Looking northeast towards Bloor St W and Avenue Rd from Queen’s Park in the Yorkville neighbourhood of Toronto.
Both photos feature the Church of the Redeemer, an Anglican church designed in the English Gothic style by the architects Smith & Gemmell. The cornerstone was laid in October 1878, and the first service took place eight months later, in June 1879. Newspapers of the day noted the church was located opposite the north gate of Queen’s Park (before the construction of the Legislative Building). The gate can be seen on the left in the archive photo. Since 1983, the L-shaped Renaissance Plaza has stood behind the heritage-designated Church of the Redeemer.
In the foreground of the old photo, a fenced lot is visible across from the church. Since its completion in 1912, the southeast corner has been home to the Department of Household Science Building, also known as the Lillian Massey Building, at the University of Toronto.
Then and Now
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register
- Heritage Toronto
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada
- The Globe Newspaper Archives: Oct 17, 1878, pg 4
- The Globe Newspaper Archives: Jun 16, 1879, pg 4
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Nov 5, 1983, pg H8
- Photo: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photo: Toronto Public Library
- City of Toronto: Maps
- Toronto City Directory, courtesy of Toronto Public Library
