Art.Roz's photostream

Toronto's central street is paved with stone blocks or "cobblestones" in this 1907 photo. A 1908 colour-coded map showing the paving of different streets in Toronto indicates that Yonge Street was paved with setts from the railway corridor in the south to King Street in the north.

A 1908 colour-coded map showing the paving of different streets in Toronto indicates that Front Street was paved with stone blocks from Yonge to Bay Street. This photo found through the online database of the City of Toronto Archives of Front Street being paved with stone blocks in 1903 isn't labelled in terms of the specific place on Front Street where it was taken, but based on the map, it can be deduced that it was the section between Yonge and Bay.

Only half the street is visible, what with the streetcar tracks seen in the lower part of this photo.

Note: I've tagged this photo with the word "cobblestone", a term popularly used to describe this kind of paving. This kind of paving, however, isn't cobblestone. Cobblestone paving refers to the use of natural and uncut stones that are smooth and rounded, found in riverbeds. In early modern times, they were embedded in mortar for a cheaper way of paving a street. But the term is often used to describe any traditional stone paving today.

The Esplanade is being paved with stone blocks in 1905. Toronto's history of stone street paving seems unknown and perhaps lost, so these photos provide some valuable insight.

Found through the online database of the City of Toronto Archives.

Note: I've tagged this photo with the word "cobblestone", a term popularly used to describe this kind of paving. This kind of paving, however, isn't cobblestone. Cobblestone paving refers to the use of natural and uncut stones that are smooth and rounded, found in riverbeds. In early modern times, they were embedded in mortar for a cheaper way of paving a street. But it is a term commonly used to describe any traditional stone paving today.

The stone blocks were piled up on the side of the road, then individually laid by hand.

Found through the online database of the City of Toronto Archives.

The finished product is becoming clear.

Found through the online database of the City of Toronto Archives.