Sunday, October 21, 2012

Yonge and Gloucester/Masonic Block

 The old Masonic Hall on Yonge Street. Built in 1888, restored in 1972.
 Photos and research care of Mark Moore.
MASONIC BLOCK, Yonge Street at Gloucester Street, a row of seven stores, apartments and Masonic Hall for Alex Patterson, now called Gloucester Mews, 1888; renovated and restored 1972 (Telegram [Toronto], 26 April 1888, 2, t.c.)
 A more current view by mmmighty_atom.

13 comments:

  1. Does anyone remember a bunch of 'head shops/incense/poster/T-Shirt shops' inside this building for a short time in the 70's ?

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    1. Hi Mark,
      How would I be able to get a copy of the first photograph - it's for a new retailer going in the building who would like to have it framed. Thanks for any information!

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    2. Do a Google Image search.
      Enter - Gloucester St. Toronto
      Toronto Public Library - Image search.

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    3. No, I don't recall those shops, but I do remember a haircutting place called Country Cut & Curl, which was one or two doors north of the current Brownstone restaurant. Does anybody remember that place?

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    4. Ha ha! I'll go you a bit more!!
      I believe the hair place was, previously, The House Of Lords (they advertised on CFNY, and [maybe?] Q107?).
      Was at the Brownstone restaurant, about 15 years ago. Good neighborhood-y kind of place.
      I love reminiscing about Toronto!

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    5. Hello. House of Lords was at the NE corner of Yonge & Isabella, just a few doors up from the Masonic Block. It was at that location when the Country Cut & Curl haircutting place was in the Masonic Block. I don't know of House of Lords ever having been in the Masonic Block, though.

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  2. I think the Gloucester block must have fallen on hard times by the '50s and '60s, based on the second photo. The '70s reno is actually sort of impressive - some sort of architecture/design firm built an impressive two-story office inside, with a rather Piranesian staircase. I also know that Master John has been there since the '70s, though they specialize in western wear today, and not platform boots, as they did back then.

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  3. Norman Jewison has an office there but you enter from the alley behind.

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  4. Actually Jewison's building is #18 Gloucester Lane.
    The former Rawlinson Furniture warehouse built in 1878.

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  5. Mark, I would like to use the second photo listed in my book about growing up at 626 yonge street. How do I get permission?

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