1957 – Looking northwest towards the Edgewater Hotel, once at 14 Roncesvalles Ave, just north of The Queensway in the Sunnyside and Parkdale neighbourhoods of Toronto (Toronto Public Library R-5626)
The Edgewater Hotel was once located at 14 Roncesvalles Ave (just north of The Queensway, on the west side) in the Sunnyside and Parkdale neighbourhoods of Toronto.
In June 1939, construction began on Fred Hammer’s new hotel, the Edgewater. There was fierce opposition from residents, businesspeople and clergy not only to the hotel itself but also to its liquor license. There was even a “sit-in” protest planned at the hotel’s site. Despite that, within just a few months, the Edgewater Hotel was completed, and when it opened, it featured over 40 guestrooms, a beer parlor and had nightly entertainment. The hotel was also next door to the former Sunnyside Bus Terminal (today home to McDonald’s) and in close proximity to the former Sunnyside Amusement Park and the Canadian National Exhibition grounds.
The Edgewater’s iconic neon sign was later added to the building’s southeast corner, and it remained perched there until its removal in 2009 due to deterioration.
In 1946, Mr. Hammer sold the hotel, and over the years, the Edgewater has had various owners. It was also the place to enjoy cheap, ice-cold draft beer. In the mid-1990s, it was renamed the Royal Princess; however, by that time, unlawful activities were taking place in the hotel, and it closed. It later became a Days Inn, then a Howard Johnson’s. Since 2020, it’s been home to Hotel Shelter in partnership with the City of Toronto.
Did you know that four different streets intersect at this corner? Roncesvalles Ave to the north, Queen St W to the east, King St W to the south and The Queensway to the west.
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Edgewater Hotel Photos
October 13, 1957 – Looking northwest towards the Edgewater Hotel, once at 14 Roncesvalles Ave, just north of The Queensway in the Sunnyside and Parkdale neighbourhoods of Toronto. The Edgewater had a neon sign that lit up the top of the building. Next to the hotel was the Sunnyside Bus Terminal, and inside was the B & G Coffee Shop Milk Bar. Today, the former Edgewater is Hotel Shelter, and McDonald’s is located in the former bus terminal (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-5626 – James Victor Salmon photographer)1994 – Looking south down Roncesvalles Ave towards the Edgewater Hotel in the Parkdale and Sunnyside neighbourhoods of Toronto (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 620, Item 754 – Avard Woolaver photographer)2022 – Looking towards the northwest corner of Roncesvalles Ave and The Queensway in the Sunnyside and Parkdale neighbourhoods. Howard Johnson’s Inn was originally the Edgewater Hotel, built in 19391939 – Looking northwest from Queen St W and King St W towards the construction of the Edgewater Hotel at 14 Roncesvalles Ave in Toronto (Parkdale Village Historical Society)June 11, 1941 – An aerial view of the northwest corner of The Queensway and Roncesvalles Ave. The Sunnyside Bus Terminal opened in the mid-1930s, and Grey Coach Bus Lines (owned by the TTC) operated out of the terminal. Next door was the Edgewater Hotel. It was built and opened in 1939 and operated by Fred Hammer. In the background is the TTC Roncesvalles Carhouse, a storage and maintenance facility for streetcars (Library and Archives Canada PA-054693)2023 – Looking northwest towards the corner of Roncesvalles Ave and The Queensway in TorontoCirca 1960 – Looking north towards the corner of Roncesvalles Ave and The Queensway in the Sunnyside and Parkdale neighbourhoods. Notice that Tedel Travel was once located in the former Sunnyside Bus Terminal building, today home to McDonald’s. Just behind it is the Edgewater Hotel, which opened in 1939 (City of Toronto Archives, Series 648, File 220, Item ID 2)2021 – Looking north towards the corner of Roncesvalles Ave and The Queensway in Toronto. Today home to McDonald’s, the building was originally the Sunnyside Bus Terminal, while the Howard Johnson’s Inn (today’s Hotel Shelter) was the Edgewater Hotel1979 – Looking north up Roncesvalles Ave from the intersection of Queen St W, King St W and The Queensway. The Edgewater Hotel’s neon sign was perched on the building’s southeast corner for decades and was taken down in 2009 (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 72, Item 90)2023 – Looking north up Roncesvalles Ave from the intersection of King St W, The Queensway, and Queen St W in the Sunnyside and Parkdale neighbourhoods of Toronto. Howard Johnson’s Inn on the left was once the Edgewater HotelCirca 1960 – Looking northeast towards the corner of Roncesvalles Ave, Queen St E and The Queensway in the Parkdale and Sunnyside neighbourhoods of Toronto. Notice the former Sunnyside Bus Terminal and the former Edgewater Hotel on the left (City of Toronto Archives, Series 648, File 220, Item ID 3)August 22, 1979 – Looking northeast from The Queensway towards the intersection of Roncesvalles Ave, Queen St W and King St W. On the left, notice the Edgewater Hotel, which was built in 1939 (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 72, Item 153)July 2009 – Looking southwest from Roncesvalles Ave towards The Queensway in Toronto. The Edgewater Hotel sign is still hanging on the building; however, the hotel had become a Days Inn by this time. The old neon sign was taken down on November 3, 2009, due to deterioration (Google Maps)July 2009 – The former Edgewater Hotel’s neon sign hung on the building’s southeast corner until November 3, 2009. By this time, the hotel located at 14 Roncesvalles Ave had become a Days Inn (Google Maps)Circa 1920 – Looking towards the Sunnyside Restaurant, once at the northwest corner of Roncesvalles Ave and Queen St W (today The Queensway). The corner later became home to the former Sunnyside Bus Terminal and Edgewater Hotel (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 1673)2023 – Looking northwest towards the corner of Roncesvalles Ave and The Queensway in the Parkdale and Sunnyside neighbourhoods of Toronto1941 – The Toronto City Directory showing the address and phone number of the Hotel Edgewater (Toronto Public Library) 1993 – The Toronto Yellow Pages showing an ad for the Edgewater Hotel (Toronto Public Library) 1996/97 – The Toronto Yellow Pages showing the address and phone number of the Royal Princess Hotel, originally the Edgewater Hotel (Toronto Public Library)
SOURCE
The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Jun 17, 1939, pg 4
The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Jun 19, 1939, pg 4
The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Jan 6, 1947, pg 4
I was standing at the streetcar stop in front of this building at 14 Roncesvalles and saw a security guard let someone in, I asked her what it was and she said a homeless shelter. It looks pretty nice for a shelter. I remember when it was the Edgewater and Howard Johnson. Booking.com is still advertising rooms for $100. I also remember the Greyhound Bus station there.
Thanks for all the pictures and research you did.
Hi Joe, great article on the Edgewater Hotel. I have so many great, good, so so and bad memories of the Edgewater between April 1981 and Nov 1986, those were the years I owned the hotel. My staff were educators on the hotel industry. Union staff teaches you lessons very quickly. Without them, as a 26 yr old newbie I would have been lost! Some servers were lifers at the Edgewater. Jimmy Jackson the union steward was as nice as he was tall. Julie and Eddie were a couple of the older staff members but did their job flawlessly. Two rooms each licensed for 300 plus a restaurant licensed for 60 and 34 hotel rooms with some full time guests was a daunting challenge but as I said earlier, I had real hands on teachers, the best type of educators! It’s sad to know that it did not survive as a country and western draft house and has now been converted into a shelter. Another era ended. 🙁
Hi Lindo, Thank you for sharing those details. It sounds like it was quite an interesting experience for you. It’s great to hear from someone with such a direct connection to the hotel.
When I was 8 years old, I bought a shoe-shine kit and stood outside the front door of the Edgewater shining shoes! Seeing those old pictures really made my day.
I remember the bus stop and restaurant. There was once a Parkdale Train station across the street. There was a coffee shop in there that I remember going to.
So many years gone by. I grew up in Parkdale but moved to the Arctic for work. Been up here 45 years now.
Thanks for the Edgewater article. It hit the spot!
I was born in 1936 and grew up in house on corner of Harvard and Roncesvalles. My dad a golden years boxer was a bouncer at the Edgewater hotel. Used to steal a ride in street cars parked in car barns next door. What memories.
I was standing at the streetcar stop in front of this building at 14 Roncesvalles and saw a security guard let someone in, I asked her what it was and she said a homeless shelter. It looks pretty nice for a shelter. I remember when it was the Edgewater and Howard Johnson. Booking.com is still advertising rooms for $100. I also remember the Greyhound Bus station there.
Thanks for all the pictures and research you did.
Hi Joe, Thanks for sharing and I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures and article.
Hi Joe, great article on the Edgewater Hotel. I have so many great, good, so so and bad memories of the Edgewater between April 1981 and Nov 1986, those were the years I owned the hotel. My staff were educators on the hotel industry. Union staff teaches you lessons very quickly. Without them, as a 26 yr old newbie I would have been lost! Some servers were lifers at the Edgewater. Jimmy Jackson the union steward was as nice as he was tall. Julie and Eddie were a couple of the older staff members but did their job flawlessly. Two rooms each licensed for 300 plus a restaurant licensed for 60 and 34 hotel rooms with some full time guests was a daunting challenge but as I said earlier, I had real hands on teachers, the best type of educators! It’s sad to know that it did not survive as a country and western draft house and has now been converted into a shelter. Another era ended. 🙁
Hi Lindo, Thank you for sharing those details. It sounds like it was quite an interesting experience for you. It’s great to hear from someone with such a direct connection to the hotel.
When I was 8 years old, I bought a shoe-shine kit and stood outside the front door of the Edgewater shining shoes! Seeing those old pictures really made my day.
I remember the bus stop and restaurant. There was once a Parkdale Train station across the street. There was a coffee shop in there that I remember going to.
So many years gone by. I grew up in Parkdale but moved to the Arctic for work. Been up here 45 years now.
Thanks for the Edgewater article. It hit the spot!
Hi Stevan, Thank you for sharing your story and it sounds like you have some nice memories there. I’m glad you enjoyed the article.
I was born in 1936 and grew up in house on corner of Harvard and Roncesvalles. My dad a golden years boxer was a bouncer at the Edgewater hotel. Used to steal a ride in street cars parked in car barns next door. What memories.
Hi Bob, Thanks for sharing that. It sounds like you had some fun in the neighbourhood!