Brock Avenue/Then and now

These two little corner stores were on the N/E corner of Brock and Franklin.

The building remains but the stores are long gone.

Brock Avenue/Then and now

This group of worker's rowhouses on Brock just north of Queen appear to be in a sad state of repair as of April 1938. They were probably built in the 1880's and by the time these photos were taken already 50-60 years old.

However 6 months later they've been restored and given a new lease on life.
Another 70 years later.

The same group, this time looking north in April 1938.
Today.

College and Brock/Then and Now

Looking west along College just west of Brock in 1915.2010.

Dundas and Brock/Then and Now

A different angle of George Stirrett and Sons Hardware 1930.

Today.
A ghosted sign is still visible on the side of the building.

Dundas and Brock/Then and Now

The S/E corner of Dundas and Brock in 1927. George Stirrett and Son Hardware store, sellers of hardware, paint, oils and auto accessories. Note the single gas pump by the curb to the left hand side of the photo.

Today.

Dundas and Brock/Then and Now

Like Parkdale, Brockton (Brock and Dundas) was a separate town until it was annexed by the city of Toronto in 1884.

The north side of Dundas just west of Brock Ave. in 1927.

2010.

Dundas and Chesnut/Then

The S/E corner of Dundas W. and Chesnut in 1937 when this was known as the Ward. Toronto's
slum district.

A year later and a very stylish Good Rich gas station has been built on the site.
Only 59c to lubricate your car.
2010.

TTC/Lost and Found 1933

A couple of photos of the lost and Found Depatment of the TTC at the Lansdowne garage in November of 1933. The administrator seems a bit miserable.

College and Lansdowne PT.3/Then and Now

This time looking east along College from the Lansdowne intersection in 1915.
Today.

Lansdowne Avenue/Then and Now

An early shot of Lansdowne looking north towards Dundas West circa 1912.
The Elias Rogers Company, suppliers of wood and coal.

A similar view today.
Looking south down Lansdowne from Dundas.
Rogers had another location downtown at The Esplanade and Berkeley.
Rogers' trucks fill up with heating fuel circa 1950.
Photo courtesy of the Martin Phippard Collection.

College and Lansdowne PT.2/Then and Now

Looking north on Lansdowne towards the College Street intersection in 1939 before College was extended westward.
2010.

College and Lansdowne/Then and Now

Looking west on College towards Lansdowne in 1939. The houses in the centre of the photo were demolished shortly afterwards to aloow College to continue and join up with Dundas Street.
This is the location of a famous police shoot out with the Boyd Gang in 1952.

"On the morning of Thursday March 6, 1952 Suchan and Jackson would leave the Wright Avenue hideout to case a local bank for a future robbery. After laying low for almost four months the gang members were short of cash. As Suchan drove the 1951 Mercury Monarch, with the license plate 418-A-2, north on Roncesvalles Detectives Edmund Tong and Roy Perry of the Toronto police fell in behind. The detectives had been watching the Mercury for days on a tip that is believed to have come from one of the gangs girlfriends.

Suchan turned at College and as he approached the intersection at Lansdowne, the detectives instructed him to pull the Mercury over. As Tong approached the car shots rang out and a bullet ripped through his chest severing his spinal cord. Perry was wounded in the arm.
Suchan and Jackson sped off east along College for four blocks turning onto Sheridan Avenue where they ditched the Mercury and took a cab back to the Sorauren Avenue hideout."
-Michael Wilkins www.Examiner.com

In 2010 the Supertest gas station is gone and a Tim Horton's stands in it's place.

A Supertest Station.

Queen and Brock/Then and Now

Here's a very nice early shot of Queen West looking west from Brock Avenue in 1916. If you click on the image there are some interesting details. Aside from the lack of cars note the abundance of awnings and horse drawn carts. To the lower right there's a child's wagon and half way up on the left a motorcycle is parked. The ornate building on the left is the Parkdale Municipal Offices and was built in 1888. It housed the Parkdale council chamber and office, the firehall and engine house as well as the police station and jail.
It was demolished in 1931.

Today.

Lansdowne Subway/Then and Now

As with the Queen Street Subway (underpass) the Lansdowne Subway was another major construction project for the city to improve traffic flow.

An early view of the completed subway circa 1915.Since then the approach has been re-aligned and the retaining walls replaced.

Inside the recently completed subway January 1915.
Wet walls were a concern.

Almost 100 years later and the walls are still wet.

Lansdowne and Rideau/Then and Now

Looking north across Rideau Street towards the Lansdowne subway 1915

Looking north across Rideau Street towards the Lansdowne subway circa 1930.

A similar view in September 1950.60 years later in 1010.

Lansdowne and Seaforth PT.2/Then and Now

Looking north up Lansdowne from Seaforth Sept. 1950.

June 2010.

Lansdowne and Seaforth/Then and Now

Looking south down Lansdowne from Seaforth Avenue circa 1950.

60 years later and not too much has changed.