The History of the Market Block
The
earliest map of 3 Church, dated
1793, shows that this area was
immediately adjacent to the edge
of Toronto Bay, within the “Old Town” area
of the original town of York.
A number of piers (McDonald’s
Pier, Brown’s Pier, among
them) began at the northern limit
of the present day Esplanade
and extended into the open
waters of Toronto Bay.
By 1852, the Grand Trunk Railway extended a single track along the water’s
edge, on what is now the southern limit of the Esplanade. The north limit of
slips was defined by the rail track right-of-way and the docks were extended
farther into the lake to accommodate larger vessels and bulk storage of mainly
coal but also other bulk commodities.
After the Grand Trunk railway arrived in the 1860’s, and following landfill
operations, a number of scattered dwellings, warehouses and outbuildings were
constructed across this area. These were replaced from time to time with more
elaborate structures. Some of the area’s earliest residential homes were
also on the site.
In 1877 warehouses were constructed at 67 and 69 Front St. E. with elaborate
three storey facades in the Renaissance Revival style consistent with most of
the remainder of the block East to Market Street. As their owners prospered a
number of the facades were upgraded during the 1880’s. The warehouses were
used for grocery supplies, grain, hides, leather, wool, liquor and tobacco. A
hotel was operating at the corner of Church and The Esplanade in 1881.
9 and 11 Church were reconstructed in 1915, adding their current facades and
a fourth floor. Toronto Creamery, a printing house and an ammonia powder importer
were tenants of the buildings.
A number of businesses came and went during the 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s
and 50’s, among them the National Revenue Department, Imperial Cheese,
Heinz, Gibson Musical Instruments and North American Plastics. One of the historical
photos hanging at 3 Church depicts a former occupant ,
H.S. Howland Sons & Co. Limited, Wholesale Hardware, occupants of the building
during the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s.
