Side Stories – Yonge Street in 1948

In 1948 the traffic on Yonge Street and other major arterial roads was so bad that the City’s Committee on Works recommended that the stretch of Yonge Street from Terauley Street (near Dundas) to Heath Street (north of St. Clair) be widened to approximately 86 feet. In preparation for this work, Alderman Allan Lamport, who would become Chairman of the TTC in 1955, commissioned a series of photographs along the east and west sides of Yonge Street to document existing conditions.

Since the cost to accomplish the street widening was estimated to be almost $9.5 million, the Board of Control requested the opinion of the TTC. TTC Chairman McBrien advised “that the Commission was of the opinion that…with the removal of street cars from Yonge Street when the Rapid Transit system is completed, it was not necessary, from the standpoint of traffic movement, to widen Yonge Street.”

Thus, the 1948 Yonge streetscape was saved from destruction, at least for a time. Here is a selection from Lamport’s 78 photographs of Yonge Street, showing a few recognizable buildings, and many more that are long gone.

 

The exterior and sign of the Yolles Furniture Company and a fenced-off lot with a sign saying "Coming Soon, The Downtown."
East side of Yonge Street, opposite Teraulay Street (just south of Dundas Street)
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 2.

 

A line of stores and services include the Silver Grill, the Biltmore cinema, Continental Clothes, and a boarded-up building on the corner.
East side of Yonge Street at Dundas Street
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 4.

 

A street of three-storey brick stores, including a Dominion grocery store and the White Chef restaurant.
East side of Yonge Street at McGill Street
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 11.

 

A sleek three-storey wrapping around the corner of an intersection.
East side of Yonge Street at Carlton Street
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 13.

 

A four-storey brick building with turrets at the corners like a castle.
West side of Yonge Street at College Street
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 14.

 

A street lined with stores, some of them made of brick, and some smaller and made of wood.
East side of Yonge Street at Alexander Street
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 17.

 

A restaurant on a street corner. The sides of the building have a shiny modern wrap-around facade, but behind it can be seen an older brick house that has been converted to a commercial use.
East side of Yonge Street at Wellesley Street
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 21.

 

Many stores on one side of a street, include Wade's Furs and Midtown Clothing.
West side of Yonge Street at Wellesley Street
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 22.

 

A row of identical three-storey brick stores. On the corner is a store with awnings over the entrance and a large Coca-Cola sign on the side.
West side of Yonge Street and St. Joseph Street
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 25.

 

An imposing stone bank building on a streetcorner.
East side of Yonge Street at Charles Street
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 28.

 

An imposing stone bank building on a street corner, and smaller stores beyond it.
East side of Yonge Street at Bloor Street
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 32.

 

A street lined with stores of varying sizes and architectural styles.
West side of Yonge Street at Bloor Street
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 33.

 

A line of three-storey brick buildings with stores on the first floor, including a Loblaws grocery.
West side of Yonge Street at Cumberland Street
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 35.

 

A long two-storey building with striped awnings on the windows and a sign that says "Canadian Tire."
East side of Yonge Street at Davenport Road
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 41.

 

A long three-storey building containing many stores. A Brown's Bread delivery wagon pulled by a horse is parked at the curb.
West side of Yonge Street at Roxborough Avenue
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 3, Item 52.

 

A parking lot with a row of stores behind it, and a billboard that reads, "Enjoy Coca-Cola at home."
West side of Yonge Street at MacPherson Avenue
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 53.

 

A set of brick stores with a stone clocktower beyond them.
East side of Yonge Street at Price Street
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 55.

 

A row of brick store, the edge of a parking lot, and a billboard advertising a hairdresser.
East side of Yonge Street at Pleasant Boulevard
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 71.

 

A row of brick stores and services, including Danforth Wines, Olympia Bowling, Moore Park Drugs, and Eddie Black Radio.
West side of Yonge Street, south of St. Clair Avenue
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 72.

 

A busy street with cars and a streetcar. Lining the street are stores and services, including Weller Secretarial College.
East side of Yonge Street, north of St. Clair Avenue
Fonds 1303, Series 978, File 1, Item 73.