A plaque celebrating Long Branch as a popular summer resort has been placed at Lake Shore Blvd. W. and Thirty-First Street to help mark our history.

‘These days people head north to what is now cottage country, but in the late 1800’s Long Branch was the choice summer destination for many,” organizers say.

The plaque commemorates how the ‘Long Branch Summer Resort’ became the Village of Long Branch. Many Toronto residents were attracted to the resort, which was 45-minutes by steamship from Yonge St., and featured a fountain, hotel, carousel, games, picnic grounds, dance pavilion waterslide and pier.

The resort was a must-visit and by 1888 ships as the White Star and Greyhound were bringing 50,000 visitors to the Long Branch community.

“The resort quickly became synonymous with all that a summer resort should be,” according to promotional materials.

The success of the resort attracted the electric railway system here in 1895. And, in 1930 the community was incorporated as the Village of Long Branch.

“Many changes have taken place to Long Branch over the years, but today’s residents maintain a strong sense of community,” the plaque says.

Long Branch is the home of the lovely lakefront Marie Curtis Park and was among the places hit hard by Hurricane Hazel in October 1954 which killed more than 80 people in Canada.

The plaque was made in partnership with the City of Toronto, the Long Branch BIA, Long Branch Neighbourhood Association and local historian Ray Cole.