Looking southwest towards Yonge St from Alexander St in the Downtown Yonge Area of Toronto.
The archive photo features the construction of the Yonge Street Subway—now known as Line 1, or the Yonge–University Line. The vintage photo also shows several businesses from right to left, including the Grove Restaurant, Grosvenor Spoke Shop, Empire Wallpaper, and St. Charles Restaurant/Tavern. In the left foreground, a small section of the Grosvenor Hotel is visible.
One structure that appears in both photos is the St. Charles Tavern clock tower. The tower dates back to the 1870s and originally served as a hose drying tower when the Yonge Street Fire Hall No. 3 stood at the site. The recently restored clock tower and the facade of the neighbouring building are now part of the Halo Residences condo tower.
Then and Now
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register
- Heritage Toronto
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- Ontario Heritage Trust: 484 Yonge St
- Photo: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photo: City of Toronto Archives
- City of Toronto: Maps
- Toronto City Directory courtesy of Toronto Public Library
