Long Branch, Toronto

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Long Branch, like many Toronto neighbourhoods, employs local livery on its street signs.

Lake Shore Boulevard West is the primary transportation artery through Long Branch.

Long Branch is a neighbourhood in the western section of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was formerly in the City of Etobicoke and was previously an independent municipality. The area is bounded by Lake Ontario on the south, Etobicoke Creek to the west, the Canadian National railway to the north and Twenty-Third Street to the east.

[edit] History

In the late 19th and early 20th century, Long Branch was a popular summer resort destination for Torontonians. The area was served by steamers that sailed from the foot of Bay Street. A popular summer resort, built in a pagoda style, was located at Long Branch Avenue and Lake Promenade, until it was destroyed by fire in the 1950s.

In 1954, more than 40 homes in Long Branch were demolished at the mouth of the Etobicoke Creek by Hurricane Hazel. To prevent any future floods from having similar disastrous results, houses from around the mouth of the creek were relocated, and the area turned into a park. In 1959, the park was named for Marie Curtis in recognition for her efforts to have it built.

Adjacent to the park is a closed site which was formerly the Long Branch munitions factory during the 1940s. Huge quantities of weapons were manufactured there during the Second World War, such as the Bren, Sten and Lee Enfield. As of 2005 there are plans to incorporate the former munitions factory site into the Marie Curtis Park.

In 1967, the Village of Long Branch was amalgamated with the Township of Etobicoke and the Towns of New Toronto and Mimico to form the Borough of Etobicoke. The Borough became the City of Etobicoke in 1984. In 1998, Etobicoke was merged with five other municipalities and the Metropolitan Toronto government to form the new City of Toronto.

Prominent reeves of the village included Thomas Berry, Len Ford and Marie Curtis, (1953-1962).

[edit] Character

It is generally considered to be an attractive neighbourhood to live in due to its proximity to downtown Toronto, in addition to having lower real estate values due to its seedy flavour.

[edit] See also

• List of neighbourhoods in Toronto

A family card game at a cottage in Long Branch in 1893.

Female factory worker posing with a Sten Mk II submachine gun at Long Branch on May 26, 1942.

[edit] External links

• Long Branch neighbourhood profile
• Various photos of the Long Branch munitions factory

Coordinates: 43°34′59″N 79°31′59″W / 43.583, -79.533

		Alderwood, Toronto		v • d • e
	Mississauga, Ontario		New Toronto
		Long Branch
		Lake Ontario

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