Tag: Toronto

Queen East and Sherbourne, 1981 and 2016

1981. Image: Boris Spremo / Toronto Star / Toronto Public Library, Baldwin Collection Item TSPA 0115270f.
Image: Google Maps, June 2016.

The former Canada Tavern at the southwest corner of Queen East and Sherbourne, 1981 and 2016. The stories some have shared at Vintage Toronto are pretty well expected. Though clearly on the dive side of the establishment ledger (and Moss Park had long been mixed), it was at least enough on the up to be the site of the Star’s New Years’ reporting in the late 1970s.1”First baby greets New Year,” Toronto Star, January 1, 1978, A1; “Sunday goes with a swing in hotels and taverns,” Toronto Star, January 3, 1979, A3. By 1999, however, fortunes had waned, and the corner became better known for poverty and substance abuse.2Catherine Dunphy, “Crack corner: Drugs are turning a vibrant slice of Toronto’s downtown into an urban wasteland,” Toronto Star, February 20, 1999, B1, B4.

In more recent years, it was slated for replacement-by-condo, but things have since quieted on the site and it has been boarded up for years. Much like Norm’s Open Kitchen, the Canada Tavern has figured into the memories and imaginaries of Toronto writers.

Notes

Notes
↥1 ”First baby greets New Year,” Toronto Star, January 1, 1978, A1; “Sunday goes with a swing in hotels and taverns,” Toronto Star, January 3, 1979, A3.
↥2 Catherine Dunphy, “Crack corner: Drugs are turning a vibrant slice of Toronto’s downtown into an urban wasteland,” Toronto Star, February 20, 1999, B1, B4.

Then & Now: Main Square, 1971 and 2016

Main Square, under construction in 1971. Image: Rob Pineault / Vintage Toronto.

The four-tower Main Square development was planned in 1968/69 and was part of an effort to deliver quality housing at an affordable rate. Situated on land that was held by the CNR, Main Square was expected to house 1115 families at completion. Half of the units were reserved for so-called “$5000 a year families” costing $125 per month at opening. The shopping concourse was expected to help depress the costs further.1Mack Parliament, “East end high-rise expected to house 1,115 families,” Toronto Star, May 7, 1969, B38; “Housing Costs: Villains and Answers,” Toronto Star, April 13, 1971, 6.

A Google Maps approximated view.. Image: Google Maps, July 2016.

 

Notes

Notes
↥1 Mack Parliament, “East end high-rise expected to house 1,115 families,” Toronto Star, May 7, 1969, B38; “Housing Costs: Villains and Answers,” Toronto Star, April 13, 1971, 6.

Lakeshore West, 1980

I don’t have a real story to share with this one, I’m just a sucker for traffic scenes with two or more modes of travel. This one was taken c. 1980. Image: Lennart Möllerström via Vintage Toronto.

I don’t have much to say with this one, other than I am an absolute sucker for images of Canadian cities with two or more modes of transportation visible. It’s in part why, when on business this year, staying at the Holiday Inn Yorkdale (at Dufferin) has been a joy.

It must have been all of those 1960s 16mm Ontario booster filmstrips I saw during the 1980s and 1990s in school. Far from bitter or even cynical, I actually cherish those memories and am always excited when I can get a glimpse.

Since this image was just taken immediately to the south of Toronto’s Parkdale, I’ll just link to the two things I’ve written about that neighbourhood. There will be more, of course.

Norm’s Open Kitchen, 1973

Norm’s Open Kitchen in 1973. Image: Keith Beaty / Toronto Star / Toronto Public Library, Baldwin Collection Item TSPA 0114771f.

We’ve seen it happen a few times recently here in Ottawa. A business attracts a clientele that the neighbourhood feels is a threat and works to have the business removed through regulatory measures. In Toronto, Norm’s Open Kitchen was one of those establishments.

Continue reading Norm’s Open Kitchen, 1973

Then & Now: Parliament and Winchester

Southeast corner of Parliament and Winchester, 1954. Image: James Victor Salmon / Toronto Public Library, Baldwin Collection, Item S 1-1846.
The corner in April 2015. Image: Google Maps.

Parliament and Winchester, southeast corner, 1954 and 2015. It’s wonderfully-restored and a listed property, but gosh do I wish that 1941 signage would have been kept.1See the city staff report for details about the 2005 renovation plan.

Notes

Notes
↥1 See the city staff report for details about the 2005 renovation plan.

Then & Now: Islington and Fordwich

Kipling Heights, from Islington and Fordwich. October 23, 1955. Image: James Victor Salmon / Toronto Public Library, Baldwin Collection, S 1-3318A.
Sixty years on. Image: Google Maps, 2015.

The corner of Islington Avenue and Fordwich Crescent, 1955 and 2015. Postwar suburbanization is a well-known story, really. It was quick.

Continue reading Then & Now: Islington and Fordwich

Then & Now: Wallace and Symington

Halsey Drug Store, 160 Symington, corner of Wallace, on September 21, 1930. Image: City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 22027.
As seen in August 2015. Image: Google Maps.

Wallace and Symington, north west corner, 1930 and 2015. By today’s standards, the Junction Triangle still contains what I would consider a large number of local stores. Of course, when you take a walk through, it’s quite plain that there were, at one time or another, many many more. You can see the (still-operating) store across the street in the “related posts” below when you click on the article.

Danforth’s Sidewalk Protest, 1934

A sandwich man protests the sale of fruit from the sidewalk along Danforth, October 1934. Image: Toronto Star / Toronto Public Library, Baldwin Collection, Item TSPA 0113093f.

’twas ever thus. So long as we’ve gathered into cities, there have been disputes – both major and minor – over the appropriate and proportionate use of public space.  Sometimes, such as our perennial arguments over the patios installed on Elgin street here in Ottawa during the summer months, it’s an entirely legitimate exercise in negotiating the use of space. Other times, such as the pitched battles between restaurants and food trucks, it’s more a matter protecting revenues by limiting the range of choices in the immediate area. In the case of the photo above, it was more of the former, but with some drops of the latter added to the mix.

Continue reading Danforth’s Sidewalk Protest, 1934

Under the ‘N’… NO

Pacific Avenue residents show the Toronto Star’s Ken Faught their opposition to the Kingsway Pacific Bingo plan to open a large Bingo hall in a former Loblaws. Image: Ken Faught / Toronto Star / Toronto Public Library, Baldwin Collection, Item TSPA 0011943f.

Admittedly, one of my favourite articles in the last little while has been one that was run in Toronto Life called “People with their arms crossed in front of things they’re against: A taxonomy of the Star’s favourite visual cliché“. To be certain, it’s a light and fluffy piece, but I was happy that someone did put it out there. The arms-crossed-and-scowl (or look of deep concern) visual language that communicates opposition is common to newspapers all over.

Continue reading Under the ‘N’… NO

A Parking Lot Announcement

Yonge Street pedestrian mall, August 1971. Image: Harvey R. Naylor / City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 5, Item 1.
Yonge Street pedestrian mall, August 1971. Image: Harvey R. Naylor / City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 5, Item 6.
Yonge Street pedestrian mall, August 1971. Image: Harvey R. Naylor / City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 5, Item 10.
Yonge Street pedestrian mall, August 1971. Image: Harvey R. Naylor / City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 5, Item 13.
Yonge. Image: City of Toronto Archives, 1465, File 312, Item 2.

In spite of the pictures above, this won’t be about the much-fabled Yonge Street pedestrian mall of the 1970s. That history has been well covered in a number of places, like Torontoist, Active History, Spacing, and BlogTO. I will note that it’s nice to see the idea gaining some currency once more.

Continue reading A Parking Lot Announcement