Grit and Great Architecture in Brantford, ON - Page 3

boden · #41 Posted **Jun 8, 2008, 3:59 AM**

Who do you think came up with the idea of "painting in people"? The Chamber of Commerce? Almost makes the situation look sadder than it is already.

SABBATICAL! · #42 Posted **Sep 5, 2009, 9:17 PM**

By way of an update to this, the entire south side of Colborne St. (photos below) is being acquired by the city, and there is strong political will to have the entire street torn down before elections in fall 2010. This includes what is apparently the longest stretch of pre-confederate buildings in the province.

Evergrey · #43 Posted **Oct 20, 2009, 9:06 PM**

this is a superb photo tour... what a tough city

AJW · #44 Posted **Oct 20, 2009, 10:14 PM**

Great set, I enjoyed the tour; there's a lot of unused potential here.

flar · #45 Posted **Oct 21, 2009, 12:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SABBATICAL!

By way of an update to this, the entire south side of Colborne St. (photos below) is being acquired by the city, and there is strong political will to have the entire street torn down before elections in fall 2010. This includes what is apparently the longest stretch of pre-confederate buildings in the province.

Those buildings aren't all pre-confederation (1867), but it is a very long stretch of uninterrupted historic buildings. It would be a tragedy if they were demolished. Brantford is a great place to explore, not the least because of all these old buildings. Must have been a great city back in the day.

Incidentally, this was the last tour I did with my old Kodak point and shoot camera.

Evergrey · #46 Posted **Oct 21, 2009, 5:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by boden

Who do you think came up with the idea of "painting in people"? The Chamber of Commerce? Almost makes the situation look sadder than it is already.

Agreed completely.

SABBATICAL! · #47 Posted **Nov 25, 2009, 4:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flar

Those buildings aren't all pre-confederation (1867), but it is a very long stretch of uninterrupted historic buildings. It would be a tragedy if they were demolished. Brantford is a great place to explore, not the least because of all these old buildings. Must have been a great city back in the day.

No, you're right, the pre-confederate ones are only a small portion of the buildings.. starting after the Right House (the really tall one across from Harmony Square) and continuing over to the next break in the buildings. But apparently that is the longest stretch in the province. Really, speaks more to the lack of preservation in our province than anything that this is the longest remaining. I'd imagine its because all the other places where there are pre-confederate buildings, they are interrupted by newer buildings (or empty lots). Buildings from before Confederation tend not to be saved because in general they are simpler constructions, from what I've been told. The more architecturally remarkable heritage buildings are newer ones done once Ontario was really booming economically, rather than being just post-pioneer.