Taddle Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taddle Creek |
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Taddle Creek, dammed to create McCaul's Pond, on the University of Toronto campus in 1870
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| Country | Canada |
| State | Ontario |
| City | Toronto |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Bathurst Street and St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| River mouth | Lake Ontario, just east of Parliament Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Length | 6 km (3.7 mi) |
Taddle Creek is a hidden river in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It used to flow above ground for about six kilometers. This creek started near St. Clair Avenue and Bathurst Street. It then flowed through what is now the University of Toronto. Finally, it reached Lake Ontario near the Distillery District. In the 1800s, Taddle Creek was buried. It became an underground sewer. But you can still find clues about where it once flowed! For example, a beautiful path called Philosopher's Walk follows the old creek's valley. This path runs from the Royal Ontario Museum to Trinity College. Taddle Creek is also the name of a local magazine and a school in Toronto.
Why Was Taddle Creek Buried?
Taddle Creek played an important role in Toronto's early days. In the 1790s, the first part of the Town of York (which became Toronto) was built along the creek's south bank. Early businesses used the creek's water.
Over time, as Toronto grew, the creek became polluted. It was seen as a health risk. So, during the 1800s, the creek was gradually covered up. It was turned into an underground sewer system.
Here's when different parts of the creek disappeared:
- East of Church Street: Buried before 1860.
- Elizabeth Street to Church Street: Covered in early 1866.
- Sections near the University of Toronto, including McCaul's Pond: Buried by 1886.
What's in a Name?
No one is completely sure how Taddle Creek got its name. But there are a few interesting ideas:
- The Tattle Family: Some believe it was named after a family called Tattle who lived in Toronto.
- Tiny Tadpoles: Another idea is that the creek was full of tadpoles, so people called it "Taddle" Creek.
- Gentle Sounds: The name might come from an old English word, toddle. This word means to move with a soft, gentle sound, like a quiet stream.
Taddle Creek also had other names in the 1800s. People sometimes called it:
- Little Don River
- Brewery Creek (because of Enoch Turner's brewery nearby)
- Goodwin Creek
- University Creek
- Wolz Creek
Taddle Creek Park Today
| Taddle Creek Park | |
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The Vessel by Ilan Sandler
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| Created | 1976 |
| Operated by | Toronto Parks |
| Website | TADDLE CREEK PARK |
Taddle Creek Park is a small, lively park in The Annex area of Toronto. You can find it at the corner of Lowther Avenue and Bedford Road. This park was created in 1976. It used to be the home of Frederick Banting, a famous scientist who won the Nobel Prize.
The park got a big makeover and reopened in July 2011. Now, it features a cool sculpture called The Vessel by artist Ilan Sandler. This artwork is made from about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of stainless steel rod. This length is roughly the same as how long Taddle Creek used to be!
