Chatham, Ontario Old Photos of Buildings in the Town

            Originally found in an Etsy shop but I lost the link.

Toronto Fire 1904 Postcard

            I have heard about the fire in old Toronto. So long ago (before I was born) that I forget the year. But, <span class="removed_link" title="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/919333738/toronto-fire-photo-postcard-1904-1905?frs=1&amp;cns=1">this postcard</span> says it was 1904, and this is where the fire started. None of those old buildings will still be standing. The others which survived in 1904 are mostly gone too. The don't make them like that any more, is certainly true. They were brick and beautiful, crafted. Now they seem utilitarian, plain and functional. Not fair to say they have no style, a different style is still a style. But, they lack the feeling that someone actually built them. Instead they seem to be something that just appeared, already formed.

You can read more about the fire and the history, but you can’t ever see it, just images and news reporting. The old grandmother buildings are gone. That always seems sad to me.

Fran’s Restaurant in Barrie – Demolished

            Fran's had been left empty for years. No one bought it or leased it and this year it was demolished. The <a href="https://www.fransrestaurant.com/">Fran's restaurant</a> chain is still around, mainly in Toronto. But, not in Barrie any more.

My Ontario Rural Photos Were Posted to WebUrbanist

            Even though the links to the photos (from Flickr) are broken now, the post is still up <a href="https://weburbanist.com/2014/01/08/great-blight-north-7-abandoned-wonders-of-canada/2/">on the site</a>, with the photos. It was nice to be mentioned and have my photos shown. I'm working on reposting my photos here. There are a lot of them.

Abandoned Rural House in October

            A house that will be demolished, eventually. Not far outside of Barrie, Simcoe County, Ontario.

Windsor, Ontario for Urban Explorers

            <div class="article-body"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/groups/1378322@N21/">Windsor Blight</a>, on Flickr

Group Description This group is for all those photos of Windsor, Ontario that exhibit the current state of property in the city. Abandoned homes, brownfields, vacant stores, empty factories, etc. The current commercial vacancy rate in downtown Windsor is an astonishing 24%. The residential vacancy rate is the highest in the country, and has been rising since 2005. Businesses are closing left and right, and our leaders don’t seem to understand the importance of a vibrant downtown. A lot can be said about this subject, but this group’s purpose is to SHOW our leaders what is happening across our city. Add your photos of blight in Windsor, and hopefully we can illustrate to the powers that be that immediate action is needed.

Unknown Toronto Before Dead Links

            These were really great links but now they are abandoned and missing. Disappointing.

Unknown Toronto “Sarah’s journal of secret Toronto facts and mysteries: TTC lore, hidden spaces, history, art, urban wildlife, film shoots and great Toronto food, clubs, bars, galleries, museums and shopping.” http://torontobefore.blogspot.com/ Historical photos of Toronto alongside of current photos from the same area.

If you Visit Thunder Bay…

            I found this while poking around on a real estate site. The bank was built in 1911. The location is Victoria Avenue East, Thunder Bay. It burned down in 2007, just the front of it left standing. They are selling it, hoping someone will build it onto something new. But, the chances don't look so good for that. Mainly, that entire area is old and deserted looking. In 1911 it must have been beautiful with architecture and bustling with people. Now, its all neglected and forgotten looking. Not likely someone will put in the money for a burned out bank in a forgotten area of a city in northern Ontario. But, it has its history.

This is the description from the real estate sales listing:

Own a piece of history! The old site of the CIBC bank, burnt down in 2007, and Designed by architect V.D. Horsbugh, the building, complete with its four massive terra cotta columns using clay imported from England, officially opened its doors on July 11, 1911. The terra cotta façade and four giant columns made it a landmark in the Victoriaville area and still stand today. The bank was constructed in 1910-11, boasts a Classical Revival style of architecture, with four massive columns framing a terra cotta façade. The façade would make a perfect front for a new office building – or a smaller building constructed further back with the façade as a fencing. Great lot in the heart of the southside business district – close to the new courthouse and city hall!

A view from the back of the building. You can see there just isn’t anything left. A little on the sides, probably helping to hold the front face upright.

What Will Become of the Royal Edward Arms in Thunder Bay?

            What will happen to this beautiful old hotel in Thunder Bay? It is for sale.

Here is the real estate description and the photograph they provide with the listing. No inside photos, which isn’t a good sign. It may look like an angel of white on the outside but be a disaster on the inside. That would be a great shame.

Multi-res/Investment opportunity. 56 suites plus commercial space, converted Royal Edward Hotel. See attached brochure for details. Features paved vacant parking lot.

Across the Street from the Bank Ruins in Thunder Bay

            I noticed a ghost sign on a building across the street from the burned out ruins of the CIBC bank building in Thunder Bay. I had looked up the bank on Google Street View and noticed the area looked old and run down. It has seen better times I'm sure.

The building with the ghost sign has been known as the Roy Building at some time in its history. It may be empty now, I wasn’t sure.

One more ghost sign, a little farther down the same street.