Miscellany Toronto Photographs: Then and Now

[Lone Primate]

The Robertson Motors, body under concrete find?
I believe they solved that cold case. IIRC it was the husband!

What surprises me is how little there is written up about it. You'd think a quirky case like that would have attracted a lot more attention. Imagine what it must have been like for the folks who worked in that building knowing that every day, just under their feet... geez. Amazing that they could put down a building like that and miss the skeleton, but actually find it when they're tearing the place up. Funny old world.

 

[Lone Primate]

Ambrose Small is probably out there somewhere too.

It makes you wonder what prestigious building he might be under, doesn't it? Nearly romantic, after all this time...

 

[Mustapha]

Then and Now for Feb 3.


Then. 249 Simcoe street. c1917. "View from Simcoe street. Garage, Automobile and Supply Co. Ltd."

Now. June 2011.

 

[thecharioteer]

The Robertson Motors, body under concrete find?
I believe they solved that cold case. IIRC it was the husband!

According to a contemporary NY Times article, the bodies were found under 15 St. Vincent Street, which would have placed them under Murano:

 

[wwwebster]

According to a contemporary NY Times article, the bodies were found under 15 St. Vincent Street...

Gotta be a typo. FWIW, I’m sticking with 16, with supporting evidence in the mentions of Ryves (the next-door neighbour at 18) and Armbrust (the subsequent tenants of 16):

1895 Directory:

1896 Directory:

 

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

"an old Scotchman named Thomas William Ryves"
QUOTE from the book.

How did they know he was a "Scotchman"; did he have a bottle in his hand?

Regards,
J T

 

[thecharioteer]

Gotta be a typo. FWIW, I’m sticking with 16, with supporting evidence in the mentions of Ryves (the next-door neighbour at 18) and Armbrust (the subsequent tenants of 16):

Your evidence is overwhelming, Barrister Wwwebster. I'm just having trouble getting my head around the idea of the NY Times making a typo.

 

[Mustapha]

For your Weekend Fun:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag...very-year-since-1936-at-shooting-gallery.html

 

[Mustapha]

"an old Scotchman named Thomas William Ryves"
QUOTE from the book.

How did they know he was a "Scotchman"; did he have a bottle in his hand?

Regards,
J T

Shame on you JT,.. the Sons of Caledonia just distill the stuff.

 

[Mustapha]

Then and Now for Feb 6.

A multiple picture extravaganza. Did you know that the word is derived from the Italian stravaganza? Did you know that the study of word origins is called etymology? Did you realize I am keeping you from retiring at a decent hour?



Then 1926.

So, there was a level rail (Grand Trunk Railway, now CN) crossing at Queen and Degrassi streets at one time.

There was also a rail station - 'Riverdale' - that served this area.. it was located within the present Bruce Mackey Park. That this was a 'suburban' station at the time is now a quaint thought in the present day.

A number of accidents at this and other level crossing locations led the City and rail authorities into a program of eliminating them.

The following pictures depict in our customary Then and Now format the progress of construction. The Now pictures were taken in June 2011.

Let me take a moment to reflect on how the Toronto Archives, and in particular their online facility - probably one of the best in the world - has made this thread and others like it in cyberspace possible.

Finally, our last picture.. a Then picture that shows the overall 'big picture'. I regret I was unable to climb to the top of the present day embankment to take a Now picture.. the fences were rather daunting. Note the old alignment in front of Riverdale station.

 

[ShonTron]

Great pics. I did not know that there was a Riverdale Station. I certainly was aware of Don, Parkdale, Davenport, East Toronto, West Toronto and Sunnyside as inner city stations, but not Riverdale. First time I've seen pictures of that sort.

 

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

"was aware of Don, Parkdale, Davenport, East Toronto, West Toronto and Sunnyside"
QUOTE ShonTron.


There were two West Toronto Stations, one on the west side of the Line, with the other being on

the east side but farther to the north.


Regards,
J T

 

[Mustapha]

Great pics. I did not know that there was a Riverdale Station. I certainly was aware of Don, Parkdale, Davenport, East Toronto, West Toronto and Sunnyside as inner city stations, but not Riverdale. First time I've seen pictures of that sort.

Thank you Shontron.

I'll try to get around to doing the others too.

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

Bo Peep

I'm catching up on the thread this weekend so I'm a little behind! My parents went here when they were dating, I was first there when I was still in diapers, we celebrated family events there over the decades - what an amazing post brewster, a huge belated thank you! The Bo-Peep Restaurant is on Kingston Road about a mile west of Midland Avenue.

 

[Mustapha]

Then and Now for Feb 7.


Then. 'York Theatre.' 812-816 Yonge. c1916. This was located on the west side, just above Bloor. The movie 'The Express Car Mystery' is playing within. This was released in 1913.

Now. June 2011.