Doors Open Toronto - historic photos
A favourite every year, Doors Open Toronto has been helping people - tourists and Torontonians alike - get to know the diverse architecture of the Greater Toronto area.
This page is is no way associated with Doors Open Toronto and not all of these locations are included in this year's event.
We have collected links to historic photos and paintings, as well as videos in some cases, to the following locations:
- 401 Richmond
- 433 Eastern Yard
- Allan I. Carswell Astronomical Observatory, York University
- Ashbrige Estate - Queen Street East
- Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
- Campbell House Museum
- Daniels Building - old Knox College
- Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres
- Evergreen Brick Works
- R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant
- Spadina Museum
- The Carlu in College Park
- The El Mocambo
- Timothy Eaton Memorial Church
- Toronto's First Post Office - Adelaide St East
- Zion Schoolhouse on Finch Avenue East
| 401 Richmond(Back up to top of page) | ||
| The buildings at 401 Richmond Street, just east of Spadina have served a number of purposes since they were built between 1899 and 1923. It once housed the Macdonald Manufacturing Company that made tin lithographs - including a contract in 1922 for 166,000 'motor car markers' for the Ontario Government. The buildings were then owned by the Continental Can Company from 1944-1967 after which they were left neglected as the neighbourhood changed. The property was purchased by Margaret Zeidler and the Urbanspace Property Group in 1994 and has since been added to the City of Toronto Inventory Heritage Properties (in 2007) and is now a community-oriented commercial space. | ||
| 1972 |  | Corner of Spadina Avenue and Richmond Street, looking east 401 Richmond on our left 52 years ago - 1972 - Entertainment District Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
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| 433 Eastern Yard(Back up to top of page) | ||
| Eastern Avenue, in Leslieville has been an industrial part of Toronto for many years. The building at 433 Eastern Avenue was built in 1912 for the Consumer's Gas Corporation. | ||
| 1980 |  | Consumers Gas buildings on Eastern Avenue, looking east to Booth Avenue 44 years ago - 1980 - Riverside-South Riverdale Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
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| Allan I. Carswell Astronomical Observatory, York University(Back up to top of page) | ||
| Opened in 1969, and formerly known as the York University Astronomical Observatory, it is owned and operated by York University, with the Observatory code H79. There are two main telescopes, one in each dome: a 60 cm (24 in) Cassegrain reflector, and a 1 m (39 in) custom-built telescope, the largest at a university in Canada. | ||
| 2022 |  | Original astronomy domes at York University - Allan I. Carswell Astronomical Observatory 2 years ago - Thursday, June 9, 2022 - York University Link to archive record - Map location |
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| Ashbrige Estate - Queen Street East(Back up to top of page) | ||
| The Ashbridges, a founding family of Toronto (formerly York), arrived from Pennsylvania in 1793. They are the only Toronto family to continuously occupy their land for 200 years. Two acres of the original homestead, including an 1854 house, is preserved by the Ontario Heritage Trust. This east-end landmark estate features a simple Regency design with neoclassical elements. | ||
| 1977 |  | Ashbridges Estate - built in 1854 and designed by Joseph Sheard - at Connaught Avenue 47 years ago - Thursday, May 26, 1977 - The Beaches Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
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| Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport(Back up to top of page) | ||
| A short (electric) ferry ride, or underwater pedestrian tunnel trip away, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport has served downtown Toronto since 1939. The first private plane landed on February 4, 1939 - a Stinson SR-9F Reliant aircraft flown by H.F. McLean of Montreal, and September 8th the first commercial flight landed with trumpet player and conductor Tommy Dorsey and his swing-band arriving in Toronto for a two-day engagement at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE). The airport also served as an important training ground for both the Royal Canadian and Royal Norwegian Air Forces during World War II. | ||
| 1939 |  | Toronto Island Airport from roof of the grain elevators 85 years ago - Wednesday, June 14, 1939 - Toronto Island Max temp: 21.1°C - Min temp: 10.6°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1949 |  | Aerial view showing part of the Toronto Island airport and houses on Hanlans Point 75 years ago - 1949 - Toronto Island Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario) |
| 2024 |  | Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport - 85 Years of Flight 0 years ago - Friday, February 2, 2024 - Toronto Island Link to archive record - Map location |
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| Campbell House Museum(Back up to top of page) | ||
| Now located on University Avenue at Queen Street West, the Campbell house was originally built in 1822 by Chief Justice William Campbell and his wife Hannah making it the oldest remaining house from the original Town of York. The architecture was designed to focus on symmetry, including the windows, fireplaces, etc. But it is also historic in that it was moved from its original location (Adelaide St. and Frederick St. where the George Brown School of Hospitality is located today) in 1972. | ||
| 1883 |  | Campbell house - as Fensom Elevator Works (Categorized under: Campbell House ) 141 years ago - 1883 - Old Town Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
| 1972 |  | Campbell House leaving University Ave into its final location (Categorized under: Campbell House ) 52 years ago - Friday, March 31, 1972 - Queen West Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
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| Daniels Building - old Knox College(Back up to top of page) | ||
| Originally home to Knox College, this building later served as a military hospital and laboratory. It is now the University of Toronto's John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design. | ||
| 1873 |  | Architectural drawing of Old Knox College at 1 Spadina Crescent - cross section and west elevation (Categorized under: Architectural drawings ) 151 years ago - 1873 - University of Toronto (U of T) Link to archive record - Map location (From the University of Toronto Archives) |
| 1882 |  | Kids in the field out front of Knox College (1875-1915), Spadina Crescent. 142 years ago - 1882 - University of Toronto (U of T) Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
| 1919 |  | Spadina Ave. looking north from south of College St. - Star Cafe on left, Knox College in centre (Categorized under: El Mocambo ) 105 years ago - Wednesday, May 7, 1919 - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) Max temp: 22.2°C - Min temp: 7.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
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| Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres(Back up to top of page) | ||
| The world's last operating double-decker theatre that has lasted from the vaudeville era to today. Includes the largest collection of vaudeville scenery, and check out the restored Loew's sign on the south side of the building. | ||
| 1929 |  | Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres - (called Loews Theatre at the time) on right - 189 Yonge St looking north from Queen, traffic at 1 p.m (Categorized under: Downtown theatres ) 95 years ago - Saturday, August 31, 1929 - Garden District Max temp: 31.1°C - Min temp: 10.0°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1967 |  | Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres - Peter Harris looking into the Winter Garden from the stage - closed since 1928 (Categorized under: Downtown theatres ) 57 years ago - Saturday, December 23, 1967 - Garden District Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
| 1989 |  | Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres - Wizard of Oz designer Astrid Janson in the lobby (Categorized under: Downtown theatres ) 35 years ago - Tuesday, December 12, 1989 - Garden District Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
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| Evergreen Brick Works(Back up to top of page) | ||
| An intersection in many senses of the word, The Don Valley Brickworks remains a fascinating location, thanks to the slate and clay in the area. Before colonization the area had a settlement of Anishinaabe people along the Don river and the Haudenosaunee and later the Mississaugas used these elements for pottery, tools, and weapons. In 1889 the Don Valley Pressed Brick Company was opened - one of the largest brick manufacturers in Canada, supplying bricks for many many homes and buildings in Toronto, including Casa Loma, Massey Hall, and Queens Park. | ||
| 1908 |  | Don Valley Brick Works excavation in 1908 116 years ago - 1908 - Don Valley Brickworks Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1955 |  | Looking under the railway bridge west across the Don Valley Brick Works with 4 smoke stacks 69 years ago - Sunday, December 25, 1955 - Don Valley Brickworks Max temp: 2.2°C - Min temp: -1.7°C - 4.0cm of snow on the ground (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
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| R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant(Back up to top of page) | ||
| Started in 1932 and operational on November 1st, 1941, the Art Deco water treatment plant, also known as The Palace of Purification, continues to supply water to Toronto. Located at 2701 Queen St. E. at the foot of Victoria Park Ave, the area was a waterfront amusement park, called Victoria Park, from 1878 to 1906. Then in 1906 to 1932 the site was used as the Victoria Park Forest School (there are some photos from 1913 of the school on the Fallingbrook neighbourhood page. But as Toronto continued to grow in the 1920's and 1930's it was clear a new, modern water filtration plant was required. The focus on architectural design led to a public works building that has captured the imagination of Toronto. For a fictional account of the people who built the plant, see Michael Ondaatje's book In the Skin of a Lion . The buildings have also appeared as various fictional jails in movies over the years. | ||
| 1930 |  | Filtration Building - south elevation - blueprints - R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant (Categorized under: Architectural drawings --- R C Harris Water Treatment Plant ) 94 years ago - 1930 - Fallingbrook Link to archive record - Map location |
| 1936 |  | Twenty ton crane and steel roof frame during construction of the R.C. Harris Plant (Categorized under: R C Harris Water Treatment Plant ) 88 years ago - Thursday, March 26, 1936 - Fallingbrook Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1952 |  | R.C. Harris Purification Plant, east side - lawn, steps, towers (Categorized under: R C Harris Water Treatment Plant ) 72 years ago - Friday, September 26, 1952 - Fallingbrook Max temp: 16.7°C - Min temp: 10.6°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
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| Spadina Museum(Back up to top of page) | ||
| Well worth a visit, right next to Casa Loma, Spadina Mansion was constructed in 1866 as a Victorian estate and villa for Toronto financier James Austin. In 1897 his son Albert inherited the property and commissioned extensive renovations, carried out by Toronto architects W. C. Vaux Chadwick and Eustace G. Bird. The mansion remains an interesting example of mixing a private residence, separate spaces for entertaining, and servant quarters. It also managed to maintain many Art Nouveau features. | ||
| 1850 |  | Second Spadina House (1836-1866) built by William Warren Baldwin - 1.5 stories at the time (Categorized under: Spadina house ) 174 years ago - 1850 - Casa Loma Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
| 1880 |  | Colourized view of James Austin's Spadina House (1866), Spadina Rd., opp. Austin Terrace. (Categorized under: Spadina house ) 144 years ago - 1880 - Casa Loma Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
| 2014 |  | Art Nouveau frieze by Gustav Hahn - Spadina House Billiards room (Categorized under: Spadina house ) 10 years ago - Saturday, May 24, 2014 - Casa Loma Max temp: 0.0°C - Min temp: 0.0°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location |
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| The Carlu in College Park(Back up to top of page) | ||
| Thankfully the even space on the 7th floor has survived. | ||
| 1944 |  | Eatons College Street store - just one story - after snowstorm (22.5 inches in 36 hours) 80 years ago - Monday, December 11, 1944 - College Street Max temp: -3.3°C - Min temp: -5.0°C - 48.3cm of snowfall (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1954 |  | Old vehicles in the auditorium foyer - 7th floor - Eatons College Street Store 70 years ago - Monday, March 29, 1954 - College Street Max temp: -1.1°C - Min temp: -6.1°C - 5.1cm of snowfall (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
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| The El Mocambo(Back up to top of page) | ||
| There have been many great live music venues in Toronto, and El Mocambo is one of the surviving examples. | ||
| 1969 |  | El Mocambo tavern sign along Spadina between International steam bath open 24 hours and Crescent Grill (Categorized under: El Mocambo ) 55 years ago - Saturday, March 1, 1969 - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) Link to archive record - Map location (From York University Archives) |
| 1978 |  | Blondie performing live at the El Mocambo - Clem Burke (?) on drums, Debbie Harry singing and Chris Stein (?) on guitar (Categorized under: El Mocambo ) 46 years ago - Wednesday, August 2, 1978 - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream) |
| 1978 |  | Devo performing live at the El Mocambo - Mark Mothersbaugh playing distinctive Hagstrom 1 guitar with pedals attached including a Frogg Ring Modulator (Categorized under: El Mocambo ) 46 years ago - Wednesday, October 25, 1978 - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream) |
| 1982 |  | The Spoons standing outside the El Mocambo - Derrick Ross; Rob Preusse; Sandy Horne and Gord Deppe - a band from Burlington that has paid its dues - before their Sat June 26th, 1982 gig (Categorized under: El Mocambo ) 42 years ago - Tuesday, June 22, 1982 - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
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| Timothy Eaton Memorial Church(Back up to top of page) | ||
| Standing on St. Clair | ||
| 1920 |  | East side of the Eaton Memorial Church, St. Clair Avenue West (Categorized under: Timothy Eaton Memorial Church ) 104 years ago - 1920 - Forest Hill Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1922 |  | Casket of Sir John Craig Eaton leaving the Timothy Eaton Memorial United Church during his funeral (Categorized under: Timothy Eaton Memorial Church ) 102 years ago - 1922 - Forest Hill Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
| 1928 |  | Leaded glass window - Eaton Memorial Church, interior (Categorized under: Timothy Eaton Memorial Church ) 96 years ago - Thursday, August 2, 1928 - Forest Hill Max temp: 30.0°C - Min temp: 16.7°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
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| Toronto's First Post Office - Adelaide St East(Back up to top of page) | ||
| Operated by the Town of York Historical Society, this National Historic Site is a museum and an authorized full-service dealer for Canada Post. The museum tells the story of the Town of York and the early Canadian postal system. Visitors can try their hand with a quill pen and ink, and explore the museum exhibits. | ||
| 1912 |  | James Scott Howard house - Toronto's first post office, Adelaide Street East (Categorized under: First Toronto post office ) 112 years ago - 1912 - St. Lawrence Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
| 1980 |  | James Scott Howard house - Toronto's first post office - revealed - with the windows rounded and bricked up (Categorized under: First Toronto post office ) 44 years ago - Tuesday, September 23, 1980 - St. Lawrence Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
| 1984 |  | James Scott Howard house - Old postal boxes in the restored antique Post Office on Adelaide Street east (Categorized under: First Toronto post office ) 40 years ago - Tuesday, February 21, 1984 - St. Lawrence Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
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| Zion Schoolhouse on Finch Avenue East(Back up to top of page) | ||
| Just east of Leslie Street. | ||
| 2006 |  | Zion Schoolhouse exterior - built in 1869 by the farming families in the L Amoreaux community - closed as a school in 1955 (Categorized under: Schools ) 18 years ago - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - North York Max temp: 0.0°C - Min temp: 0.0°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 2006 |  | Zion Schoolhouse classroom with instructor and students (Categorized under: Schools ) 18 years ago - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - North York Max temp: 0.0°C - Min temp: 0.0°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
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