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Wide open spaces in First World War era Collingwood

Aerial view taken in 1919 shows different landscape from today's developed areas
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Huron Institute No. 4; Collingwood Museum Collection X968.836.1

This aerial view of Collingwood was captured in 1919 by the Bishop Barker Co., which was founded by First World War Canadian flying aces Billy Bishop and William George Barker.

Running diagonally through the centre is Hurontario Street, which leads to the shipyards in the upper left. Along the south side of Hume Street is a clear area surrounded by trees that hosted the Great Northern Exhibition.

Today it is occupied by the YMCA, the Collingwood Curling Club and Central Park Arena. What seems to be an empty area between St. Paul and Minnesota Streets is actually the Canadian National Railway yards, now home of the Collingwood Museum.

Victoria School is visible to the left of Hurontario Street, at the intersection of Sixth and Maple Streets. The school was demolished in 1969, but the Annex remained in use as the Collingwood Alternative School until 2001. The annex still stands, abandoned, today. With so many vacant areas, it is clear to see how Collingwood has grown and evolved.

Remember This is a weekly series of historic photographs submitted by the Collingwood Museum to CollingwoodToday.ca. These photographs were originally collected and documented by the Huron Institute in an historical catalogue entitled Huron Institute Paper and Records: Volume III. Much of Collingwood’s early history has been preserved due to the dedication and foresight of the early museum’s founders, namely its secretary-curator David Williams, upon its establishment in 1904.