This area was first developed
with residential dwellings in the late 18 and early 1900’s.
Previous to that the area was vacant or used for agriculture.
By 1910 a Goads’ Insurance Atlas from that period indicates
that by 1910 163 Dufferin was occupied by the Toronto Furniture
Co. Ltd.
Beginning in about 1920 the
land use in the area became primarily industrial – Universal
Tool Steel Co., Exide Batteries, Canada Paper Wholesale Ltd.
and Domtar Packaging were among the businesses in the area.
In 1930 22 Mowat was occupied
by an oils and leather company and appears to have been constructed
on top of the ruins of a former lumber drying structure. 163
Dufferin was occupied by Bakelite Plastics until about 1955,
after which time it is listed as a CGE Lamp and Lighting service
department.
Until about 1998 properties
on the west side of Mowat Ave. were occupied by the Dufferin
Street industrial properties which extended all the way to Mowat
from Dufferin.
