Toronto's Historical Plaques

Learn a little of Toronto's history as told through its plaques.

Croft Street

An 2006 Heritage Toronto plaque, visible to the right in the photo, tells the story of how this narrow street, running north from College Street to Harbord Street, got its name. Here's what it says:

Once known as Ulster Avenue, this narrow lane was re-named in 1908 after John Croft, sole fatality of the Great Toronto Fire of April 19, 1904. On May 4, Croft, a 38-year-old explosives expert, was clearing ruins near Front and Bay streets when a charge he had set failed to detonate. As he attempted to disable it, the charge exploded. Croft died of his injuries the following day. A husband and the father of three, he was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Location Co-ordinates: 43.656905 -79.405875

Photo by Alan L Brown - July 2007

Related page
The Great Fire of 1849

More 'Streets and Roads' pages

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