Toronto's Historical Plaques
at torontoplaques.com
Learn a little of Toronto's history as told through its plaques
The Robert Simpson Company
The Bay Queen Street Store
Robert Simpson Co. Warehouse 1910
Robert Simpson Co. Mail-order Building and Additions 1916-1939
Simpsons Mail-order Warehouse Dalhousie Street Extension 1949
There are five plaques about this company.
All can be seen on this page.
Photos by Christina Tripp - Posted December, 2007
Photo Source - Wikimedia Commons
At Queen and Yonge Streets can be seen a 1979 Toronto Historical Board plaque located just inside this buildings Queen/Yonge entrance. Here's the plaque text:
Plaque coordinates: 43.652239 -79.37946 |
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Robert Simpson (1834-1897) emigrated to Canada from Inverness, Scotland. In 1856, he opened a day-goods store on Yonge Street north of Queen in 1872. But in 1881 re-located and began to extend his holdings in this block. Here in 1894 Simpson built a six-storey department store designed by Edmund Burke (1857-1919), which was destroyed by fire shortly after occupancy. A new building by the same architect opened in January 1896, and was the first "fireproofed" store in Canada. Classical forms in harmony with the structural system relate it to the contemporary "Chicago School" style. By 1923 all street facades had been unified by successive additions. In 1929 the "Art Deco" style building, including the Arcadian court, was added at Bay and Richmond. This addition was designed by Chapman & Oxley. During 1977 a restoration and conservation programme was instituted.
Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted May, 2010
Photo Source - Wikimedia Commons
An Ontario Heritage Trust plaque attached to the wall near the Queen/Yonge entrance says:
Department stores revolutionized shopping in the late nineteenth century by offering selection, low prices and money-back guarantees. In 1895, Robert Simpson commissioned architect Edmund Burke to design his new department store at the southwest corner of Yonge and Queen Streets. It was the first building in Canada with a load-bearing metal frame and a façade clearly patterned on this internal structure. By 1969, Simpson's department store had been enlarged six times and occupied two city blocks between Yonge, Queen, Bay and Richmond Streets. Canada's oldest corporation and largest department store retailer, Hudson's Bay Company, acquired the building in 1978. A Bay store since 1991, it remains one of Canada's great shopping landmarks.
Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted September, 2006
Attached to this building at 135 Dalhousie Street is a Heritage Toronto plaque which gives us this information:
Plaque coordinates: 43.657479 -79.376843 |
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The first Simpson Co.warehouse on this city block, this structure originally housed dry-goods, supplies, and a blacksmith shop for the company's local horse-drawn delivery service.
Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted September, 2006
Photo Source - Wikimedia Commons
Attached to the wall of this rather large white building at 108 Mutual Street is a 2006 Heritage Toronto plaque which gives us this information:
Plaque coordinates: 43.657696 -79.375963 |
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This landmark industrial building was designed by Chicago architect Max Dunning and the Toronto firm of Burke, Horwood, and White. In later years, matching additions were built to the north. Originally serving as a warehouse, manufacturing, and administrative building for the Robert Simpson Co. mail-order business, it also became the first headquarters of Simpsons-Sears (later Sears Canada) in 1952. In the late 1990s, the building was converted to residential lofts.
Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted April, 2007
This former warehouse at 155 Dalhousie Street has a 2006 Heritage Toronto plaque attached which says:
Plaque coordinates: 43.657557 -79.376875 |
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This landmark industrial complex was built in stages between 1916 and 1950. Over the course of the twentieth century, the buildings functioned as the administrative centre and warehouse for the Robert Simpson Co., Simpsons, Simpsons-Sears and Sears Canada mail-order business. Orders were processed and goods sent from this site and from smaller facilities in Regina and Halifax to customers across the country. This section of the complex fronting on Dalhousie Street - an extension of the earlier building behind it - was designed by Frank S. Corley in 1949 in the unadorned International Style. Its façade was changed to match the older Mutual Street side when the complex was converted to residential lofts in the late 1990s.
Related websites
Robert Simpson
Inverness
Edmund Burke
Chicago School architecture
Art Deco
Simpson's
Hudson's Bay Company
Merchandise Building
Sears Canada
International Style architecture
More
Commercial buildings
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Posted February 20, 2012
In 2002, Greg Lindberg wrote a 122-page history of this building complex: "The Merchandise Building--Original Lofts, Original Story". He says the out-of-print book was "mainly for the people who live here and some of the local history buffs", but the Toronto Archives has a copy. -Wayne
Posted February 19, 2012
That hot dog stand in Simpson's basement was the scene of one of my greatest childhood triumphs. When I was about 7, I had a front tooth that was ever-so-slightly loose. My mom had taken me downtown (we lived in Pickering), and we'd gone to that hot dog stand for lunch. Mom said she'd buy me TWO Laura Secord cherry lollipops, if I could pull out that loose tooth right then and there. So I began to wiggle and twist the tooth. After a few minutes (and considerable pain and horrible cracking noises), I triumphantly removed the tooth. I recall that it took a lot of those big pieces of paper they used to wrap the hot dogs in, to soak up all the blood that was gushing from my mouth. I'm sure the lunchtime diners there didn't appreciate the added entertainment. But, damn it! As soon as we got out of there, Mom took me to the nearest Laura Secord, and I got my two cherry lollipops. Total value: 10 cents. How many kids do you know who'd pull out their own tooth, just to get 10 cents' worth of candy? No wonder I've now had so much dental work done that if my dentist gave Air Miles, I'd have been to Australia at least twice.
Posted February 19, 2012
I haven't seen Honeydew Orange Drink in many years, but, according to this site: http://www.hdew.com/hd_history.html, the brand still exists, and the product is still being made, by DewNorth Inc.
Posted January 23, 2012
Hello, anyone tell me when did Simpson's have a Picture Frame shop I have a pic that was framed by Simpson's I like to know what year did they have a framed or was it a Mail order frame or did all Labels change to Simpson's Sear from Simpson's or was there some items still using the Simpson's Labels.
David
Posted December 7, 2011
I too remember Simpson's downtown fondly, including the Waldorf Red Hots (hot dogs) and Honeydew orange drink ("one and one") that other's have mentioned. Wasn't a big stand but was always super busy, recall it had a small opening where the red hots came out and a dispenser for the honeydew drink which was served in paper cones that were inserted into a metal holder. After Eaton's Santa Claus parade would always make way downtown and see the animatronic displays (pre-Disneyland!) in the windows and the huge almost entire floor of toys and Christmas displays think it was the 6th floor and of course visit Santa himself. Was magical. The connection off the subway connecting Eaton's and Simpson's underground had the best coffee around and other gourmet goodies. Am old enough to remember the old escalators with wooden treadles some women got their high heels caught in the deep grooves, and the old escalators driven by operators who called out the floors and tried to but didn't always get lined up to the floor.
Pat B from Weston
Posted October 13, 2011
I have a dresser that was sold by The Robert Simpson Company Regina. It has 3 drawers, a mirror that tilts on keys, the handles are rings, it has wooden castor wheels on long carved legs, and an amazing design on the front that is carved and stained two different colors. I had been in touch with the Royal Alberta Museum & there is a very good chance it is very early 1900's. There are stamps on the back and it is in very good condition. How do I find out how much this dresser may be worth? I am looking to sell it, but I do not want it to go to someone that does not appreciate it's historical value. Can anyone possibly help me? Thanks, Peggy email to waznyp@hotmail.com
Posted September 8, 2011
I found a old bile with the plaque (Robert Simpson Co. Ltd) and I was wondering when it was made. The plaque states the model is (DANE)
My email is glen_pike@yahoo.ca Tks Glen Pike
Posted December 5, 2010
Thanks to whoever mentioned that there is a photo of The Henry Morgan Company in Mike Filey's book, "A Toronto Album 2" (pg. 106) Easter Parade going past the store. I will have to get hold of this book. Hope my local library has it!!
Patricia (former employee of this store 1963-1964.
Posted December 3, 2010
Re: Patricia of Milton's comment of Dec. 16, 2008 about the Henry Morgan Store at Bay & Bloor - Mike Filey in his book, "A Toronto Album 2" (pg. 106) shows a picture of the 1955 Easter Parade on Bloor Street showing that Morgan's store.
Posted December 3, 2010
I grew up in Regina, where my father was a professional tailor in the Robert Simpson Department Store. I knew Christmas was coming when I saw each of the window displays being set up with mechanical themes in each cubical. If anybody has any of these pictures I would love to see them. I felt so much joy when I would stand in front of the display and would love to see that again.
Posted November 30, 2010
I remember the most awesome Christmas animated displays in the Simpson windows every year. Upstairs in the toy department, you could ride the train and then sit on Santa's lap to give him your wish list and he gave you a lollipop. Those were wonderful times.
Posted February 21, 2010
I am delighted to have found these photographs and information as my grandfather headed the mail order department in the early twentieth century. These will be a wonderful addition to the family tree!
Posted September 13, 2009
As I recall, the tunnel linked Eaton's main store to the annex and there you would get ice cream waffles and soft ice cream. I remember the train diplays at both Simpsons and Eatons at Christmas. Of course there were the window displays as well. Those were the late 1940's and early '50's for me. Oddly enough I don't remember the hot dog stand in the tunnel.
Posted July 23, 2009
I remember going to Simpsons at Christmas time to look at their electric train diplay in the toy department. What a wonderful store it was. ed Jannett
Posted April 2, 2009
My Dad always took my sisters and me to Simpson's for a hot dog and a honeydew when we were kids. Then we would walk through the tunnel to Eaton's for a chocolated malted soft ice cream cone. Ah, such lovely memories. I have never had a hot dog that tasted quite as good!
Bonnie Amson, Tampa, Florida
Posted February 15, 2009
Hi Susan; I loved that hot dog stand. For years I would meet my cousin and have the famous One and One. The hot dog with a glass of honey dew. I have been trying to find a picture of the hot dog stand on the internet with no luck. It was the best run business...I enjoyed watching the lady in the back boiling the hot dogs. Nothing seemed complicated...very few condiments and little waste. My daughter would like to set up a similar hot dog stand for a summer job. I don't know where to find the honey dew...if you know a source, I would appreciate any info that you may have. Many thanks, Sue
Posted December 16, 2008
I don't remember the Hot Dog Stand but I worked at Henry Morgan Company (owned by the Hudson's Bay) 1964 to early 1965. Does anyone remember this store? It was a ladies department store, two stories only and catered to the well to do! It was at the corner or close to the corner of Bay and Bloor.
Patricia, Milton Ontario.
Posted October 11, 2008
Hi. I am the grandaughter of Edward Rudd. He was the owner of the Hot Dog Stand in the basement of simpson for many year. I also worked there in the 70's. Do you remember the store?
Susan Gallant Rudd
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