Looking northeast towards the corner of Yonge St and St Joseph St, just north of Wellesley St in the Bay-Cloverhill neighbourhood of Toronto.
According to the 1975/76 Toronto City Directory, the establishments in the archive photo from left to right include New York Pizza House, Bachelors II Massage, Galaxy Leather Goods, Champion Leather, Casablanca Fashion, Longhouse Bookshop, Safari Leather Wear and Jokes & Gift Shop.
The buildings are part of a row of 2.5-storey commercial structures built in 1878. Designed in the Second Empire style, they feature a Mansard roof and bell-shaped dormers. In 2024, these buildings were added to the city’s heritage register as part of the Historic Yonge Street Heritage Conservation District.
Except for the stores, the streetscape has retained much of its original character during the past half century. Did you know that before 1862, St Joseph St was called Clover Hill Rd? The street and neighbourhood were named after the Clover Hill estate, once owned by Captain Elmsley, which was located in the area.
Then and Now
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: 620-632 Yonge St
- Landmarks of Toronto: Volume 1 by J Ross Robertson (1894), pg 297
- Photo: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photo: City of Toronto Archives
- City of Toronto: Maps
- Toronto City Directory courtesy of Toronto Public Library
