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372 Spadina Today

The Chinese in Early 20th Century Toronto: 372 Spadina Avenue – Mark Lum

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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 60 years before he started.

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 1941 --Lum's Laundry is just one block south from this photo --

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 70’s

372 Spadina in the 90s

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