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Lost Toronto
As well as celebrating forgotten architectural treasures, Lost Toronto looks at buildings that have changed use, vanished under a wave of new construction, or been drastically transformed. Beautiful archival photographs and informative text allows the reader to take a nostalgic journey back in time to visit some of the lost treasures that the city let slip through its grasp. Organized chronologically, starting with the earliest losses and ending with the latest, the book features much-loved Toronto institutions that have been consigned to history. Losses include: King’s College, Holland House, Hotel Hanlan, St. Patrick’s Market, The Grand Opera House, Metropolitan Methodist Church, Old Union Station, St. Andrew’s Market, Yonge Street Arcade, Sunnyside Beach Amusement Park, Shea’s Hippodrome, S. S. Cayuga, High Park Mineral Baths, Tivoli Theatre, Riverdale Zoo, Odeon Carlton, Cyclorama on Front Street, Eaton’s Santa Claus Parade, Colonial Tavern, Sam the Record Man, and The World’s Biggest Book Store.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 18, 2018
I'm always sad (and angry) when I hear of yet another Toronto landmark being torn down, usually to make way for a character-less condominium high-rise to accommodate the city's growing population. Once these old buildings are gone, a part of our heritage is also gone, and there doesn't seem to be much thought about preserving our architectural heritage.
I still feel this way after reading this book, but I can also view things in a slightly different light now. The book has archival photos and descriptions of the demise of approximately 65 significant landmarks, starting from the 1890's right up to 2017. As I was appreciating all these lovely old buildings and mourning their loss, I began to realize that it's not just the present-day urban planners who are changing the landscape of Toronto: this is a process that has been ongoing since the 72-year old "Palace" was demolished in 1890 to make way for a 7-story building. Perhaps this is just a North American process of evolution as our cities continue to change and expand. And a surprising amount of destruction is not even man-made: fires have destroyed an incredible number of Toronto buildings in the past 150 years, most notably the Great Fire of 1849 and the fire of 1904. Most of our early landmarks were lost in those disasters. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm still sad that these remarkable buildings are gone, but I'm a little more accepting of the fact that cities evolve and we can't hold on to everything forever.
I loved the photos of the old buildings, most of which I never saw in person. However, what's great about the book is the fact that it goes up to last year, so it was a nice trip down memory lane to read about places like Exhibition Stadium, Honest Ed's, and the amazing World's Biggest Bookstore. Those last two were incredibly tacky and by no means architectural beauties, but they were iconic and deserved to be included.
This is a wonderful book for Toronto history buffs or anyone who is interested in architecture. There are other titles in this series for anyone interested in other North American cities (San Francisco, Detroit, and Seattle, to name a few).
I still feel this way after reading this book, but I can also view things in a slightly different light now. The book has archival photos and descriptions of the demise of approximately 65 significant landmarks, starting from the 1890's right up to 2017. As I was appreciating all these lovely old buildings and mourning their loss, I began to realize that it's not just the present-day urban planners who are changing the landscape of Toronto: this is a process that has been ongoing since the 72-year old "Palace" was demolished in 1890 to make way for a 7-story building. Perhaps this is just a North American process of evolution as our cities continue to change and expand. And a surprising amount of destruction is not even man-made: fires have destroyed an incredible number of Toronto buildings in the past 150 years, most notably the Great Fire of 1849 and the fire of 1904. Most of our early landmarks were lost in those disasters. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm still sad that these remarkable buildings are gone, but I'm a little more accepting of the fact that cities evolve and we can't hold on to everything forever.
I loved the photos of the old buildings, most of which I never saw in person. However, what's great about the book is the fact that it goes up to last year, so it was a nice trip down memory lane to read about places like Exhibition Stadium, Honest Ed's, and the amazing World's Biggest Bookstore. Those last two were incredibly tacky and by no means architectural beauties, but they were iconic and deserved to be included.
This is a wonderful book for Toronto history buffs or anyone who is interested in architecture. There are other titles in this series for anyone interested in other North American cities (San Francisco, Detroit, and Seattle, to name a few).
September 11, 2024
A history is given of some of Toronto’s most interesting institutions and structures – mostly buildings – that have either been closed our outright destroyed. The “deaths” are in chronological order beginning in 1890 and ending in 2017.
Perhaps, there are others like me: after passing a certain “mature” age, I began to appreciate buildings that are older than I am. And the older the buildings, the more appreciation there is. As some remnants exist from some of the structures mentioned in this lovely book, I have a list for a future ‘scavenger hunt’ in my home city to which I look forward.
The greatest part of the book is the vintage photos of the oldest places especially those that include people (and the fashions of the time especially when everyone wore hats) and some rare interior photos. This makes the book part architectural history, part ghost story, and part heartbreaking tear-jerker. After staring at some photos (Upper Canada College, two Government Houses (destroyed in 1912 and 1961), Old Customs House, Broadway Tabernacle, Benvenuto, Salvation Army HQ, Yonge Street Arcade, Trinity College, Board of Trade Building, Bank of Toronto, Temple Building, Toronto Star Building, and Walker House), the inevitable thought of “how the hell could the powers of the time have been so stupid and vulgarian to have allowed such treasures to be destroyed” comes to mind. So, the reading experience is very emotional and cathartic at the same time. It’s also interesting to remember a tour in Quebec City years ago where I learned that the great buildings there were almost destroyed in the 1920s. They were to be replaced as was happening in so many other North American cities at the time. As the city was too poor to do this, they decided to just re-purpose the buildings they had. Who knew that such a decision would have maintained such beauty (to be appreciated later) which was likely taken for granted across the continent at the time not knowing that the architectural beauty of the existing buildings could likely never be repeated in the distant future?
Some histories are given including how some places lost their allure especially due to technology. These include vaudeville/movie theatres that lost business due to the invention of television in the 1950s. That decade also saw many places in the city abandoned as more people began to have access to cars and could leave the city instead of enjoying what was within it. One example here is the Sunnyside Amusement Park section which includes an amazing, vast photo with hundreds of people. An unsolved murder mystery is included in another section.
The chronological order was wise as there is a consistent flow as well as an emotional pull to what the culture was before I was born (cycloramas sound fascinating), during my time of living, and then after my move to Toronto in the 1990s. The later losses include the Uptown Theatre, Sam the Record Man, HMV, Honest Ed’s and the World’s Biggest Bookstore. Such places were not examples of classic architecture but their energies and existences are sadly missed. Those losses are mainly due to the internet and less need to buy CDs and books in stores.
Oscar Wilde once said that a cynic is one who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. This seems to be the mindset of those who continue to tear down (or outright neglect) beautiful historical properties due to the real estate value of the land on which they sit. There is also the horrible decision of the proposed “addition” to Ottawa’s Chateau Laurier which will make it look hideous. Is it possible that those who endorsed this project are descendants of the stupid vulgarians mentioned previously? I read a comment about this a few years ago where someone argued that at the time of the creation of buildings like the Chateau Laurier (pre-WWI), architects were expected to be artists; these days, they are mostly expected to be technicians.
In the great spiritual book “Care of the Soul” by Thomas Moore (highly recommended), one chapter makes a fascinating case that buildings – like other beings – have souls. If this is the case, then what if buildings go to the same Spirit World ‘after death’ as we humans do? This could only make heaven more heavenly. But with all these buildings to see of so many different time periods and places, there would be no time to reincarnate. Considering the current state of the planet earth, this could be a good thing.
FYI, there are similar books of what is "Lost" in San Francisco, Chicago, Washington DC, Detroit, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Seattle, and New York. - dbamateurcritic
Perhaps, there are others like me: after passing a certain “mature” age, I began to appreciate buildings that are older than I am. And the older the buildings, the more appreciation there is. As some remnants exist from some of the structures mentioned in this lovely book, I have a list for a future ‘scavenger hunt’ in my home city to which I look forward.
The greatest part of the book is the vintage photos of the oldest places especially those that include people (and the fashions of the time especially when everyone wore hats) and some rare interior photos. This makes the book part architectural history, part ghost story, and part heartbreaking tear-jerker. After staring at some photos (Upper Canada College, two Government Houses (destroyed in 1912 and 1961), Old Customs House, Broadway Tabernacle, Benvenuto, Salvation Army HQ, Yonge Street Arcade, Trinity College, Board of Trade Building, Bank of Toronto, Temple Building, Toronto Star Building, and Walker House), the inevitable thought of “how the hell could the powers of the time have been so stupid and vulgarian to have allowed such treasures to be destroyed” comes to mind. So, the reading experience is very emotional and cathartic at the same time. It’s also interesting to remember a tour in Quebec City years ago where I learned that the great buildings there were almost destroyed in the 1920s. They were to be replaced as was happening in so many other North American cities at the time. As the city was too poor to do this, they decided to just re-purpose the buildings they had. Who knew that such a decision would have maintained such beauty (to be appreciated later) which was likely taken for granted across the continent at the time not knowing that the architectural beauty of the existing buildings could likely never be repeated in the distant future?
Some histories are given including how some places lost their allure especially due to technology. These include vaudeville/movie theatres that lost business due to the invention of television in the 1950s. That decade also saw many places in the city abandoned as more people began to have access to cars and could leave the city instead of enjoying what was within it. One example here is the Sunnyside Amusement Park section which includes an amazing, vast photo with hundreds of people. An unsolved murder mystery is included in another section.
The chronological order was wise as there is a consistent flow as well as an emotional pull to what the culture was before I was born (cycloramas sound fascinating), during my time of living, and then after my move to Toronto in the 1990s. The later losses include the Uptown Theatre, Sam the Record Man, HMV, Honest Ed’s and the World’s Biggest Bookstore. Such places were not examples of classic architecture but their energies and existences are sadly missed. Those losses are mainly due to the internet and less need to buy CDs and books in stores.
Oscar Wilde once said that a cynic is one who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. This seems to be the mindset of those who continue to tear down (or outright neglect) beautiful historical properties due to the real estate value of the land on which they sit. There is also the horrible decision of the proposed “addition” to Ottawa’s Chateau Laurier which will make it look hideous. Is it possible that those who endorsed this project are descendants of the stupid vulgarians mentioned previously? I read a comment about this a few years ago where someone argued that at the time of the creation of buildings like the Chateau Laurier (pre-WWI), architects were expected to be artists; these days, they are mostly expected to be technicians.
In the great spiritual book “Care of the Soul” by Thomas Moore (highly recommended), one chapter makes a fascinating case that buildings – like other beings – have souls. If this is the case, then what if buildings go to the same Spirit World ‘after death’ as we humans do? This could only make heaven more heavenly. But with all these buildings to see of so many different time periods and places, there would be no time to reincarnate. Considering the current state of the planet earth, this could be a good thing.
FYI, there are similar books of what is "Lost" in San Francisco, Chicago, Washington DC, Detroit, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Seattle, and New York. - dbamateurcritic
February 19, 2018
Taylor's book, is a collection of photographs with short descriptions of buildings that once existed in Toronto. Most of the buildings were either demolished or destroyed.
September 5, 2024
While very interesting, a bit of a dry read. I would have appreciated more information of what is currently standing on this site (or at least as of 2018)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews