The Old Don Jail is visible in both photos on the left (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Transit Commission fonds, Fonds 16, Series 71, Item 2779)
The archive photo provides a glimpse into a bygone era. The first three stories of the building, once at the corner, were constructed in 1860/61 to house the Royal Insurance Company.
In 1904/05, the building became the head office for Gutta Percha & Rubber Limited, which added two additional stories to the structure. An interesting feature of the building was the window at the top front corner, designed in the shape of the Maltese Cross, which was the company’s trademark. Gutta Percha & Rubber Limited specialized in manufacturing rubber goods such as boots, shoes, fire hoses, carriage and motor tires. The term “gutta-percha” refers to a natural latex product made from the sap of Palaquium trees.
After its time as the rubber company’s headquarters, the building became known as the Sainsbury Building (shown in the archive photo), serving as a hub for various offices. It was demolished in the early 1960s to make way for a parking lot, and today, the site is occupied by a modern mirrored office building (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 731)
From 1966 to 2021, the building was the location of Tom Jones Steak House; however, the brick structure has a long history, with many portions dating back to the 1800s.
According to historical maps and directories, the corner was initially the site of a printing shop. In the late 1870s, the building was occupied by Foster James, who operated a mathematical instruments business. By 1884, Grand & Toy opened their first stationary store and later added a two-storey wing on the structure’s north side. In the mid-1890s, the building became the Hub Hotel, then housed jewel and jewel/watch display case businesses. From the late 1910s until about 1964, the property was the site of Smellie & Sons Ltd, a jewellery manufacturer, who added a third storey on the north wing.
Today, the heritage-designated property at 17 Leader Lane/40 Colborne St is commercial space. Adjoining the building’s north and east sides is 65 King East, an office and retail tower
Eugene O’Keefe, a prominent figure in Toronto’s brewing industry, purchased the stately Victorian house at 137 Bond St in 1879 and resided there until his passing in 1913. O’Keefe is best known for acquiring the Victoria Brewery, once located at Gould St and Victoria St, which was later renamed the O’Keefe Brewery. This historic residence, constructed in 1855, received heritage designation by the city in 1984.
Following various uses over the years, in 1963, the property was repurposed as a student residence for Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, now known as Toronto Metropolitan University. Notice St George’s Greek Orthodox Church in the background on the right (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 53, Item 3)
The McLaughlin Planetarium, established in 1968 and funded by Colonel R Samuel McLaughlin with $2 million, closed its doors in 1995. Since 2009, the University of Toronto has owned the historic building, which now houses artifacts under the care of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) (City of Toronto Archives, Series 1465, File 179, Item 29 – Urban Design photographs)
The archive photo shows the Capitol Theatre was once located at 2492 Yonge St. Today, the site once occupied by the theatre is being redeveloped as The Capitol Residences. Its original Art Deco marquee and historic façade are being incorporated into the modern building (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 1485 – James Victor Salmon photographer)
Originally established as the Fairbank Methodist Church, the cornerstone of this historic building was laid on June 27, 1889, and its inaugural service took place in October of the same year. Designated as a heritage site by the city in 2006, Fairbanks United holds great historical significance. Additionally, it serves as the home for the Rising Sun Korean Congregation (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 220, Series 65, File 148, Item 85 – Collection of Alexandra Studio photographs)
In 1891, Alexander J Heydon commissioned the construction of the Heydon House. The building served as a hotel, accommodating single men employed at the bustling nearby railways and factories. James A Ellis, an architect whose work was well-known in the area, designed Heydon House. Notably, the building features a prominent turret originally adorned with a uniquely crafted bell-shaped roof.
The neighbourhood landmark received heritage status from the city in 1983 (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 1110 – James Victor Salmon – photographer)
The archive image shows streetcar track construction along with industrial buildings and dwellings on Dundas St W. Notably, the building on the left housed the Ideal Aluminum Products Limited factory, which specialized in the production of aluminum cooking utensils, as indicated by a visible ghost sign in the present-day photo. This old factory has since been repurposed into a mixed-use space for both living and working, now recognized as the Dundas West Arts Building (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Transit Commission fonds, Fonds 16, Series 71, Item 1697)
The archive photo shows the Dominion Coal and Wood facility at the corner of Mt Pleasant Rd and Merton St. The nine coal silos were constructed in 1928 and dismantled in 2001. Today, the southwest corner is the site of a residential building.
The vintage photo also shows the streetcar line that ran along Mount Pleasant Rd until 1976 (City of Toronto Archives, Series 372, Sub Series 100, Item 361 – Dept. of Public Works photographs)
Built in 1874, architect Richard Cunningham Windeyer designed the Anglican church in Early English pointed Gothic style. It cost $21,000 to construct and features polychromatic brickwork. All Saints Church was granted heritage status by the city in 1974 (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 2, Item 72)
The archive photo captures the buildings and businesses lining Bay St, including establishments like The Cork Room, Golden Star Restaurant, and Top Discount.
Notably, the Toronto Stock Exchange building, shown midway down the street, designed by architects George & Moorehouse in association with S. H. Maw, served as the TSE from 1937 to 1983. The Art-Deco-style building was given heritage designation by the city in 1973 and is currently home to the event venue, Design Exchange (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 1, Item 128)
Lou and Nat Turofsky are pictured in the archive photo, sitting in Lou’s first car. In the background, with the flat canopy, is the People’s Theatre. It was renamed the Rivoli Theatre in 1925; today, the Rivoli serves as a popular restaurant and nightclub venue at 334 Queen St W.
The Turofsky brothers, who operated Alexandra Studios, were renowned for their photography, covering a wide range of subjects from royal dignitaries and celebrities to beauty pageants and sporting events. They also held the prestigious title of being the official photographers of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and their extensive Turofsky Collection is housed at the Hockey Hall of Fame (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 9439)
The photo from the archives captures the scene in front of Toronto Brake Service, once located at 137 Richmond St W. In the background, the majestic Art-Deco-style Concourse Building stands tall, adorned with two eagles and a sunburst on its west side.
In the present-day photo, the glass and steel EY Tower (Ernst & Young) can be seen in the distance. The design of the EY Tower incorporates a reproduction of the Concourse Building’s south and east facades, blending decorative with contemporary architecture. It’s worth noting that the current photo was taken in front of the Toronto Hilton (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 552)
The archive photograph shows a horse parade on Dominion Day, featuring horses tasked with delivering goods such as dairy, baked goods, ice, and beer. The procession served as a reminder of the role horses played when the popularity of gas-powered vehicles was rapidly increasing.
Notably, while the construction of the west and central sections of the Royal York was completed in 1929, the 400-room east wing captured in the right foreground of the current photo was not added until the late 1950s.
The tower in the left background of the archive photo was the city’s second Union Station, which was in use from 1873 until 1927 when the present-day Union Station opened (City of Toronto Archives, Globe and Mail fonds, Fonds 1266, Item 17129)
The corner building at 79 Queen St E was designed by architects WC Vaux Chadwick & Bryan Chadwick in the late 1920s as a branch for the Bank of Nova Scotia. The bank closed this location in 2018. With its architectural significance, the city recognized the building’s importance by granting it heritage status back in 1976.
Notice the Eaton’s truck on the left side of the archive photo (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 51, Item 9)
The taller building in the archive photo was initially known as Hotel Mossop. Built in 1907/08, the eight-storey hotel was designed by architect James P Hynes and consisted of 48 guestrooms. Notably, the hotel was lauded for its “fireproof” construction.
In 1927, it underwent a name change and became known as the Hotel Victoria, a title it still holds today (City of Toronto Archives, William James Family fonds, Fonds 1244, Item 7050)
In the archive photo, notice Lick’s Ice Cream & Burger shop, which opened at this location in 1988. The block was torn down to make way for Yonge-Dundas Square, today known as Sankofa Square (City of Toronto Archives, Series 1465, File 597, Item 39, Urban Design photographs)
In the archival photograph, you can see the Classic Bookshop, Hard Rock Café, and Nickelodeon. Nowadays, these spots have been transformed into Sankofa Square (formerly known as Yonge -Dundas Square), with the corner building being occupied by Shoppers Drug Mart (City of Toronto Archives, Series 1465, File 308, Item 2, Urban Design photographs)
The archive photo shows people playing chess next to Sam the Record Man. Today, the site is home to TMU’s Sheldon & Tracy Levy Student Learning Centre, which replaced buildings that housed Sam the Record Man, A & A’s, and other storefronts (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 19, Item 60, Urban Design photographs)
Notice the Lakeview Restaurant. It has been serving traditional breakfasts and more to its guests since 1932. This dining establishment has been featured in popular TV shows such as Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, as well as making appearances in Hollywood movies like Hairspray and Cocktail (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 71, Item 136)
Originally constructed in 1914/15, this building had a diverse history. It began as the location of the Davis Dance Academy on the main floor, while the second floor served as a residential apartment. Over time, the building was repurposed into a bowling alley and accommodated various commercial tenants.
In 1964, Ann Dunn acquired the property, undertook renovations, and introduced The Matador, a vibrant live country music club. The venue became a prominent fixture in the local music scene, hosting performances by iconic artists such as Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot, and k.d. lang. The Matador ceased operations in 2007. Presently, there are plans for a mixed-use development at this location (Toronto Public Library Lochist-BL-074)
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register
- Heritage Toronto
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- Heritage Toronto: O’Keefe House plaque
- Ontario Jewish Archives: Lou and Nat Turofsky
- The Globe Newspaper Archives: Jul 2, 1929, pg 4 (Horse parade in front of Royal York Hotel)
- The Toronto Daily Star Newspaper Archives: Oct 26, 1968, pg A1 (McLaughlin Planetarium)
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Jan 27, 2009, pg A10 (McLaughlin Planetarium)
- The Toronto Star Newspaper Archives: May 17, 1976, pg C6 (Mt Pleasant Rd from Balliol St)
- The Toronto Star Newspaper Archives: Jul 27, 1998, pg A14 (Mt Pleasant Rd from Balliol St)
- Fairbank United Church Toronto: Our History
- Photos: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photos: City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Public Library, Archives of Ontario & CNE Heritage
- Toronto City Directory courtesy of Toronto Public Library
