Vintage Photographs from the Toronto Islands

I found a ton of old photographs from the Toronto Islands while browsing the Toronto Archives this week. There is so much history here worth looking into. Here are a few vintage photographs to get you started.

1845 - First horse boat, Toronto Island ferries, 1845, "John Ross Robertson Collection," (Commercial Department)
1845 – First horse boat, Toronto Island ferries, 1845, “John Ross Robertson Collection,” (Commercial Department)
1881 - First RCYC clubhouse, Centre Island
1881 – First RCYC clubhouse, Centre Island
1907 - Bridge over Long Pond, Centre Island
1907 – Bridge over Long Pond, Centre Island
1907 - Cabin of Clark Bros. boat used as dwelling, Centre Island
1907 – Cabin of Clark Bros. boat used as dwelling, Centre Island
1907 - Centre Island
1907 – Centre Island
1907 - Centre Island
1907 – Centre Island
1907 - Group on a dock, Toronto Island
1907 – Group on a dock, Toronto Island
1907 - Island constables catch a man lighting a fire against the by-laws, Hanlan's Point
1907 – Island constables catch a man lighting a fire against the by-laws, Hanlan’s Point
1907 - Long Pond, Centre Island
1907 – Long Pond, Centre Island
1908 - A Ward's Island backyard
1908 – A Ward’s Island backyard
1908 - Children on the beach, Ward's Island
1908 – Children on the beach, Ward’s Island
1908 - Girl surrounded by rushes at Centre Island lagoon
1908 – Girl surrounded by rushes at Centre Island lagoon
1908 - Pontoon bridge, Toronto Island
1908 – Pontoon bridge, Toronto Island
1909 - James and Livingstone families at Centre Island
1909 – James and Livingstone families at Centre Island
1909 - Ladies' egg and spoon race, Centre Island
1909 – Ladies’ egg and spoon race, Centre Island
1909 - Turner's Baths, Hanlan's Point West
1909 – Turner’s Baths, Hanlan’s Point West
1910 - FasCouple on bench watching Centre Island regatta
1910 – Fashionable Couple on bench watching Centre Island regatta
1910 - Long Pond shore, Toronto Island
1910 – Long Pond shore, Toronto Island
1910 - Members of the James family at Centre Island Regatta
1910 – Members of the James family at Centre Island Regatta
1911 - Bridge, Toronto Island
1911 – Bridge, Toronto Island
1911 - Sunday parade on Ward's Island - Poles for a new sea wall are visible in the distance.
1911 – Sunday parade on Ward’s Island – Poles for a new sea wall are visible in the distance.
1911 - Tents, Ward's Island
1911 – Tents, Ward’s Island
1912 - Centre Island
1912 – Centre Island
1912 - Centre Island 2
1912 – Centre Island 2
1912 - Centre Island barren stretches of sand
1912 – Centre Island barren stretches of sand
1912 - Centre Island ferry dock from deck
1912 – Centre Island ferry dock from deck
1912 - Centre Island from ferry dock
1912 – Centre Island from ferry dock
1912 - Centre Island lagoon and lighthouse
1912 – Centre Island lagoon and lighthouse
1912 - Centre Island, crowds
1912 – Centre Island, crowds
1912 - R.C.Y.C. Centre Island Club House
1912 – R.C.Y.C. Centre Island Club House
1914 - Ward's Island — rear 74 Lakeshore
1914 – Ward’s Island — rear 74 Lakeshore
1915 - Curtiss "F" flying boat, Toronto Island
1915 – Curtiss “F” flying boat, Toronto Island
1915 - Duke of Connaught and army brass inspect hangar, Toronto Island
1915 – Duke of Connaught and army brass inspect hangar, Toronto Island
1920 - Toronto Island
1920 – Toronto Island
1920? - Grannies' tug-of-war, Centre Island
1920? – Grannies’ tug-of-war, Centre Island
1921 - New Building, R.C.Y.C. on Island
1921 – New Building, R.C.Y.C. on Island
1923 - Island - Toronto fire boat
1923 – Island – Toronto fire boat
1923 - Ward's Island, tent colony, Eastern Gap & steamer
1923 – Ward’s Island, tent colony, Eastern Gap & steamer
1925 - Lakeshore, Centre Island
1925 – Lakeshore, Centre Island
1927 - Bathing beach, north shore, Centre Island, (Commercial Department)
1927 – Bathing beach, north shore, Centre Island, (Commercial Department)
1927 - Bathing beach, south shore, Centre Island, (Commercial Department)
1927 – Bathing beach, south shore, Centre Island, (Commercial Department)
1927 - Lagoon, west of foot bridge, Centre Island, (Commercial Department)
1927 – Lagoon, west of foot bridge, Centre Island, (Commercial Department)
1927 - Passengers leaving ferry, at Centre Island, (Motor Coach Department)
1927 – Passengers leaving ferry, at Centre Island, (Motor Coach Department)
1928 - Lagoon, Island Park, Toronto, (Commercial Department) 2
1928 – Lagoon, Island Park, Toronto, (Commercial Department Vintage Photographs) 2
1928 - Lagoon, Ward's Island, Toronto, (Commercial Department)
1928 – Lagoon, Ward’s Island, Toronto, (Commercial Department)
1928 - Turner's Baths, Centre Island
1928 – Turner’s Baths, Centre Island
1929 - Motor launch tour of Toronto Island, (Commercial Department)
1929 – Motor launch tour of Toronto Island, (Commercial Department Vintage Photographs)
1929 - Ward's Island docks, showing high water conditions
1929 – Ward’s Island docks, showing high water conditions
1930 - Island shore, looking north
1930 – Island shore, looking north
1930? - Royal Canadian Yacht Club wharf 20, Wards Island
1930? – Royal Canadian Yacht Club wharf 20, Wards Island
1935 - M.S. Shamrock, (Ferry Department)
1935 – M.S. Shamrock, (Ferry Department Vintage Photographs)
1936 - Grand Opera, Hanlan's Point Stadium, (Commercial DCepartment)
1936 – Grand Opera, Hanlan’s Point Stadium, (Commercial DCepartment)
1936 - Toronto from Ward's Island
1936 – Toronto from Ward’s Island
1939 - Toronto Island airport from roof of grain elevators
1939 – Toronto Island airport from roof of grain elevators

 

Browse more vintage photographs on the Toronto Archives and the Toronto Public Library Archives.

 

 

About Joel Levy 2605 Articles
Editor-In-Chief at Toronto Guardian. Photographer and Writer for Toronto Guardian and Joel Levy Photography