Looking northeast towards the former Canadian National Railway Office Building (CNR Building) at the corner of Cherry St and Front St E, in the Canary District of Toronto’s West Don Lands neighbourhood.
In 1905, the Canadian Northern Railway, which later became part of the Canadian National Railway, bought land east of Cherry St and south of Eastern Ave. Over the next decade, the railway company demolished over 200 houses on the land as part of its expansion plans. Around 1923, they constructed their own facilities, including the freight office building shown in the photos. The building was used until 1970, when the railways started to leave the area.
In the late 1980s, the government took over a large part of the railway land for redevelopment, including the former CNR freight office at 453 Cherry St. The building was given heritage status in 2005. It and the historic former Palace Street School building across the street serve as an entrance to the modern neighbourhood.
Then and Now
SOURCE
- Photo: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photo: City of Toronto Archives
