Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Has anyone gone out to the Altona ghost town on the Pickering/Uxbridge town line road? Is it worth the drive? I was going to check this out on Sunday.

I'm also interested in seeing the Old Western Town that other group is going to, which should be just east of Altona on the same road. Anyone know if that is open on Sundays (being a private property)?

Any info appreciated - thanks.

I live on Altona road but never heard of this ghost town. I'm down to check it out though since I live so close

Hey Tyler, I'd be happy to meet up somewhere. I'm coming from the west end of Toronto and leaving at 10:30 Sunday morning.

Keep in mind that Altona town is way north of you. It's just east of Stouffville. Still a lot closer than for me.

But if anyone has been there (or the other Old Western Town) I'd be interested to know what's out there. Otherwise we'll report back after Sunday...

I'd join you guys but there's this little thing called "Mother's Day" which causes me to have other commitments.

http://www.ontarioabandonedplaces.com/upload/wiki.asp?entry=691

There are some photos available. I might drop by as well

Altona is not really a ghost town in a literal sense. There is an old hotel that is boarded up tight. There is a Menonite church with a graveyard. There is also an old school boarded up. The whole area is has homes and schools that have been annexed by the GTAA. You can drive the entire area and find places. Be weary of the GTAA security that drives around. They can be quite vigilant. There are also plenty of residents who still live in the area as well. While your in the area check out Cathedral Town on Woodbine just north of Markham.

Here are some of my pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theambient ... 437947255/

I live in north-east Markham and have driven through the area taking pictures. Vince described it pretty well. I was by myself and was too chicken to get too close to the abandoned houses.

Thanks Vince for the shots around Altona.

Now that I think of it, I'll probably make a road trip day of it. It's spring and with sun there may be some landscapes too. The nearest Tim's is at 1030 Hoover Park Drive in Stouffville, but Altona is so small it's probably best to meet there. All are welcome to come out. Dimitri, if you want to drive to my place Sunday morning, PM for a ride.

Cheers

same here... date has been reserved way back a month ago...

will settle for some pics you guys will post after....

Cool, I'll let you know tomorrow

Funny, I was making a list of various ghost-towns/abandoned towns to visit using http://www.ghosttowns.com/ this past week. I <3 looking up abandoned places. (a little scared though of some buildings thinking they'll come crashing down on my head though)

Again, Mother's day, but if any other places peek your interest during not such a hallmark holiday let me know too!

Ditto.

OH ya.... been there and got some kick ass images.....

http://tpmg.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11 ... ght=altona

dude! haven't you seen my posting about Altona! Check it out ^^^

In the linked thread, David said that crews were working on taking down the boarded up homes. Does anyone know what is still there?

+1

Near the end Mike Tanner even geotagged a set of locations.

Many of the buildings are still there. Down the road there is the Union School. Last year it had it's football field but when I went by a few weeks ago it had been removed.

This is an event that really interested me but I was not able to attend. Did you guys go and did you take many photos? Were the buildings still there?

Thanks

Oh yeah, the buildings are still there. So was the snow. Man, was it cold in the morning. Yesh, Dimitri and myself went. No sign of Tyler - but with that weather I can't blame him. The Mennonite Church and graveyard were fun.

We even managed to find that Private Old Western Town that other meetup group is going to. I drove in, knocked on the door to ask permission to go back there but no one answered. They had their keys in the front door!

Our hot lunch at Fast Eddies was great. Then we tootled around looking for views. We spent some time at Secord Conservation area with a lake and marsh, rapids, and a pet cemetery.

I'll post samples and a link when I'm done - probably towards the weekend.

Thanks so much for the information! It sure was cold as I went out for a hike on the Bruce Trail with my dogs and then the skies opened and the hail came in great abundance!

I look forward to seeing your photos. If you ever go again, would love to hear about it.

Thanks again

Anne

They did plow down a bunch of houses that were across the road from the old community centre.... there were 3 houses that were there, and now gone.

I am too lazy to go through the photos, but here's one I loved

<img src="http://www.ljplus.ru/img4/m/o/moontemple/_MG_0401.jpg" alt='457.60 &#1050;&#1041;'>

Ahhh mother's day otherwise known as miss it and die....know it well

Die? No, death is too easy. Miss it and living is what you really should fear.

DG

I think that's a lovely image too Dimitri.
But don't be lazy - it still needs a little work. Clone out that white clutter on the right and it's a winner :)

Hello
This is one of mine from that day ....

<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1159/4596790581_cece7ac536_o.jpg">

Cheers
Yeshwanth

gee, no way, screw it

Ok, I wasn't lazy with this one

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/potatoeye/4602013270/" title="cemetery by Scapevision, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3607/4602013270_4f4ee798d5_o.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="cemetery"></a>

I agree completely with that! The white stuff has to go.

Well I finished working up 22 images here: http://www.pbase.com/reimar/altona
No kick-ass images, but mostly cemeteries (both people and pets), horses and landscapes. Here are three samplers:

Just for Mother's Day:


Husband and wife headstones:


And a landscape:


To be honest, I found the abandoned houses not worth the trip themselves. They are not that old or historic, and they're so completely boarded up that getting inside is impossible. Still, it's an interesting part of Oak Ridges Moraine.