That 125 HP Brown pattern engine from Worswicks of Guelph was an antique by 1907. Worswicks was absorbed by Polsons in 1886. That engine will be at least 20 years old, far too long in the tooth for a high-speed engine, built without high-quality steels. What we are seeing here is the effect...

Nobody in those types of homes had electricity in 1888. In town they used gas for domestic lighting.

No need for a furnace, basement, or heating system.

The first photo shows three entrances to the ferry terminal. You can definitely see the crowd parting into three lines in the second photo.

That's the John Street bridge, now long gone.

Looks like it was the Third Victory Loan campaign, 4 Nov 1942. Actor Spencer Tracy appeared on the steps of City Hall with the RCMP band. [Globe & Mail 5 Nov 1942 p. 4].

in 1914 St Leonard's Anglican Church was on Bowood Ave in North Toronto. It moved to 25 Wanless Ave in 1921. So they probably reached the Bond Lake picnic grounds by taking the radial car north on Yonge.

In 1905 F B Robins of the Erie Realty Co managed to take a rail spur through that park to serve the Conboy factory and the Gowans, Kent & Co warehouse. In August 1906 Robins arranged for the sale of the old baseball grounds to Standard Loan Co, run by his buddy "Wink" Dinnick. Baseball gave...

I think this was taken from the chimney of the streetcar power house, about the only structure tall enough to provide a vantage point in that area. The TRC electrified in the summer of 1892. They added 2 x 1000 HP Corliss engines in 1893 when the rest of the streetcar system was converted to...

The facilities of the underground men's lavatory at Toronto & Adelaide 1897 (City Archives). The architects were Strickland & Symons. The attendant, a Mr. R I Smith is visible. He lived at 100 Nassau St. Flushed with civic pride.

The mens' lavatory at Toronto & Adelaide Streets, circa 1900. With a tower lovingly crafted from corrugated iron, men descended down stairs to use the facilities below. The facilities were kept by an attendant, a former waiter (TPL).

Toronto residents Alfred and Annie Gould with their 1936 Buick, on Lake Shore Rd near CNE about 1939. From the family collection.

Top of the line was a 20 HP steam engine (with boiler) that weighed 6000 lb. No word on the cutoff gear. I assume that would be self-acting. With better steel you could cut the weight quite a bit. But these beasts had a pitiful power to weight ratio.

Lovingly restored with poured concrete floors and masonry ramparts.

Start of a CNE women's marathon swim circa 1930. Many of the women swam topless.

building with spires and turrets is the Confederation Life building, which still exists on NE corner of Richmond and Yonge.

Located at 131 Front St W, this was recycled as a parking garage in 1927-28. By April 1928 it had become Petrie’s Parking Palace with 12 levels, room for 350 vehicles. 10 levels covered, two open. Men’s and ladies’ rest rooms, oils and greases, and elevators ([Toronto] Globe 30 Apr 1928 p. 14).

It's an odd thing, but billboards and commercial signs have surprisingly long lives. We still have billboards along the waterfront in the same position as they were in the 1920s.

The fresh landfill in Bayside Park is still quite lumpy.