Historic photos from around Yorkville, Toronto
The Yorkville coat of arms (brewer, brick maker, anvil, wood-plane, and sheep in the center) reflects the early character of the area. Yorkville was created as a residential suburb of Toronto in 1830 by Joseph Bloor and William Botsford Jarvis. The area grew, and by 1853 the population exceeded 1,000 people, large enough that it could be incorporated as the Village of Yorkville. The Potters Field cemetery, north east of Yonge and Bloor, was closed in 1870, with the remains moved to the Toronto Necropolis and Mount Pleasant cemetery. On Februrary 1st, 1883 the City of Toronto annexed the area, renaming it St. Paul's Ward.List of all areas in Toronto or take a look at the historic photos by date. New! You can now access the photos by street address A subset of the photos have also been arranged by subject. Tweet
| 1850 |  | Pencil sketch of the H.B. Williams 'Yorkville Buss Line' coach in front of the Red Lion Hotel - John Ross Robertson Collection 174 years ago - 1850 - Yorkville at 767 Yonge Street just north of Bloor Street Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1860 |  | Opening of the first rail line north of Bloor - Yonge St. looking n. from n. of Asquith Ave. - Yorkville Town Hall 164 years ago - 1860 - Yorkville at 773 Yonge Street north of Asquith Ave Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024) |
| 1865 |  | Joseph Bloor brewery, n. of Bloor St. E., between Mount Pleasant Rd. & Sherbourne St. 159 years ago - 1865 - Yorkville Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024) |
| 1875 |  | Jesse Ketchum School c.1875 - Alexander Muir was principal 1871-2 (Categorized under: Schools ) 149 years ago - 1875 - Yorkville Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024) |
| 1885 |  | Red Lion Hotel showing sign out front and horse and sleigh 139 years ago - 1885 - Yorkville at 767 Yonge Street just north of Bloor Street Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024) |
| 1886 |  | The Red Lion Inn, opened ca 1810 - where the Albert Britnell's bookstore then stood 138 years ago - 1886 - Yorkville at 767 Yonge Street just north of Bloor Street Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario) |
| 1893 |  | View of Yonge Street, looking north from Scollard Street, Toronto 131 years ago - 1893 - Yorkville at 819 Yonge Street (approx) at Scollard Street Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario) |
| 1905 |  | Margaret Eaton School of Literature and Expression 119 years ago - 1905 - Yorkville Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1907 |  | Yorkville Town Hall, Yonge St., w. side, opposite Collier St. built 1860 by architect William Hay and apprentice Henry Langley 117 years ago - 1907 - Yorkville Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024) |
| 1908 |  | Margaret Eaton School of Literature and Expression built 1905 by W.R. Mead at 38 1/2 North St (Categorized under: Schools ) 116 years ago - 1908 - Yorkville Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1909 | Jesse Ketchum School office and teacher (Categorized under: Schools ) 115 years ago - 1909 - Yorkville at 61 Davenport Road Link to archive record - Map location (From the Library and Archives Canada) |
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| 1910 |  | Lennox Hotel with illuminated sign - Yonge St. e. side, south of present Church St. (Categorized under: Hotels ) 114 years ago - 1910 - Yorkville Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024) |
| 1910 |  | Bismarck Avenue entrance of Parker's Dye Works - men and horse drawn cart 114 years ago - 1910 - Yorkville at 791 Yonge Street south of Yorkville Ave. Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024) |
| 1912 | Jesse Ketchum School classroom - interior (Categorized under: Schools ) 112 years ago - 1912 - Yorkville at 61 Davenport Road Link to archive record - Map location (From the Library and Archives Canada) |
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| 1912 |  | Historic map of Bloor and Bay Street for Terauley Street Widening - Charles St. and St. Mary 112 years ago - Monday, September 9, 1912 - Yorkville Max temp: 26.1°C - Min temp: 16.7°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1917 |  | Wellesley Public School, St. Vincent Street (now Bay Street), and St. Albans Street (now Wellesley Street West) (Categorized under: Schools ) 107 years ago - Monday, November 5, 1917 - Yorkville at 955 Bay Street n.e. corner at Wellesley Street West Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024) |
| 1917 |  | Masonic master lays cornerstone for Masonic Temple in 1917, Yonge Street and Davenport Road 107 years ago - Saturday, November 17, 1917 - Yorkville at 888 Yonge Street n.w. corner at Davenport Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1920 |  | Old residence, south side of Bloor Street West between Bay and Yonge 104 years ago - 1920 - Yorkville Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1920 |  | Westminster Church fire aftermath - news reel - Bloor East at Park Road (Categorized under: Churches and other places of worship ) 104 years ago - Monday, February 2, 1920 - Yorkville at 117 Bloor Street East at Park Road Link to archive record - Map location |
| 1920 |  | Westminster United Church after Jan 30th 1920 fire (Categorized under: Churches and other places of worship ) 104 years ago - Monday, February 2, 1920 - Yorkville at 121 Bloor Street West Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1920 | Westminster (Presbyterian) Church, fire ruins, 49 Bloor east. Toronto, Ont (Categorized under: Churches and other places of worship ) 104 years ago - Monday, February 2, 1920 - Yorkville at 121 Bloor Street East Link to archive record - Map location (From the Library and Archives Canada) |
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| 1920 | Westminster Church fire - bystanders looking at frozen Church (Categorized under: Churches and other places of worship ) 104 years ago - Monday, February 2, 1920 - Yorkville at 121 Bloor Street East Link to archive record - Map location (From the Library and Archives Canada) |
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| 1921 |  | Margaret Eaton School, North Street (now Bay Street) (Categorized under: Schools ) 103 years ago - Friday, March 4, 1921 - Yorkville Max temp: -5.0°C - Min temp: -13.9°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1921 |  | 52 North Street - Terauley Street Extension 103 years ago - Friday, March 4, 1921 - Yorkville at 52 North Street Max temp: -5.0°C - Min temp: -13.9°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1921 |  | 51 Yorkville Avenue near Bay - Terauley Street Extension 103 years ago - Friday, April 1, 1921 - Yorkville at 51 Yorkville Ave Max temp: 4.4°C - Min temp: -3.3°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1924 |  | Yorkville coat or arms - brewer, brick maker, anvil, wood-plane, and sheep in the center 100 years ago - 1924 - Yorkville Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024) |
| 1924 |  | Yorkville heraldry above the rose window on Yorkville Town Hall - burnt down in 1941 100 years ago - 1924 - Yorkville Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024) |
| 1924 |  | No. 83-85 Bloor Street West 100 years ago - Tuesday, March 4, 1924 - Yorkville Max temp: 4.4°C - Min temp: 0.6°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1927 |  | No. 5 steamer in Centennial Parade, Bloor Street West at Bellair Street 97 years ago - Friday, July 1, 1927 - Yorkville Max temp: 30.6°C - Min temp: 20.0°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1927 |  | No. 3 hose and chemical wagon in Centennial Parade, Bloor Street West seen from Bellair Street 97 years ago - Friday, July 1, 1927 - Yorkville Max temp: 30.6°C - Min temp: 20.0°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1927 |  | No. 8 hose wagon in Centennial Parade, Bloor Street West seen from Bellair Street 97 years ago - Friday, July 1, 1927 - Yorkville Max temp: 30.6°C - Min temp: 20.0°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1929 |  | Bloor Street West, south side, looking east from Avenue Road 95 years ago - 1929 - Yorkville Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1930 |  | Mosher's on Bay Street south of Bloor 94 years ago - 1930 - Yorkville Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1930 |  | Lennox Hotel - 831 Yonge Street at Church - Central Shoe repair and Gibbons & Co Grocers (Categorized under: Hotels ) 94 years ago - Thursday, September 18, 1930 - Yorkville at 831 Yonge Street Max temp: 21.7°C - Min temp: 12.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1932 |  | Sir William Mulock house at 71 Avenue Road Between Yorkville and Webster Ave. 92 years ago - 1932 - Yorkville Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024) |
| 1938 |  | Snow and Duckworths Furs on Avenue Road looking north from Yorkville Avenue 86 years ago - Thursday, January 13, 1938 - Yorkville Max temp: 0.0°C - Min temp: -5.0°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1941 |  | St. Paul's Hall after November 1941 fire 83 years ago - Wednesday, November 26, 1941 - Yorkville at 773 Yonge Street north of Asquith Ave Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1945 |  | Babloor Hotel - 1163-1167 Bay St., east side, between Charles St. W. and Bloor St. W. (Categorized under: Hotels ) 79 years ago - 1945 - Yorkville at 1163 Bay Street Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1948 |  | University Theatre marquee and sign for Joan of Arc with Ingrid Bergman (Categorized under: Downtown theatres ) 76 years ago - Friday, November 5, 1948 - Yorkville Max temp: 18.3°C - Min temp: 10.6°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario) |
| 1948 |  | University Theatre on Bloor Street - sitting area and balcony (Categorized under: Downtown theatres ) 76 years ago - Friday, November 5, 1948 - Yorkville Max temp: 18.3°C - Min temp: 10.6°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario) |
| 1948 |  | University Theatre - seating area with window still open to street (Categorized under: Downtown theatres ) 76 years ago - Friday, November 5, 1948 - Yorkville Max temp: 18.3°C - Min temp: 10.6°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario) |
| 1948 |  | University Theatre - auditorium and balcony (Categorized under: Downtown theatres ) 76 years ago - Friday, November 5, 1948 - Yorkville Max temp: 18.3°C - Min temp: 10.6°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario) |
| 1952 |  | Yorkville Baptist Church - became Salvation Army barracks (later receiving home) ca 1887-ca 1947; Rent-A-Car Building from ca 1947 72 years ago - 1952 - Yorkville at 916 Yonge Street north of Davenport Road Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024) |
| 1954 |  | Wellesley Public School at Bay and Wellesley - run as a school from 1874 to 1956 (Categorized under: Schools ) 70 years ago - Monday, February 15, 1954 - Yorkville at 955 Bay Street n.e. corner at Wellesley Street West Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024) |
| 1959 |  | The Concert Hall and gas station at Yonge and Church and Davenport 65 years ago - 1959 - Yorkville at 888 Yonge Street looking east along Church to Yonge St Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1959 |  | Canadian Tire gas bar with butterfly canopy - Yonge Street and Church Street 65 years ago - Friday, November 20, 1959 - Yorkville Max temp: 3.9°C - Min temp: -2.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1966 | Yorkville in the 1960s - looking north on Avenue Road to Elgin Ave 58 years ago - Saturday, November 5, 1966 - Yorkville at 66 Avenue Road Link to archive record - Map location (From the Library and Archives Canada) |
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| 1966 | St. Paul's Avenue Road church - playing guitar looking south to Yorkville 58 years ago - Saturday, November 5, 1966 - Yorkville at 121 Avenue Road Link to archive record - Map location (From the Library and Archives Canada) |
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| 1969 |  | Silent Cinema - 46-seat theatre devoted exclusively to silent movies - 1926 Don Juan was played on opening night (Categorized under: Midtown theatres ) 55 years ago - Monday, September 15, 1969 - Yorkville at 133 Avenue Road just south of Davenport Road Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024) |
| 1970 |  | Sutton Place hotel - driveway and entrance - Bay and Wellesley - opened 1967 (Categorized under: Hotels ) 54 years ago - Wednesday, July 1, 1970 - Yorkville Max temp: 26.1°C - Min temp: 17.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1971 |  | Tranquility Bay store window - 690 Yonge Street, south of St. Mary 53 years ago - Tuesday, July 27, 1971 - Yorkville at 690 Yonge Street Max temp: 22.2°C - Min temp: 12.8°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1981 |  | Iron Maiden live on stage in Toronto at the Concert Hall on June 21, 1981 (Categorized under: Live music ) 43 years ago - Sunday, June 21, 1981 - Yorkville at 888 Yonge Street n.w. corner at Davenport Link to archive record - Map location |
| 1982 |  | The Spoons live on stage in Toronto at the Concert Hall on October 29th, 1982 (Categorized under: Live music ) 42 years ago - Friday, October 29, 1982 - Yorkville at 888 Yonge Street n.w. corner at Davenport Link to archive record - Map location |
| 1983 |  | University Theatre on Bloor St. showing Return of the Jedi (opened 1949, closed 1986) (Categorized under: Downtown theatres ) 41 years ago - 1983 - Yorkville Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1984 |  | Streets of Toronto - The Shuffle Demons busking at Yonge and Bloor - Stich Wynston, Mike Murley, Dave Parker and Richard Underhill (Categorized under: Live music ) 40 years ago - 1984 - Yorkville at 741 Yonge Street n.e. corner at Bloor Street Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1988 |  | George Bowling house - 113 Hazelton Ave - built in 1880 36 years ago - Saturday, January 2, 1988 - Yorkville Max temp: -3.9°C - Min temp: -8.5°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream) |
| 1993 |  | Green Day live on stage in Toronto at the Concert Hall on October 6th, 1993 (Categorized under: Live music ) 31 years ago - Wednesday, October 6, 1993 - Yorkville at 888 Yonge Street n.w. corner at Davenport Link to archive record - Map location |