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Miscellany Toronto Photographs: Then and Now

Soldier's Tower at U. of T. -- 1923, 1924 and 1990

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I wish they had kept the Old Union Station.

I get that historical preservation wasn't a big thing back then and it served no purpose, but that would still be a pretty cool space, maybe for the MTCC.
 
Skid Row Days of Toronto: Between Church to Sherbourne on Dundas...

Recently I had the pleasure of staying at the hotel above Filmores, above the bar at 212 Dundas St E (Dundas & George St). Some of the old men who've been living there since the 70's enlightened me with tales of what the area used to be like, when there were cheap 'fleabag' hotels that rented by the month all along Dundas and there was a lot more quality of life crime; and even more open air drug and alcohol use then vs. today. Of course this was before the internet, smartphones, craigslist, kijiji, back page, etc.

I've done some searching on my own but have come up empty. I'm very curious as to what this area of downtown (was told it was the closest thing we had to 'skid row' here) looked like back when people were forced to go outside and look for whatever it was they needed, before they could sit in the comforts of their own homes and do it anonymously. Does anyone have photos of what this part of downtown looked like or interesting stories? I'd sure love to hear them; I guess there used to be a bar/hotel at Dundas & Jarvis that was nicknamed 'the bucket of blood' because of all the fights that would happen every week!

Any stories or photos? Share them with me here!

Jon.
 
Here we have a scene of the SW corner of Briar Hill and Yonge taken after the great snow storm of December 1944.

This is awesome. I grew up on Briar Hill, about two blocks in from Yonge. My dad was born in 1944 the year this photo was taken. I was born 30 years later in 1974. So cool to see this shot! Thank you.
 
Skid Row Days of Toronto: Between Church to Sherbourne on Dundas...

... I guess there used to be a bar/hotel at Dundas & Jarvis that was nicknamed 'the bucket of blood' because of all the fights that would happen every week!

Any stories or photos? Share them with me here!

Jon.

I believe you are referring to the famous Warwick Hotel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warwick_Hotel_(Toronto)
There are photos of it here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/32175940@N06/sets/72157621991327415/

Here's what the Warwick Hotel looked like in 1916:
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The NE corner block of University and Dundas is an amalgam of buildings through the years. A walk around this block lets you see building styles from early to mid 20th century. All still in use; quite neat considering the modernity and larger scale of University Avenue. It's a surprise to "walk around back" and see a bit of early Toronto just off this big avenue.





1908. Note the tall building in the back.

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1920s:

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June 2015.

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A walk around the back of the building lets us get a look at the 1908 building.


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Best images I have ever seen of North York City Centre. Drone images are amazing. Who doesn't want one?

[video=youtube;7ZimmVKTn7w]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZimmVKTn7w[/video]
 
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Another set of Toronto Harbour Commission Building 'Then & Now's
…. 1970 and 1989

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here's my contribution to this theme --

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three iconic buildings visible: Toronto Harbour Commission Building, Air Canada Centre, Royal York

P.S. only 1 day left (today!) to visit the Black Cat at 2186 Dundas West to see a fabulous collection of Goldie pics

i'd love to post the picture of you and me, Goldie, except i know you're a bit publicity-shy, and will not do it without your permission
 

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