bkeith, Anna,
Let me show this picture to my mom. Please stand by. Thanks much both of you.
I hope there wasn't more than
one Chinese cafe on Dundas in 1940s Whitby.
I don't get out of Toronto much nowadays but a few years ago there was still a Chinese Canadian Cafe type place on Penetang's Main street just west of Robert street that had been there since the 40s (It's gone now). I stopped going to Penetang when the kids grew up and weren't interested in catching perch or crappies off the town dock anymore. If anyone here has small kids they are guaranteed to hook a couple each rain or shine. Use small barbless hooks and chunks of worm - I do believe that most children would rather catch and release than kill the fish. Take a pair of needle nose pliers to remove swallowed hooks. On hot days the fish will congregate close to the dock woodwork; just tell your kids to drop a line 5 feet straight down. No casting necessary. You parents can catch up on your reading while the brats fish. The Dock Lunch at the town dock is a cool place - give the older kids some money to spend there and their day has been made.
There was also a Cafe on Elora's Metcalfe street that ran from the 40s until about 1985. The owner, "Bing" retired to Toronto. There is a TrueValue there now.
Everyone still with me?
October 22 addition.
What to post. What... to post...
Ok, lets go with the east side of Elizabeth street just south of Dundas. Part of the old "Ward" area; this area hosted waves of immigrants including Blacks, Irish, Jews and Chinese. Wow, that's a quick history; yeah? Bada-boom.
The "Then" picture is significant for having a bit of each.
Then. March 30, 1937. 109-111 Elizabeth street. I seem to remember these structures lasting until about 1985 or so. This area; bound by Dundas, Bay, Foster Place and Elizabeth; was cleared completely and was a parking lot until the present condo was built a couple of years ago.
The Markowitz bakery location was a Chinese BBQ shop in the 60s and early 70s - you know, of the roasted pig in the window.
Now. August 2010. This condo has its own supermarket on the north side facing Dundas. So, once again, our Elizabeth street has turned full circle and become a neighbourhood. If I lived in this condo with grade school age kids I suppose I might walk them up to Orde street school as the families that lived here a hundred years ago might have done.
