Annesley Hall was constructed between 1902 and 1903 to serve as a residence for women students at Victoria University in the University of Toronto. It officially opened on October 1, 1903. This red-brick building, funded by contributions from the Massey family, was designed by the architect George M Miller to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere reminiscent of home. Its design features bay windows and shaped Flemish gables, adding a distinctive character to its roofline.
The hall is named in honour of Susannah Wesley (née Annesley), whose son, John Wesley, founded the Methodist movement within the Church of England. Recognizing its historical and architectural significance, the city granted Annesley Hall heritage status in 1976, and it was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990 (City of Toronto Archives, Alexander W. Galbraith fonds, Fonds 1568, Item 189)
The archive photo shows the streetscape over 60 years ago. A few stand-out features include the streetcar line that once ran along Bloor St, the University Theatre, and the construction of what was originally named the CIL Building, which includes the two-story heritage-designated Torno Penthouse on its rooftop. The vintage photo also shows Holt Renfrew at its previous location and the Park Plaza Hotel in the distance.
Today, the former University Theatre’s restored and rebuilt limestone facade remains, and the storefront is home to Burberry. The CIL Building had several stories added to it in the mid-2000s, and the Park Plaza has since been renamed the Park Hyatt Toronto (City of Toronto Archives, Eric Trussler fonds, Fonds 1567, Series 648, File 70, Item 11)
The archive photo shows The Coffin Block in the centre. Constructed in the 1830s and designed by architect John Ewart, this structure garnered the moniker “The Coffin Block” due to its coffin-like appearance.
The Coffin Block was torn down to make way for the Gooderham Building, designed by architect David Roberts Jr and completed in 1892. At the time, it was the most expensive office building in the city, and today, it is one of Toronto’s most iconic and photographed structures (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-6239)
The streetscape has changed significantly over the past 130 years; however, two buildings remain consistent in both photos: St Lawrence Hall, situated in the left foreground, and the Daniel Brooke Building, a four-storey structure in the right background.
The Toronto Shoe Company building, visible in the left background of the archive photo, has long since been replaced by the structure originally constructed for The Canadian Bank of Commerce (Toronto Public Library B11-3B)
The archive photo shows the Toronto Star vendor at the northeast corner, while both images feature College Park in the background, which was formerly the location of Eaton’s College Street Store (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 620 Item 112 – Avard Woolaver photographer)
The streetscape has changed over the past 85 years; however, two buildings remain consistent in both photos: St Lawrence Hall in the center-left and the Cathedral Church of St James in the right distance (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 16, Series 71, Item 12846 – Alfred Pearson photographer)
The house that’s front and centre in the archive photo, at 10 Madison Ave, has since been replaced by greenspace known today as Paul Martel Park. The residence on the right at 12 Madison Ave was granted heritage status by the city in 1974 (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 8317)
The school, which was designed by architects Burden & Gouinlock, opened September 6, 1927 and is operated by the Toronto District School Board (Toronto Public Library S1-4040B – James Victor Salmon photographer)
The archive photo shows a Toronto Fire Department aerial truck travelling westbound on Lombard St. Additionally, a partial view of Lombard Street Fire Hall No. 5 appears in the background of the two images, situated behind the buildings on the left. Today, the old fire hall is home to the CMU College of Makeup Art & Design (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-1853 – James Victor Salmon photographer)
Built between 1912 and 1914, American theatre magnate Marcus Loew commissioned architects Thomas W. Lamb and Stanley Makepeace to create the impressive Edwardian-style double-decker theatres. This location served as the flagship for the Canadian theatre chain, originally showcasing vaudeville acts and silent films.
The recently restored ghost sign on the upper wall displays “Loew’s Leads in Toronto – Show Starts Daily 9:30 AM.” The theatres are unique, being the last of their architectural style in the world, and they hold the distinction of being a National Historic Site of Canada (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster Fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 100)
Constructed between 1885 and 1887, this impressive building was designed by the architectural firm Darling & Curry to replace a previous Bank of Montreal branch that had stood at the site since 1845. By 1982, the current structure required significant repairs, leading to the branch’s closure, and the building remained dormant for nearly a decade.
The historic bank building was acquired for the development of Brookfield Place, and as part of an agreement with the city, it underwent restoration and repurposed for a non-profit cultural institution. The Hockey Hall of Fame emerged as an ideal fit, and in 1993, it opened its doors, establishing itself as Canada’s “cathedral for the icons of hockey” (City of Toronto Archives, Alexander W. Galbraith fonds, Fonds 1568, Item 224-1)
The archive photo shows The Canadian Bank of Commerce in the left foreground, and next to it is the former Toronto Fire Station No. 14. The fire hall was in operation from 1889 to the early 1960s. The two-storey building beside the fire hall was Police Station No. 7, which served the community from the 1890s through the late 1960s.
A CIBC branch continues to occupy the corner, as shown in the present-day photo, while the fire hall was demolished long ago to make way for the TTC Subway Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth) Ossington Station. The old police station, characterized by its red brick facade in the background, has since been repurposed for alternative uses. One last item to notice is the building in the right foreground, which still stands today, was once home to a drug store (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-3752 – James Victor Salmon photographer)
The images depict The Bell Telephone Company of Canada at 1038 Dufferin Street. The original buildings were constructed in three phases from 1918 to 1931, with architectural contributions from William John Carmichael, who designed the exchange building in 1918 and an addition in 1924, and Frederick John Macnab, who was responsible for a significant addition in 1931 (City of Toronto Archives, Globe and Mail fonds, Fonds 1266, Item 5251)
The archive photo features several establishments, including Caplan Appliances, in the right foreground. Also on the right, but across the street at Margueretta St, is the former Hotel Lasalle, today the House of Lancaster. In the left foreground, Automatic Wash-Rite Laundry and the Brown & Shapero Fur Company are visible. Additionally, Duffy’s Tavern, located midway down the street, continues to operate to this day (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 5623)
Both photos show The Bank of Nova Scotia, today known as Scotiabank, at the northeast corner; however, a branch has been located at the corner, though in a different building, since approximately 1910. The photos also capture the two-storey building next to the bank, which was once home to the Varsity Restaurant and, more recently, was a Pizza Pizza location.
Notice in the archive photo that streetcars once operated along Bloor St W before the opening of Line 2 subway (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 11)
The archive photo shows the York Apartments, a mixed-use structure on the left, completed in 1912. Across the street, the northeast corner remains home to a Scotiabank branch, although it’s now in a contemporary building. The photo also captures the two-storey building next to the bank, which was once home to the Varsity Grill and, more recently, was a Pizza Pizza location. Another item to mention in the old photo is the Dominion Store, which is visible behind the bus (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 372, Sub Series 58, Item 2032 – Dept. of Public Works photographs)
The building was constructed in 1953 and was originally known as the Young Men’s-Young Women’s Hebrew Association, as shown in the archive photo. While the YM-YWHA, or the “Y,” initially focused on sports, the organization expanded to offer community services and cultural and arts programs for both adults and children. In 1978, the building was renamed the Jewish Community Centre or the JCC.
Following major renovations, the centre was inaugurated under a new name, The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre, in 2004. Rooted in Jewish values, the Miles Nadal JCC welcomes individuals of all faiths and cultural backgrounds (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 55, Item 3)
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: Gooderham Building at 49 Wellington St E
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: University Theatre at 100 Bloor St W
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: Torno Penthouse at 130 Bloor St W
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: Annesley Hall at 95 Queens Park
- Heritage Toronto
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- National Historic Site of Canada: Annesley Hall at 95 Queens Park
- The Toronto Daily Star Newspaper Archives: Sep 6, 1927, pg 12 (Runnymede Collegiate Institute)
- 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
