Learn a little of Toronto's history as told through its plaques.

West Toronto Junction

Photos by Alan L Brown - September 2006

Here in the east side of a park at 275 Keele Street you will find a 1989 Toronto Historical Board plaque. Here's what it says:

West Toronto Junction began as the Canadian Pacific Railway stop for the Toronto Grey and Bruce, The Credit Valley, and The Ontario and Quebec Lines. In 1883 lawyer D.W. Clendenan purchased 100 ha nearby, laid out streets and sold building lots. After achieving village status, then absorbing neighbouring Carleton and Davenport, the municipality was incorporated as a Town in 1889. The CPR erected repair shops and freight yards here. By 1909, when it was annexed by the City of Toronto, "The Junction" had become a major industrial centre boasting such enterprises as Heintzman & Company Pianos, Wilkinson Ploughs, the Union Stock Yards and a Federal Customs House. The area voted to prohibit the sale of liquor in 1903 and after many plebiscites has remained dry. In 1982, despite public opposition, Canadian Pacific demolished the historic West Toronto Station.

Related Ontario plaque pages
Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway

Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.662412 -79.462346

More Towns and Villages pages

Here are the comments for this page.

Posted April 25, 2010
Hello. Your text refers to the CPR station being demolition in 1982 but the link connects to a photograph of thed CNR station in West Toronto. [Thanks. Link is fixed.]

Posted June 16, 2009
Baird Park, at Keele and Humberside, is the park where you found the plaque and I believe the Junction has not been "dry" since sometime in the 1990's. Cheers!

Posted February 19, 2009
I will never understand why anyone would want to tear down the old railway stations? And rip up all the old lines? Out with the old, in with the new is not always the best way to be.

Here's where you can write a comment for this page.

Note: If you wish to ask me a question, please use the email link in the menu.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours
(usually much sooner).