Toronto Ferry Company
Encyclopedia
Toronto Islands
The Toronto Islands are a chain of small islands in the city of Toronto, Ontario. Comprising the only group of islands in the western part of Lake Ontario, the Toronto Islands are located just offshore from the city centre, and provide shelter for Toronto Harbour...
in 1890. TFC was founded and headed by businessman Lol Solman
Lol Solman
Lawrence "Lol" Solman was a prominent businessman in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Born in Toronto, Solman was educated in public schools and grew up in profile when compare to his later life...
. The company's ferry license and ships was later acquired by the Toronto Transportation Commission
Toronto Transportation Commission
Before 1954, the Toronto Transit Commission was called the Toronto Transportation Commission.-History:Toronto's first public transportation company was the Williams Omnibus Bus Line and owned by undertaker Burt Williams. The franchise carried passengers in horse-drawn stagecoaches along Yonge...
in 1927.
A.J. Tymon's Island Ferry Company
Capt. Andrew J. Tymon operated a number ferries from 1880 until the formation of his own service in the mid 1880s. It later merged with John Doty's company to form TFC in 1892.Vessels included:
- S.S. Arlington
- S.S. Prince of Wales
- S.S. Jessie L. McEdwards (1882)
- S.S. Theresa (burned 1885)
- S.S. Gertrude
- S.S. Island Queen
- S.S. Truant
- S.S. Kathleen
John Doty Engine Company
Doty Brothers (John Doty) began as a builder of ship engines and gradually as an operator of ferry service to the Island. The company was located at Front and Bathurst Streets in a building now occupied by Sherwin-Williams paint store.A list of engines built by John Doty:
- high pressure steam engine for screw steamer Mascotte 1886
- steam engine for screw steamer Jessie L. McEdwards 1876
- engine for steamer Luella 1876
- engine for steamer Sadie 1885
- ferry and engines - Mayflower and Primrose 1890
Machinist John Doty founded the Doty Ferry Company in 1880 from the purchase of the assets of the Turner Ferry Company. It operated until merging with A.J. Tymon in 1890.
Fleet
A list of ships operated by the TFC:| Make/Model | Description | # passengers | Year acquired | Year retired | Notes |
| * Mayflower - built by Bathurst Street Wharf Bathurst Street Wharf Bathurst Street Wharf was a series of shipyards located between Bathurst Street and Spadina Avenue along Lake Shore Boulevard West.-Early years:... for John Doty Engine & Ferry Company |
ferry | 900-1000 | 1890 | 1938 | Later acquired from the Toronto Ferry Company by E.B. Osler (with acquisition of John Doty Engine & Ferry Company and Tymon's Island Ferry Company; became city garbage scow |
| Primrose built by Bathurst Street Wharf Bathurst Street Wharf Bathurst Street Wharf was a series of shipyards located between Bathurst Street and Spadina Avenue along Lake Shore Boulevard West.-Early years:... for John Doty Engine & Ferry Company |
ferry | 900-1000 | 1890 | 1938 | sister ship to the Mayflower and later acquired from the Toronto Ferry Company |
| Bluebell - built by Polson Iron Works Limited Toronto Drydock Company Toronto Drydock Company is a shipbuilding repair company in Canada and the name of two shipbuilders in the 19th and 20th Centuries respectively.... for Toronto Ferry Company |
ferry | N/A | 1906 | 1955 | |
| Trillium 1910-1957 - built by Polson Iron Works Limited Toronto Drydock Company Toronto Drydock Company is a shipbuilding repair company in Canada and the name of two shipbuilders in the 19th and 20th Centuries respectively.... for Toronto Ferry Company |
ferry | N/A | 1910; 1976 | 1957 | re-enter service 1976 with Metro Parks |
| Luella - built by W. Armour & Company and John Doty Engine Company for Toronto Ferry Company | ferry | 122 | 1882 | 1934 | |
| Sadie - built as St. Jean Baptiste for the Turner Ferry Co. by James Andrew of Oakville | double-decked paddle vessel - 112 feet | 377 | 1885 | ? | |
| Canadian - built for the Turner Ferry Co. by Alexander Clindinning of Toronto | two-decked, double-ended pad-die steamer - 122 feet | 340 | 1882 | ? | |
| Prouvette Beyer - built for the Turner Ferry Co. | ferry | 1882 | ? | ||
| Arlington - built for the A.J. Tymon Ferry Co. in Harwood | single deck screw steamer | 100 | 1878, 1880 | ? | |
| Jessie McEdwards - built for the A.J. Tymon Ferry Co. by Melancthon Simpson of St. Catharines | single deck screw steamer - 65 feet | 116 | 1876 | ? | |
| Kathleen - built for the A.J. Tymon Ferry Co. by George Dickson of Toronto | two-decked screw steamer - 84 feet | 200 | 1886 | 1918 | |
| Getrude - built for the A.J. Tymon Ferry Co. by George Clean of Toronto | two-decked screw steamer - 75 feet | 147 | 1886 | ? | |
| Island Queen - built for the A.J. Tymon Ferry Co. - Joseph Duval at Port Dalhousie | single-decked screw steamer - 73 feet | 148 | 1882 | 1918 | |
| Ned Hanlan - built for the A.J. Tymon Ferry Co. | ferry | 1902 | 1966 | ||
| T.J. Clark | ferry | 1918 | 1960 | ||
| Miss Simcoe | ferry | 1918 | 1929 | ||
| Lady York | ferry | 1918 | 1929 | ||
| Aylmer | ferry | 1918 | 1929 | ||
| Buttercup | ferry | 1918 | 1929 | ||
| Jasmine | ferry | 1918 | 1929 | later renamed Ojibway | |
| Aylmer | ferry | 1918 | 1929 | ||
| Clark Brothers | ferry | 1918 | 1927 | ||
| John Hanlan - built by Abbey of Port Dalhousie | screw steamer | 1844 | 1929 | burned and sunk off Sunnyside Park 1929 |
See also
- Toronto Island ferry servicesToronto Island Ferry ServicesThe Toronto Island Ferry connects the Toronto Islands in Lake Ontario to the mainland of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The ferry provides access to the islands for recreational visitors, access to the mainland for island residents, and access to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which is located at...
- Toronto Transit CommissionToronto Transit Commission-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
- Toronto Transportation CommissionToronto Transportation CommissionBefore 1954, the Toronto Transit Commission was called the Toronto Transportation Commission.-History:Toronto's first public transportation company was the Williams Omnibus Bus Line and owned by undertaker Burt Williams. The franchise carried passengers in horse-drawn stagecoaches along Yonge...