According to the 1971 Toronto City Directory, a few of the shops in the archive photo from left to right include Lanzarotta Bros Supermarket, Panama Shoe Company, Orpheum Theatre, Mary’s Grocery, Grosman’s IDA Drug Store, Browns Bros Market, and the CIBC.
The Orpheum operated from the mid-1940s until around 1977. In 1980, it reopened as the Rosemary Theatre. By 1983, it was renamed the Golden Dragon Theatre, which closed in 1987. Today, the former theatre is home to Home Craft Decor and the Toronto Alliance Church (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 10)
The 2021 photo shows the former Palace Arms Hotel, which was constructed in stages between 1890 and 1902. This complex of buildings featured a blend of Queen Anne Revival and Richardson Romanesque architectural styles, designed by architect Frederick Henry Herbert. Over the years, the property changed hands multiple times and shifted from a hotel and tavern to a rooming house.
In 2017, it was sold to new owners who planned to incorporate the hotel’s historic façade into a new 14-story mixed-use residential building. However, it was discovered that the masonry was in such poor condition that it could not support the approved conservation plans. As a result, the project has shifted to commemorate the landmark. Reusable materials were salvaged during the building’s demolition to replicate the original façades wherever possible in the new structure.
The 2025 photo shows the empty site where the Palace Arms once stood, with its demolition completed in March
The archive photo features a Texaco gas station on the left, the Palace Arms Hotel in the centre, and the Massey Ferguson South Plant – Buildings 7 and 8 on the right. Although the plant was demolished long ago and the Esso gas station closed in early 2024, the Palace Arms Hotel was completely torn down by March 2025 (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 74, Item 39)
Except for the TTC Dufferin subway station, the streetscape has retained much of its original character during the past forty years (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 620, Item 281 – Avard Woolaver photographer)
Since 1874, a Winchester Public School has existed at this site. The current building, designed by architect Charles H Bishop, had its first story built in 1898, with the upper floors added in 1901. By the late 1950s, the building became too small to accommodate all the students, which led to the construction of the Winchester Senior Public School just north of the original building.
Over the decades, the old school building has undergone various renovations. However, in 1973, a fire severely damaged the top floor, resulting in $400,000 worth of damage. Despite this setback, the school celebrated its 100th anniversary the following year, and in 1976, the old building was added to the city’s heritage register.
Notable former students include Walter Thomas Huston, a Canadian actor, and Arthur Leonard Schawlow, a Nobel Prize winner in Physics. Today, the school continues to serve the community, with students representing over 40 countries (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 45, Item 19)
The four-storey building in the foreground of the archive photo was constructed in 1891 for the Athenaeum Club. Designed by architects Denison & King, it showcases Moorish Revival style architecture, which is rare in Toronto. From 1904 to 1967, it served as the Labor Temple.
When the vintage photo was taken, the building was home to Studio 167, a venue that featured live jazz and R&B music and hosted weddings and banquets. The building received heritage designation in 1973, and today, its historic façade has been preserved and integrated into the Jazz Apartments.
There are a few other notable things to mention in the old photo. First, the red-and-white Volkswagen Bus. Further down the street, notice the red “PAWNBROKERS” sign for the H Williams & Co. store. Additionally, the steeple of the Cathedral Church of St James is visible in the background (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 8, Item 47)
The archive photo shows the time when The Farmers Bank of Canada occupied part of the Stair Building, once located at the corner. In the background of this vintage image, Fire Hall No. 1, along with its hose drying tower, are also visible. This fire station, located at Bay St and Temperance St, had been in operation since 1841 and was commonly referred to as the Bay Street Fire Hall. It was decommissioned in 1924.
These structures were torn down long ago, and today this portion of the block is home to the Bay Adelaide Centre – West Tower, which opened in 2009 (City of Toronto Archives, William James Family fonds, Fonds 1244, Item 3062)
Over the years, the building has housed the offices of various companies, including several insurance and investment firms. It was later listed as the Diamond Building in the Toronto City Directory. In 1979, the Church of Scientology purchased the building for its headquarters in Toronto. However, the organization closed the building in 2013.
In 2016, 696 Yonge St, which was built in the International architectural style, was listed on the city’s heritage register as part of the Historic Yonge Street Heritage Conservation District (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1581, Series 2196, Item 14 – Peter MacCallum photographer)
Some establishments visible in the archive photo include McKelvey’s Drugs and George Kostigian Shoe Repair on the right. The photo also shows the streetcar tracks that used to be on Church St (City of Toronto Archives, Globe and Mail fonds, Fonds 1266 Item 17153)
The archive photo features the sign for The Edge, a nightclub that operated in the house from December 31, 1978, until June 6, 1981. Although it had a short lifespan, the club’s promoters, Gary Topp and Gary Cormier, booked prominent alternative and rock bands to perform on its “matchbook-sized” stage, including acts like The Police, The B-52s, Rheostatics, Squeeze, The Cramps, Martha and the Muffins, Oingo Boingo, and The Spoons, among others.
During the day and early evening, the space functioned as a restaurant called Egerton’s, which opened around 1973. When the nightclub began operating in late 1978, the promoters shortened the name Egerton to simply “The Edge”.
The heritage-designated house, which once housed the restaurant/nightclub, was built in 1847 and is known as the Smith House. Today, it functions as a shelter operated by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 620, Item 180 – Avard Woolaver photographer)
The archive photo shows the storefront at the corner when it was occupied by Steer Burgers. Today, it’s home to Chew Chew Grill.
In the left background of the vintage photo, also notice the Ramada Inn. The building has since become the Parkside Student Residences and is visible in the present-day photo featuring the colourful Equilibrium mural by Okuda San Miguel (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 620, Item 205 – Avard Woolaver photographer)
The archive photo shows the third St Lawrence Market North, which operated from 1851 to 1904, on the right side, with St Lawrence Hall in the background. The sixth St Lawrence Market North is set to open on April 5, 2025 (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-6040)
From where the archive photo was taken, a Texaco gas station was located on the corner. Gas prices are shown on the sign in litres; however, they had switched from gallons just four years prior. In the old photo, also notice the Chestnut St sign. These box-style illuminated street signs indicated the street’s direction: blue (like the Chestnut St sign) meant north-south, while yellow signified east-west.
Aside from the building that has replaced the gas station, the streetscape has remained relatively unchanged (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 620, Item 271 – Avard Woolaver photographer)
The archive photo features the third St Lawrence Market North, with the steeple of the Cathedral Church of St James and the cupola of St Lawrence Hall in the background. In the old photo, also notice the sign for “Eclipse Soap – The Best in the World” on the left side of the market building. Today, the sixth St. Lawrence Market North, which will open on April 5, 2025, occupies the corner (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-6039)
The Google Maps photo features the former St Lawrence Market North building, which was constructed in 1968 and demolished in 2016 to make way for a new facility. This modern building is set to open on April 5, 2025, and will be the sixth version of the North Market. The original North Market building was a wooden structure built in 1803 (Google Maps)
The archive photo shows the Walker House Hotel, which opened in 1874 and demolished in 1976. A 19-story office tower, Citigroup Place, was constructed on the site and completed in 1983 (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 62, Item 6)
The 1972 Toronto City Directory lists several establishments from left to right featured in the archive photo: the Miller Building, Currie Building, Bardi’s Steak House and Tavern, and the Strathcona Hotel. Bardi’s and the Strathcona Hotel are still present in the current photo (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 62, Item 7)
In 1880, William M. Christie, who had made his fortune from his biscuit company, Christie, Brown & Company, purchased the site from the University of Toronto. He then commissioned architects Gordon & Helliwell to design his elegant late Victorian-style home, which was completed in 1881. After Mr. Christie’s passing at the residence in 1900, his only son, Robert, inherited both the mansion and the business. In 1910, Robert made significant renovations to the house based on designs by Darling & Pearson. Following Robert’s death in 1926, the family sold the property to the Sisters of St. Joseph for a reported price of $140,000.
In 2008, the University of Toronto reacquired the property from the Sisters and leased it to Regis College, where it continues to serve as the site for the Jesuit School of Theology (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 414 – James Victor Salmon photographer)
The five-storey warehouse-style building located at the corner was constructed between 1912 and 1913. When the archive photo was taken, it was known as the Morgan-Uster Building and was home to several sportswear and textile companies. Other businesses shown in the old photo include Shoe Mart, Blue Danube Restaurant and Greenspoon Bros Furs (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 47, Item 21)
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: Christie Mansion at 100 Wellesley St W
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: 696 Yonge St
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: Athenaeum Club at 167 Church St
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: Winchester Public School at 15 Prospect St
- Heritage Toronto
- Heritage Toronto: Athenaeum Club at 167 Church St plaque
- Heritage Toronto: Winchester Public School plaques
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- The Toronto Daily Star Newspaper Archives: Mar 17, 1979, pg B4 (The Edge at 70 Gerrard St E)
- The Toronto Daily Star Newspaper Archives: Jan 25, 2004, pg B3 (The Edge at 70 Gerrard St E)
- The Globe Newspaper Archives: Aug 2, 1924, pg 13 (Bay St & Temperance St, southeast corner)
- The Toronto Daily Star Newspaper Archives: Mar 16, 1926, pg 2 (Bay St & Temperance St, southeast corner)
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Oct 17, 1969, pg 14 (Athenaeum Club at 167 Church St)
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Nov 24, 1970, pg 15 (Athenaeum Club at 167 Church St)
- The Globe Newspaper Archives: Jun 15, 1900, pg 9 (Christie Mansion, looking northeast at Wellesley St W & Queens Park Cres E)
- The Globe Newspaper Archives: Oct 15, 1926, pg 12 (Christie Mansion, looking northeast at Wellesley St W & Queens Park Cres E)
- Regis College: Christie Mansion brochure & Rental brochure
- St Lawrence Market: History
- TDSB: Winchester Junior and Senior Public School History
- Photos: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photos: City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Public Library, Archives of Ontario & CNE Heritage
- City of Toronto: Maps
- Toronto City Directory courtesy of Toronto Public Library
