Y is for Yorkville

Y is for Yorkville

Now known as the ritzy neighbourhood north of Bloor, between Avenue Road and Yonge Street, Yorkville was once a distinct village on the northern edge of Toronto.

By the 1960s, young bohemians and artists had flocked to the neighbourhood. Old Victorian-era homes were cheap to rent and were transformed into art galleries, coffee houses and hip boutiques.

A place to Perch . . ."

A place to perch
Reg Innell
April 19, 1966
Photograph
Toronto Star Photograph Archive
Baldwin Collection of Canadiana

The Yorkville perch, for these young men, was on top of the newspaper ‘honour’ boxes offering the three Toronto daily newspapers of the 1960s: the Globe & Mail, Toronto Star and Toronto Telegram.

The cost of a newspaper at the time was 10 cents a copy, 60 cents a week.

A sip of coffee. . .

A sip of coffee and a taste of spring
Reg Innell
February 24, 1968
Photograph
Toronto Star Photograph Archive
Baldwin Collection of Canadiana

A late February thaw allowed Yorkville’s cafes to “cautiously” serve customers.

Coffee houses like the Riverboat, the Penny Farthing, the Purple Onion, and the Mynah Bird abounded in Yorkville throughout the 1960s, lining both Cumberland and Yorkville Avenues.

"Teenagers today face family breakdowns . . ."

Yorkville Avenue 1968, north side looking east from east of Avenue Road
Reg. Innell
June 18, 1968
Photograph
Toronto Star Photograph Archive
Baldwin Collection of Canadiana

Although this photograph was taken during Yorkville’s heyday, in June 1968, it didn’t appear in 

the Toronto Star until 1982, when it was paired with another photo illustrating a series on the difficulties teenagers were facing.

Explore more!

Discover more images from the Toront Star Photograph Archive by exploring our past virtual exhibit: Exposed: Highlights from the Toronto Star Photograph Archive and by searching our Digital Archive.