Evocative Images of Lost Toronto

[Geogblog]

Toronto Harbour 1923 looking east - Bay St. in foreground TPL

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The fresh landfill in Bayside Park is still quite lumpy.

 

[Goldie]

Union Station 1929 looking N/W
Old Union Station tower - centre background

 

[Goldie]

Foot of Yonge St. 1919........immediately S. of Esplanade......landfill reclamation at water's edge

Same location 1929

 

[adma]

Interesting how that Dominion Tires sign endured for at least a decade...sort of like its era's version of the Admiral sign that dominated skyline photos in the 60s and 70s...

 

[DSC]

Also interesting that there is no sign of the Dominion Public Building though it was built between 1926 and 1935 and the eastern section was completed in 1932, I wonder if the 1929 date is correct, it may be a few years earlier. It looks to me as though they were building the rail berm and I thought that was finished in 1928 or 1929. Thoughts?

 

[Goldie]

Interesting point you raise, DSC.
This photo of Front at Yonge, dated 1926, shows no Dominion Public Building, although that billboard may be announcing its future location.

 

[adma]

I believe the Union Station viaduct was completed in 1930. It could well have been that 1926 was the *conception* date, and excavation was taking place at the time of the photo; but things didn't go into superstructural overdrive until the 1930+ period....

 

[Goldie]

Another Union Station photo:

 

[Geogblog]

Interesting how that Dominion Tires sign endured for at least a decade...sort of like its era's version of the Admiral sign that dominated skyline photos in the 60s and 70s...

It's an odd thing, but billboards and commercial signs have surprisingly long lives. We still have billboards along the waterfront in the same position as they were in the 1920s.

 

[gimbal]

Here is the Yonge St underpass at the beginning of Nov 1929. In the background you can see those billboard signs still up.

1929 Yonge St underpass - construction - looking Northwest by A Stitch in Time, on Flickr

A slightly different perspective from earlier in 1929

1929 Royal York Hotel looking East by A Stitch in Time, on Flickr

 

[Goldie]

Looking N/E from Old Union Station tower towards York-Front intersection 1926 (Before Royal York Hotel)
Domed Cyclorama in foreground........earlier, converted to Petrie Machinery Co. showrooms.

 

[Goldie]

Petrie Machinery (formerly Cyclorama), Front St. entrance...... 1922

 

[Goldie]

Grenadier Pond, High Park 1908 TPL

 

[W. K. Lis]

Grenadier Pond, High Park 1908 TPL

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Can't you read the signs?

Actually from link, where they posted it in 2011 to mention that it is legal to skate on Grenadier Pond.

 

[Geogblog]

Petrie Machinery (formerly Cyclorama), Front St. entrance...... 1922

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Located at 131 Front St W, this was recycled as a parking garage in 1927-28. By April 1928 it had become Petrie’s Parking Palace with 12 levels, room for 350 vehicles. 10 levels covered, two open. Men’s and ladies’ rest rooms, oils and greases, and elevators ([Toronto] Globe 30 Apr 1928 p. 14).