High Park has been attracting Torontonians to its sprawling green spaces since opening in 1876 and residents have settled near the popular park for more than a century.
We took a look at west end neighbourhoods such as High Park, Roncesvalles and Dundas West to see how they looked back when Queen Street was home to a men’s toggery and horse-drawn sleighs were a good way to get around in winter.
If High Park isn’t your ‘hood, be sure to check out our previous then-and-now posts on Yorkville, Spadina, St. Lawrence Market and the East End.
All present day photos are by James Bombales. All historic photos are from the Toronto Public Library’s digital archives unless otherwise specified.
Bloor Street West near High Park Avenue, looking west, 1914
Source: City of Toronto Archives/Fonds 1244, Item 18
The north side of Deforest Road, between Kennedy Avenue and Runnymede Road, 1900
Bloor Street West and Quebec Avenue, 1923
Dundas Street West, looking southeast from Abbott Avenue, showing Wallace Avenue footbridge, 1951
Queen Street at Roncesvalles, 1959
Photo: City of Toronto Archives/Fonds 200, Item 394
Roncesvalles Avenue and Dundas Street looking north, 1912
Photo: City of Toronto Archives/Fonds 1244, Item 1564
Queen Street West, looking west to Roncesvalles Avenue, 1922
Photo: City of Toronto Archives/Fonds 1244, Item 1564