Scarlett Road/Then and Now Part 2

Looking north up Scarlett Road at East Drive in the early 1960's.

The same view today. Everything on the right side of the photo was demolished to build the apartment buildings.

Scarlett Road/Then and Now

Looking south down Scarlett road from Cynthia in the early 1960's.

The same view in 2010.

Farmhouse Survivor-Evans Ave.

As seen in 1977.

Today.
This stone farmhouse on the south side of Evans Ave. across from Sherway Gardens has survived relatively intact despite being surrounded by high rise apartments.

Vintage Pyrex Bowls

Vintage ad. A complete set of nesting bowls for $2.95.

The pink set is quite rare.

Here's another ad for the popular Pyrex Primary Nesting bowls from the 1950's.

A very good site re: Pyrex Bowls.
These can be found around town for between $25.00-$60.00 a set.
There's often a couple of sets at the St. Lawrence Antique Market on Sundays.
Note: NEVER put these in the dishwasher as the colours will turn cloudy.

This poor soul is obviously obsessed with Pyrex and needs in-depth psychological analysis.
A rare pastel set from the 1960's.

Farmhouse Survivor/Eglington West

This survivor is now surrounded by fast food joints and strip malls.

Satellite Motel/Cambridge/Then and Now

The Satellite Motel in the 1960's.

This 50's motel is in Cambridge, Ontario and still has it's rocket proudly on display.

Another Farmhouse Survivor

This one's in Etobicoke near Eglington and Royal York.

Royal York and Dundas/Then and Now

Humbertown Plaza in the early 1960's.
Note the blue Chevrolet Corvair.

Today.

A wide shot from Royal York Road.

Queen and Dovercourt/Then and Now

This building at the S/E corner of Queen and Dovercourt was originally a YMCA.
This postcard from 1914 courtesy of Chuckman's Postcard Collection shows it as the Royal Templar Headquarters.

The Great Hall today.
A brief history from their site:
The Great Hall was built in 1889 by the founder of the Moore Corporation, Samuel J. Moore, Architects Gordon & Helliwell were chosen to design this four storey building. is approximately 30,000 sq ft. with a full basement. It housed the first west end YMCA in Toronto. The "Y" offered athletic facilities that included a gymnasium with a raised running track, and a basement swimming pool. Canadian native marathon star Tom Longboat worked out here when he won the Boston Marathon in 1907, as did chocolate magnate and accomplished amateur wrestler, Morden Neilson, it was also home to some of the earliest basketball games ever played in history.

In 1912 the property was sold to the Royal Templars of Temperance, who conducted business in the building until 1940's when there was a major shift in the buildings use. It was acquired by the Polish National Union, and soon, presses on the ground floor were rolling out copies of The Polish Voice newspaper. On the top floor, rooms were pressed into service as temporary shelter for Polish refugees fleeing the war in Europe.

In the mid 1980's the rumble of the presses were replaced by the sound of experimental music and avante-garde art. The Toronto School of Art eventually helped to establish 1087 Queen St. West as an important address for Toronto's arts community.

Why Not in Schools?

I've never seen a vending machine that sells worms...
This was in Cambridge Ontario.

Queen and Dufferin/Then and Now Update

After nearly 115 years Dufferin Street has be re connected with itself north of Queen..

When the original subway was built in 1897, Dufferin was severed at Queen to accommodate the underpass.. Last week the renovations were finished and traffic was able to cross Queen and move north. The cost of this new tunnel was $40,000,000. The original cost of the subway in 1897 was $20,000.00.
Dufferin looking north to Queen in 1897.
The same view in 2010 with the newly completed tunnel.
The Tunnel!

Queen and Dufferin/Then and Now

Two similar views nearly 100 years apart. The S/W corner of Queen and Dufferin in 1917. When the subway was completed in 1897 the road was graded to this level leaving several established earlier business' high and dry. The Union Hotel continued to operate for several years until it was demolished and the property was graded to match the new road level.

2010
An earlier shot of the Union Hotel from 1896. This brick hotel replaced an earlier version that was destroyed by a devastating fire in 1880. At the time the nearest fire hydrant was at Queen and Stachan and hoses were run from the. In this photo the road has been lowered but the sidewalks remain at the original street level with stairs leading down to the street.

Crime MUST Pay the Penalty

Another fine cover from Crime Must Pat the Penalty Feb. 1955. Nice use of dramatic perspective and colour. It looks like the Holland Tunnel in New York. The green car is a 1950 Ford and the red one looks like a Chrysler or a Desoto.

Farmhouse Survivors/The Hendry House in Mimico

The Hendry House on Mimico Avenue was built in 1850 and is the original farmhouse.
It is currently for sale and listed at $529,000.

Vintage Batman Toy from Mattel

Switch N' Go were a series of battery powered cars/tanks/trucks that ran on a closed circuit track. The operator could squeeze a set of bellows and as the car moved over a switch cause it to change direction or trigger a missile etc. I've never seen the Batman set before.

Old Signs in the Junction

John's Color TV on Dundas West has a nice hand painted sign on the east side of the building.

Some Sad Old Houses in the Junction

It's hard to tell from the photo but this wood frame house in the Junction has quite a serious lean to it. It's been condemned by the city and plans have been made to demolish it and build some modern townhouses.

This solid Victorian is right next door but is also slated to come down.

Baby Point and Jane/Then and Now

These two photos were taken almost 100 years apart. I suspect that at some point the road was widened along with the stone gates, specifically the one on the right.

Ellis Avenue/Then and Now

These two photos were taken about 100 years apart. Sometimes things don't change that much.
Ellis Avenue looking north, just north of the Queensway.

Bad Day at the Seven Eleven

These shots, supplied by Andrika Lawren, illustrate why it's important to pay attention.
This 7/11 on Dundas and Euclid is a little worse for wear and I'm sure the Mercedes got the worst of it. Photos by Laura Quinn.

Yonge and Shuter/Then and Now

A series of shots around the intersection of Yonge and Shuter.

You can click on any of the images for a better view.

One Minute Lunch sounds good...

East side of Yonge looking south to Shuter.

Here we're looking south on Yonge from Shuter towards the old Eaton's building on the right with Simpson's farther south. John Catto is also the name of the guitarist for the Diodes.

From Shuter looking west across Yonge.
The buildings coming down to make room for the new Eatan centre in the mid 1970's