In 2016, the building at 620 Yonge St, constructed in 1878, including 622 and 622A Yonge St, was listed on the city’s heritage register as part of the Historic Yonge Street Heritage Conservation District (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 2, Item 47)
According to the 1907/08 Toronto City Directory, a few establishments in the archive photo from right to left include Balley & Oben (plasterers), Golden All-Metal Weather Strip Company and Malcom McBain (mercantile).
The 11-story architectural gem in the background is the Temple Building. Considered Toronto’s first skyscraper, it was designed by George W Gouinlock and opened in 1898. Until 1950, the building was the headquarters for the Independent Order of Foresters (IOF), a fraternal society and life insurance company. In 1970, the Temple Building was demolished; however, a fragment of it can still be found today at the Guild Inn Estate. Since 1972, the 32-story office tower, now known as 390 Bay St, has occupied the northwest corner (City of Toronto Archives, William James Family fonds, Fonds 1244, Item 7036)
The archive photo shows the Dominion Bank, which was located at the southwest corner. Behind it stands the former Temple Building, marked by the initials “IOF” at its top. Although much of the streetscape has changed over the past century, TD Bank, the successor to the Dominion Bank, still occupies the corner, though it is now in a modern building (City of Toronto Archives, William James Family fonds, Fonds 1244, Item 7361)
The structure featuring the distinctive tower in the background was originally known as Knox College, an architectural marvel constructed in 1885. This historic site is now integrated into the University of Toronto and is currently referred to as the Daniels Building.
In the foreground on the right, the building with Neilson’s Jersey Milk Chocolate Bar sign was formerly occupied by Tip Top Tailors, as shown in the archive photo. It also shows the Hotel Waverley, a four-storey low-rise structure on the left. The hotel ceased operations in 2017, and the subsequent year, it was demolished to construct The Waverley condominium tower, as shown in the present-day photo (City of Toronto Archives, Strathy Smith fonds, Fonds 1128, Series 380, Item 302)
Some of the establishments in the archive photo from the left foreground to south of College St include the Budapest Fruit & Grocery, D. Goodman & Sons (hardware), Spadina Car Wash, Famous Dairy Restaurant & Bakery, International Steam Bath and El Mocambo Tavern.
While the shops in the storefronts have changed over the past 50 years, El Mocambo Tavern remains a longstanding presence in the area (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 119, Item 82 – Urban Design photographs)
Some of the establishments in the archive photo from right to left include the Spadina Car Wash, D. Goodman & Sons (hardware), Budapest Fruit & Grocery and Chicago Bargain House (clothing). Except for the stores, the streetscape has retained much of its original character over the past half-century (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 65, Item 36)
The archive photo features various establishments, arranged from right to left, including Avis Rent-A-Car and a parking garage within the former Cyclorama building, the Swiss Bear Lounge, the Rath Skeller Restaurant, and the Walker House. In the background, Union Station and the Dominion Public Building are visible and remain significant landmarks.
Also, notice the brown and white AMC Gremlin parked in front of Avis in the vintage photo (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 3, Item 58)
The archive photograph features several establishments arranged from left to right, including Herman Hodge (fruit), A and B Store (confectionery), Canadian Wool Company, E. N. Moyer Company (school furnishings), Williams A. R. Machinery Company, the Queen’s Hotel, the Wilson Building, and Gordon, Mackay & Company (whole dry goods).
Also, notice the billboard in the centre background of the vintage photo promoting the 1926 stage play “Oh, Please.” It featured Beatrice Lillie, a Canadian-born British actress renowned for her contributions as a singer and comedic performer.
Today, the Royal York Hotel occupies this stretch of the block. This grand Chateau-style structure was completed in 1929 and has been recognized as the premier establishment within a series of hotels initially owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway (Toronto Public Library TSPA_0113121F – Toronto Star Photograph Archive)
The archive photo shows the New Brass Kettle Restaurant, and today, that same storefront at 1 Baldwin St is home to the St Louis Bar & Grill (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 43, Item 15)
The archive photo shows the corner several decades prior to the development of the Royal York Hotel. Completed in 1929, this opulent Chateau-style building was regarded as the premier establishment in a collection of hotels originally owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway. Today, the hotel is part of the Fairmont brand (City of Toronto Archives, William James Family fonds, Fonds 1244, Item 1172)
In 1956, it was moved to its present-day location in the park (about 100 m south) on the Sherbourne St side, about midway between Gerrard St E and Carlton St.
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and lyricist widely regarded as Scotland’s national poet. He was born on January 25, 1759, and died on July 21, 1796, at the age of 37. The bronze statue was created by sculptor David W Stevenson of Edinburgh, Scotland and unveiled in 1902 (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-644 – Joseph Adamson Blakey photographer)
The archive photo features Malabar Costumer on the right. Established in Winnipeg by Sara Mallabar, her son Harry opened a location in Toronto on Spadina Ave in 1923. As the business grew, the store relocated to a larger location at 309-311 King St W. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed that building in 1956, prompting a move to 10-14 McCaul St. After nearly a century in the city, the Toronto location closed in 2022, but the Ottawa store continues to operate to this day.
The vintage photo also captures a two-storey commercial building in the centre-left. Back then, Toronto Barber School and a convenience store operated out of the building. Today, it accommodates a variety of businesses (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 43, Item 31)
The archive photo captures the streetscape with people on the sidewalk and in the phone booths. Those phone booths are now a thing of the past, and the wall has been transformed with a vibrant mural created by artist Alley Catz for FoodRama Taqueria Bar, which is currently located in the building. In the old image, the Barn Restaurant sign at 598 Queen St W can be seen, whereas today, Alpha’s Shawarma occupies the storefront.
Also, notice the marquee for the Golden Dragon Theatre at 600 Queen St W in the background of the archive photo. This theatre operated from 1983 to 1987, but prior to that, it was known as the Rosemary Theatre for a few years. Originally, the building was home to the Orpheum Theatre, which opened in the mid-1940s and operated until 1977. Currently, the former theatre houses Home Craft Decor and Toronto Alliance Church. Interestingly, the marquee above the entrance remains intact (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 620, Item 91 – Avard Woolaver photographer)
According to the 1971/72 Toronto City Directory, a few of the businesses in the archive photo from left to right include a portion of the Clifton House (more recently known as Black Bull Tavern and today Score on Queen), Kennedy Travel Bureau, Empire Studio Photos, Public Exchange Mart, Parkway Bakers, Finlandia House Grocery, Bargain Clothing Centre and the New Book Store.
With the exception of the stores that occupy the buildings, the streetscape has retained much of its original character during the past half-century (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 2, Item 124)
The archive photo shows the building’s storefront when it housed Cinecity Cinema. This theatre opened its doors in 1967 and closed in 1975, with its final film being “White Line Fever,” starring Jan-Michael Vincent.
The building, constructed between 1905 and 1906 as Postal Station F, was designed by architect David Ewart in the Beaux-Arts and Renaissance Revival styles. Its last appearance as a post office was recorded in the 1962 Toronto City Directory. The building received heritage designation from the city in 1973 and is currently home to commercial space (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 2, Item 15)
The archive photo features the former Toronto Fire Station No. 14 and its beautiful tower, once located at 754 Ossington Ave. Completed in 1889, this fire station operated until the early 1960s. In the old photo, a branch of the Canadian Bank of Commerce is on the left side of the fire hall, while Police Station No. 7 is on the right.
Although the fire hall was demolished to make way for the TTC Ossington Station, the CIBC branch at the corner remains, and the old police station has been repurposed for other uses (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-3751 – James Victor Salmon photographer)
In both images, the Ossington Avenue Baptist Church is prominently featured in the left foreground. In the left background of the archive photo, you can see the former Toronto Fire Station No. 14 tower. The fire hall was operational from 1889 until the early 1960s and was demolished to make way for the TTC Ossington Station.
On the right side of the old image, Robertson Drugs can be seen in the background, with Clement Stationary in the foreground. These buildings now house Ali Baba’s and McDonald’s, respectively. Additionally, it’s worth noting 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 8414 – Alfred Pearson photographer)
The streetscape has undergone minimal changes over the decades; however, one notable exception is the railroad watchman’s shanty (the tower) visible in the left distance of the archive photo. A gate tender was perched high in the shanty where railway tracks intersected with the city street. When a train approached, the watchman climbed down from the shanty to lower the gates manually, preventing vehicles and pedestrians from crossing the tracks and raising the gates after the train passed. The shanty has been removed for some time, as the gates now function under an automated system (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-4932 – James Victor Salmon photographer)
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: Postal Station “F” Building at 675 Yonge St
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: 620 Yonge St
- Heritage Toronto
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Feb 6, 1956, pg 1 (Malabar)
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Jul 22, 2000, pg A14 (Malabar)
- 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
