Vintage Toronto Winter Photographs

January 25, 2016 Joel Levy History, The City

I was browsing the Toronto Archives again this weekend and put together a collection of vintage Toronto winter photographs ca. 1890 – 1950.

We have not had much snow this year and that got me thinking about how people lived back in the day when it dumped snow. It is interesting to see the various types of snow ploughs over the years, the outfits that people wore, and how people got around the city.

Let us know through social media if you notice anything else interesting about the images.

Toronto Winter Photographs Twelve horse team, pulling snow sweeper - Date: November 21, 1891
Twelve horse team, pulling snow sweeper – Date: November 21, 1891

 

Toronto Winter Photographs – Blasting ice on Don River – March 26, 1904
Item 1 – Blasting ice on Don River – March 26, 1904

 

Toronto Winter Photographs - Rose Avenue looking north from Winchester Street
Rose Avenue looking north from Winchester Street – 1896

 

Toronto Winter Photographs Snow blockade - engines fast in a drift - march 21 1896
Snow blockade – engines fast in a drift – march 21 1896

 

Toronto Winter Photographs – Don river north of Gerrard Street bridge – [189?]Item Don river north of Gerrard Street bridge – [189?]

 

Toronto Winter Photographs
Effect of storm on Brock Avenue – January 24, 1896

 

Toronto Winter Photographs Toronto skyline showing air pollution – March 2, 1904
Toronto skyline showing air pollution – March 2, 1904

 

Toronto Winter Photographs Queen Street west of Lee Avenue – February 20, 1904
Queen Street west of Lee Avenue – February 20, 1904

 

Toronto Winter Photographs Bay Street north of Front Street – December 22, 1904
Bay Street north of Front Street – December 22, 1904

 

Toronto Winter Photographs - Bay Street east side north of Front Street
Bay Street east side north of Front Street – 1904

 

Toronto Winter Photographs Iceboats, Toronto Bay. - [between 1906 and 1910] - photograph of three iceboats racing a car (not shown) on frozen Toronto Bay.
Iceboats, Toronto Bay – [between 1906 and 1910] – photograph of three iceboats racing a car (not shown) on frozen Toronto Bay.
Toronto Winter Photographs YWCA , St. Patrick Street. - [ca. 1908]
YWCA , St. Patrick Street. – [ca. 1908]
Toronto Winter Photographs Sunnyside. - [ca. 1908]
Sunnyside. – [ca. 1908]
Toronto Winter Photographs Cherry Street south. - 1908
Cherry Street south. – 1908

 

Toronto Winter Photographs Parking in Old City Hall quadrangle. - 1910
Parking in Old City Hall quadrangle. – 1910

 

Toronto Winter Photographs Davenport Road, west of Bathurst Street. - 1908
Davenport Road, west of Bathurst Street. – 1908

 

Toronto Winter Photographs Castle Frank Lodge (Jackson Estate), Rosedale. - 1912 - The man with the beard is Jackson.
Castle Frank Lodge (Jackson Estate), Rosedale. – 1912 – The man with the beard is Jackson.

 

Toronto Winter Photographs Spadina Avenue, looking south from Queen Street. - Febraury, 1914 - photograph. The railings at centre denote the entrance to the underground public lavatory.
Spadina Avenue, looking south from Queen Street. – February, 1914 – photograph. The railings at centre denote the entrance to the underground public lavatory.

 

Toronto Winter Photographs Sunnyside Avenue after ice storm 1918
Sunnyside Avenue after ice storm 1918

 

Toronto Winter Photographs Manning Avenue at Ulster Street. - [ca. 1920]
Manning Avenue at Ulster Street. – [ca. 1920]
Toronto Winter Photographs Toronto Winter Photographs Lawrence Park district - 1920
Lawrence Park district – 1920

 

Humber Drive - autos on snow road - 1922
Humber Drive – autos on snow road – 1922

 

Snow shovellers, Queen St.. - December 28, 1922
Snow shovellers, Queen St.. – December 28, 1922

 

Snow conditions, Gerrard and Coxwell
Snow conditions, Gerrard and Coxwell – 1924

 

Union Station milk cans in snow - 1924
Union Station milk cans in snow – 1924

 

Snow conditions, Gerrard St - 1924
Snow conditions, Gerrard St – 1924

 

Snow conditions, Queen St - Date: February 25, 1924
Snow conditions, Queen St – Date: February 25, 1924

 

Roncesvalles and Howard Park - Date: February 25, 1924
Roncesvalles and Howard Park – Date: February 25, 1924

 

Girl with snow man squirrel - 1925
Girl with snow man squirrel – 1925

 

Dancers, four in snow, close. - February 4, 1926
Dancers, four in snow, close. – February 4, 1926

 

Storm photos, broken poles, Hamilton Highway, Mimico Creek. - March 31, 1926
Storm photos, broken poles, Hamilton Highway, Mimico Creek. – March 31, 1926

 

Main Street at Danforth Avenue - 1926
Main Street at Danforth Avenue – 1926

 

Main Street south of Danforth Avenue, storm damage - 1926
Main Street south of Danforth Avenue, storm damage – 1926

 

Storm photos, Dixie sideroad blocked by fallen tree, S. J. Burnamthorpe. - March 31, 1926
Storm photos, Dixie sideroad blocked by fallen tree, S. J. Burnamthorpe. – March 31, 1926

 

High Park, snowshoes, seated in snow, backlight. - February 19, 1926
High Park, snowshoes, seated in snow, backlight. – February 19, 1926

 

Storm photos, car and truck in drift, Terminal Warehouse. - March 9, 1928
Storm photos, car and truck in drift, Terminal Warehouse. – March 9, 1928

 

C.W. Wilson, his daughter, and Mrs. Wilson, Eglinton Hunt Club. - [ca. 1929] - The car is a Jewett.
C.W. Wilson, his daughter, and Mrs. Wilson, Eglinton Hunt Club. – [ca. 1929] – The car is a Jewett.
Snow plow, (work car W-5), (Rolling Stock Department) - Date: December 30, 1929
Snow plow, (work car W-5), (Rolling Stock Department) – Date: December 30, 1929

 

Snow drifts on road at Princes' Gates, 2 cars. - January 24, 1930
Snow drifts on road at Princes’ Gates, 2 cars. – January 24, 1930

 

Creator: Alfred J. Pearson Date: March 9, 1931- Front St, looking west, at Yonge - snow conditions,
Creator: Alfred J. Pearson – Date: March 9, 1931- Front St, looking west, at Yonge

 

Creator: Alfred J. Pearson Date: March 9, 1931 King and Bay - King and Bay
Creator: Alfred J. Pearson – Date: March 9, 1931 – King and Bay

 

High Park - snow scene after storm 1932
High Park – snow scene after storm 1932

 

Casa Loma from the north. - [ca. 1936]
Casa Loma from the north. – [ca. 1936]
Unidentified parking lot after a snow storm dec 11 1944
Unidentified parking lot after a snow storm dec 11 1944

 

Detective Sergeant Tong funeral, people waiting in snow storm - 1952
Detective Sergeant Tong funeral, people waiting in snow storm – 1952

 

OPP cars in the snow. - 1960 - photographs of OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) cars in the snow.
OPP cars in the snow. – 1960 – photographs of OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) cars in the snow.

 

Snow removal equipment and workers. - 1960
Snow removal equipment and workers. – 1960

 

Item 22 – King Street West and John Street during snow storm.– 26 January 1961
Item 22 – King Street West and John Street during snow storm.– 26 January 1961

 

King Street West at John Street - January 26, 1961
King Street West at John Street – January 26, 1961

 

To see more photos from Toronto’s history, visit the Toronto Archives.

 

 

About Joel Levy 2613 Articles
Editor-In-Chief at Toronto Guardian. Photographer and Writer for Toronto Guardian and Joel Levy Photography
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