Evocative Images of Lost Toronto

[Goldie]

Excellent Koolgreen, thanks.
You've reminded me that Google street-view would also have a modern aerial view.
It's at: https://www.google.com/maps/place/T...2!3m1!1s0x89d4cb3dd4a5a4a3:0x49eb0fab9d0c0214

 

[Koolgreen]

this one was courtesy of bing......

 

[AlbertHWagstaff]

South-east corner of Bloor and Huntley St. in 1969. How much longer after this did these two buildings hang on before Greenwin Square overran this block?

 

[adma]

Looks like it probably wasn't *too* long; indeed, the house on the left looks borderline abandoned/prepped-for-demolition--presumably the land assemblage was already underway. (Though said house has an intriguing "modern" portico...)

 

[Soop]

This is 1972. So it wasn't very long at all. Weird to look south and not have the Rogers mothership blocking the view.

 

[adma]

Instead, it's the Confederation Life cafeteria building (aping the Saarinen's Kleinhans Hall in Buffalo)--later the home of, well, 100 Huntley Street...

 

[thecharioteer]

Photo taken in front of the Fashion Building on Spadina showing the beginning of the Dressmakers' Strike on Feb. 25, 1931, as the women walk out from their factories and walk up Spadina to the Labour Lyceum at St. Andrew's Street. A sad story: http://torontoist.com/2011/01/historicist_sewing_the_seeds_of_discontent

 

[Red October]

Hey guys! While over for Thanksgiving my grandmother-in-law (is that a thing?) showed us this picture, which is apparently where her brother lived in Toronto before moving to the States. She thinks it is from the 50's, but I figured here would be the perfect place to post it, because I just know one of you could probably identify the year/location of it...

(sorry for the image quality, it was a glossy photo my MIL quickly scanned and emailed)

 

[Koolgreen]

hey, is that a badminton racquet with a birdie ???
they look more like tennis racquets but that triangle sure looks like a birdie....

 

[Goldie]

The Royal York Hotel (in 1949) shows the result of many years of dust, dirt, smog and air pollution.
I don't recall when the cleaning was accomplished but, by comparison, it's beautiful today.
Also note Toronto's famous Cyclorama at the photo's left corner.

 

[innsertnamehere]

I wasn't aware the York-University Jog wasn't eliminated at that point. I always thought that had been built when university was first extended south of Queen in the 20's.

 

[Goldie]

Thanks for the comment, insertnamehere.
You've confirmed that this Web-site is, without question, highly educational.
I too, have learned much about Toronto (my birthplace).

 

[adma]

I wasn't aware the York-University Jog wasn't eliminated at that point. I always thought that had been built when university was first extended south of Queen in the 20's.

Though also note that the University extension was originally a meagre two lanes--depression economy surely played its part there. (I think it might only have been when the University *subway* was built that it took on its present form--with underground garage provision as an add-on. Funny how few references there are to *that* downtown-automobile-infrastructure cornerstone.)

Another thing in the photo I find intriguing is the off-kilter crosswalk markings at York + Front, probably because of Union Station being set well back from the street relative to Walker House.

 

[Goldie]

U. of T. 1951

 

[Goldie]

The Toronto Purchase -- early history

http://schools.tdsb.on.ca/jarvisci/toronto/tor_buy.htm