Hear you are: neighbourhood stories at [murmur] Toronto
Have you ever noticed those green, ear-shaped metal signs posted around your neighbourhood?
They are part of the [murmur] project – dedicated to making site-specific oral history available on the street. Passersby can call the number on the sign or visit the website to hear unique stories told by people from all walks of life. Some of the storytellers grew up in the neighbourhood, others own a business there, or studied its architecture. Their tales range from the scholarly to the everyday, from brushes with fame to quiet recollections.
Since I walk past College & Spadina most days, I enjoyed listening to the audio clips about The Grange, The Annex and Kensington Market. Some highlights: John Degen reading Milton Acorn's poem "I've tasted my blood," right outside the Hotel Waverly, where Acorn spent the last 15 years of his life. Also: Emma Lawson talking about the rumoured fridge full of eyeballs at 1 Spadina. And Pete Pelisek describing one of those magical moments, when, coming home in the wee hours, he saw an unexpected sight on Augusta Ave.
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