The archive photo features several establishments along Bloor St W, arranged from left to right as follows: The Bank of Nova Scotia, Varsity Restaurant, N & N Super Market, Varsity Books, Pizza Pizza, Empire Boutique clothing & gifts, Meyers Cigar Store and Sam’s Gas Bar (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 55, Item 8)
A few establishments visible in the archive photo, from right to left, include CIBC Banking Centre, Simman’s Jewellers, Chiropractic Clinic, Alicos Copy Center, S.W.A.K. gifts, and the Riviera Restaurant Tavern (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 514, Item 30 – Urban Design photographs)
A few establishments visible in the archive photo include Bloor & Jane Snack Bar & Gray Coach Ticket Office, Hern’s Cleaners, Snelgrove Real Estate, Cecil Ward men’s wear, The Bank of Toronto, Lion Service Station and the Odeon Humber Theatre (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 492, Item 268 – Dorothea Skinner photographs)
Built in 1907, architect George Wallace Gouinlock designed the structure as a joint project for the Exhibition, the Canadian Pacific Railway, and the Grand Trunk Railway. The three-octagon-topped building received heritage status from the city in 1973 (CNE Archives)
The iconic gates were opened in 1927 during the Canadian National Exhibition to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. Initially, the entrance was named “The Diamond Jubilee of Confederation Gates.” They were renamed after Edward, Prince of Wales, and his brother, Prince George, Duke of Kent, following their attendance at the official opening of the Canadian National Exhibition on August 30, 1927.
Toronto architects Chapman and Oxley designed this Beaux-Arts-style structure, and the nine columns that flank the arch represent the nine provinces that were part of the Confederation at that time (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 56, Item 7 – Urban Design photographs)
Built in 1936 and designed by architects Craig & Madill, the Art Deco-style structure received heritage status from the city in 1973 (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 1246 – James Victor Salmon photographer)
The archive photo shows the Lion Service Station in the left foreground, where a quart of oil cost 15¢ and a gallon of gas was 18¢, or about 4¢ a litre. Also notice the directional marker featuring a lion on top of the station’s tower structure.
In the background of the vintage photo are The Bank of Toronto and the 23, 29 and 35 Jane St Apartments. These four buildings all stand today (City of Toronto Archives, Series 372, Sub Series 58, Item 1642 – Dept. of Public Works photographs)
The block of three-storey commercial-residential buildings at 107, 109 and 111 King St E were built around 1842. A few establishments visible in the archive photo include Davidson Sails Marine Supplies Ltd., Trade Office Products, and Office Factory Equipment. This row of Georgian-style buildings was added to the city’s heritage register in 1973 (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 64, Item 11)
Historical city maps show that a house first appeared at the site in 1858. At that time, William Elliot, a druggist, lived at the address. He later expanded the house into a 2½-storey structure. By 1885, it was home to Mr. William Falconbridge, a lawyer, who lived there until the mid-1890s. Various residents occupied it afterwards, and the house had further expansions.
In 1945, the property was converted into the Allan Gate Apartments, and a year later, it became the Pembroke Hotel. In 1974, a fire broke out in the hotel, which had been vacant for a number of years. In the late 1970s, it was once again listed as apartments, followed by the Pembrooke Residence.
More recently, it operated as a Knights Inn. In 2019, the establishment was rebranded as the Pembroke Inn, a 50-room, arts-themed, budget-friendly boutique hotel (City of Toronto Archives, Series 1465, File 626, Item 29 – Urban Design photographs)
Both photos feature the Maple Leaf Gardens building. Construction began on June 1, 1931. Known as one of the “cathedrals of hockey,” the arena was designed by the architectural firm Ross & Macdonald, with associate architects Mackenzie Waters and Jack Ryrie. The building took just five months and 12 days to complete, and on November 12, 1931, the Toronto Maple Leafs played their first hockey game in the arena against the Chicago Blackhawks. During their time in the building, the Leafs won 11 of their 13 Stanley Cups. The Leafs’ final game at Maple Leaf Gardens took place on February 13, 1999, once again against the Blackhawks.
In 2004, Loblaw Companies purchased Maple Leaf Gardens, and renovations began in 2009. The roof, rafters, and exterior of the historic structure were preserved. Today, it houses a Loblaws grocery store and the Mattamy Athletic Centre of Toronto Metropolitan University, which features a 2,700-seat hockey rink on the upper level (Archives of Ontario I0005729)
The archive photo shows when the Arts, Crafts and Hobbies occupied the building (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 365, Item 5 – Urban Design photographs)
The archive photo shows the streetscape from over 80 years ago, and architecturally, not much has changed. Two buildings that still stand today include the Bank of Toronto on the corner, now home to Juno Veterinary, and the Jane Street Apartments, part of which is visible on the left (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 372, Sub Series 58, Item 1644 – Dept. of Public Works photographs)
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register
- Heritage Toronto
- Heritage Toronto: Maple Leaf Gardens plaque (Maple Leaf Gardens, northwest corner of Carlton St & Church St)
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Mar 15, 1974, page 4 (Pembroke Hotel, 117 Pembroke St)
- Pembroke Inn: Property Information (Pembroke Hotel, 117 Pembroke St)
- The Toronto Daily Star Newspaper Archives: May 30, 1931, pg 10 (Maple Leaf Gardens, northwest corner of Carlton St & Church St)
- The Globe Newspaper Archives: Nov 13, 1931, pg 11 (Maple Leaf Gardens, northwest corner of Carlton St & Church St)
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Oct 1, 2004, page G2 (Maple Leaf Gardens, northwest corner of Carlton St & Church St)
- ERA Architects: Maple Leaf Gardens (Maple Leaf Gardens, northwest corner of Carlton St & Church St)
- Welcome to Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic Centre Brochure e0b4c3b836 (Maple Leaf Gardens, northwest corner of Carlton St & Church St)
- Photos: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photos: City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Public Library, Archives of Ontario & CNE Heritage
- City of Toronto: Maps
- Toronto City Directory, courtesy of Toronto Public Library
