A brief history of that vacant building next to Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square Toronto YongeDundas
You may not recognize the address, but you probably know 38-40 Dundas Street East, a three-storey office building in a classical, early 20th-century commercial style that is situated at the northeast corner of Dundas Street East and Victoria Street on Yonge-Dundas Square in Downtown Toronto.The date of construction of 38-40 Dundas Street East has been identified as 1913 in several contemporary sources.
Rev. Dr. Egerton Ryerson constructed his home near the northeast corner of Victoria Street and Crookshank Street in the early-to-mid 1850s. In about 1887, the property became home to James H. Cash – a picture framer by trade; and Henry Cash – a carpenter by trade. 1887 also saw the severance of the southern section of the grounds to facilitate the construction of buildings and residences along Wilton Avenue.
By 1920/1921, the building was wholly offices. Occupants included: Osborne Electric; Samuel Osborne Canadian Ltd. – a steel company; Auto Supplies Company Ltd.; the offices of architect Thomas White Lamb; the offices of manufacturing agent Edward W. Fisher; and the jewellery manufacturers Paquette & Hughes. Paquette & Hughes Ltd. were the victims of two high-profile armed robberies in January 1921 and November 1923.
In 1922/1923, the City of Toronto undertook steps to eliminate a significant jog on Dundas Street that had formed as a result of Agnes Street and Wilton Avenue not being in direct alignment with each other. Interestingly, a photograph of 38-40 Dundas Street East published in The Globe on 11 June 1923 – which shows the building prior to the creation of its distinct angled façade – specifically references the building as being the former home of Egerton Ryerson and notes that the building had become recently revealed due to street changes.
The Powell Chemical Company remained in operation at 38-40 Dundas Street East until 1952. The Kahn Optical Company — an ophthalmic laboratory and manufacturer on the 2nd floor — was another long-term occupant of the Powell Building and was based there from 1925 until 1967.
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