A laundry mat built with wood. Originally, it was owned by Hing Quong. Around this time, a sidewalk was put in along Adelaide St W connecting Bay St and York St. A few years later, the shop changed owners to Parfiovsky Louis and Walsh Walters is also cited as living there.
Fire Insurance 1903
Fire Insurance 1903 Close Up
Sidewalk Installment on Adelaide between York and Bay (photo taken across the street from 126)
Microfilm 1899 Owner Hing Quong, Laundry
Microfilm 1903, owner Parslovsky Lois and Walsh Walter, Laundry
City Assessment Rolls
City Assessment Rolls
City Assessment Rolls
City Assessment Rolls
Current Address
http://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.png00Leahhttp://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.pngLeah2014-04-14 21:13:372014-04-14 21:13:37The Chinese in Early 20th Century Toronto: 126 Adelaide St
This is what the space is currently occupied as. Photo taken: 2014.
Photo taken from Google Maps Later on developed to be Lighthaus – A gallery for condos.
According to Valerie Mah’s thesis, The Bachelor’ Society, within the bounds of 1060 Queen Street west, there was a single Chinese resident named Sing Lee who lived above an unnamed laundry facility (1). The leaseholder, however, was a man named Tong Ho who was also Chinese but did not live within the space (2). The primary owner of this wooden house lived within the foundations of Trinity College (3). As the number of residents remained at one, Sing Lee continued to be the only resident of 1060 Queen Street west between the years 1899, 1900 and 1901 (4). The house still remained intact between the years 1913-1924 but gradually became a smaller space throughout those years. What stands on that property today is a real estate presentation centre called LightHaus that promotes the growing urbanization in Toronto with the production of condominiums, metropolitan architecture and modernized living spaces (5). In terms of the picture, it was quite impossible to find a before picture of the Laundry.
Toronto: Might’s Directory Co. 1899. Microform. the Toronto city directory for 1899: Vol. XVI. Location no. 2643730-46, Reel 58.
Toronto: Might’s Directory Co. 1901. Microform. the Toronto city directory for 1901: Vol. XII. Location no. 2643730-47, Reel 66.
Mah, Valerie. The bachelor society: a look at Toronto’s early Chinese community from 1878-1924. MA Thesis. 1978. Print.
http://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.png00Kelsiehttp://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.pngKelsie2014-04-14 21:12:222014-04-14 21:34:37The Chinese in Early 20th Century Toronto: 1060 Queen Street West
According to Valerie Mah’s paper, The ‘Bachelor’ Society, a Chinese individual was identified as being connected to 420 1/2 Yonge Street in July 1900. Bert Lee ran a laundromat at that address in the early 1900s, but today, that address no longer exists.
http://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.png00Brendan Reidhttp://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.pngBrendan Reid2014-04-14 21:05:412017-06-14 02:04:09The Chinese in Early 20th Century Toronto: 420 1/2 Yonge Street
This laundry was located at 926 Bloor Street West. This laundry was found during the years 1889 to 1905. The laundry did not change its name or location during that time and it was also found during this research that two people named Ling and Sam were also mentioned to be working there. Also beside there names was another address mentioned for 206 Queen Street which would assumed to be the place where they lived.
http://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.png00Jane Kuhnhttp://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.pngJane Kuhn2014-04-14 21:03:142014-04-14 21:35:57The Chinese in Early 20th Century Toronto: 926 Bloor Street West
158 Bay Street in 1907 – Small building on the lefthand side
According to the 1899 City of Toronto Directory, 158 Bay Street was owned by a man named Jones W H and the building functioned as a restaurant. However, in the following year, 1900, the directory marked the same building as vacant. In 1901, 158 Bay Street came under the ownership of a man named Yee Nam who also ran a restaurant in the same building. The restaurant according to the 1901 City of Toronto Directory was named Kwong Yoot Loy Co. This information corresponds to Valerie Mah’s independent research paper titled, The Bachelor Society. A letter from Rev. Mackay of the United Church recorded that 3 adults of Chinese “religion” lived at this address. From what is known about the history of Chinese immigrants and considering that no children were recorded living in the building, the most likely conclusion is that these residents were Chinese bachelors who came to Canada to make a living.
Chinese residency at 158 Bay Street did not seem to be a long one according to the 1902 City of Toronto Directory. In the year after the Kwong Yoot Loy Co.’s inclusion in the directory, it states that a few barristers and artists took up residence where Kwong Yoot Loy Co. once stood. Of all the names included, none are of Chinese origin. This leads one to believe that the restaurant failed to succeed and therefore closed in favor of business and residential space.
360 Bay Street taken from the southeast corner of Bay and Temperance – April 9 2014
Currently, what once was 158 Bay Street is now a part of 360 Bay Street. On the Corner of Bay and Temperance Street where a restaurant once stood at the turn of the century is now a fast food restaurant called New York Fries/South St. Burger. The address change can most likely be attributed to the expansion of the Toronto harbourfront, causing the addresses to be shifted.
360 Bay Street taken from the southeast corner facing north on Bay and Temperance – April 9, 2014
Works Cited
“Bay Street Looking North from Temperance Street.”1907. City of Toronto Archives,Fonds 1244, Item 43. Web. 7 April 2014.
Mah, Valerie. The bachelor society: a look at Toronto’s early Chinese community from 1878-1924. MA Thesis. 1978. Print.
The City of Toronto Directory. 1899. Microform. City of Toronto Archives. Location no. 264730-45, Reel 45.
The City of Toronto Directory. 1900. Microform. City of Toronto Archives. Location no. 264730-46, Reel 46.
The City of Toronto Directory. 1901. Microform. City of Toronto Archives. Location no. 264730-47, Reel 47.
The City of Toronto Directory. 1902. Microform. City of Toronto Archives. Location no. 264730-48, Reel 48.
“Ward 2 Division 2 (p 196) to Ward 3 Division 2 (p110).” The City of Toronto Assessment Rolls. 1901. Microform. City of Toronto Archives. Location no. 264736-39, Reel 147.
http://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.png00Katherine Galanghttp://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.pngKatherine Galang2014-04-14 21:01:092017-06-14 02:03:38The Chinese in Early 20th Century Toronto: 158 Bay Street - Kwong Yoot Loy Co.
153 Church Street appears on the Goad’s insurance map dating back to 1880 when it was the last address on Church Street before Shuter. However, more addresses were added to the map in 1890 and 153 Church Street became 151-3, suggesting that the building was split to allow for more tenants. That the building had multiple tenants is evidenced in the City of Toronto Directory, as in 1899 153 Church Street was not only occupied by a Chinese Laundry run by Lew Mokee, but also listed as occupants of the residence were Wm Brown and Mrs. Melinda Taylor. Listed on the assessment rolls for the same year, the only name that appears is that of Lew Mokee who leased the building from someone named Gilmore. However, this changed in 1900, as the building was then owned by A. Welles and was still occupied by a Chinese Laundry, but the laundry was run by Sam Hing. Also listed as tenants of the building in the City of Toronto Directory for 1900 were Wm Allen, Michal Mcnab, and Mrs. Melinda Taylor, none of whom are listed in the Assessment Rolls for the same year. In 2014, the site of 151-3 Church Street has become “The Gold Lobby” and “The Fire Star Exchange,” both of which are jewellery trading businesses.
Works Citedd
Assessment Roll: Ward 3 Division 2 1900 (1899 for tax year 1900). Toronto Archives.
Assessment Roll: Ward 3 Division 2 1901 (1900 for tax year 1901). Toronto Archives.
Toronto Directory (1899, 1900). Toronto Archives. Goads Fire Insurance Plan (1880, 1890, 1899, 1903). Toronto Archives.
http://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.png00Vanessa Tayleshttp://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.pngVanessa Tayles2014-04-14 18:38:572014-04-14 21:36:37The Chinese in Early 20th Century Toronto: 153 Church Street, Toronto
Based on Valerie Ma’s information and verified using records from the Toronto Archives, Gum Chong moved into 385 College Street in 1899 and established a laundromat. Prior to this, the lot varied between an empty space and a church. According to the City of Toronto Assessment files from 1901, Chong was still occupying the space a few years later with four other residents. It can be assumed that these residents were at the least, over the age of 18 as none of these residents were listed as children. Unfortunately, Gum Chong and his laundromat only lasted a few years. By 1913, the building was then occupied by jeweler F.A. Ellis.
This picture was taken on Spadina facing north to College, c. 1890s.
This is the building as it stands today, 2014. It is now a commercial and office space located in the now Kensington Market neighbourhood.
Information and Sources taken from City of Toronto. Tax Assessment Rolls. Ward 4 Division 3 (1901). City of Toronto. Directories (1895-1899, 1901). Mah, Valerie. The Bachelor Society: A Look at Toronto’s Early Chinese Community from 1878-1924. MA Thesis. 1978. Print.
http://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.png00Lourdes Sandovalhttp://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.pngLourdes Sandoval2014-04-14 18:36:482017-06-14 02:03:02The Chinese in Early 20th Century Toronto: 358 College Street c. 1899
Mark Lum didn’t occupy 372 Spadina Avenue until 1901. In 1899, John Law owned an entire block of wood commercial space, with residential space above, from 370 to 382 Spadina Avenue and lived in 372 himself. In 1901, John Law rented out 372 to Mark Lum. Lum lived with three other adults in the apartment above and operated a Chinese laundromat below. Just a year later, in 1902, Lum disappeared from the assessment rolls but 372 Spadina continued as a Chinese laundromat under Juong Yoong. Yoong lived above with two other adults under this record instead of three the previous year. This suggests that Lum either died or left his laundromat to Yoong and moved out a year after opening it.
Only a year after Yoong took over, 372 Spadina was exempt from the assessment roll. This means that a laundry service was no longer in operation and the building was empty.
Years later the property was sold to Alfred G. Brown who operated a barber and cigar shop at 372 and the neighbouring space next door.
This is what the block, where Mark Lum’s Laundry was situated, would have looked like 37 years before he started.
Reconstruction of Spadina and College in 1927 –Lum’s Laundry is just one block south from this photo —
372 Spadina in the 70’s
372 Spadina in the 90’s
Works Cited
Assessment Roll: Ward 4 Division 2 1899
Assessment Roll: Ward 4 Division 2 1901
Assessment Roll: Ward 4 Division 2 1902
Assessment Roll: Ward 4 Division 2 1903
Assessment Roll: Ward 4 Division 2 1909
Assessment Roll: Ward 4 Division 2 1912
Northwest Corner of Spadina Avenue and Baldwin Street. October, 1973. City of Toronto Archives, Toronto. Print.
Panorama of Spadina Avenue. 1985. Spadina Avenue by Rosemary Donegan. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre. Print
Thomson, W.J. Spadina, Baldwin and Nassau. 1896. Metro Reference Library. Spadina Avenue by Rosemary Donegan. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre. Print
Toronto Transit Commission. Re-Laying Streetcar Tracks. 1927. Spadina Avenue by Rosemary Donegan. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre. Print
http://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.png00Julia Brunkehttp://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.pngJulia Brunke2014-04-14 18:35:442014-04-14 21:37:28The Chinese in Early 20th Century Toronto: 372 Spadina Avenue - Mark Lum
Sui Wah resided at 396 Church Street starting from 1895, when, at that time, the establishment, a laundry, was named after him. In 1904 the laundry changed names to the “Chong Hong, laundry.” A neighbouring building in the 1930’s eventually became the W. York laundromat, but was most likely not Chinese owned. Other spellings in various directories include “Wah-Sui”, “Sul Wah” and “Sin Wah”. At the time religion was also recorded in the tax assessment, and as opposed to Roman Catholic or Church of England designations, his faith was labelled as “Chinese”.
Sui Wah lived alone under landlord Petros Constantinide. During his tenancy the value of the property decreased significantly by several hundred dollars, which may be caused by decreasing the size of the lot artificially.
Works Cited
City of Toronto. Tax Assessment Rolls. Ward 3 Division 2 (1894). Reel 103, Location 264736:73.
City of Toronto. Tax Assessment Rolls. Ward 3 Division 2 (1901). Reel 147, Location 264736:39. Microfilm. Pg. 27.
City of Toronto. Directories (1894). Reel 39.
City of Toronto. Directories (1895). Reel 40.
City of Toronto. Directories (1899). Reel 44. Microfilm. Pg. 119.
City of Toronto. Directories (1900). Reel 46. Microfilm. Pg. 116.
City of Toronto. Directories (1901). Reel 47. Microfilm. Pg. 114.
City of Toronto. Directories (1904). Reel 50. Microfilm. Pg. 125.
1938. Dept. of Public Works Photographs, Toronto. 390-396 Church Street. Fonds 200, Ser. 372, Subser. 33, Item 367. City of Toronto Archives. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.
“390 Church Street, Toronto, ON.” Google Maps. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
http://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.png00acaguiathttp://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.pngacaguiat2014-04-14 18:30:512014-04-14 21:38:14The Chinese in Early 20th Century Toronto: 396 Church Street – Sui Wah's Laundry
According to the research conducted by Valerie Mah and the records found within the City Directory of the Toronto Archives, Mr. Gee Lee became a tenant of 337 Bathurst Street in 1900. Within the wood building lived two residents. Mr. Lee ran a laundry in the downstairs space of 337 Bathurst Street, while a Mr. James Thompson lived upstairs. The 18 x 145 square foot laundry is kept under Mr. Lee’s name until 1913, for in that year the City Directory simply states 337 Bathurst Street is a Chinese Laundry. As of 1913 on, it is unclear if Mr. Lee still lives there or if the laundry was taken over by someone else.
This is 337 Bathurst Street in 1951. Photo is taken from the Toronto Archives
In the Toronto Archives, the city Fire Insurance Plans reveal that from 1899-1924, this address remains the same and the building is still made of wood. Both 335 and 337 Bathurst Street are owned by the Lawson sisters, Caroline and Mary. Both sisters are single and of Catholic faith. In 1902, Mary Lawson is living in the apartment above, while Mr. Lee is still operating the laundry. 335 Bathurst Street is rented to Mr. William Clean, a belt maker. The house has three residents, and according to The City Assessment Roll of 1902, all are of Catholic faith. The neighbourhood appears to be inhabited by the working class. The City Assessment Roll of 1902 reveals the occupation of the residents, they are as follows; book keeper, clerk, belt maker, laundry owner and shoe maker. Skipping ahead a few years to 1951, 337 Bathurst Street is still an active address and now a grocery store. Today this address is currently part of a park.
337 Bathurst Street 2014.
Works Cited
City Fire Insurance Plan (1899, 1903, 1913, 1924); Toronto Archives Website
City of Toronto Assessment Roll: Ward 4 Division 2 1902 (1901 for tax year 1902), Reel 155, Toronto Archives
City of Toronto Directory: Year, 1899, 1900, 1902, 1906, 1913; Toronto Archives
Mah, Valerie. The Bachelor Society: a look at Toronto’s early Chinese community from 1878-1924. MA Thesis. 1978. Print.
http://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.png00Danielle Parrishttp://countercultures.net/design/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/countercultureslogopart3-300x106.pngDanielle Parris2014-04-14 18:28:442014-04-14 21:38:45The Chinese in Early 20th Century Toronto: 337 Bathurst Street
