Evocative Images of Lost Toronto

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

"Bay Street, looking north"
Prof Goldie.

NOTE the signage within the upper left-hand corner.
(Am I to suppose that it explains it all, or vice-versa?)

Regards,
J T

 

[W. K. Lis]

Bay Street, looking north.
View attachment 134379

1921-23.

That explains why people were on the streets waiting to cross the railway tracks. The automobile was just starting to take over the streets for their own right, but at this point in time the people still used the streets as a walkway instead of only a roadway. In less than a hundred years, the people could be charged by an invented law against "jay-walking", if they attempted to do the same today.

 

[Goldie]

South-west corner, Bay Adelaide, from 1909 to 1928
(something odd here.....should 1925-1928 dates be reversed?)

 

[W. K. Lis]

South-west corner, Bay Adelaide, from 1909 to 1928
(something odd here.....should 1925-1928 dates be reversed?)

View attachment 134398

I think the 1925 image should be removed. Maybe its a different corner at that intersection?

 

[Goldie]

Good thought Lis, but I'll leave it up as a puzzler.
The corner building looks identical!

 

[Goldie]

Here's a clue to the puzzle........the awning reveals the name "Widmer"......same corner as the Hotel?

 

[vatche]

Incredible .... how many old beautiful historic buildings were demolished.guess they needed space.

 

[adma]

Might the 1925 image be *Richmond* & Bay? Is that the Federal Building looming at the top right?

 

[Davidackerman]

Look back at Mississauga train Derailment

 

[Goldie]

Grand & Toy

 

[thecharioteer]

Might the 1925 image be *Richmond* & Bay? Is that the Federal Building looming at the top right?

I think so. Answer solved. TPL pic from 1913, labelled Bay/Richmond:

 

[thecharioteer]

While looking at the Bay/Adelaide pics on-line, I came across this one of the NE corner in 1885, which I had never seen before:

Which can be compared to this view from 1855:

The Neoclassical Zion Chapel, being replaced in 1856 by the Gothic Revival version in 1856:

 

[thecharioteer]

The northerly church, on the SE corner of Bay & Richmond was the First United Presbyterian Church, seen here in 1859:

 

[thecharioteer]

Both churches can be seen in the famous 1856 Rossin Hotel panorama (First United Presbyterian on the left, at the SE corner of Bay & Richmond; Part of the Zion Congregational Church on the far right, on the NE corner of Bay & Adelaide. The large church in the middle is the Methodist church on Temperance Street):

In this NE view, The Zion church (with steeple) is on the left:

 

[Goldie]

I think so. Answer solved. TPL pic from 1913, labelled Bay/Richmond:

View attachment 134477

Congratulations, thecharioteer...........excellent research!