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What Toronto looked like at the Turn of the 20th Century

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At the turn of the 20th century, Toronto was a rapidly growing city. It was the largest city in Canada and an important trade and commerce hub. Many immigrants were coming to the city at this time, which led to the growth of diverse neighborhoods and communities. The city was also undergoing major industrialization, with many new factories and businesses being established.

Horses and carriages were still prevalent on city streets in the 1900s, when Toronto had about 210,000 people. The Temple Building, at ten stories, and the Trader’s Bank Building, at 15 stories, were the city’s tallest buildings, but the Bloor Viaduct had yet to link the city’s east and west sides. The city was devastated by one of the worst fires in its history, with nearly the entire main business area.

Toronto’s economy in the 1900s was driven by industrialization and the growth of its manufacturing sector. The city was home to many factories and businesses, particularly in the fields of textiles, clothing, and food processing. The city’s location on the shores of Lake Ontario made it an important transportation hub, with a busy port and many rail and road connections. The city was also a major center for finance, with several banks and other financial institutions headquartered there. Overall, the economy of Toronto in the 1900s was strong and helped to drive the city’s growth and development. By the 1900s, the commercial center had shifted west of the historic Town of York location. A new downtown was developed to the west of Yonge and King Streets. The City of Toronto moved into a new City Hall constructed at the intersection of Bay and Queen Streets. The Great Toronto Fire of 1904 destroyed much of this new downtown but was soon rebuilt.

Below are some interesting historical photos that will take you back to 1900s Toronto.

#16 Pottery recovered from ruins of the Great Toronto Fire of 1904.

Pottery recovered from ruins of the Great Toronto Fire of 1904.

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#37 University Avenue (with Queen’s Park in the distance), 1908

University Avenue (with Queen’s Park in the distance), 1908

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#41 M.A. Ramsay of Downsview, Ontario with his horse team & wagon at what appears to be a large event in the 1900s.

M.A. Ramsay of Downsview, Ontario with his horse team & wagon at what appears to be a large event in the 1900s.

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#42 661-663 Gerrard St. E. South side between Broadview/Boulton Ave, 1900s

661-663 Gerrard St. E. South side between Broadview/Boulton Ave, 1900s

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#43 Group of soldiers posing during a snow storm in front of the offices of E.L. Ruddy Company Limited, 1900s

Group of soldiers posing during a snow storm in front of the offices of E.L. Ruddy Company Limited, 1900s

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#44 Looking northeast, a nice view of 146 Crescent Road, at Mount Pleasant, early 1960s. Mooredale House Community Centre. Another heritage property: Baillie House, 1902, Sprott & Rolph.

Looking northeast, a nice view of 146 Crescent Road, at Mount Pleasant, early 1960s. Mooredale House Community Centre. Another heritage property: Baillie House, 1902, Sprott & Rolph.

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#45 A view looking north west on Queen St. W., in front of old City Hall, 1906.

A view looking north west on Queen St. W., in front of old City Hall, 1906.

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#48 Terauley (Bay) and Albert streets, looking southwest, 1909.

Terauley (Bay) and Albert streets, looking southwest, 1909.

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#50 Misspelled advertising sign in The Ward, “Gauranteed best sistem”, 1908.

Misspelled advertising sign in The Ward, "Gauranteed best sistem", 1908.

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#52 Max Silverman’s business sign, Agnes Street (Now Dundas St. W.), 1907

Max Silverman's business sign, Agnes Street (Now Dundas St. W.), 1907

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#54 School of Fun and Penny Exhibit destroyed by fire at Hanlan’s Point, Toronto Islands, Aug 10, 1909

School of Fun and Penny Exhibit destroyed by fire at Hanlan's Point, Toronto Islands, Aug 10, 1909

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#56 In front of City Hall looking west down Queen Street, 1906

In front of City Hall looking west down Queen Street, 1906

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#57 Mr. Daniel Wilkie, in the drawing room of the Wilkie, Daniel R., house, 432 Sherbourne St., w. side, between Carlton & Wellesley Sts., 1908.

Mr. Daniel Wilkie, in the drawing room of the Wilkie, Daniel R., house, 432 Sherbourne St., w. side, between Carlton & Wellesley Sts., 1908.

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#58 Dining room of the Wilkie, Daniel R., house, 432 Sherbourne St., w. side, between Carlton & Wellesley Sts., 1908.

Dining room of the Wilkie, Daniel R., house, 432 Sherbourne St., w. side, between Carlton & Wellesley Sts., 1908.

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#59 Wilkie, Daniel R., house, 432 Sherbourne St., w. side, between Carlton & Wellesley Sts., 1908.

Wilkie, Daniel R., house, 432 Sherbourne St., w. side, between Carlton & Wellesley Sts., 1908.

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#61 Weston High School, King St., south side, west of Elm St. Toronto, 1905.

Weston High School, King St., south side, west of Elm St. Toronto, 1905.

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#62 Steamship Cayuga and a schooner (left) in Toronto Bay from the eastern gap, some time after 1907.

Steamship Cayuga and a schooner (left) in Toronto Bay from the eastern gap, some time after 1907.

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#64 Spadina House, 1905. Currently a City of Toronto Museum at 285 Spadina Rd.

Spadina House, 1905. Currently a City of Toronto Museum at 285 Spadina Rd.

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#65 Alexander Gemmel house, Jarvis St., east side, between Carlton & Wellesley Sts. E., Toronto, 1900.

Alexander Gemmel house, Jarvis St., east side, between Carlton & Wellesley Sts. E., Toronto, 1900.

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#66 Gray Line sightseeing coach & bus no. 26 at the Prince George Hotel, corner of King & York Streets. Hotel originally opened in 1857 as the Rossin House Hotel, was renamed in 1909

Gray Line sightseeing coach & bus no. 26 at the Prince George Hotel, corner of King & York Streets. Hotel originally opened in 1857 as the Rossin House Hotel, was renamed in 1909

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#68 The big sitting room at the Eaton Women’s Club, 1900s

The big sitting room at the Eaton Women's Club, 1900s

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#69 The arrival of Santa Claus at Eaton’s Toyland, Toronto, 1900s

The arrival of Santa Claus at Eaton's Toyland, Toronto, 1900s

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#70 The old home of the Eatons, near Ballymena, 1900s

The old home of the Eatons, near Ballymena, 1900s

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#71 Eaton mail order building, Louisa Street, Toronto, 1900s

Eaton mail order building, Louisa Street, Toronto, 1900s

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#72 Women’s Coat Department, Eaton’s Toronto, 1900s

Women's Coat Department, Eaton's Toronto, 1900s

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#73 Curio seekers recovering items from ruins of the Great Fire of 1904.

Curio seekers recovering items from ruins of the Great Fire of 1904.

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#74 Pottery recovered from ruins of the Great Fire of 1904.

Pottery recovered from ruins of the Great Fire of 1904.

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#75 Pile of nails that was fused together in Great Toronto Fire of 1904, discovered among ruins in 1906.

Pile of nails that was fused together in Great Toronto Fire of 1904, discovered among ruins in 1906.

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#76 Curio seekers find a souvenir in ruins from the Great Toronto Fire of 1904.

Curio seekers find a souvenir in ruins from the Great Toronto Fire of 1904.

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#77 Valentine & Sons postcard of Old City Hall, postmarked Jan. 22, 1908. This was Toronto’s third city hall, home of the Toronto City Council from 1899 to 1966.

Valentine & Sons postcard of Old City Hall, postmarked Jan. 22, 1908. This was Toronto's third city hall, home of the Toronto City Council from 1899 to 1966.

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#78 Beatty, William H., house, Queen’s Park Cres. W., north of College St., 1900.

Beatty, William H., house, Queen's Park Cres. W., north of College St., 1900.

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#79 Children lounging in the yard. Beatty, William H., house, Queen’s Park Cres. W., north of College Street, 1900.

Children lounging in the yard. Beatty, William H., house, Queen's Park Cres. W., north of College Street, 1900.

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#80 Beatty, William H., house, Queen’s Park Cres. W., north of College Street, 1900.

Beatty, William H., house, Queen's Park Cres. W., north of College Street, 1900.

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#81 Post Office (1873-1960), Adelaide Street. E., north side, opposite the head of Toronto Street. Post card by W.G. MacFarlane, 1900s.

Post Office (1873-1960), Adelaide Street. E., north side, opposite the head of Toronto Street. Post card by W.G. MacFarlane, 1900s.

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#82 Children lounging in the yard. Beatty, William H., house, Queen’s Park Cres. W., north of College Street, 1900.

Children lounging in the yard. Beatty, William H., house, Queen's Park Cres. W., north of College Street, 1900.

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#83 Toronto railway company Carhouse bldg early 1900s

Toronto railway company Carhouse bldg early 1900s

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#84 A Tramp in the Snow, Rosedale, Toronto, Canada. June 1st, 1909.

A Tramp in the Snow, Rosedale, Toronto, Canada. June 1st, 1909.

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10 Comments

    • Many of the more significant, iconic buildings in these photos still exist today. The Toronto Board of Trade Building, Government House, and Crystal Palace were destroyed by fire. It’s incredible how razed when the new City Hall was built, but most of these architectural gems are still standing today.

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