CityPlaceN1
Senior Member
That's the northwest corner of Bay and King and it too came down for FCP.
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Lost Toronto
- Thread starter AlbertC
- Start date
That's the northwest corner of Bay and King and it too came down for FCP.
adma
Superstar
Actually, it's the building to the right of that four-bay sliver (the former Bank of Montreal, begun before/finished after WWII) that was at the corner...
TKTKTK
Senior Member
A corner of the Star Building, the sliver (Royal Trust Building), and the Bank of Montreal building under construction:
adma
Superstar
What did those cross-in-shields on the street poles represent, I wonder...
Mustapha
Senior Member
Mustapha
Senior Member
New here. Hope this is ok if I attribute the pic I've posted; it's watermarked anyhow... I've seen lots of pics from the city of Toronto archives ... York University too, has a nice resource in its collection of Toronto Telegram photos.
This photo is poignant - the last hurrah of Toronto's Elizabeth Street Chinatown. I was at this event. Can't prove it.
tho'. The lower half of Elizabeth had already disappeared for the New City Hall. In 1974 the Gerrard Chinatown hadn't jelled yet, and Spadina Chinatown was just seeing its first Chinese business tenants.
The clearance on the left was for the Holiday Inn, now a student residence. The Nanking restaurant is now overflow offices for a City of Toronto department.
If anyone wants to experience old Chinatown ghosts, this stretch of street is worth a visit - just a skip from the Eaton Centre. There is a Chinese restaurant at the SW corner of Elizabeth and Dundas west/2nd floor. This was formerly the old 'Kwong Chow' - circa 1950 to 1980 - guessing at the dates here.
It's also hard to believe that there was a thriving Chinatown on York Street circa 1910 to 1940, of which no pics seem to exist (online, anyways). Grandpappy mentioned this to me.
There is a new plaque in Nathan Phillips Square commemorating this lost neighbourhood. Sad too that when this Chinatown went under the wreckers ball, the old denizens of the disappeared neighbourhood (senior citizens mostly) would still go sit in the same location ... an area near the skate rental/public toilets.
This photo is poignant - the last hurrah of Toronto's Elizabeth Street Chinatown. I was at this event. Can't prove it.
tho'. The lower half of Elizabeth had already disappeared for the New City Hall. In 1974 the Gerrard Chinatown hadn't jelled yet, and Spadina Chinatown was just seeing its first Chinese business tenants. The clearance on the left was for the Holiday Inn, now a student residence. The Nanking restaurant is now overflow offices for a City of Toronto department.
If anyone wants to experience old Chinatown ghosts, this stretch of street is worth a visit - just a skip from the Eaton Centre. There is a Chinese restaurant at the SW corner of Elizabeth and Dundas west/2nd floor. This was formerly the old 'Kwong Chow' - circa 1950 to 1980 - guessing at the dates here.
It's also hard to believe that there was a thriving Chinatown on York Street circa 1910 to 1940, of which no pics seem to exist (online, anyways). Grandpappy mentioned this to me.
There is a new plaque in Nathan Phillips Square commemorating this lost neighbourhood. Sad too that when this Chinatown went under the wreckers ball, the old denizens of the disappeared neighbourhood (senior citizens mostly) would still go sit in the same location ... an area near the skate rental/public toilets.
CityPlaceN1
Senior Member
Thanks for the shots. Keep them coming.
Urban Shocker
Doyenne
adma: Those cross-in-shield things are a mystery.
Are they permanent or temporary? Are they the cross of St. George? Was there a St.George's Day parade every April? In the 19th century, St George's Ward extended from King to the Lake, from Yonge to Dufferin. But that hardly seems important enough to require signage.
Are they the Red Cross? I don't think there was a hospital nearbye.
They're on both sides of the poles, so they can't indicate street intersections. And they're on different kinds of poles, so they're not specifically about the street lamps.
Are they permanent or temporary? Are they the cross of St. George? Was there a St.George's Day parade every April? In the 19th century, St George's Ward extended from King to the Lake, from Yonge to Dufferin. But that hardly seems important enough to require signage.
Are they the Red Cross? I don't think there was a hospital nearbye.
They're on both sides of the poles, so they can't indicate street intersections. And they're on different kinds of poles, so they're not specifically about the street lamps.
Bentley
Active Member
Pharmacy signs possibly?
CityPlaceN1
Senior Member
Cross walk?
adma
Superstar
Crosswalks didn't exist until 1958 or so.
JasonParis
Moderator
Hospital Zone Quiet? Doctor's Office?
TKTKTK
Senior Member
Well, I'm almost positive that it's related to the Canadian Red Cross. I was thinking it might either show a Red Cross clinic location, a blood donation site, or else might just be general fund-raising collateral.
Urban Shocker
Doyenne
KTKTKT wins the prize, and gets to donate his blood first.