Queen West, east of Bathurst as shot by Patrick Cummins in the early 1980's.
2010.Even this Google snapshot is a period photo now as Red Indian
(Art Deco furniture and accessories) has relocated.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Queen West/Then and Now
Queen West, east of Bathurst as shot by Patrick Cummins in the early 1980's.2010.Even this Google snapshot is a period photo now as Red Indian
(Art Deco furniture and accessories) has relocated.
Friday, April 13, 2012
The Blue Bell Tavern
The Blue Bell was on Queen Street near Givins in what was then known as Blue Bell Village. The intersection of Ossington and Queen was actually the beginning of Dundas Street as shown on the map below from 1884.I've also seen this hotel located on Dundas and Shaw.
More vintage maps can be found here.
Old West End Map/1894
Here's a detailed map from 1890 or so showing Parkdale and some of the original street names.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Dundas and Sheridan/Then and Now
The south side of Dundas between Dufferin and Sheridan circa 1850. Then know as the village of Brockton.
2010.
John Farr House and Brewery
An early watercolour of the John Farr house and brewery located on the south side of Queen Street, west of Walnut.
905 Queen Street West, this is from a 1991 report by the Conservation Review Board:
The property located at 905 Queen Street West is recommended for designation for architectural and historical reasons. The house was constructed in 1847 for John Farr, who established the Farr Brewery on the adjacent site in 1819. While the business was sold in 1858, the house was occupied by Farr's daughter, Mary E. Farr, until 1905. The buildings at 899 and 905 Queen Street West are operated as a community centre by the Polish National Union.
The John Cornell House
899 Queen West as it was in it's final days.
There was another house immediately to the east that mysteriously burned to the ground shortly after the report was issued making room for the condos that now occupy the site.
This poloroid of the house was taken by Andrew Dziedziola who was kind enough to share it with me (and you).
Again, from the 1991 report:
The John Cornell House
The property located at 905 Queen Street West is recommended for designation for architectural and historical reasons. The house was constructed in 1847 for John Farr, who established the Farr Brewery on the adjacent site in 1819. While the business was sold in 1858, the house was occupied by Farr's daughter, Mary E. Farr, until 1905. The buildings at 899 and 905 Queen Street West are operated as a community centre by the Polish National Union.
The John Cornell House899 Queen West as it was in it's final days.
There was another house immediately to the east that mysteriously burned to the ground shortly after the report was issued making room for the condos that now occupy the site.
This poloroid of the house was taken by Andrew Dziedziola who was kind enough to share it with me (and you).
Again, from the 1991 report:
The John Cornell House
The house is located on the south side of Queen Street, facing toward the park, former site of Trinity College. It is set fairly close to the street and approximately 5’ above the sidewalk.
The exterior is rough cast plaster over wood lath, 1” boards and undressed stud framing. The rear wing appeared to have pre-dated - or been added to - the late Gothic Revival main house. This section was reported to be older. At the north west junction, the exterior stucco of the rear section and adjacent house wall had fallen away. Both walls were constructed of stucco over wood lath nailed to wood studs. On the rear wing, the lath was hand split undressed wood nailed horizontally with square hand wrought nails to the wood boards. The main house had sawn lath nailed at 45 degrees to the wall studs.
The above indicated that the rear section probably pre-dated the 1870s main house, but by only 10 to 20 years.
The house appears to be quite original, inside and out. The bell shaped roof of the front porch, the heavy wood window and door trim, the "french doors" from the front parlour to porch are all original. The interior base board, trim and stair are all original and even the interior room divisions have been little altered, allowing the original room forms to be easily assessed. Much of the upper floor rooms show serious water damage and the roof and roof boards are in very poor condition.
Another poloroid from Andrew Dziedziola of the backyard looking towards Queen.
Another image of the two houses from the 1980's supplied by Andrew Dziedziola.
A somewhat current view.
He was also able to supply a copy of the original report prepared by the Toronto Historical Board in 1990.
You can see on this plan just how big the properties were for these two houses and why the condo developers were so keen to get their hands on them.
905 Queen is the Farr House and 899 is the Cornell house.
The exterior is rough cast plaster over wood lath, 1” boards and undressed stud framing. The rear wing appeared to have pre-dated - or been added to - the late Gothic Revival main house. This section was reported to be older. At the north west junction, the exterior stucco of the rear section and adjacent house wall had fallen away. Both walls were constructed of stucco over wood lath nailed to wood studs. On the rear wing, the lath was hand split undressed wood nailed horizontally with square hand wrought nails to the wood boards. The main house had sawn lath nailed at 45 degrees to the wall studs.
The above indicated that the rear section probably pre-dated the 1870s main house, but by only 10 to 20 years.
The house appears to be quite original, inside and out. The bell shaped roof of the front porch, the heavy wood window and door trim, the "french doors" from the front parlour to porch are all original. The interior base board, trim and stair are all original and even the interior room divisions have been little altered, allowing the original room forms to be easily assessed. Much of the upper floor rooms show serious water damage and the roof and roof boards are in very poor condition.
Another poloroid from Andrew Dziedziola of the backyard looking towards Queen.
Another image of the two houses from the 1980's supplied by Andrew Dziedziola.
A somewhat current view.He was also able to supply a copy of the original report prepared by the Toronto Historical Board in 1990.
You can see on this plan just how big the properties were for these two houses and why the condo developers were so keen to get their hands on them.
905 Queen is the Farr House and 899 is the Cornell house.
The Black Bull/Then and Now
An early drawing of the Black Bull tavern on Queen circa 1888.
2010.A brief history is available here.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
College and Bathurst/Then and Now
Looking east along College west of Bathurst in 1913. The building on the right was a Masonic Hall at the time.
2010.Monday, April 9, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Superman Rights for $130.00
In 1938 Detective Comics purchased the rights to Superman from his creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster for $130. This check is now on the auction block and the current high bid is $45,500.
Weston Road and Gunn Road/Then and Now
What is the story of this building on Weston Road at Gunn? I suspect that it's an old inn but have no proof...It's beem ABC lumber since I can remember but it's shape and location would lead me to believe it was built as a half way house.
Seen here in 1920 or so.Weston Road and John/Then and Now
The N/E corner of Weston Road and John Street in 1906. When a Bank of British North America branch was being constructed.
2010.Saturday, April 7, 2012
King and Bathurst/Then and Now
Originally built as the International Harvester Showroom, this classic example of Art Moderne or Streamline architecture has managed to survive by re inventing itself through the years.
In the 1980's it was home to Crangle's Collision. Photo by Patrick Cummins.
Even Google maps are now a historic record of the past. This capture from 2010 shows the Thompson Hotel under construction that incorporated the old showroom as their new 24 diner, Counter.
1980 or so by Patrick Cummins
2010.
Rick McGinnis was right and a little research found this postcard of a twin of sorts on Weston Road when it was a Lyon's Furniture store circa 1950.
2010.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Queen and MacDonnell/Then and Now
The north side of Queen east of Macdonnell in 1898.
1988 courtesy of Patrick Cummins.
2010.
1988. I was living in the apartment above BB Shoes when Patrick Cummins took this shot.
2010.
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