Yonge Street is a major arterial route in the Canadian province of Ontario connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWleZ8ZjhJ-tZIxiUDIoxJwuwIBWOeKWSOaTHbL0XmtlzWmsfYZByOOMojhEupiLDDLdx9C_AzbmEfHWKEEZvDFVztLEjgs9-IO287-Aybw9XSolCpC1uzE5Cwqts_ydLGMIuiE2p3qqV7yZotAZZE4z_NfgPOg5NSwhAY5IsA8JV_eLUO_UM6fCoo/w640-h360-rw/then-and-now-toronto.jpeg) |
Yonge Street, Toronto in 1954 and 2014 |
Once the southernmost leg of provincial Highway 11, linking the provincial capital with northern Ontario, Yonge Street has been referred to as “Main Street Ontario” and (including the Bradford-to-Barrie extension) is 86 kilometers (53 mi) long.
In Toronto and York Region, Yonge Street is the north-south baseline from which street numbering is reckoned east and west. The eastern branch of the subway Line 1 Yonge–University serves nearly the entire length of the street in Toronto; it serves as the spine of the Toronto subway system, linking to suburban commuter systems such as the Viva Blue BRT.
Yonge Street is a commercial main thoroughfare rather than a ceremonial one, with the Downtown Yonge shopping and entertainment district containing landmarks such as the Eaton Centre and Yonge-Dundas Square.
These fascinating photos from
Howard of Yonge Street, Toronto in 1954 and 2014 that show how this street has changed for 60 years.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjld3jeYQMHmqf-Gn6Gy-7GpdUg6wD-UqnUdWRs8_00ewWlKySvaB_FLHaLfan0hioevTOEvpLlVLlkZw1UG2ISeQHYv7S6UXxU26bYWUZ3cAUyClfUOBGMkZ4OidyV0k9B8NeF8AbPBExwC2ha5rsb3qgATiSsW8fLEz2g-TNCpOnD_eOMnZu6rD9D/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-1.jpeg) |
83 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Th3oKlNn35DcQJKgTF6kj7DDAPqyLT7qND0lSKuRb4WFIGs5WN7g9XtgBCvCtsqvr15CqSZ-0A--5xcB8-Gkb-xhROP-jpllMy_O3UfAHNPyBJ5vHKYlRrDX1uMIpT8yMrH38uodXMnVbRQAGzKTuM78I1UuZJDIuM9Bh2SwTnROiDNl_0koZKUQ/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-2.jpeg) |
85-87 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHNoRNx0uBwbdERt6VapBYsd3lsear8SJ1H1U_tPUDxA6SK-lWZsOqm85I-BQAHM-o-DkQ-0W9tJWMVRRbLhiOnzDCyNLThIpUtUs6-lBfzcS3EIgHzA5uDzfFdtw9SI3xEL8HHDZnwSUfLXwgBQtJHm89Vov7zFJj9-ORLgf4hnGtIkr3nViIxEm/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-3.jpeg) |
207 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmZCeiC80gJUq_qeEyCrwgtgPp1lyO9NtVudh1NI1ox1-_ZcjZtpIkzWnXCYtEij6jYd3O5mPTho5Bl4zO53jwZMIS7VIWtHDhNUioMN7SGdoyj8TugbtZA1rnLL32M3ZB_ibHdaYtVZc3pQtDodbezl2HRh0Jrf8mI3A5gIGqujnto6QcYyg1wT2/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-4.jpeg) |
243 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpBVrOhG6F_HXvbL-FaXhzEfPzPh3u0374rdc3LoTOuFzUwEmduAQH5h4GRyTceEidDYLnZTyxpzKG0mRG4I5Vb_5xdkg3lJfxbHqlFl9l1a6vBpKNLDZfZ9bcnHeVR9RjQrIf4DYEj1-malQpTlcB5hkjdC7GmCCbvPNT4TtpFeLJMHuLUeQIVkw/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-5.jpeg) |
271 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji33snid99kQdjnEiHYroaKrqqisLIoay3de3Vx4Q-HZU_jJKogG1CE5XWT2-BiC8Mv9eNF3lHfM_KZ2IZO67HW89XzHEYrirxKZDZl8a9-0LgM1z9bQNpMCjB3pNJylnjgvZuOPRRj1ji7CU2GkgbWu8Ld6UkG_szF9EDI_8KR89AYdS5gGUN8RhR/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-6.jpeg) |
273 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibxSQ-2NlqKUYlVtWFZCcW5FWH1MUR9NJWwLJYdWcEdm3XBfOcQ5p4PGjPiBay4HCwxouRmZQFxa6nk5G0jxidKF4FIDw309TQi39Njz1bLENuUF1bLyZRAGHURh3R0ocn8ox4W3CcLVpxLnpP5i9bzCvNJ_39NwB9M7Kgyzzgpk4ASJCxliouqhH/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-7.jpeg) |
283 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8clUkKk_FRcgOQZ5iOPQIbf2INxztqR2VoybO5MjXLNydBZJkFt-8JnzXvf1umkQa4RDR_QV1e2NSv2jutOBiq7lvf5YXjPL_XihlD8buRM6WFc92xeWEeel-CspvK_79KNVPVGslO340U4-XEvjZCkEL8XpwP1VmO1OknsAvFoUJnyr_05KU9ZhX/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-8.jpeg) |
302 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnuvGN573hhM4meB4ECJvkE0GYZ4gHR0EZ2wDCxTGQa1JUi-IVgEMzcHjaifTlMjJcusAKRquw8_x9rJOFeI5dKgxJw7Z0LsLhUgYdWY0Mj47fhHzmRT8gPHZ-3f1czVU9REdHnWMGUpd1VmbAddLfhar4n1RVPfEnayDp7R21im4ZsgzVOdo9pHm/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-9.jpeg) |
314 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_z7LKGFocYhzrXvXu2qoyCFzsI7d-iHW-fiRWfgpels_qx-3p1P-Js1yuROdDLW0NzvdJ4PMtSuU1UvxEpusEMJbMr4LersUW5-PiTvQuwkSfXcZnWXt4bDec2l03XQ1DaGNRQLWUEOP9gG7m3LBB__NeQlxNR_pt6iGOqaU9Swe0fkCN6SD0arRr/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-10.jpeg) |
318 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBa88ohAsgfsrU3PzQDZj5tRxzL8MPL0ayXIcAaSrDKQsMX_0xoBq_YswwvpMyGHPWf87b9KDUbTmTd8l24BH7zVrgAg4jf9iSO777z6BGOoZgX5NzbM22dJPO4Nk-Wdflb0Am76t5jIxM-GgQwVHbLpixsDhYFZ8_9hmBPqmObKdwW3daOU6nXIGQ/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-11.jpeg) |
325 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZCMMAma3ivnWxKay0DhpFVhfsLlSruLP76sa_TF1FX3tVorZL0ITcl3qi2uWvWr90MfP_9dujgyLAImp6Si4M9RAwfpmeHsy5YWx5Tsah6dY0X3f3LUj84RG8xI6f6kBGjny-C1wBC6us1Z80lC0prmkSGDCX0eZUW7GMKtQyJ7RQtdhllMz45yQ/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-12.jpeg) |
336 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7nc3EAjdfLwZVA3T1bMrr_SBfJIpm2nsEG3zWTWcGy_7aneeNycPgaL36iM6rErC_fnTor8UG-x-qCW6fTGAIi_aevVGv658KSJYhmT3ehKqnbqh9nnkk-M005Ud7ewN83Qxhx1Ae0hdHML_Cb1-uflGnIPd30SOm1U9O40q8i5VND3KpD8HTLJt/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-13.jpeg) |
338 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OSm0bqnGXi4tR8bTGqEVtz0HNEdf8srLAiMvW_sH4OjUvxPIz4yyRwh0JW3hPlrfmqvO5e_aEZikyQ1XwRQjP_9ONTJ6y_yVaMY_mX0AJcqwlW_gwLxZ4L8T8WMx_fKz0h7iV2PVjVIjziJ3mt2zlvtqx6_Yl-uOdFo2j7kNG_HYGgo__ZacrKmB/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-14.jpeg) |
346 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2ICtUZOad1d5eeQTA2Sjuxy9fkzxekrFcNa_2IOpSM-_AlpDvYKaReVbBosfFn_fUtTlSA0uPNTRr-4CWDZQHaB5IP6iuL-HiGQlWDqhweLw29vu6Xk6S8LweOHHbEgCEDtvWcyi077rl6XvjtgHARMWm3muVMEWQq66kGGpksUOsY-GquAb-TC2/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-15.jpeg) |
348A Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JBDqVvnLLCmNCMXPPaRjW0hfgBBdaxR87zQ-pBiwxAFq5rOD8SiczviRtwWLOuPmxv1l62M2I6YXzTNhSs5lP7i1krfGcu989Gzsf5RcDC997erxEQf80ETWdlEF8A9Lb24fVm90DPhFltvfQVJkqQ3t-yoBbxkAej3yATa5DFwaYZEFqqlC7QtN/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-16.jpeg) |
350 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0tmaKoM-HVoq_d48T3gpCoeM7SdZ7MAnETZlelXP68_AIsurBJcLXBUVVr9ylv4w43N4svaQV7UoiPRfh5ewTp4ZMec8rmthiPTKIe2VjYO8kFlCrgVUaYfI2eOEDHO_U3YhwYn35O2ngn4njc-rCUQ7vSOTAFYH5G3LN-piLCzxyiG6ciE6jkzX/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-17.jpeg) |
354A Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAXCokOcea7tiKSLN0Rmndc3e33aa3-qVnhuk5uPKYohGOlbp6xdDRAWb5iRwWw1ccFbhaW-LTX5FWCGMNxxnLRn3FLfsVCEhWw1NHeOFyI6I3Uq5uZhXS7pAPipxrPf-tZ_0q42tFSJNGxQzYK1FI890E7h9ORp6b0Nb62tB59Oebx_grqyBGxRT/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-18.jpeg) |
361 1/2 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctSbTHsiIv8iOrqADe7z_IZP7Pl7AKAWEWQoObozbxAR8XRLO-GX6bh75Pb7YLD4rkloxqhTjXKsfch7P6ZPXCtfHpeOahuzoe497dvEAf_9yIrPigfr1qGfq52LuyQ9bLMySsCnrfIB-22quMq4c2CE0LdbSJ8uKtvkODjdxhcl2_7dzC82O-lo0/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-19.jpeg) |
364 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8xxqMinmdH5m0gtf7jdmA6zZEHdcuk97nARsySPNvZ1u4Sleyyz3HWtoVtgK3Tk_oZyig5h4A5YUOCec7oRhxAexQXQ37fvT74zPIANHUX33eAar706Vfk87ZDkGofRmlrlM1GZ0_kAoE3PfcXsG_dW9-wejvYft60wezog96DKcR_Kru9mnG2Dt/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-20.jpeg) |
365 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOOadhfHhoIId3JmCQm35y3Wdvurn4kMO6aSc8kvJZdaEMc9t2r-9mJjJ2BwJBw_uLAiECkhUVlajBeXbDfbBoQKUl699by9WM3ymBrXOQUQ6am93-DXqU4rwFxbop4sT_pqORCRLvHnNpZipO6cpv2pPWjio8xioQBDKImqlnj7J3z_lC7rNGGY6/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-21.jpeg) |
368 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8u7Zo5o6CFumj6SlEMz6IZ_sBLVaWRDhzNaLrrTmxfDCkw3XxeqbWq-SWLyYMJcCrHEi16uD3YkaMUjGsFKW2q1v5qnKTDlg3QL7Jl4yGwQPTB84r7k2B-Oz1PPAb-LSbsZrn1MqzbIMkehsMfCd6BrpoHPrns6g50fuR3w4Xb__HWDcGZZYrNfK/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-22.jpeg) |
369-371 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyw9xdQIpkdfPE-Pyi_yCZbUZk9NTMswvX8DCrwsUqKqluWILwhKY_gx4IJVF4OgdD23Vh6slEd88b0gQOmclgcEcPKRG6becDqcW_X5T_clyCp_yiDNtzyLJrjJMyQeOPTgnmV5i-HReU9J279PUxGPEJtYcSIV14Ptu_CBxYcuohVzFv8Ebh9CO9/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-23.jpeg) |
370 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5uxprrtHTBxQNS_5fMgJJPVrEbQiMPpUUFI-BQkiEL63pgWKQH2qWtzaMfXVC9tjT5GMZqjNvXxhocz9Ef7rlNK-wQuPxtwODC1JKg6xxfQB4XTh7vsyFK01MZYAxqCQ87QLS4vCMZADrE48bcWDSzhVNWlFv97UPioR5BAgC5_j3MrzMgVUZtqI/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-24.jpeg) |
371 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6Cu4MJm_3pxR2kDl7I2mi_CTRehca9fek-Vu_OHBQfXG-hAsUA2tSMFM0HzwJJCsk38DlNn8dOFPB1rgwznKe55qxDZF1ETmHUGQhmGxMyDCFtKpMJFI6-FNJqYaCXW5j93jP5eIeMqKasw8vYe8efJ8GsuisH3mPA-wn7p7GDQHIcleVgkMwhTM/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-25.jpeg) |
374 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicm97M3IhxulvNTcbTloajfWsHuSiaigS6GsQ2g46BbhqaMmNz9h2Ync5orFnX8egcz_q7TAunxbi4KS0sGSx9Rf3BHZjXwExo9u3AWf-iAdGqzNGbqO-JMBsS6l82u2SrGpQQkp5O_ZtLk-SSwAcY5P59TI7q3E5ZYtUB2IjxzBPpmYei3zsQ1Kt6/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-26.jpeg) |
389 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAr6mVsyIQ_IGxbigCgoBvdtRqanqNVxLXQJOnAnYNApC6WuaMC8dCVdZCcX0XLFl8iNEkSIJlQpkdV-VsVN7s94rXvSUg3-_cD6_GiVdX2oU-W_Mku39MvEBfexaUgQyzq4RtFf2TDCM9Crfv4KY3eKHsiNJw4OrHQl94fdP7EZhCaayvX6lK98l/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-27.jpeg) |
433 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABYJNus7olAXJwYHlbthvSRC8wcyZ0WdKrpXm4YIThsAT3fhFoHqrssp0Y3EXxe_YzKYPHE-8ZBGaN7AL8YCfTGHN-IlT8aanRiXW5yoW9JSMSgbI1MWUO921fWTtMoK3bEMYlueJ7onCAh3lEszSRxu9R-eb5KdVKhv0rxOfB3SKs9DsB_idg48V/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-28.jpeg) |
439A Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlekNSH7PaFKX92gtGE0FMAIjaT9CGmQ3g5TnpS29r3Un-rKl80mZwFLFQDuhyPZC2nbLS89vfBRm7WnDrYJ3szm6ZZc5c5An3VV-9ANjC0jEY5UzioEKlAMwFhmmvjV2H18FbupYeQXtLZH20VQg4pDbhBl3gsiC4uI7mpokS5i9sHSoMrgT4Eqaj/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-29.jpeg) |
462 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMZ86AqIGOd8OpAxQp5i9RdLNoO2n3X91EzmnYdKUNQ_HluDUIudiapIX2KYiOLriOGslM9O-JEt16vAHKcpPbAeCttwXqCEVynmmVIh_newMAMkh6AMo8X-iiGL8hqDUfLsnMfwtByslABK8UZ0M3MTPce6sEce6m5fHn0t_1q8p5wuoB7iN2ovW/s16000-rw/then-and-now-toronto-30.jpeg) |
478 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1954-2014 |
Certainly in 2014 the street had too many restaurants!
ReplyDeleteA lot of that has changed by now!