In mid-September, 1967 the Whig ran a five-part series on alcoholism. Each part explored the affliction from a different angle. In the second part, published September 18, reporter Robert Taylor talked to 42 year-old 'Mike J', whom he agreed to meet near Place d'Armes (The Line). I've mentioned before on this blog the connection between the Inner Harbour and 'winos', as they're unromantically referred to in the piece.
The winos had their own wino lingo, one part of which was their favoured consumption sites: The Logs, The Bridge, The Willows, The Point (only the last was identified as being at the rear of the Canadian Army Staff College), and also Bell's Island.
These photos were snapped from a distance, no doubt to keep Mike unaware as he sat on a pile of heavy bridge timbers. The Tete du Pont barracks can be seen in the background, with a patrolling commissionaire. A script-lettered Canadian Pacific gondola car is seen at left.
The above image was closest to the one that actually made it to print. Both men were shown in shadow and the photo was cropped right above reporter Taylor's head. That is the real value of finding these original negatives in the Whig-Standard Fonds of the Queen's University Archives - context!
Mike mentioned some of his favourites vintages in the piece: wine, beer, rubbing alcohol and vanilla, though he favoured wine for its 'reliability'. Originally from Northern Ontario, via Toronto and London to Kingston, he would spend the summer looking for handouts at the corner of Princess and Wellington for the next purchase, the winter in a cell, and sadly, the only release from alcoholism was death. Seven empty Canadian Brandy bottles line The Line:
A final frame:
This is a somewhat grim topic about those sad guys who wandered near railways. I remember seeing broken bottles and empty bottles near the railway. While I was in High School in the late 1960's and early 70's I worked for an apple grower, one of the last farmers in Toronto Township (now Mississauga). In apple picking season, September and October, my boss would drive in his small truck to the "End of the Subway" line at Islington station. Men looking for day work would gather there and many of these were "winos". He would hire a few and bring them back for the day. After the apples were done and before the snow would fall the boss would cut the grass in the orchard. First though, we would rake the grass around the trees to get any empty wine or brandy bottles that had been left behind.
ReplyDeleteHi Robert,
ReplyDeleteYes, dealing with the part of town I'm modelling, there are some sordid stories. I certainly wouldn't glorify nor shame such subjects It was all part of the area's history. Thanks for your story. I think most of these gentlemen were really down on their luck and tended to stay there.
Thanks for your comment,
Eric