Queen Street Subway/Then and Now

The cornerstone.

From the overpass looking at the s/w corner of Queen and Dufferin 1898.

The building of the Queen Street Subway (underpass) was a major undertaking for the town of Parkdale in January of 1884. The level crossing at Dufferin Street was proving to be a major hurdle for access and trade. Queen and Dufferin were re-graded several feet below street level

and the existing buildings shored up. Over time as these structures were demolished the recovered land was also altered. The construction costs at the time totalled over $20,000.

Looking east.

Looking south/east.

Looking at the north side of Queen and east towards the subway.
The Gladstone Hotel can be seen in the distance.

The same view in 2010
The S/W corner of Queen and Dufferin 1897.Today.
Still under construction.

Looking west from the foot of Gladstone Ave towards the recently completed subway in 1896The same view today

From Queen looking south down Dufferin during construction.
Dufferin looking north.
2010.

Sorauren and Pearson/Then and Now

Another corner store in Parkdale listed for $58,00 in May of 1979. Note the phone booth outside. There're not too many public phones left now that everyone has a cellphone.

This building has also been converted into a private residence.

Sorauren and Fern/Then and Now

Another listing from May 1979. A corner store on the N/W corner of Sorauren and Fern listed for $53,000 with taxes of $708. What do you think this property would cost today?

In 2010 the store is gone and the ground floor is an apartment.

Queen and West Lodge/Then and Now

The N/E corner of Queen and West Lodge in 1970 with the Skyline Restaurant to the extreme right.

An old real estate listing from 1979. 1430 Queen Street West is listed for $83,000 with annual taxes of $1.491.58. Pizza Pizza, John's Broadloom, A jewellery store and the Skyline Restaurant.

In 2010 the Pizza Pizza is still here with new signage and to the far right
the Skyline is still going strong.
Come on in!!

Canada's First Hangman

Canada's first hangman John Radclive lived here....
Mr. Radclive at work in 1902.

In an interview with psychologist Rachel MacNair, Radclive described his internal torment:
"Now at night when I lie down," he said, "I start up with a roar as victim after victim comes up before me. I can see them on the trap, waiting a second before they meet their Maker. They haunt me and taunt me until I am nearly crazy with an unearthly fear."

Meanwhile, with the financial stability that Radclive's regular salary gave him, he was able to settle down. In 1893, he moved into a new house in Parkdale, on Sorauren Ave. north of Queen St. W., and later lived around the corner on Fern Ave.

Both are substantial brick houses: the Sorauren Ave. house was appraised at $1,835 in 1895, about two and a half times Radclive's $700 annual salary as hangman. (It sold last year for $667,000.) The Fern Ave. house, which is smaller, was valued at around $1,000. He had a mortgage on both houses.

After his death, it turned out that Fern Avenue had made its peace with its odd resident over the years. "The little children who weren't frightened of him just loved him," one neighbour told theTelegram.

He died in February 1911, at 55, of cirrhosis of the liver in the Fern Ave. house, where he lived with his mother. His wife, who had left him, was in England with two of his children.

His other two children lived in Toronto but, the Telegram explained, they "did not take any particular pride in the profession of their father."

Shortly before his death, in an interview cited by American psychologist Rachel MacNair, he had hinted at his inner demons:

"Now at night when I lie down," he said, "I start up with a roar as victim after victim comes up before me. I can see them on the trap, waiting a second before they meet their Maker. They haunt me and taunt me until I am nearly crazy with an unearthly fear."

Queen and Fuller Park/Then and Now

Seen here in 1935, these row houses were later demolished to make room for...

A small park.

Scholes' Oceon Hotel/Then and Now

Schole's Hotel as seen in 1922.

As seen today.

Queen and Roncesvalles PT.2/Then and Now

Queen and Roncesvalles/Then and Now

A very early photo (1909) looking north up Roncesvalles from Queen. There'as a hint of Scholes' Oceon Hotel on the right.

1924

2010

Roncesvalles and Harvard/Then and Now

Looking south down Roncesvalles towards the lake in 1910. Scholes' Oceon Hotel is on the left.

1919, and there's been a lot of development, including the new Sunnyside Train Station visible at the foot of Roncesvalles.

2010

Roncesvalles House/Then and Now

Newly built in 1916 on the west side of Roncesvalles at Marion.

2010

Dundas and Roncesvalles PT.2/Then and Now

Looking north up Roncesvalles towards the Dundas intersection in 1912. On the right is the Bank of Montreal from the previous post and on the left the Bank of Toronto. The Boyd Gang robbed the Bank of Montreal in 1951.

Today

Dundas and Roncesvalles/Then and Now

The intersection of Dundas and Roncesvalles in 1912.
Toronto's infamous Boyd Gang started their crime spree by robbing this branch of the Bank of Montreal in November of 1951.

2010 and the bank is now a Starbucks.... how can people drink this much overpriced coffee?

The bank also served as the location for Mr. Pinky's Hefty Hideaway for the film Hairspray.
Photo courtesy of Bill Platten.
An interview with Edwin Boyd after his release and be found here.

Boor and High Park/ Then

A few shots of Bloor Street at the turn of the century as it was being built.

A little bit later looking east down to Parkside Drive

The High Park Zoo in the late 1930's

Bloor and High Park/Now

This entire block of houses on the north side of Bloor, opposite High Park is slated for demolition. They appear to have been built between 1919-1920. The city won't issue a demolition permit until the developers present a plan. So until they do this collection of period homes sits and rots.

The Bloody Cave of Death