Miscellany Toronto Photographs: Then and Now

[DSC]

This is Front Street East at George/Frederick . The J& J Taylor Safeworks Building on right (now called 145 Front) on west side of Frederick and the Young peoples Theatre on the east side. 1927 and 2017.

 

[Northern Light]

Old City Hall from the west:

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(last pic by Miscreant)

The photo of 'dirty' Old City Hall is extraordinary. I think it reveals in part how people became tolerant of demolition/loss of historic properties.

It certainly did not nearly as appealing in that state as it does today.

 

[Goldie]

Jarvis St. at Mt. Pleasant Rd. 1952 TPL

Google Street View

 

[Skeezix]

The photo of 'dirty' Old City Hall is extraordinary. I think it reveals in part how people became tolerant of demolition/loss of historic properties.

It certainly did not nearly as appealing in that state as it does today.

I once read about the washerwomen who helped save Old City Hall. During the debates over the future of the building in the 1960s, the building was covered in soot, and easily dismissed in some quarters as dark and oppressive Victorian architecture, especially compared to the fresh and bright new city hall next door. Some women got together and scrubbed the soot off a corner of Old City Hall at ground level, revealing the wonderful stone colours (a revelation to many Torontonians). It apparently added some colour, pun intended, to the fight to save the building.

I've tried to go back and find that article with no luck, and I cannot find any reference to this event anywhere else, or in newspapers from the day. So maybe my subconscious has made this up. But it's a good story.

 

[Goldie]

University Club on University Ave. opened in 1929 TPL

Google Street View

 

[barit]

I once read about the washerwomen who helped save Old City Hall. During the debates over the future of the building in the 1960s, the building was covered in soot, and easily dismissed in some quarters as dark and oppressive Victorian architecture, especially compared to the fresh and bright new city hall next door. Some women got together and scrubbed the soot off a corner of Old City Hall at ground level, revealing the wonderful stone colours (a revelation to many Torontonians). It apparently added some colour, pun intended, to the fight to save the building.

I've tried to go back and find that article with no luck, and I cannot find any reference to this event anywhere else, or in newspapers from the day. So maybe my subconscious has made this up. But it's a good story.

Here is the photo that probably went with the story.

 

[Skeezix]

Here is the photo that probably went with the story.

Love it!

 

[W. K. Lis]

A lot of buildings (IE. schools, old City Hall, homes, etc.) were covered in soot from the coal furnaces and boilers used at the time.

From link.

 

[DSC]

I do not think I have ever seen a picture of Union Station with a sign stuck on the 'pediment' before. I found a better copy on Archives site that shows the right-hand sign is Canadian National and, I assume, Canadian Pacific on left

There always was, and is, the inscription in the stone:

 

[DSC]

While looking for the 2 pics above I found this - apparently from 8 march 1923: (Though the station did not open for several more years, August 1927.)

I had always assumed that there was always an information desk below the clock but apparently not. Though what all the 'doors' are is a mystery.

 

[W. K. Lis]

I do not think I have ever seen a picture of Union Station with a sign stuck on the 'pediment' before. I found a better copy on Archives site that shows the right-hand sign is Canadian National and, I assume, Canadian Pacific on left

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There always was, and is, the inscription in the stone:

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The coal soot must have covered the stonework that the etching was almost unreadable. Hence, the illuminated "UNION STATION" sign.

 

[adma]

Though the most "forward-looking" thing in that sooty photo is the GO Transit sign btw/ two of the pillars.

 

[Mustapha]

The old c1872 Fire Hall clock tower at Yonge and Charles squints in the light of day again after many decades of being surrounded by later retail buildings. Pictures taken this evening. The tower will be preserved/incorporated into the 'Halo' condominium.

Perhaps it could be a very tall party room.

 

[DSC]

The old c1872 Fire Hall clock tower at Yonge and Charles squints in the light of day again after many decades of being surrounded by later retail buildings. Pictures taken this evening. The tower will be preserved/incorporated into the 'Halo' condominium.

Perhaps it could be a very tall party room.

I remember that at the time of the last renovation there (about a decade ago) the Star (I think) had an article about how they had to shovel tons of pigeon guano out of the top section of the tower. Great to see it is being preserved!

 

[Goldie]

Eglinton-Spadina Rd. 1938

Google street view:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.702247,-79.4193852,3a,75y,42.86h,90.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWQeMWsxd3JH_Zy7zgKfEEA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.702247,-79.4193852,3a,75y,42.86h,90.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWQeMWsxd3JH_Zy7zgKfEEA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656