Miscellany Toronto Photographs: Then and Now

[Conrad Black]

Walked by on the weekend and wondered whether it was any good. Came from Milestones in fact.

 

[Mustapha]

Hi UTers.

This is not my daily update. It's an appeal for help in locating the modern locations for the following 13 pictures. For locations that are identified, I'll go and take a 'Now' picture.

My normal methods for referencing modern day locations; such as street signs, existing nearby buildings and personal memories have failed me. In a few of the pictures, street signs are shown but when I blow them up the resolution is poor and I can't read them..

Thanks for looking and thanks in advance for your help.

-Moose

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

 

[paraone]

I'm pretty sure this building is on the south side of Danforth between Morton and Patricia (east of woodbine).

 

[Urban Shocker]

Building number 11 ( what happened to number 8? ) was built in 1951 and stands on the north west corner of Scott and Wellington. It was enlarged in 1980, to the west, and a couple more floors were added to it.

 

[Edward Skira]

#6 looks like something on Bayview or Mt Pleasant south of Eglinton. #10 looks like the north west corner of Bay and College.

 

[Edward Skira]

#12 Sciencetology building at Yonge and St Mary?

 

[Mustapha]

Keep the tips coming folks. Thanks.

Urbanshocker, re # 8, I skipped it in my count, sorry, no picture is missing. Carry on.

 

[Mustapha]

I've eaten lunch at the Superior once or twice in the past year.

It's quite nice inside, acozier and more intimate version of Milestone's (which crowd they cater too), but with a somewhat more inventive menu and higher-quality ingredients, reflected in higher prices.

Swamp Thing, that sounds like a rec; I'll go check it out, thanks.

Walked by on the weekend and wondered whether it was any good. Came from Milestones in fact.

Conrad, If you are regularly in this area, I can recommend Eggspectations. If you really are the Conrad Black, I hope things aren't too rough for you right now.




April 17 addition.


1130 Queen St. E.

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

Folks, some time ago this has become my favorate thread on UT, I want to thank you for all of your time and effort in keeping it alive.
Great work!

 

[adma]

#7 is the old Imperial Bank building where Commerce Court West is now; #13 is *ahem* the SE corner of Yonge + Bloor.

And I can't place #6 offhand, but there's a Dupont logo in the lobby, if that's any help...

 

[Rusty]

#9 Shaft 7

I think it's at 1947 Queen West

 

[adma]

Well, even without the label, that definitely clarifies things: St Joe's in the background, those extant apartments on the left. (Funny how there used to be houses on the *south* side of Queen St/Queensway around here...)

 

[Skeezix]

Hi UTers.

This is not my daily update. It's an appeal for help in locating the modern locations for the following 13 pictures. For locations that are identified, I'll go and take a 'Now' picture.

My normal methods for referencing modern day locations; such as street signs, existing nearby buildings and personal memories have failed me. In a few of the pictures, street signs are shown but when I blow them up the resolution is poor and I can't read them..

Thanks for looking and thanks in advance for your help.

-Moose


2.

I've seen this photo reproduced many times, often with the statement that this theatre was located at the present site of the Hard Rock Cafe.

 

[Skeezix]

The sun block awnings were a necessity in the days before air-conditioning.
The over the street signs are grandfathered (permitted) if you have an old one but new signs over the sidewalk are not permitted.

I may be wrong, but I am not sure that is correct about the signage. As I understood it, such signs are possible, but the City requires the landowner to enter into an encroachment agreement, indemnify the City of all liability, carry special insurance, etc. etc. Plus, Council approval of a variance from the sign by-law is almost always required. At the end of the day, the hassle and the costs just make it not worth the effort.

 

[Swamp Thing]

#2 is labeled at the top "279 Yonge Street," which would now be "Club 279" and part of the Hard Rock Cafe.

On #11, the name on the building disappearing off the left margin reads "...Union Insurance Societies" which almost certainly means it was the former offices of Norwich Union in Toronto, sometime prior to their relocating to 60 Yonge Street.