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.
Posts
Does anyone remember a bunch of 'head shops/incense/poster/T-Shirt shops' inside this building for a short time in the 70's ?
ReplyDeleteHi Mark,
DeleteHow 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!
Do a Google Image search.
DeleteEnter - Gloucester St. Toronto
Toronto Public Library - Image search.
Many thanks!
DeleteNo, 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?
DeleteHa ha! I'll go you a bit more!!
DeleteI 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!
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.
DeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteNorman Jewison has an office there but you enter from the alley behind.
ReplyDeleteActually Jewison's building is #18 Gloucester Lane.
ReplyDeleteThe former Rawlinson Furniture warehouse built in 1878.
Smarty Pants...
ReplyDeleteMark, 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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