At the corner, two of the oldest buildings on the block showcase their three-storey red brick facades. The building at 254 King St E, built in two phases, started as Stagg Inn and Noble’s Tavern in 1847 by William Noble, with an addition in 1891. Next door, at 256 King St E, the building was constructed in 1890 for Charles Steinle, a provisions merchant with a pork packing company. Over the years, these buildings have hosted a variety of businesses.
Significant parts of these historic structures will be preserved and incorporated into the Grainger, a 38 and 40-story mixed-use development that will occupy an entire city block (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 18, Item 8)
Constructed in 1903, architect George Martel Miller designed the building for the Adams Bros Harness Manufacturing Company. It occupied the space until 1917, when it was repurposed into an Eaton’s Company warehouse. Throughout its history, the building has been home to various businesses and holds significant architectural importance, receiving heritage status from the city (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 20, Item 29)
In the archive photo, The National Cash Register Company is visible on the southwest corner. Both photos show the Canadian Bank of Commerce, now known as CIBC, which still occupies the same location a century later (City of Toronto Archives, E.L. Ruddy Company fonds, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 2706)
The archive postcard shows the Shrine Peace Memorial and in the background, from left to right, the roof of the former Transportation/International Building, the Bandshell Café (today known as Acqua Dolce), The Bandshell and the Horticulture Building (today known as the Toronto Event Centre).
In the present-day photo, notice the Shrine Peace Memorial, Acqua Dolce, The Bandshell, and in the distance, the Carillon Tower, originally the Carlsberg Carillon (CNE Archives)
The historic building originally functioned as the Toronto dealership of the McLaughlin Motor Company, which was a subsidiary of General Motors of Canada established by Robert Samuel McLaughlin of Oshawa. The architecture firm Hutton and Souter designed the structure in 1925 in the Neo-Gothic style. For over five decades, from 1955 to 2007, it housed the Addison on Bay Cadillac dealership. The city gave the building heritage status in 1989 (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 59, Item 9)
The archive photo shows the construction of the Dufferin Gate, which was completed for the opening of the 1959 CNE. Architect Philip R. Brook designed the parabolic archway in the Mid-Century Modern style. The Dufferin Gate stands 20 m or 65 ft tall and cost over $250,000 to build. The structure received heritage status from the city in 1993.
Notice the Government Building on the right background, which is home to the Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 220, Series 65, File 58, Item 8 – Collection of Alexandra Studio photographs)
The archive photo shows the building at 651-653 Yonge St during its time as the Astor Theatre. Built in 1912, the 2½ storey Second Empire-style building was originally home to the Victoria Theatre. Over the years, it has had a few name changes, including Embassy, Astor, New Yorker, Showcase, Festival and Panasonic, before becoming the CAA Theatre in 2018. The building received heritage designation from the city in 2016 (City of Toronto Archives, Strathy Smith fonds, Fonds 1128, Series 380, Item 288)
The building directly at the corner was originally the residence of William Cawthra, designed by architect Joseph Sheard and constructed in 1852. The building was transformed into a bank following Mr Cawthra’s passing in 1880. It first served as the location for the Molson Bank, then the Stirling Bank, and eventually as offices for the Bank of Nova Scotia.
In 1946, the building, along with neighbouring structures, were demolished to make way for the head office of the Bank of Nova Scotia. The archive photo also captures the head office of the Canada Life Assurance Company next to the bank (City of Toronto Archives, William James Family fonds, Fonds 1244, Item 7098)
The archive photo captures the elegant Canadian Bank of Commerce Building on the left, the Imperial Bank of Canada Building once situated directly at the corner and the former Toronto Telegram building on the far right at Melinda St, when it intersected with Bay St.
Today, the heritage-designated Canadian Bank of Commerce Building continues to stand, and the corner is home to Commerce Court (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 410)
Originally built in 1833, the Georgian-style building on the corner was constructed for Daniel Brooke, a merchant in the town of York. The building underwent extensive reconstruction in the months before the devastating Toronto Great Fire of 1849. Despite the widespread destruction caused by the nearby stable fire, this building escaped significant damage.
In the archive photo, various shops are visible, including the Sportsman Shop, Renaissance Gift Wares & Handicrafts, and Office Furniture. The Daniel Brooke Building was given heritage designation in 1973. The old photo also captures the Albany House and, further in the distance, the building with the water tower, which was once the home of Hallmark Cards and now serves as George Brown College (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 22, Item 34)
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register
- Heritage Toronto
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada
- The Globe Newspaper Archives: Dec 17, 1903, pg 12 (King St W & Bay St, northeast corner)
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Sep 18, 1946, pg 7 (King St W & Bay St, northeast corner)
- 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
