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K Taylor

@onegalstoronto.bsky.social

600 followers 330 following 170 posts

One gal’s attempt to unearth the stories of Toronto’s forgotten people and places. Author of Toronto: City of Commerce 1800 - 1960

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K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · 1d

Fantastic moon last night. Couldn’t hope to do it justice, so I did my best with the spiderweb of streetcar wires instead.

- Queensway, near the Roncesvalles, Queen W, King W union.

A red TTC streetcar sits beneath shiny streetcar wires on an inky October night. A bright white, fuzzy moon overlooks the scene.

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K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · 2d

Great tiles, marvellous stained glass.
- Roncesvalles Ave, near Fermanagh.

A narrow side entrance to apartments above a storefront. The walls are tiled in small brown and cream square tiles, the walk is tiled in white with a decorative border in red and green. Above the brown, wooden door is a beautiful stained glass transom.

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K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · 9d

As far as standpipe and sprinkler connections go, this one’s a beauty.
- Commerce Court North, built 1931

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K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · 10d

Ugh, wishing you a speedy recovery and escape.

K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · 11d

Terrific gate at 139 Church - the long, longtime home of McTamney’s pawnshop.

A decorative but spare gate, featuring a sharp letter ‘M’, at the side entrance of a storefront.

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K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · 15d

Enjoying this balmy, autumnal morning.
Looking SE to Yonge and Temperance, from the Cloud Gardens at Richmond.

Steam rises dramatically above a five storey, heritage brick building, nestled amongst looming, modern glass neighbours.

K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · 17d

It's a bit tough to make out but this patch of concrete is marked 1946. Not super old, but none too common in the city.
- Southwood Drive, at Glen Stewart Crescent.

K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · 20d

Despite the best efforts of the modern cladding and windows, traces of this building’s early charms shine through.

- 1071 Gerrard St E.

An early storefront with a central doorway, framed by decorative trim and ironwork. Above, the building is clad with bland aluminum siding and modern windows.

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K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · 23d

Aw, that’s fantastic! I’m envious- never been up there myself.

K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · 23d

Commerce Court North, built 1931, reflected in the glossy glass of the Deloitte building on Adelaide, at Yonge.

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K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · Sep 6

So pleased and honoured that my Much Ado on the Danforth - about the rogue Danforth Business Men’s Association protests - has been nominated for Heritage Toronto’s Public History award.

www.heritagetoronto.org/programs/her...

2025 Public History Award Nominees – Heritage Toronto

Discover the 2023 Heritage Toronto Book Award nominees, which cover a range of heritage topics, from music history to multiculturalism.

www.heritagetoronto.org

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K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · Aug 20

Not a particularly old ghost sign, but still fun to see this Ontario Honda signage from 1976 revealed.
-1255 Queen St E

A single-storey storefront sports a recently uncovered sign for the shop’s first resident - Ontario Honda.

K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · Jun 21

Aw, thank you Sarah! 💗

K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · May 14

Oh boy, the Festival of Bizarre Toronto History is coming up!
Very excited to be part of this panel discussing oddball contests.
Hope you’ll join us!

Adam Bunch @adambunch.bsky.social · May 13

The Festival of Bizarre Toronto History is just 3 weeks away!

It'll include an online panel about the weirdest contests in Toronto history — from fly-killing to baby-making — with @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social, the Star's Katie Daubs & @onegalstoronto.bsky.social.

Learn more: www.bizarretoronto.com

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K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · Apr 27

Thank you! So glad you liked them.

K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · Apr 27

I love that, thank you! ♥️

K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · Apr 26

Aw, thank you - I really appreciate that.

K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · Apr 26

So glad you enjoyed it!

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K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · Apr 26

As a follow-up to my tale of the 1934 protest by the Danforth Business Men’s Association, I’ve written about a Kingston Rd fruit market and its rather surprising history:
wp.me/p5YH3v-3Nm

The Grimaldi Bros’ Fruit Market

Banner image is of the north side of Kingston Road, at Scarborough Road, on December 19th, 1931. Courtesy of City of Toronto Archives. A little while back, I wrote about how, in 1934, the East bran…

wp.me

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K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · Mar 10

I’ve been hiding in the shadows waiting for a gem such as this. Thank you!
I shall follow along so I don’t miss any others.

K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · Feb 2

Thanks!

K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · Dec 14

Such eye candy!

K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · Dec 13

Fantastic!

K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · Dec 12

And how! Such a treasure trove. Thank you!

K Taylor @onegalstoronto.bsky.social · Dec 10

Thank you! Glad you like it!