As it stands todayCampbell House is the oldest remaining house from the original site of the Town of York. Built in 1822 by Judge William Campbell and his wife Hannah, the home was designed for entertaining and comfort, and constructed at a time when the Campbells were socially and economically established and their children had grown to adulthood. The house is one of the few surviving examples of Georgian architecture left in Toronto.
The Grange is another excellent example, although it is slightly older than Campbell House. Campbell House is constructed in a style in vogue during the late Georgian era known as Palladian architecture. This style was Italian in origin, and based upon elements of classical Greek and Roman architecture, which emphasized symmetry of features (windows, fireplaces, doors etc.) and grandiose proportions to exhibit wealth.
The Move Campbell House was originally located on a plot of land 1 ½ kilometres to the southeast of its' present location at the intersection of what is now Adelaide St. and Frederick St. (where the George Brown School of Hospitality is located today). After Sir William's death in 1834, the house was willed to his wife, Lady Hannah, for her use. After her death in 1844 the property and contents of the house were auctioned off and the proceeds were distributed amongst their heirs. For most of the 19th century the house was maintained as a private residence. After the turn of the 20th century the building was used by several businesses as office space and as a factory, including a horseshoe nail company and an elevator company, and the house fell into disrepair. The last owners of the property (Coutts-Hallmark Greeting Cards) wanted to demolish the house to extend their parking lot. At this time the house was offered to anyone who could remove it from the property. A professional association of Trial Lawyers known as the Advocates' Society intervened to save the house, move the building and restore it to its present appearance. The house was moved to its present location at the corner of Queen and University on
Friday, March 31st, 1972.
My father took me downtown that day to see the move.
This is Wimpy's Dairy Bar in 1971. It bears a striking resemblance to an early McDonald's outlet.
McDonald's didn't enter the Ontario marketplace until 1970 so it's reasonable to assume that Wimpy's is a clone rather that a converted restaurant.
Dundas Street West looking across Spadina Avenue 1909
The same view a year later. Note the trees and boulevard
One hundred years later and things have certainly changed.
In 1968 the row houses seen in the second photo were still there, but not for long.
In 2010 the row houses are long gone but the Art Deco mechanic shop/garage is still there.
A very early photo of the Parkdale.
The Box Office in 1937
1947
2010
Back when Parkdale was considered a suburb!
The lobby from 1947.
For more information on Toronto's Lost Movie Houses please look for John Sebert's book
A sad ending for the old Capitol Theatre in Hamilton. Recently operated as Buttinsky's bar, it now stands empty on King Street downtown.
Click on images for a better view.
From Old City Hall looking west along Queen Street towards the old Broadway Theatre.
Looking across the south east intersection of Queen and Bay. . The film playing at the Bay Theatre is "The Small World of Sammy Lee", released in 1963.
Window detail of the Bay Theatre
The same window from the Customs House demolished in 1919
The Colonial Theatre
Another early view of the Colonial (far left) before the second story addition.
Similar views today, looking west from Old City Hall.
Looking east.
The Campbell house in it's original location at Duke (now Adelaide) and Frederick before the move.
On the Move 1972
As it stands today
The cover.
Photo probably taken in the early 1970's when the area was still mostly warehousing and food
Another postcard courtesy of Ian Brock showing Yonge Street looking north from Dundas.
The N/E corner of Dundas and Spadina in 1921, the home of Dr. Moorehead will soon be demolished to make way for the Standard theatre.
Looking north across Dundas sometime in the late 1960's. The car in the foreground is a post 1965 Corvair. The Victory Theatre, formerly The Standard Theatre opened in 1921 and was one of the finest Yiddish theatres in North America. In 1935 it was renamed The Strand and re-opened as a movie house and was again renamed The Victory after the war. It continued to operate as a burlesque house until 1975.
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