Vale of Avoca
Encyclopedia
The Vale of Avoca is the name of a deep ravine
and of a large viaduct
which carries St. Clair Avenue
over the ravine, both within the city of Toronto
. When built in the early 1920s, the triple arch bridge
served to connect the well-established community of Deer Park
with the developing community of Moore Park
; it replaced an older structure and straightened the alignment
of St. Clair Avenue in the process. The bridge and ravine are named after a poem by Thomas Moore
. It was built in two years at a cost of C$716,653.58 ($8.9m, adjusted for inflation in 2010). A small channelized tributary of the Don River, known as Yellow Creek, weaves beneath the central span.
in the hopes of encouraging investment in his new subdivision, Moore Park. Under the condition that he build the bridge, the Township of York purchased a strip of land across the valley and leased it to Moore, who was in return given the St. Clair Avenue right-of-way between Avoca Avenue and Inglewood Drive. Moore Park subsequently developed.
On December 16, 1912, Moore Park was annexed into Toronto at the drive of landowners eager to obtain municipal services. Due to growing safety concerns regarding the old iron bridge, city council authorized construction of a new bridge in 1922. Unlike the old bridge, this one would follow the straight alignment of St. Clair Avenue East (renamed in 1914). Two houses were expropriated
and demolished, and the new structure built over two years at the cost of $716,653.58 ($8,914,622.90, adjusted for inflation) It opened to traffic in November or December, 1924.
The old bridge remained open and operational throughout, with traffic detouring around construction on the eastern side. After completion of the new structure, the old one was promptly dismantled, and the material used to forge the fence that lines Avoca Avenue. The natural stream at the bottom was subsequently channelized to slow erosion.
The former structure crossed the valley on an angle, beginning at St. Clair in the east and crossing to Pleasant Boulevard; it followed an electric line already in place. The eastern abutment and several concrete footings are still in place near the rim of the ravine as reminders of the old bridge.
In 1973, Toronto officially named the bridge structure and the ravine as The Vale of Avoca, after either the poem by Thomas Moore
(after whom John Thomas Moore is named), or the river valley
in Ireland
.
Ravine
A ravine is a landform narrower than a canyon and is often the product of streamcutting erosion. Ravines are typically classified as larger in scale than gullies, although smaller than valleys. A ravine is generally a fluvial slope landform of relatively steep sides, on the order of twenty to...
and of a large viaduct
Viaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
which carries St. Clair Avenue
St. Clair Avenue
St. Clair Avenue is a major east-west street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was laid out in the late 18th century by the British as a concession road , north of Bloor Street and north of Queen Street....
over the ravine, both within the city of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. When built in the early 1920s, the triple arch bridge
Arch bridge
An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side...
served to connect the well-established community of Deer Park
Deer Park, Toronto
Deer Park is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, centred on the intersection of Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue; its boundaries are the Vale of Avoca section of Rosedale ravine in the east, Farnham Avenue and Jackes Avenue in the south, Avenue Road and Oriole Parkway in the west, the...
with the developing community of Moore Park
Moore Park, Toronto
Moore Park is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It lies along both sides of St. Clair Avenue East between the Vale of Avoca section of Rosedale ravine and Moore Park ravine . The northern boundary is Mount Pleasant Cemetery and the southern the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks.The...
; it replaced an older structure and straightened the alignment
Alignment
Alignment may refer to:* Alignment , secondary evidence used to associate features such as postholes* Alignment , in Israel from 1965 to 1992...
of St. Clair Avenue in the process. The bridge and ravine are named after a poem by Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter, and entertainer, now best remembered for the lyrics of The Minstrel Boy and The Last Rose of Summer. He was responsible, with John Murray, for burning Lord Byron's memoirs after his death...
. It was built in two years at a cost of C$716,653.58 ($8.9m, adjusted for inflation in 2010). A small channelized tributary of the Don River, known as Yellow Creek, weaves beneath the central span.
History
Prior to the Vale of Avoca, the ravine was crossed by an iron bridge. The bridge was built in 1888 by John Thomas MooreJohn Thomas Moore
John Thomas Moore was a Canadian businessman and politician. During the late-19th century, Moore became a land speculator and purchased the area that has since been named in his honour, Moore Park...
in the hopes of encouraging investment in his new subdivision, Moore Park. Under the condition that he build the bridge, the Township of York purchased a strip of land across the valley and leased it to Moore, who was in return given the St. Clair Avenue right-of-way between Avoca Avenue and Inglewood Drive. Moore Park subsequently developed.
On December 16, 1912, Moore Park was annexed into Toronto at the drive of landowners eager to obtain municipal services. Due to growing safety concerns regarding the old iron bridge, city council authorized construction of a new bridge in 1922. Unlike the old bridge, this one would follow the straight alignment of St. Clair Avenue East (renamed in 1914). Two houses were expropriated
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
and demolished, and the new structure built over two years at the cost of $716,653.58 ($8,914,622.90, adjusted for inflation) It opened to traffic in November or December, 1924.
The old bridge remained open and operational throughout, with traffic detouring around construction on the eastern side. After completion of the new structure, the old one was promptly dismantled, and the material used to forge the fence that lines Avoca Avenue. The natural stream at the bottom was subsequently channelized to slow erosion.
The former structure crossed the valley on an angle, beginning at St. Clair in the east and crossing to Pleasant Boulevard; it followed an electric line already in place. The eastern abutment and several concrete footings are still in place near the rim of the ravine as reminders of the old bridge.
In 1973, Toronto officially named the bridge structure and the ravine as The Vale of Avoca, after either the poem by Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter, and entertainer, now best remembered for the lyrics of The Minstrel Boy and The Last Rose of Summer. He was responsible, with John Murray, for burning Lord Byron's memoirs after his death...
(after whom John Thomas Moore is named), or the river valley
River Avoca
The Avoca is a river in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is contained completely within the county.The Avoca starts life as two rivers, the Avonmore and the Avonbeg...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.