Abandoned 1856 Toronto almost ready for re-population...

The City of Toronto in either late 1856 or early 1857. The last five photographs are 1865-ish. The photographs reproduced from copy negatives are some of the earliest photographic views of Toronto. The 1856 Toronto portfolio also contains 13 views taken from the top of the Rossin House Hotel at King and York streets, which, when put together, create three multi-part panoramas, or a single, 300-degree vista.

We basically have the same issue - where is the population, and who are those few individuals in tall cylindrical hats present on some of the photos?

1856-1857
Bank-of-British-North-America-north-east-corner-of-Wellington-and-Yonge-streets.jpg Booth-Son-north-east-corner-of-Adelaide-and-Victoria-streets.jpg King-Street-East-south-side-between-Yonge-and-Church-streets-looking-east.jpg King-Street-East-south-side-looking-west.jpg Normal-School-building-Gould-Street-north-side-east-of-Yonge.jpg Osgoode-Hall-Queen-Street-West-north-side.jpg Rossin-House-Hotel-south-east-corner-of-King-and-York-streets.jpg Second-United-Presbyterian-Church-under-construction.jpg The-Exchange-Wellington-Street-north-side-east-of-Yonge-Street.jpg Toronto-from-the-top-of-the-Rossin-House-Hotel-looking-north-along-York-Street.jpg Toronto-from-the-top-of-the-Rossin-House-Hotel-looking-north-east.jpg Toronto-from-the-top-of-the-Rossin-House-Hotel-looking-northeast-2.jpg Toronto-from-the-top-of-the-Rossin-House-Hotel-looking-south.jpg Toronto-from-the-top-of-the-Rossin-House-Hotel-looking-south-2.jpg Toronto-from-the-top-of-the-Rossin-House-Hotel-looking-southeast.jpg Toronto-from-the-top-of-the-Rossin-House-Hotel-looking-southeast-2.jpg Toronto-from-the-top-of-the-Rossin-House-Hotel-looking-southwest.jpg Trinity-College-Queen-Street-West-north-side.jpg Toronto-from-the-top-of-the-Rossin-House-Hotel-looking-west-along-King-Street-West.jpg Wellington-Street-East-north-side-between-Church-and-Yonge-streets-showing-the-Wellington-Hotel.jpg

1865-1868
Toronto-waterfront.jpg Bank_of_Toronto.jpg King's_College_Toronto_1855.jpg Ontario_Bank.jpg Post_office_on_Toronto_Street.jpg RussianHouse.jpg Toronto_City_Hall.jpg
 
1687260012214.jpeg

This one is so striking. Huge amount of mud in the grid around submerged buildings, makeshift boardwalk built on top of the mud.

1BA887FF-B1C9-474F-8DA8-8CB90A23A450.jpeg
 
The signage I find curious. None of these buildings appear to have been designed with the intent for signage.

I see large, rudimentary advertisements painted onto the broadside of the buildings, boards affixed to the fascia (covering windows) with signage… basically stuffed wherever they could.

If I purpose built a grand building for my “Manufactory” I would have included provisions for intentional signage.
 

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