Toronto History - Discover Its Past & Present

February 1, 2020 – On the north-facing wall of the three-storey warehouse building located at 425-441 Cherry St and Front St E in the Canary District, there is a ghost sign that reads “Thos. Davidson Mfg. Co. Ltd.” The tin and enamelware company is listed at this address in the 1925 to 1928 Toronto City Directory

Thos. Davidson Mfg. Co. Ltd. Ghost Sign

The Thos. Davidson Mfg. Co. Ltd. ghost sign is located at 425-441 Cherry St (at Front St E, on the southeast corner) in the Canary District of Toronto’s West Don Lands neighbourhood of Toronto.

June 15, 2024 – The north facade of the two-storey brick warehouse at 80 Lynn Williams St in Liberty Village displays a ghost sign with the words “The A. R. Williams Machinery Co. Liberty St. Plant.” The warehouse was designed by the architectural firm Kaplan & Sprachman

A. R. Williams Machinery Company Ghost Signs

H. J. Lavelle Ghost Sign

August 24, 2024 – The north-facing wall of the building located at 260 Spadina Ave in the Kensington-Chinatown neighbourhood features a ghost sign for “M. Wintrob & Sons Ltd” and the words “Welgroom combs, hair curlers, Sun-Rite sunglasses, housewares, Wave-Set”

M. Wintrob & Sons Ltd. Ghost Sign

December 29, 2019 – The east-facing wall of 1607 Dupont St in the Junction-Wallace Emerson neighbourhood features two ghost signs - one for Old Chum Tobacco and the other for Monarch Flour

Monarch Flour & Old Chum Tobacco Ghost Signs

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Toronto’s Terrazzo & Mosaic Tile Entryways

July 4, 2021 – The "DANFORTH RADIO" terrazzo floor entryway is located at 581 Danforth Ave, today home to Treasure Island Toys, in Toronto's Riverdale neighbourhood

Danforth Radio Terrazzo Storefront Entryway

The Danforth Radio terrazzo storefront entryway is located at 581 Danforth Ave (east of Carlaw Ave) in the Riverdale neighbourhood of Toronto.

June 8, 2024 – The “Malvern” terrazzo floor entryway is located at 1021 Kingston Rd, today home to Shea Sells Boutique – Design Nest, in Toronto’s Upper Beaches neighbourhoods

Malvern Men’s Wear Terrazzo Storefront Entryway

July 4, 2021 – The “Lady Ellis Shops Limited” terrazzo floor entryway is located at 187 Roncesvalles Ave, today home to Scooter Girl Toys, in Toronto’s Parkdale and Roncesvalles neighbourhoods

Lady Ellis Shops Limited Terrazzo Storefront Entryway

December 12, 2021 - The colourful mosaic tile floor entryway is located at 735 Queen St E, today home to The Opera House, in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood

The Opera House Mosaic Tile Entryway

June 30, 2024 - The “REWARD SHOES” entryway floor is located 1963 Weston Rd in Toronto’s Weston neighbourhood

Reward Shoes Storefront Entryway

September 20, 2024 – The terrazzo floor entryway at 411 Roncesvalles Ave in Toronto’s Roncesvalles Village neighbourhood features a five-pointed star along with the street number

411 Roncesvalles Ave Terrazzo Storefront Entryway

July 24, 2021 – The entryway of Paradise Theatre at 1006 Bloor St W in Toronto's Bloorcourt Village neighbourhood is adorned with geometric shapes on its terrazzo floor

Paradise Theatre Terrazzo Entryway

June 19, 2021 – The "LAKEVIEW" mosaic tile floor entryway at 531-537 Parliament St in Cabbagetown, was uncovered during the building's exterior restoration in 2019

Lakeview Mosaic Tile Storefront Entryway

June 8, 2024 – The terrazzo floor entryway at 519 Parliament St in Toronto's Cabbagetown neighbourhood features a burst pattern

519 Parliament St Terrazzo Storefront Entryway

Toronto Time Tunnel - Then & Now

September 7, 1931 - The CNE and Princes' Gates

Past & Present – Part 2

Historical photos from Toronto's past. Find photographs from the Toronto Archives combined with present day images at TorontoJourney416.com

1972 - Looking towards the southeast corner of Cherry St and Front St E. From 1965 until 2007, the Canary Restaurant was located in the heritage-designated building. The building has undergone several additions and alterations throughout its history, which dates back to 1859. Other purposes it served include a school, hotel, factory and storage facility

Past & Present – Part 20

1965 - The Princess Margaret Fountain at the Canadian National Exhibition. The fountain was installed in 1958 and is made of reinforced concrete and steel

Past & Present – Part 16

April 1970 - The Spadina Hotel was once located at 460 King St W, at the northwest corner of Spadina Ave, in the Fashion District and Wellington Place neighbourhood of Toronto. The hotel, originally known as the Richardson House, was constructed in several phases beginning in 1875, with the initial 3-storey building located at the corner. Later alterations included a 4-storey brick extension added to the north side in 1890. The hotel changed hands and names a few times, including being called the Hotel Falconer and later Zeigler's Hotel. After facing some violations, the owner had to transfer the hotel's liquor license. Eventually, the hotel regained its liquor license and by 1918 was known as the Hotel Spadina. In the late 1940s, the hotel, which also featured a dining room, opened the Cabana Room on the second floor of the original building. Advertisements in newspapers described the "Cabana Room - A Little Bit of Mexico. Food of the highest quality. Restful atmosphere. Television." Initially, the Cabana Room showcased Latin-American and Continental music, but it later featured jazz, R&B, rock, and folk musicians, including the famous Leonard Cohen. After being owned by one family for 70 years, the Spadina Hotel went into receivership in 1995. Two years later, it was transformed into the Global Village Backpackers Hostel. In 2014, Allied Properties purchased the old hotel, and the hostel was closed. Today, the heritage-designated building is used for retail, office, and commercial space

Past & Present – Part 91

October 18, 2019 – Patrician Grill is located at 219 King St E, just east of Frederick St in the Moss Park neighbourhood of Toronto

Past & Present – Part 109

Between 1978 and 1980 - Looking southeast along Dundas Sq from Yonge St towards the Hard Rock Cafe, formerly Friar's Tavern in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto

Past & Present – Part 50

1940s – Looking northwest from Victoria St at the back of Loew's Yonge Street Theatre, today the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre

Past & Present – Part 17

2020 - Looking north towards the main facade of Toronto Fire Station 312 from Yorkville Ave. The fire hall received heritage status from the city in 1975

Past & Present – Part 12

1910 - The Yonge St and Richmond St E corner of the Confederation Life Building is occupied by the Traders' Bank of Canada. This entrance was added to the corner of the building during renovations in 1899

Past & Present – Part 19

Toronto Music & Venues - Past & Present

2022 - One of the two 22-storey Yonge Street music murals by Adrian Hayles, located on the south side of the building at 423 Yonge St

Yonge Street Music History Murals – Part II

Yonge Street Music History murals are located on a 22-storey building at 423 Yonge St. They commemorate the musicians and places...

July 1973 – Looking northeast towards The Colonial Tavern during the Yonge Street Mall (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1118, Series 377, Item 782)

Colonial Tavern – The Historic Venue’s Part in Toronto’s Music Heritage

June 16, 1980 - Looking southeast toward the construction of Roy Thomson Hall at Simcoe St and King St W in downtown Toronto. The steel-tube framing will support the triangular and diamond-shaped glass that covers the venue

Roy Thomson Hall – Modern Architecture & Rich Acoustics

Mid-1970s - Looking southeast towards the former Friar's Tavern at the corner of Yonge St and Dundas Sq. Nickelodeon also shared the building's second floor. In December 1975, an entertainment listing in the Globe and Mail shows that Dublin Corporation was performing at Friar's, while Mike Lewis was performing in the Drawing Room

Friar’s Tavern – Playing Its Part in Creating the Yonge Street...

December 4, 2021 - The neon Massey Hall sign on the front of Toronto's iconic entertainment venue at Victoria St and Shuter St

Massey Hall – The Historic and Internationally Famous Venue

November 20, 2021 - The Palais Royale at 1601 Lake Shore Blvd W, looking southeast

Palais Royale – Toronto’s Historic & Elegant Lakeside Ballroom

June 23, 1971 – Looking east from Elm St towards A & A Books & Records at 351 Yonge St in downtown Toronto

A & A Books, Records & Tapes – A Piece of...

2019 - The main entrance to The Opera House at 735 Queen St E

Opera House – Preserved its Vaudeville Theatre Architecture Charm

May 23, 2021 - The iconic Masonic Temple/The Concert Hall at the northwest corner of Yonge St and Davenport Rd

Masonic Temple – From a Freemason Gem to a Toronto Music...

Toronto Theatres - Past & Present

Circa 1950 - The Royal Theatre was located at the southeast corner of Dundas St W and Dufferin St in the Little Portugal neighbourhood of Toronto. It operated from 1925 until the mid-1950s, although the building had housed various named theatres since 1911. More recently, it was occupied by Hakim Optical, which has since closed

Royal Theatre – Once at Dundas St W & Dufferin St

The Royal Theatre was once located at the southeast corner of Dundas St W and Dufferin St in Toronto. The building served as a theatre from 1911 through the 1950s.

TorontoJourney416Toronto... past and present

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