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August 15, 2005

Sorry for the inconvenience

The last time I was inside the Hogwarts-ish Stables up the way from Flea Mansions they were done out as the interior of Isengard. Fun. While the long passage between the Stables and Casa Loma does not quite count as underground Toronto it is still fascinating to learn what the WWII military was up to in the space they had rented from the Kiwanis. Casa Loma was and remains a well known tourist attraction. Just the spot Nazi spies would never suspect as a production site for the anti-submarine sonar ASDIC device (hat tip to the Neighbour of the Flea).

The original production site for the ASDIC device in London, England had been bombed during the blitz. The Canadian production of the device was placed into the hands of William Corman Engineering Company Ltd. Sabotage was a real danger so Corman had to choose and assembly site that would not be suspected by the enemy. The site also had to have high ceilings and ample floor space. Casa Loma which was a well-known tourist attraction presented itself as the perfect spot.
...
Security experts today would have shuddered had they seen the one dollar padlock which was all which stood between the public and the secret operations. Stragglers from Casa Loma tours were kept away from the carriage room by a polite sign which read "Construction in progress. Sorry for the inconvenience."

Posted by Ghost of a flea at August 15, 2005 08:27 AM

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