Toronto in the 1910s was a city of contrasts. On the one hand, the population was growing rapidly, and the economy was strong. Many immigrants were coming to the city, which added to its diversity and vibrancy. The city was also undergoing significant industrialization, with many new factories and businesses being established. This led to the creation of new jobs and opportunities for the people of Toronto.
On the other hand, the city also faced some challenges and growing pains. The influx of immigrants put a strain on the city’s infrastructure and services, and there were instances of overcrowding and poor living conditions in some areas. The city was also dealing with the effects of World War I, as many young men from Toronto enlisted to fight and the city experienced economic uncertainty due to the war. Many people in the city were employed in the manufacturing sector, and the city was a hub for trade and commerce. On the other hand, the city was also deeply impacted by the war.
The city was undergoing major changes and was at the forefront of Canada’s industrialization and growth. Many of the institutions and organizations that define the city today were established during this period, including the Toronto Transit Commission and the Toronto Public Library. Overall, Toronto in the 1910s was a dynamic and rapidly changing city.
#1 Construction begins on New Union Station, 1910s
#2 Pro hockey at Christie Pits, 1910s
#3 Danforth looking east from Pape, 1910s
#4 Bloor Viaduct complete, 1910s
#5 April 9 is Vimy Ridge Day. Six months after that battle, in October 1917, this photograph captured recuperating veterans gathered on the southwest corner of Yonge and College Street, referred to as Shrapnel Corners.
#6 King Street West, looking east from west of York Street, 1914.
#7 Ted Dodd an employee of the Toronto Electric Light Company, 1918.
#8 Looking northwest from Queen and Bay streets, 1910.
#9 Workers in horse-drawn buggies excavate building 7 of Kodak Heights, Mount Dennis, Toronto. (Eglinton Ave. W. & Weston Rd.), July 27, 1914
#10 Sleeping in doorway on a hot summer night, The Ward, 1910.
#11 Arrival of immigrants at (old) Union Station, 1910s
#12 Street railway strike meeting, Massey Hall, 1919.
#13 Bay and Albert streets, view looking southeast, 1918.
#14 Stonecutters commemorative photo of those involved in creating the intricate carvings on the north wing of the Ontario Legislative Building in Queens Park, Toronto, 1913
#15 Polson Iron Works Shipyard in Toronto, 1917. View shows six mine sweepers being fitted out for use in WWI, including the Festubert, St. Eloi, St. Julien, Vimy, Ypres and Messines.
#16 Old Union Station exterior, 1910s
#17 Toronto Street, 1910s
#18 Auditorium Theatre, 1910s
#19 King looking west from Yonge Street, 1910s
#20 Meyer’s Hotel, 1910s
#21 Queen and Terauley streets, 1910s
#22 Queen Street Viaduct under construction, 1910s
#23 Union Station construction, 1910s
#24 Beach Hebrew Institute, Kenilworth Avenue, east side, south of Queen Street East, 1919
#25 Jewish missionary Henry Singer in ‘The Ward’, 1912.
#26 Here is a view of the Old City Hall as it looked from the air in 1919.
The image is of particular interest on Remembrance Day for two reasons. Firstly it is unusual to see the location without its familiar war memorial Secondly the aerial view was taken while the Old City Hall was decorated to welcome home the 75th Battalion who would have been on their way home to Mississauga.
