This archive photo was included in a report highlighting the poor state of housing in Toronto. The property was situated in “The Ward,” which was known as an infamous slum in the city’s core. Today, this site is occupied by the Nathan Phillips Square ice rink and reflecting pool.
Old City Hall is also visible in the background. This majestic landmark took a decade to build and opened in 1899. In 1965, the building became a courthouse when the new Toronto City Hall was completed (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 372, Sub Series 32, Item 187 – Dept. of Public Works photographs)
According to the 1988 Toronto City Directory, a few of the shops in the archive photo from left to right include Kennedy Travel Bureau, Kentours Ltd Travel Consultant, Zephyr Arts & Crafts, Two-Ninety Ion, Fanelle’s, The Snow Lion Tibetan Arts & Crafts, Thomas Robe, Bakka Science Fiction Book Shope and About Books.
Except for the stores that occupy the buildings, the streetscape has retained much of its original character during the past thirty years (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 345, Item 13 – Urban Design photographs)
The vintage photo captures the streetscape, with the Uptown Theatre sign on the left side. Today, its façade serves as the entrance to a Rogers store. On the right side, the old image shows the Yonge Station Tavern, which was then a division of the Brass Rail Tavern. This establishment currently operates under the name Brass Rail Tavern (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 2, Item 9)
The archive photo shows the storefront of the building during its tenure as Cinecity Cinema. This theatre commenced operations in 1967 and ceased functioning in 1975, with its final screening being “White Line Fever,” featuring Jan-Michael Vincent.
The edifice, constructed from 1905 to 1906 as Postal Station F, was designed by architect David Ewart, showcasing the Beaux-Arts and Renaissance Revival architectural styles. Its final recorded use as a post office was noted in the 1962 Toronto City Directory. In recognition of its historical significance, the building was designated as a heritage site by the city in 1973 and currently accommodates commercial spaces (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 2, Item 2)
Starting in the centre-left background, the archive photo shows Robertson Drugs in the building currently home to Ali Baba’s restaurant. The building in the centre-right background of the old photo housed Clement Stationery and, oddly enough, was also home to JH McDonald’s Bakery. Today, the corner is occupied by a McDonald’s restaurant. A small portion of the Ossington Avenue Baptist Church is visible in the right foreground.
It’s also worth mentioning that streetcar tracks once ran along Bloor St W and Ossington Ave, as shown in the archive photo (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 16, Series 71, Item 8413 – Alfred Pearson photographer)
The archive photo features Robertson Drugs, a Rexall Cut-Rate Drug Store, in the left foreground. This storefront was recently occupied by Ali Baba’s, as shown in the present-day photo, but it has since closed and is now home to Tahini’s restaurant as of October 2025. In the centre background, you can see the building with the triangular peak that still stands today (City of Toronto Archives, E.L. Ruddy Company fonds, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 2537)
The streetscape in the photos has remained relatively unchanged except for a few properties in the right foreground. The fortress-like Romanesque Revival structure on the left was constructed in 1890 and served as Police Station No. 7 until the late 1960s. Today, the old police station is an office for child care services and the Canadian Italian Family Assistance Association (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 372, Sub Series 58, Item 464 – Dept. of Public Works photographs)
According to the 1976 Toronto City Directory, some shops in the archive photo include Divine Decadence Clothing Boutique, Working Class Hero Clothing Boutique and Yolanta Clothing Boutique. The row houses, constructed in 1891 and designed in the Romanesque architectural style, received heritage designation in 2023 (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 2, Item 10)
The archive photo shows the India House Tavern Restaurant and Cat’s Cradle ladies fashion. Part of a late 19th-century commercial block, from 590-596 Yonge St, the Italianate-style building received heritage designation in 1974 (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 2, Item 42)
The archive photo shows beer cartons full of empties from the Show Biz Restaurant. In the background, several establishments along Yonge St are visible in the old photo, including Fran’s Restaurant, Funland Arcade, and Classy Formal Wear (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 620, Item 67 – Avard Woolaver photographer)
The archive photo shows a watchman’s shanty on the right. Watchmen, also called gate tenders, were stationed in small structures where railway tracks intersected with the city streets. Many shanties were mounted on 4.6 m or 15 ft towers for better visibility in all directions. When a train approached, the watchman climbed down from the shanty to lower the gates manually, stopping vehicles and pedestrians from crossing the tracks and raising the gates after the train passed.
The shanty has long since been removed since the gates now operate using an automated system (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-4933 – James Victor Salmon photographer)
The archive photo shows the Heydon House, characterized by its turret formerly topped with a bell-shaped roof. This building was constructed in the early 1890s for Alexander J Heydon and designed by architect James A Ellis. It was initially intended to accommodate single men employed at the nearby factories and railways. Recognized as a neighbourhood landmark, the city granted the Heydon House heritage status in 1983.
In the current photo, the Heydon House is shown in the background minus the roof on the turret, while Faith Impact Ministry Inc is on the right (City of Toronto Archives, E.L. Ruddy Company fonds, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 2477)
The archive photo shows when Dominion Stores occupied the building’s storefront. According to the Toronto City Directory, the Dominion grocery store was first recorded at this address in the 1930 publication.
Also, notice in the old photo that the extension on the east side had not yet been added to the building. Businesses and residents located in the extension at 320-324 Bloor St W first appeared in the directory in 1931 (Toronto Public Library TSPA_0113082F – Toronto Star Photograph Archive)
The archive photo shows the period when Scouts Toronto occupied the building. The structure has since been demolished, and today, there are plans to construct a 31-storey mixed-use residential tower at 316 Bloor St W on the site (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 8658)
The archive photo shows Kent Senior Public School in the left foreground. It also features the National Cash Register Company in the left background, a building demolished long ago.
In the present-day photo, Kent Senior Public School, which closed in 2012 and was sold to developers in 2016, is currently being incorporated into a mixed-use development known as the Marlow. The image also shows the area between Croatia St and Bloor St W on Dufferin St, highlighting the reduced lawn size and the street’s expanded width, a change implemented in 1948 (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 372, Sub Series 58, Item 817 – Dept. of Public Works photographs)
The archive photo shows a newsstand at the southwest corner that offered a variety of publications.
In both photos, the structure located in the background was built for the Royal Bank of Canada between 1913 and 1915. The building received heritage status from the city in 1976 (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 16, Series 71, Item 4082 – Alfred Pearson photographer)
The archive photo shows several establishments, including F. W. Woolworth Company, Sally Shops Ladies Wears, United Cigar Store, Bond Clothes Shop and Zip Cleaners & Launderers. It also shows the Bank of Montreal and the Kingsway Theatre, both of which continue to operate in the present day (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 7964)
The archive photo of Crown Dominion Service Station shows several noteworthy features, including the promotion of Green Flash Anti-Knock Motor Fuel, which was priced at 18¢ per gallon, or roughly 5¢ per litre. In addition to providing fuel and servicing cars, the station also included a car wash, visible on the right side of the old image.
The corner remained home to a gas station until the mid-1970s when a building was constructed for the Boy Scouts of Canada at that location. Later, the building became the headquarters of the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CFRA). The building was torn down in 2023, and today, there are plans to construct a 31-storey mixed-use residential tower on the site at 316 Bloor St W (City of Toronto Archives, E.L. Ruddy Company fonds, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 4066)
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register
- Heritage Toronto
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: Postal Station “F” Building at 675 Yonge St
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: Heydon House at 1832 St Clair Ave W
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: Kent Senior Public School at 980 Dufferin St
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: 590 to 596 Yonge St
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: 634 to 644 Yonge St
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: 5 to 11 Charles St W
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: 6 to 14 St Joseph St
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Aug 22, 1975, pg T3 (Cinecity Cinema)
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Apr 8, 1967, pg 25 (Cinecity Cinema)
- 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
