The Queensway/Then and Now

Back in 1957 this was a nice little strip mall on the north side of the Queensway west of Royal York.
Now a little sad....

The Queensway/Then and Now

The Queensway/Then and Now

Richmond Street/Then and Now

The south side of Richmond when it was a two way street looking east towards Sheppard in the early 1920's.

2010.

York and Richmond/Then and Now

I believe this is the S/W corner of York and Richmond 1916.

The south side of Richmond west of York.

Looking west from York.
A current view form the same vantage point.

Bishop's Block Returns/Adelaide and Simcoe/Then and Now

Dismantled for condo construction, the facade of the Bishop's Block is being re constituted. A small portion was visible through the scaffold this past weekend.

Detail.

Bishop's Block on the N/E corner of Adelaide and Simcoe circa 1890. Built in 1833.
According to Patricia McHugh in her excellent book "Toronto Architecture-A City Guide"
"These two brick and stucco row houses are Toronto's oldest example of the genre. though now sadly bereft of their three original sisters and most of their Georgian dignity as well. Joseph Bishop was a butcher who built these houses for speculation."

Bishop's Block some time in the late 1960's when it operated as the Pretzel Bell Tavern.
1983. Photo by Patrick Cummins.
The remaining houses of the block shortly before demolition.

Sadly, since the book was written, the remaining two houses were torn down last year to make way for more condos. The developers are supposed to re-build the original facades and incorporate them into the new structure.
The city did conduct an extensive archeological dig at the site.
Details can be found here.
The resurrected facade has now been revealed.
The front.

When demolition started I was lucky enough to spot this old hand painted sign (Harv's Hang Inn) that had been covered up for years and managed to liberate it...
Bishop's Block as seen in 1856.

Lost Toronto Hits 100,000

Thank you to everyone who reads and participates in this blog. Last night Lost Toronto registered its 100,000th hit. I think the numbers are a little inflated as I've noticed several spam attacks recently(not sure of the purpose). Please continue to visit and I will continue to post.

The Queensway/Then and Now

The S/E corner of Queensway and Parklawn.

The old farmhouse at the N/W of the Queensway and Parklawn in 1957 during road construction.
It survives to this day.

Queen and York/Then and Now

The east side of York Street between Queen and Richmond looking north towards with Osgoode Hall in the distance in 1940.
2010.
A view from the back parking lot.

The Queensway/Then and Now

Some shots from the archives during construction on the Queensway in 1957 or so.

Sloppy Louie's New York City

I found this image in the archives and decided to do a little research....
More about Sloppy Louie's can be found here.

Toronto Gas Stations From the Sixties

Occident Hall/Holiday Tavern/The Big Bop Update

A successful restoration of the building was revealed this weekend. More to follow.

This is Occident Hall at the South West corner of Queen and Bathurst.

The first recorded work of renowned Toronto Architect E.J. Lennox,
"Builder of Toronto"
Built in 1876 as a Masonic Lodge with shops on the ground level.

From 1948 and up to about 1984 it was known as the Holiday Tavern and helped to give the intersection it's now famous name of "F*ck Face City" as coined by Chris Houston. The Big Bop is about to close and be taken over by Crate and Barrel.
Currently there appears to be some restoration of the facade under way.
As of January 2010 the renovations have started with the
removal of the angel stone cladding and gutting years of
insensitive alterations to the interior. It will be interesting to watch the progress.

 The front of the Holiday Tavern looking west across Bathurst with the Paddock Tavern in the B/G, sometime in the mid 1960's.