Scarborough Photographs: Then and Now

Thanks to Lone Primate for giving me the Then/Now bug. The first 2 are credited to him. Its nice to have an addiction where I don't wake up sore all over.


TN-VicFinch2LonePrimate Credit by Mr T.O., on Flickr


TN-VicFinch1LonePrimate Credit by Mr T.O., on Flickr


ZIONWEXFORD2 by Mr T.O., on Flickr

Zion-Wexford_Church_Plaque by Mr T.O., on Flickr


zingburger by Mr T.O., on Flickr


Woodgrove by Mr T.O., on Flickr


WOODFERN--EGLINTON by Mr T.O., on Flickr


Willows--IusedtheviewnorthoftheLawrenceBridge by Mr T.O., on Flickr

L'Amoreaux's first settler was Josue L'Amoreaux, a loyalist of French Huguenot descent who arrived here with his wife, seven children and two nephews, around 1816. The spiritual centres of this pioneer community were St. Paul's Church L'Amoreaux and Christie's Methodist Church, which were both established in the 1840's. While these churches are no longer standing, their cemeteries have endured. St. Paul's L'Amoreaux cemetery is tucked away at the south-west corner of Finch and Warden Avenues, while Christie's Methodist Church cemetery is now part of a small park at the entranceway to the Bridlewood Mall.

In 1847, L'Amoreaux was given the designation as School Section #1, in the former Township of Scarborough. A few years later, in 1854, a post office was established here. L'Amoreaux's transition from a farming hamlet to a modern day subdivision took place in the 1950's, 60's and 70's. The "Devonsleigh" house built in 1850 is a visual reminder of L'Amoreaux's past. This historic home is located at 4125 Steeles Avenue East where it is now a popular restaurant.

DEVONSLIE by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr

WARDENANDKINGSTONROAD--1953--2010 by Mr T.O., on Flickr


WardenandKingstonRoad by Mr T.O., on Flickr


Wexford began in the 1840's as a crossroads community centred around "The Rising Sun Inn," which was situated on the south-west corner of what is now the Lawrence and Pharmacy Avenue intersection. This popular Inn was owned by Richard Sylvester, who hailed from Wexford County, Ireland.

In 1865, a post office was opened in Sylvester's "Rising Sun Inn." Sylvester named this post office Wexford, which from that time onward, also became the official name of this community.

An historical landmark held over from Wexford's pioneer days is St. Jude's Church, situated on the east side of Victoria Park Avenue, south of Lawrence Avenue. This church was built in 1848 by local farmers. St. Jude's is one of the oldest standing churches in Toronto.

Wexford endured as a quiet farming hamlet until the 1950's, when the present day neighbourhood was developed.

WardenandGuild by Mr T.O., on Flickr


Warden3 by Mr T.O., on Flickr


WARDEN EAST SIDE NORTH OF LAWRENCE by Mr T.O., on Flickr


WARDEN AND K.R. by Mr T.O., on Flickr


VictoriaParklookingnorthtoCurlew2 by Mr T.O., on Flickr


VictoriaParklookingnorthtoCurlew by Mr T.O., on Flickr


VictoriaParklookingsouthtoLawrence2 by Mr T.O., on Flickr


VPlookingsouthtoKR by Mr T.O., on Flickr


VPandKRlookingnortheast by Mr T.O., on Flickr


VPandDanforth by Mr T.O., on Flickr


VPSubway2 by Mr T.O., on Flickr


VPSubway by Mr T.O., on Flickr


ViewfromthebackoftheGuildInn by Mr T.O., on Flickr
The history of Guildwood revolves around The Guild Inn which was founded in 1932 by Rosa and Spencer Clark as a retreat for artists and craftsmen. "The Guild of All Arts," as it was then known featured workshops and studios, in a picturesque setting atop the Scarborough Bluffs.

During World War II, The Guild Inn was used as an official naval base called "HMCS Bytown II, and then later as a specialized military hospital known as "Scarborough Hall." After the war, The Guild Inn was returned to the Clarks and its popularity rose to new heights.

In the 1950's rising taxes forced the Clarks to sell 400 acres of their property to the developers who built the present day Guildwood neighbourhood. In 1978 the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority purchased the remainder of the Guild Inn estate, thus preserving its beauty for future generations to explore and enjoy.

Wow, nice work! I'm particularly taken with the Victoria Park bridge shots over the tracks. Slightly older views would have shown where Lawrence Avenue once met Victoria Park there just yards north of the tracks. What's now called Roanoke Road in that vicinity used to be Lawrence Avenue till the mid 1960s.

Lone Primate said:

Wow, nice work! I'm particularly taken with the Victoria Park bridge shots over the tracks. Slightly older views would have shown where Lawrence Avenue once met Victoria Park there just yards north of the tracks. What's now called Roanoke Road in that vicinity used to be Lawrence Avenue till the mid 1960s.

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Thanks Lone. I've seen the ones you have done , good job. Post all you Scarborough ones here if you like. I'll correct myself in saying the first one I saw of yours was 1230 Ellesmere around Birkdale.

VPandLawrence1961-2011 by Mr T.O., on Flickr


VPandDanforth-1 by Mr T.O., on Flickr


TheQueen--1973--GullyandBrimley by Mr T.O., on Flickr


SS by Mr T.O., on Flickr

146 ST.ANDREWS ROAD

SPRINGFIELD by Mr T.O., on Flickr

Springfield_Farm_House_Plaque by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


SOUTHWEST--VICTORIAPARKANDEGLINTON by Mr T.O., on Flickr


SOUTHSIDEKREASTOFWARDEN2 by Mr T.O., on Flickr


SOUTHEAST--KENNEDYANDSTCLAIR by Mr T.O., on Flickr


southeastcornerofMarkhamandLawrence by Mr T.O., on Flickr

brewster;558815 [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/36903798@N07/6158741439/ said:

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SS by Mr T.O., on Flickr

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Sunshades really make an architectural difference.

SKF--BIRCHMOUNT AND EGLINGTON by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


SILVER MILE--MARKHAM AND KINGSTON ROAD by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


SEWELLS AND OLD FINCH LOOKING SOUTH by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


SEWELLS AND OLD FINCH LOOKING NORTH by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


The Scarboro Golf & Country Club has a truly unique and colorful history which dates back to 1912. That year, Toronto stockbroker A.E. Ames had a vision of constructing a challenging golf course and an elegant Clubhouse.
The 144 acre site he chose was in the Scarboro Heights district, approximately 12 miles
from downtown Toronto near Kingston Road and The Bluffs that overlook Lake Ontario.
Noted golf professional and architect George Cumming designed the original course.
In 1914, the handsome clubhouse and 18 hole golf course were formally opened.
With a creek that comes into play as many as 11 times in 18 holes, the hills, gullies, and trees are arranged in such profusion they make artificial hazards almost unnecessary at Scarboro.
Although nature's original gifts of magnificent hills, towering trees, excellent soil and winding creek are still there, the founders of the Club would
hardly recognize the site today.
In 1924 famed eccentric New York golf course architect A.W. Tillinghast, the designer of the notable U.S. Open courses Winged Foot and Baltusrol, re-created the classic design that Scarboro members enjoy today.

SCARBOROUGH GOLF CLUB by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


SCARBOROUGH GOLF AND KINGSTON ROAD LOOKING NORTH by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


SCARBOROUGH GENERAL HOSPITAL by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


3750 KINGSTON ROAD by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


A&W-SANTOS-WINDIES LAWRENCE EAST OF BELLAMY by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


RUNNING PUMP OLD KINGSTON ROAD AND MILITARY ROAD by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr

Thanks for the photos



When I see pictures like this, I'm reminded about how Toronto actually has a lot of great historic buildings, but they're treated with such contempt. TD has basically done everything it possibly could to ruin a beautiful streamline moderne facade: removing the flagpole, stripping the marble accents and replacing them with aluminum siding, replacing the distinctive windows with standard spandrels, and...the coup de grace...replacing the striking signage with backlit commercial crap.

Hipster Duck said:

Thanks for the photos

When I see pictures like this, I'm reminded about how Toronto actually has a lot of great historic buildings, but they're treated with such contempt. TD has basically done everything it possibly could to ruin a beautiful streamline moderne facade: removing the flagpole, stripping the marble accents and replacing them with aluminum siding, replacing the distinctive windows with standard spandrels, and...the coup de grace...replacing the striking signage with backlit commercial crap.

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Well said H.D. When I went down there to take this photo I was actually shocked to see what T.D. had done. I would like to see a colour photo of the top one if possible one day.

LOOKING EAST ON LAWRENCE TOWARDS THE HOSPITAL by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


ROYCROFT MOTEL 3137 KINGSTON ROAD by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


POST OFFICE KENNEDY AND EGLINGTON by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


POPULAR & KINGSTON ROAD by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


LA VILLA PIZZA--KENNEDY & CORVETTE by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


PIERRETRUDEAU1968RALLY--CENTENNIALARENAPARKINGLOT--INCOMPLETE1050MARKHAMINTHEBACKGROUND by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


PICKERING FARMS CLIFFSIDE PLAZA by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


PARKWAY PLAZA VICTORIA PARK & ELLESMERE by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr
Parkway Mall was built in the late 1950s, designed by Toronto architectural firm Bregman and Hamann. It was commissioned by the Bronfman family of Montreal through Fairview Corp., (later to become Cadillac Fairview), and may have been the first mall to have been thus commissioned. The plaza is owned by First Capital Realty.
Heritage status
In 2009, the city of Toronto nominated Parkway's supermarket as a heritage property. The nominated heritage site was in 1958 a supermarket with a distinctive curved roofline designed by Bregman and Hamann. It is currently a Metro store, but it was originally a Grand Union store under the Steinberg's name. It had been a Dominion up until 2008.


Old Scott House by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr

Old_Scott_House_Plaque by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


NorthWest-BirchmountandKR by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


MidlandandLockie by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr

Agincourt_School_Plaque by Mr T.O., on Flickr


MidlandandEglintonlookingwest2 by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


MidlandandEglintonlookingwest by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


MidlandandEglintonlookingsouth by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


MidlandandEglintonlookingnorthwest by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


MidlandandEglintonlookingeast by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


midlandandeg by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr

brewster;559525[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/67648027@N05/6159265040/ said:

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PIERRETRUDEAU1968RALLY--CENTENNIALARENAPARKINGLOT--INCOMPLETE1050MARKHAMINTHEBACKGROUND by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr

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How perfect. A Commie Liberal rally with a pure Commie Block backdrop. Straight out of East Berlin;-)

Hipster Duck said:

Thanks for the photos

When I see pictures like this, I'm reminded about how Toronto actually has a lot of great historic buildings, but they're treated with such contempt. TD has basically done everything it possibly could to ruin a beautiful streamline moderne facade: removing the flagpole, stripping the marble accents and replacing them with aluminum siding, replacing the distinctive windows with standard spandrels, and...the coup de grace...replacing the striking signage with backlit commercial crap.

Click to expand...

Then again, who knows. If TD pulls out of that location, new tenants may choose to restore (imagine the stainless steel letters S T A R B U C K S rounding the corner?)

adma said:

Then again, who knows. If TD pulls out of that location, new tenants may choose to restore (imagine the stainless steel letters S T A R B U C K S rounding the corner?)

Click to expand...

From the T.D. down the whole north side of K.R. is a strip of stores badly in need of a 50's makeover. When has it become ok to open up a store with a hand drawn piece of wood to advertise your store? I love doing Then/Now photo's but have never been impressed with the way the now looks. Yours sincerly , Happy living in the past Brewster.

brewster said:

SS by Mr T.O., on Flickr

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brewster said:

WARDEN AND K.R. by Mr T.O., on Flickr

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Ugh! There's so many scumbag property owners out there (including you, TD). This is almost as bad as seeing all those beaux-arts buildings with all of their detailing stripped off. At least it would be easier to bring these 50's buildings back to their original glory.

midandayllesworthroad by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


midandallesworthsouth by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


MARKHAMROADFIREHALL by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


MarkhamandPaintedPost1 by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


MarkhamandLawrencelookingNorthWest by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


markham and markana by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr

Knox Manse, Syl Apps home.
Midland Ave. north of Lockie, opposite Agincourt C.I.
Built as the manse for Knox Presbyterian Church in the 19th century, the dwelling was later the home of hockey great Syl Apps and family.
It is designated a historic site.

Midland north of Sheppard by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


Mc Lawrence between Midland and Brimley by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


LookingSouthonVPat1757-1759---1959-2011 by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


LookingNorthonVPat1757-1759--1959-2011 by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr


LOBLAWS--NORTHEASTKENNEDYANDEGLINTON by MISTER SCARBOROUGH, on Flickr