewhere hidden and at some point we should let out to the surface.

Hillary House, Barn, National Historic Site, Town of Aurora

Well, here are some of my digital enhancements – Hillary House converted to a digital sketch and the barn turned to black and white and playing with contrast. I kind of like that idea so I think I may try to introduce a bit of that type of art here on my blog.

Sometimes I feel like I photographed everything in Aurora, but that is only feeling, because I have not seen everything yet. I have a feeling that my photo journey will be taking forever here. Window of opportunities – endless.

Window, Town Park, Town of Aurora

Well, hope you liked the window above. I let you guess which building this window belongs to. Small clue – taken at the Town Park.

Perhaps this is a great opportunity to mention the Hillary House Ball event that happened back in the October. I think I never mentioned it here yet, but I had an opportunity to showcase some of my photography – a big panel photos, about 10 of them, were displayed at the event at the DiNardo’s The Mansion.

However, I would like to give a credit to the person who took time to present them. Whoever did it was brilliant. Note the window photo and the door of the Hillary House behind stage where the band played. I recall just staring at it. It was a neat idea because of the size of the photo it felt like someone could easily walk in or walk out through that door, or peek through the window. Well done.

Hillary House Ball, Photo Panels, October 2012

Hillary House, Panel Photo, Fall, National Historic Site, Town of Aurora

Winter-y Evening Drive Near John West Way, Construction Site & Year 2012 In Review

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 03:47:01 +0000

I enjoy photographing everything and to extract some of the things from everything are the night shots. However, it all depends what you take picture of. Note, I am still practicing. No tripod just using very high ISO.

The Ridgewood, John West Way, Town of Aurora

Few years ago I was following a fellow photographer from US and he took these amazing photos of the construction sites. I was hoping one day that I will have an opportunity to do so.

Well I have two here in the Town of Aurora and one of them is the condominium construction site (The Ridgewood) on the John West Way right across the Hollandview Trail Retirement Community.

The Ridgewood, John West Way, Town of Aurora

I went for a drive today and my first stop was behind the movie theater Cineplex. At this moment it is probably the biggest construction site in the Town of Aurora. I have been following progress mostly during the summer, and now from this view point you can hardly see the Hollandview Trail place.

It felt like it was moving slow at first, but once they started to stack up the floors and walls I was able to see changes at the construction site at much faster rate.

The Ridgewood, John West Way, Town of Aurora

This area on the John West Way, near the Aurora Town Hall, is definitely a high density area. I wonder how the traffic is going to be. It wasn’t so bad when I drove by around six o’clock. I actually was surprised to see two buses in the span of five minutes.

Hollandview Retirement Community, John West Way, Town of Aurora

Other High Density Buildings on John West Way, Town of Aurora

On the end of my journey tonight I dropped by the Town Hall and snap some pictures of the Christmas tree. I may be wrong but the tree seems much bigger this year, and it seems dressed more with lights. Well when I get some time I will check if I got some older photos to compare.

This brings interesting point, the landscapes don’t just change because buildings rise or fall, but in addition because trees grow and tress fall down and sometimes not by themselves.

Christmas Tree 2013, Town Hall, Town of Aurora, Ontario

Well this may be my last post for the year 2012, so let me summarize few things. I just checked statistics for this site and this site had about 17,300 visits and 35,800 page views in the year 2012. I think that this is not that bad for a local blog. About eighty percent of my visits are from Aurora and surroundings (York Region).

I published 110 posts, slightly less than last year, but this was because I launched community FOCUS (LivingInAurora.COM) site and spent some time writing some content there. I don’t know how many images were published on this blog in 2012 but all I can tell you that this blog has a library of over 1,400 images of the Town of Aurora or photos that were taken on the grounds of Aurora.

My list of subscribers is constantly growing and if they don’t subscribe to my mailing list I know I am being followed using RSS feeds. I do have a twitter account and interesting spread of followers. My site is mainly found via search engines because someone is looking for something specific. It is nice that some actually drop me emails and write me interesting things they know about Aurora.

This year I have engaged more in photographing changes happening in Aurora, and I will do that more in the following year. I have extensive library of photos of the former Wells Street Public School and there will be more as the main construction didn’t start yet. I also have extensive library of photos of the Petch Log House reconstruction which I have been photo shooting since October 2012.

To conclude this post, let me list few of many interesting keywords through which people found this photo journal blog: trees that cry, who lives on my road, aurora issues, environmental issues in aurora, is there water good for drinking in aurora ontario, aurora mystery solved, aurora ontario horror and brave naked. However, the most used keyword and variations were for wells street public school.

“Whether we want them or not, the New Year will bring new challenges; whether we seize them or not, the New Year will bring new opportunities.” a quote by Michael Josephson.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013.

GO Station, Wellington Street, Town of Aurora

Postcards of Olde Aurora, A Sesquicentennial Project by Bob McRoberts, One More Book In My Collection

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 03:04:03 +0000

My inventory of books that are about the Town of Aurora, briefly mentioned Aurora or written by the Aurorans is now assembled. I think I have them all or let say I ran out of budget this year to buy more. My collection consists of twenty books now.

Postcards of Olde Aurora by Bob McRoberts

I am sure there will be lot more books published in the future and they will be part of my collection but there is something special about my recent collection of books. It all started with Bob McRoberts and because of recent purchase ends with Bob McRoberts. Let me explain.

My first book purchased was “Aurora A History in Pictures” by W. John McIntyre, 1988 – collectible, used and autographed. But it also came with a photo of two high school teachers from 1943. One of the teachers was Mr. Knowles who was also grandfather of Bob McRoberts.

So this is how I got to know him, and after photo was returned to Bob McRoberts, he wrote me ‘I hope our paths will cross again‘ and so they did. They did few times and finally on the day I purchased his recently published book.

Postcards of Olde Aurora by Bob McRoberts

In the past I had an opportunity to attend one of the Heritage Lecture Series, “Postcards of Old Aurora: The McRoberts Collection” at the Aurora Cultural Centre, April 2012. I still remember attendance in the room. There must have been over 100 people, including me. The lecture was very beneficial since I take lot of pictures of Aurora and it is very intriguing to examine the change – somethings changed, somethings are gone and somethings just don’t change.

Bob decided to go one step further and put together a Sesquicentennial (2013) project or legacy project – that is he converted his collection of postcards into a book, “Postcards of Olde Aurora“.

Postcards of Olde Aurora by Bob McRoberts

When I picked up my book back on December 6th, I told him that I collect postcards as well, just a collection of the European cities during the time I was growing up. I do have some postcards of Toronto from 1971 when my dad traveled to Canada.

Just recently I did come across of Aurora postcards on line but because I take lot of photos of Aurora I wasn’t that enthusiastic as Bob. Well, he did something wonderful, saved me a time and money. So instead of buying 300 postcards I bought a collectible book, 20th on my list.

This is a very nice little collectible book. Mr. McRoberts spent lot of work searching for all the postcards he assembled into a book Postcards of Olde Aurora and he did because he was passionate about it and because he can relate to as well. His passion is now a legacy book for the Sesquicentennial year. His book is about Aurora by the Auroran and it is the latest book in my collection.

If you would like to own this book, Postcards of Olde Aurora can be purchased directly from Bob McRoberts. The contact information is listed on the right sidebar on this blog.

The Petch Log House, Built To Last, Part II

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 02:44:22 +0000

Going on the third month the Petch log house re-building continues. However, the major elements of the house are completed and of what I have seen so far, this house is going to be built to last for many generations to come.

I drove last weekend (December 16th, 2012) by the site and I noticed that they started to work on the siding, the face that is facing John West Way. I am sure by the time I get there tomorrow, all will be completed. If not me I hope someone else will take some pictures.

Inside, Petch Log House, Town of Aurora, November 20th, 2012.

In reference to the picture above – originally there was a second floor in the Petch Log House accessible via stairs. As you can see on the picture above only half is covered.

It was suggested to leave this opening so visitors can see the second level or the attic. Since the second floor, or attic floor is not strong enough – visitors will not be allowed to see the attic if full floor is installed.

So far the opening is still there.

Secondary Roof, Petch Log House, Town of Aurora, November 20th, 2012.

Well, this is a secondary roof – indestructible.

And here is something I did not see – how they built the overhang above the two windows, same on the other side.

Petch Log House, Town of Aurora, November 27th, 2012.

Petch Log House, Town of Aurora, November 29th, 2012.

On the 28th of November the roof was covered with ceder shingles. I arrived one day late to see it done. Well at least I got the footage of the big beam arrival and its installation which now hides under.

Petch Log House, Town of Aurora, November 29th, 2012.

Not to worry about the windows. The boards are temporary. The windows and doors are custom made – just have to wait for those.

Petch Log House, Town of Aurora, December 6th, 2012.

The above is one of my favorite photos. Note how the shadow from the overhang is almost aligned with the overhang, just slightly off because I was little late to shoot.

So what is so special about that photo? Well, the blue textured sky, the perfect light shining in the right direction, the symmetry and the ladder on the side. And the hint of the vapor barrier sheet that is going to cover the wood logs until uncovered again. Who knows when?

Petch Log House, Town of Aurora, December 6th, 2012.

What else can I say? Ouch, that wall paper (vapor barrier) is not my favorite one, but I am sure the siding will, its made of wood. Confession to make, I thought it was going to be aluminum or some kind of engineered material. I am so glad to be wrong sometimes.

The new siding looks very new and plain. It will not be painted just let to age.

Petch Log House, Town of Aurora, December 7th, 2012.

Petch Log House, Town of Aurora, December 12th, 2012.

The Petch Log House, Built To Last, Part I

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:42:19 +0000

Last August 2011 Petch log house was taken apart – the restoration process began. In September 2012 preparation for re-building the Petch log house started on John West Way, near the Aurora Senior Centre and the entrance to the Community Arboretum.

Petch Log House, Foundation, October 04, 2012

First it was a pit filled with gravel, then foundation poured and then the assembly started. I have been following and photographing re-building of the Petch log house since October. My very first visit and real photo shoot took place on October 26th. When I was on the site the house was already three logs high in some places.

Petch Log House, Town of Aurora, October 26, 2012.

Since that day I was showing up every few days. Mainly on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and some Fridays, when Matthew was in school. Watching it changing radically was interesting experience, photographing it was a rewarding experience.

I did upgrade my equipment since last year, new camera and new lenses, hopefully getting better too, and I can’t complain about the overcast skies I had through most of the initial re-construction of the house – all was just perfect, not to mention the hospitality of all those who worked on the site.

Petch Log House, Town of Aurora, November 1st, 2012.

Petch Log House, Town of Aurora, November 6th, 2012.

The house is now very close to the completion. If am not mistaken the wood siding installation started on Thursday or Friday of last week (December 13th, 14th).

Petch Log House, Town of Aurora, November 6th, 2012.

The house is well reinforced with additional materials – two by fours wedged inside the window and door cutouts, solid wood wide window and door frames, square brackets on the corners where the logs are joined, and some new and modified logs that were heavily deteriorated.

The Petch log house is definitely built to last.

The Petch Log House, Town of Aurora, November 13th, 2012.

Petch Log House, Town of Aurora, November 13th, 2012.

Petch Log House, Town of Aurora, November 16th, 2012.

The roof rafters were built on the site. The roof was covered. So I thought they were done. Speaking of built to last, an engineered roof was added on top of the original roof to be shown in my next post. But it all started with the arrival of the big beam they put on top of the roof to start building secondary roof. I was told by Peter Van Nostrand that the big beam was coming at one o’clock, and right on the dot the beam came.

The story of the Petch log house will continue in the next post, however, let me leave you with a photo of the Petch house at sunset taken by my friend Peter Cameron. Click here to view.

The Big Beam, Petch Log House, Town of Aurora, November 16th, 2012.

Remebering Petch House, When In Bad Condition

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 19:54:35 +0000

Looks like the Petch log house restoration will be soon done and the house will have a new look, different look, but then the Petch log house had few different looks over the years anyway.

Petch Log House Dis-assembly, July 28, 2011

Now build on the concrete foundation, new cedar roof, wood siding soon to be installed, new windows still in the making, electrical wiring just in time for Christmas – a complete makeover. After that some tedious work inside the log house is going to take place. On the inside the house, the logs surface will be exposed.

Petch Log House Dis-assembly, July 28, 2011

I got lots of pictures. Petch house is probably my first and biggest photo documenting portfolio. There are hundreds and hundreds of photos on my computer, and when I view them sometimes it still feels like I missed something. Well, I do have a missing link – what happened between last August, 2011, until October of this year, 2012.

Petch Log House Dis-assembly, July 28, 2011

So what happened? I really don’t know what happened. Probably mainly stuff like design work, engineering drawings were prepared, rework/treatment drawings, orders for new materials, planning – all the fun things you cannot photograph.

The logs on the other hand were given special trimming and a ‘steam spa’ treatment. Pictures don’t lie, there was a lot of deterioration on some of the logs, therefore, unfortunately not all the ends made to the new re-stored house.

Petch Log House Dis-assembly, July 28, 2011, Roof Down

So I thought that I had photos posted here from the last August (2011) when they took down the Petch log house for restoration, but I guess not. They were donated to Friends of the Petch House, and since the site does not exist anymore, there aren’t any photos online.

Therefore, before I publish photos of the house ‘from ground up’, I will share some photos ‘going down’.

Petch Log House Dis-assembly, July 28, 2011

It is interesting to see that lot of faces I photographed last year will appear on photos from 2012. Its been a long journey for the house and I am glad to see and hear that those who fought for this project for a long time were given this restoration assignment.

Not to mention it is so nice to hear how every person on the Petch log house restoration project is and continues to be proud of their work. I wish I could remember all I have been told, but then my camera did the ‘remembering job’ for me in pictures.

On the side note, today when I visited the site, I saw the last areas of the external wood surface covered with the vapor barrier. I guess it is going to be hidden for another 100 or 200 years, unless … needs to be uncovered.

Aurora Cenotaph 2012, Remembering 1944 & 1945 Remembrance Days

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 06:00:23 +0000

History notes today …

The Aurora Cenotaph (located at the Aurora War Memorial and Peace Park), Aurora only’s memorial tower built in 1925 which stands 73 feet high, recognizes the local soldiers from Aurora, King and Whitchurch (Ontario) who served and fell (77 local men) in the Great War. The Altar of Sacrifice located at the base of the Cenotaph was dedicated 1960 to those who died (55 local men) in World War II.

The Cenotaph is constructed on the land once owned by the millitary leader William Graham. William Graham fought in the American Revolution and in the War 1812.

Aurora Cenotaph, Town of Aurora, Ontario

1944 Remembrance Day, Town of Aurora, Ontario

SERVICE WILL HONOR ALL DEAD ON SATURDAY, AURORA, ONTARIO, NOVEMBER 9TH, 1944

“Remembrance Day will be celebrated in Aurora on Saturday with a parade to the Aurora War Memorial where a brief service will be held, The parade, consisting of a detachment from No. 23 B.T.C, under Lieut. F. J. White, C.W.A.C. personnel, war veterans, Aurora fire brigade, Boy Scouts and school children, will fall in at the town park at 9.45 a.m.

The parade will leave at 10.15 and will travel to the cenotaph by way of Wells, Wellington and Yonge Sts. Hon W. P. Mulock will take the salute in front of the post office. Wreaths will be laid by the municipalities of Aurora, King and Whitchurch, as well as lodges and schools.”

Aurora Cenotaph, Town of Aurora, Ontario

Remembrance Day 1945, Town of Aurora, Ontario

VETERANS OF BOTH WARS WILL PARADE ON NOV. 11, THE NEWMARKET ERA AND EXPRESS, THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8TH, 1945

“On Sunday, Nov. 11, war veterans of both wars will honor the memory of those who paid the supreme sacrifice. At 10.30 a.m. wreaths will be placed at the cenotaph on behalf of the town of Aurora, province of Ontario, Aurora war veterans and by any other organizations so desiring.

At the same hour, veterans will fall in on Mosley St. opposite the Aurora United church and proceed to Aurora United church for divine service. The parade will be seated in the church by 10.50 a.m. when the service will begin.

At 11 a.m. two minutes silence will be observed, with Last Post and Reveille being sounded. A wreath will be placed in the church by representatives of the three armed services.

Following the service, the parade will form on Mosley St. and will parade north on Yonge St. to Wellington St., south on Vicotria St. to Mosley St., and along Mosley St. to the town hall. Mayor Ross Linton will take the salute in front of the post office.

President George Duffield and the executive of the Aurora War Veterans Association request as many veterans and servicemen as possible to be present. The regulation uniform sanctioned by the D.O.C. of M.D. 2 for World War II veterans, and berets, medals, armbands, will be worn by the last war veterans.”

Aurora Cenotaph, Town of Aurora, Ontario

Hillary House Architectural & Fundraising Victorian Style Ball Details

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 20:51:17 +0000

Recently I had an opportunity to do two things for the Hillary House. Take some pictures – something an avoidable. I always take picture.

I have also created an event website for the Hillary House fundraising ball. Hillary House Ball is a Victorian style evening dinner dance event. Tickets are still on sale and the funds raised will go towards all the needs and necessities at the Hillary House – mainly restoration. The Hillary House Ball will be in honour of 150th Anniversary. Yes just 150 years ago in 1862 Hillary House was constructed. The ball is scheduled for Friday, the October 19th, 2012.

Hillary House was a treat to photograph. Architectural details everywhere. I used my macro lens to photograph and capture some of the smallest details. I was especially intrigued by the door. Door is a door – used everyday. Soon as I put my eye against the viewfinder I was amazed with the colors, textures and details – and I found the prefect keyhole.

Hillary House, A Door Keyhole

I also noticed all this writing all around the door on the brick. I was told that the names written were actually related to Hillary family. Some of the dates on the signatures were pretty old.

No doubt you can see lot of deterioration on the Hillary House. But let’s face it my house is deteriorating too, especially the side facing direct sun. Direct ultraviolet sun can cause lot of damage, especially to the houses old like Hillary House which is not made of anything close to engineering materials that can withstand harsh weather, just made of plain wood.

And there is the barn. So I had the windows surrounded with wine red planks in mind for sure, but the slider mechanism at the big sliding barn door caught my eye. What an interesting feature. The rust and the little bit of sun shining through the tree tops let me snap this mechanical part and enhance it beauty.

If you ever at the grounds, the front face of the barn is not everything. There are some interesting window frames on the back to look or photograph.

So this is all for the outside adventure. To get more out of your trip to the Hillary House you must visit inside – totally different world. If you like to look at the old artifacts the house is full of that – from medical instruments to personal items of Hillary family.

Personally I start noticing Hillary House in 2008, but I have been there in the early 2000 when my brother-in-law got married and the wedding photo shoot was outside and on the veranda of the Hillary House. I was in the bridal party. Funny how things go, first picture with Hillary House and now taking pictures of.