Toronto in the 1920s was a bustling and growing city. It was a time of great change and progress, as Toronto saw significant development in industry, transportation, and the arts. The population of Toronto grew rapidly during this time, with many new immigrants arriving in the city. This influx of people brought with it a diverse array of cultures, which contributed to the vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere of the city.
The economy of Toronto in the 1920s was driven by industry, particularly manufacturing and processing. Toronto was home to many factories and industrial plants, which provided jobs for many of the city’s residents. The development of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in the 1920s also contributed to the city’s economic growth, as it made it easier for people to travel around the city and connect to suburban areas.
The 1920s was also a time of cultural growth in Toronto. The city was home to a thriving arts scene, with many galleries, theaters, and concert halls. The University of Toronto also played a central role in the city’s cultural life, as it was a hub of intellectual and artistic activity.
The 1920s were also a time of social change in Toronto. Women’s suffrage was a hot topic, and women in the city became more involved in the political process. Overall, Toronto in the 1920s was a dynamic and exciting time as the city continued to grow and evolve. It was a period of great change and progress, which laid the foundation for Toronto’s development into the vibrant and cosmopolitan city it is today.
Here are some spectacular historic photos that offers a glimpse into the 1920s in Toronto.
#1 Yonge Street looking north at Lawrence Avenue, 1922
#2 Sweet Nectar Orange Drink – North side of Danforth Avenue, just west of Woodbine Avenue, 1920s
#3 Rosedale Ravine, Toronto, 1925.
#4 “Late 1920’s at the CP Lunch on Runnymede north of Dundas.
#5 Bloor & Indian Road looking east, 1920s
#6 St. Clair Oakwood Motors, De Soto Six Motor Cars – Electric overhanging sign on a building at 900 St. Clair Avenue West, opposite Alberta Avenue, 1920s
#7 Sunday School at St Brigid`s in Toronto, 1921 – John North and Ernie Catling.
#8 Train in Toronto area, 1920s
#9 Bedford Park Presbyterian (United) Church (1921-1924).
#10 Wood shop in the Toronto School Board, 1920.
#11 Garage at the corner of Kingston Rd & Cornell Ave., 1920
#12 Military Burying Ground, Strachan Avenue, west of Fort York, 1926.
#13 Liberty St., looking west from Strachan Avenue, 1926.
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This site is remarkable…I worked here as a student back 1978…it was a furniture factory…today tge building is converted into apartment units with the look of a factory
#14 Bathurst Street and St. Clair Avenue west. View is looking west on St. Clair Avenue West towards Bathurst Street, 1920s
#15 Richmond Parking Station. An electric overhanging sign on a building located on the south side of Richmond Street West, west of Bay Street. View is looking east, 1920s
#16 St Brigid’s RC Church, Toronto – Credit Marlene Catling Koenig, 1922
#17 Bedford Park Presbyterian (United) Church (opened 1924), Ranleigh Avenue, north side, between Yonge St. and Mt. Pleasant Rd.
#18 Danforth Avenue, looking west towards Donlands Avenue. Visible in the image is Donlands Battery and Tire Service, 1920s
#19 South-west corner of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue, adjacent to a building occupied by Nash Undertakers, 2284 Yonge Street, 1920s
#20 Brand new Maple Leaf Stadium – Bathurst & Fleet, 1926
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Wow! I didn’t know Maple Leaf Stadium was built then. I guess prior to this the baseball field where Babe Ruth hit his first home run was at Hanson’s Point on the island.
#21 Stop 3 is listed as Sweeney’s Side Road. This view is looking south on Yonge St. from approximately the south side of the 401 down into Hogg’s Hollow, 1920s
#22 Bloor Street East and Church Street, southwest corner, 1920s
#23 Spadina Avenue, south of College Street. View is looking north-west on Spadina Avenue, 1920s
#24 Dr. T.N. Scott, Dentist 692 Bloor W at Clinton looking east, 1920s
#25 Orange Maid Drink – Danforth Avenue, south side, west of Coxwell Avenue.. View is looking east, 1920s
#26 Gotfredson Trucks – 242-244 Spadina Avenue. View is looking north-east on Spadina Avenue, from south of Grange Avenue, 1920s
#27 Arthur-Jones Printing 585 Adelaide W, looking west towards Bathurst Street, 1920s
#28 Yonge looking southwest from Chatsworth, 1920s
#29 South-west corner of Bloor and Church, 1920s
#30 South-west corner of Yonge Street and Yonge Boulevard, 1920s
#31 West End Y.M.C.A., College Street, at Dovercourt Road, south-east corner, 1920s
#32 Spadina Avenue looking north, 1920s
#33 1126 Weston Road, 1926
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Wonder where on Weston Road this was? Likely just north of St. Clair Avenue.
#34 1335 Weston Road, 1926
#35 1126 Weston Road, Mount Dennis looking northwest, 1926
#36 1323 Weston Road, Mount Dennis, Rutherford Avenue in the background. Looking northwest, 1926
#37 Morris House, Morris Cars and Trucks 674-680 Bay Street, 1920s
#38 Bentley’s Fish and Chips on the north side of Danforth Avenue, near the Grover Theatre, at 2714. View is looking east on Danforth Avenue, 1928
#39 Arnold’s Bakery – 369 Roncesvalles Avenue, 1928
#40 Dundas Street & Milan Street looking southeast, 1920s
#41 Queen Street East looking west towards River Street, 1920s
#42 L.J. Applegath & Son Limited. A storefront with signage advertising Craig Hats, 22-24 Queen Street East, at Victoria Street, north-west corner, 1920s
#43 Charles Winter, Dresswell Clothes, 1920s
#44 Brown & Percy Motors Limited 1415 Bloor St. W., Willys-Knight Whippet Motor Cars, 1920s
#45 National Taxi Limited, 23 Adelaide Street West, at Johnson Street, 1929
#46 Dundas Street West and University Avenue, site for a new nine-story addition to the Maclean-Hunter Building. View is looking north-east across University Avenue, 1926
#47 Dundas Street West & Chestnut Street. View is looking west, towards the Maclean-Hunter Building, 1929
#48 Skyline of Toronto, 1929
#49 Royce Theatre – 315 Royce Avenue (1621 Dupont Street) South side of Dupont between Edwin & Franklin, 1929
#50 Procession of clowns at the gates of Sir Henry Pellalt’s, 1922.
#51 Casa Loma, Sir Henry Pellatt’s Castle, Toronto, from the stables water tower, north side, 1922.
#52 Princes’ Gates, Canadian National Exhibition, 1927.
#53 Toronto, Sept. 5th, 1928.
#54 Military Burying Ground, Strachan Avenue, west of Fort York, 1926.
#55 Queen & Duncan looking southeast, 1920s
#56 Donlands Battery & Service Station on the south side of Danforth just east of Donlands, 1920s
#57 Harry Horne’s Double Cream Custard – Queen Street West, at Cowan Avenue. View is looking east on Queen Street West, 1928
#58 South side of College Street, near Bay Street. Visible in the image is the De Lestard’s School of Languages, 53 College Street, and Marcella Beauty Parlour and Physicians & Surgeons Hospital Supplies, 1920s
#59 Henry Wray Drugs Sodas 896 Kingston Road looking west, 1920s
#60 Olympia Bowling Club – Yonge and Gerrard streets, south-east corner. View is looking south-west towards the west side of Yonge Street, 1920s
#61 South-west corner of Bloor and Church, 1920s
#62 Palace Theatre, 664 Danforth Avenue, near Pape Avenue, showing its overhanging electric sign. View is looking east on Danforth Avenue, from Pape Avenue, 1920s
#63 Rutherford Avenue viewed from Weston Road, Mount Dennis looking northwest, 1926
#64 Owl Drug Stores Limited. A signage on a storefront located at the north-west corner of Bloor Street West and Spadina Road, 1929
#65 Petrie’s Parking Place – Electric overhanging sign on a building located on the south side of Front Street West, west of York Street, 1929
#66 1376 Bloor Street West looking east, 1929
#67 Old Toronto Hydro Scott Street plant, 1928
The Toronto Terminals Railway began building the Central Heating Plant at the northwest corner of York Street and Fleet Street (now Lakeshore Boulevard). The new facility replaced the old Toronto Hydro Scott Street plant, which was expropriated by the TTR for the building of the railway viaduct. When the Central Heating Plant was completed in 1929, it was the largest such facility in Canada. At its peak, the CHP could produce 330,000 pounds of steam per hour or an average of 600 million pounds annually. The plant provided steam heat piped through underground tunnels to a wide variety of railway facilities including Union Station, the CNR and CPR express buildings and the CPR John Street roundhouse, as well as supplying heat for individual passenger cars stored in the coach yard. The steam required for the Roundhouse's much vaunted "Direct Steaming Process" also came from this source. Moreover, the CHP also heated the Royal York Hotel, the Dominion Public Building, the Postal Delivery Building and the CN/CP Telecommunications building at Front and Simcoe Streets. Later the plant was converted to natural gas. In the 1980s the Toronto Terminals Railway decided to purchase their heating capacity directly from a commercial supplier and the Central Heating Plant was demolished in 1990.
