UrbanToronto has partnered with Heritage Toronto to capture a moment in Toronto's past. On a weekly basis, we will both be highlighting a historic photo of the city's people, places and events, and will be telling the stories behind them.

Many thanks to both Gary Switzer of MOD Developements and Maya Bilbao for putting together the photos and research.

This week's photo:

Yonge and Sheppard, 1934

Residents and passersby of Yonge and Sheppard will certainly be interested to know that this busy corner was once the centre of a community known as Lansing. The area has roots dating back to the late 18th century when a Joseph Shepard erected a log cabin at the north west corner. Eventually, the Shepard family built mills, taverns and a general store on the northwest corner of Yonge and Sheppard. The general store was erected in 1860 in the Georgian style and can be seen on the right hand side of this photograph standing adjacent to a more rustic looking Sheppard Avenue. In the mid 1880’s, a post office opened inside the store known as Lansing, and soon after the community came be called, Lansing. The store was also a stop on the coach line from Yorkville to Richmond Hill.

In the early 1920’s, the Shepard general store was sold to George and William Dempsey, and came to be known as the Dempsey Brothers Hardware Store. For decades the store was a familiar locale to passersby on Yonge Street but by the 1980’s, the old building had weathered. In 1989 it was sold to developers and in 1996 the old store was moved from its original location to 250 Beecroft Road, a few blocks north. It was subsequently renovated and the front facade and verandah were restored to their former glory.

Sources
http://torontohistory.org/Pages_STU/Traffic_at_Yonge_and_Sheppard.html
http://www.torontohistory.org/Pages_JKL/Lansing_1.html

Historical plaque, Lansing