Queen West

I took this picture in 2009 on Queen West, near Augusta.

It looks like there were two different ghost signs on the east wall of this building, at 541-543 Queen.

 

A little research on the web, produced some interesting points about this neighbourhood.

For instance, according to the Queen Street West BIA, this portion of Queen Street was the first Commercial Heritage Conservation District in Toronto.

The architecture of this four storied building is in the Queen Anne style, as evidenced by the dormers and turrets.

 

Eclecticism, asymmetry, and contrast were hallmarks of this Victorian-Era architectural design. 

One can see the stained glass transoms above the two middle windows on the second floor, as well as the decorated turrets on the top floor.

According to the Wentworth Architect web-site, the Queen Anne look was achieved in a variety of ways, using patterned brick or stone, and sometimes terracotta panels.

Decorative stone panels were frequently set into the wall, as were custom-molded with coloured bricks.

In this picture, you can see a face molded between the third floor windows.

 

More blogging will be forthcoming on architecture, because I find it fascinating! 

Dundas Street West

My niece and her husband recently told me about a very well-preserved "Ghost Sign" that could be seen nearby if you travelled the West Toronto Rail Path.

They know that I search out these old fading advertisements, that have been painted on buildings, so this one was especially interesting.

With a general idea where to look, I rode the subway to Dundas West station and walked north along Dundas Street.

I passed a building at number 2466 that had an old painted sign on its southern end.

 As I passed this structure, I noticed that there was a more modern sign on the front, and that there were many tenants living in this old warehouse

Just north of here is a steel pedestrian bridge over the railway tracks.

After climbing the stairs and walking along the bridge, I could see the other Ghost Sign on the north side of this warehouse.

 Too bad about all the graffitti!

Ghost Signs in the Printing Industry

Here on Adelaide Street West is a "Ghost Sign" that actually has two advertisements.

The more prominent one is for the Hugh C. MacLean Publications.

The underlying sign is for Gevaert Canada Ltd. 

This company became Agfa-Gevaert Canada in 1995.

Next, we have a five-story building, built in 1909 and located at 19 Duncan Street.

The sign says “Southam Press Toronto”

Just as an aside, the Walrus magazine is located in this building.

Interestingly enough, Southam Ltd. Purchased MacLean Publishing in 1960 to form Southam – MacLean Publishing.

Below is the Blackhall and Company sign on a building at 19 Peter Street.

Ghost Sign on College Street

This photo is from the Toronto Archives.

It is a picture of 370 College Street, and was taken in June 1958.

The building with the Pepsi Cola sign is "Quality Bakery", and the panel truck parked on the street is their delivery vehicle.



Below, is a picture taken recently of the same block of storefronts.

The bakery is gone, and it looks like there are a few computer stores inhabiting the area; as well as some graffiti on the white arch of the building to the west.


A close-up of the side of the building reveals yet another ghost sign.

I can read some of the words:

"Connor's Bakery"......"We Deliver" and there seems to be a head shot of a uniformed person.

It's pretty difficult to see any of the old "Pepsi Cola" sign, as it may have been painted over, at one time.

Ghost Signs on Richmond West

I have been on Richmond Street, west of University, on a number of occasions, but have not been looking up for "Ghost Signs" until recently.

So, I started to capture more painted mural ads on the sides of buildings in this part of town... after all, you never know when they might be replaced with a Condo.

This first one is, of course the "Acme Carbon and Ribbon", on Richmond, just west of John.
Too bad a window has been cut into the side of the word "CARBON".

Below is an advertisement for wholesale woolens and goods is located at 225 Richmond.Note the spelling of "Woollens"....spellcheck says it should be spelled "Woolens".
This Gelber Brothers' sign is in pretty good shape, considering.



Then, across the street (on the north side of Richmond) we can see an old Tip Top Tailor sign.

The advert tells us that "Suits and Coats" can be made to measure.

The building currently houses CHUM, which is owned by CTV, and sits adjacent to their parking lot.

Yet another clothing manufacturer on Richmond Street
This is Milgrom"s Coats and Suits at #372.
The sign says "where quality is created"

Note: you can click on any of the images to enlarge a little.

Ghost Signs on the Danforth

This picture is not mine, but when I finally got around to Broadview and Danforth....the sign had been painted over, alas.

It was The Broadview Meat Market, just north of Danforth (it's now a "Daisy Mart") or maybe that's gone now too.



There are quite a few old adverts on Danforth, and I still have not photographed all of them.

This is Byers Garage, just opposite Playter Blvd.
Unfortunately, the Graffiti folks have been at this sign; causing the owners of the building to paint over it.
In a few months this will also disappear, I guess.

There is one small sign further along "The Danforth" near the pool hall known as "Ales & Rails".

As yet, I have not got that one.

Then there is this one, around Woodbine.
It can only be seen in winter, when the tree has shed its canopy.
It seems like this wool shop used to be a butcher's store.




Then near Victoria Park, there is still the old "New Era Appliances" sign hanging on the wall of what used to be "Sibley's".
In fact the street at the corner was probably renamed many years ago.

This will be another picture to add to my collection.

Ghost Sign on Niagara Street

While wandering along Queen West, recently, I found a "Ghost Sign" on Niagara Street.

This is an old Creeds Furrier sign.

I am not familiar with this area, so I started a little exploring.

As I traveled south on Walnut Avenue, I spotted another Ghost Sign, just south of Richmond.

The address is clearly 159-163, and it was a felt factory, but what is interesting, is the funnels-shaped items on the side of the building.

 

They are obviously not being used anymore, but I was wondering what they would have been used for when the factory was in full swing.

The Canary Restaurant

Last summer Bruce and Chris and I were walking along Cherry Street, heading for the TNT Market, when we stopped to peer in the abandoned Canary Restaurant on the corner of Front Street.


 

After taking this picture, I turned to look at the rest of the building and there on the Front Street side, was a ghost sign from when it was part of General Steel Wares.

After much fussing and picture taking, we continued our walk southward.

For some reason, I turned around – maybe for one last look; and spotted an old Coca Cola sign almost completely hidden by some over exuberant flora.

 
My friend Lucien collects Coca-Cola memorabilia, so I sent him this picture.

Coleman Lamps on Queen East

Over 100 years ago, a young man with an entrepreneurial spirit and a better idea began manufacturing lanterns in Wichita, Kansas. His name was W.C. Coleman.

He had very poor vision, but one day while looking in a drugstore window he was amazed to find that he could read the labels on the bottles.

He discovered that the lamps had mantles, not wicks, and were fueled by gasoline, under pressure not coal oil. Their light was clean and white.

Coleman was able to purchase the inventory and patents for the Efficient Lamp in 1901. 

After years of servicing the lamps, he knew he could design a better product; so in 1909, Coleman introduced a portable table lamp that became a staple in rural homes. 

Coleman's biggest customer was the U.S. military, when they designed the GI Pocket Stove. It burned for two hours on a cup of fuel from a jeep or plane, and became the most important contribution to the war.

The lantern and the camp stove became anchors for an expanded line of leisure products, beginning with a galvanized steel cooler introduced in 1954.

By the time the '60s drew to a close, the company that began as a one-man light utility had become the biggest name in the camping business.

">Despite all these grand inventions, this plant on Queen Street just east of the Don Valley Parkway is now home to an auto parts wholesaler.

Sam The Record Man

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It has been a Toronto landmark since 1961, when Sam and his brother Sydney first opened their own store at 347 Yonge Street.

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The double disc neon signs were always to be seen when filming took place in the downtown core.

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On October 4, the iconic neon signs were lit for the last time as part of Toronto's Nuit Blanche festivities.

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As you can see from my picture, part of the extension to Sam’s has been demolished; thus revealing the original store .....

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You can see the large red "S" and the small black letters "MA" and the little red "import".

So long "SAM THE RECORD MAN", it was great to browse through all the stuff in your store.