Description: 

628-630 Queen Street West is a 3.5 storey commercial building on the north side of Queen Street West between Markham Street and Palmerston Avenue in the Trinity-Bellwoods neighbourhood of Toronto. 628-620 Queen Street West was constructed in 1878/1879.

The primary elevation of 628-630 Queen Street West was originally of a brick construction, however this has been overclad with stucco that has been painted blue. Impressions of underlying masonry elements remain visible on the stucco. The rest of the structure appears to be of a frame construction. 

Prior to circa. 1889, a north-south laneway ran along the east elevation of 628-630 Queen Street West. This laneway was infilled with the extant, 2 storey commercial building at 626 Queen Street West in circa. 1889. 

Former addresses of 628-630 Queen Street West include 586-588 Queen Street West and 598-600 Queen Street West.

Early Occupants and Uses: 

1878:

In 1878, 628-630 Queen Street West were listed as being under construction.

1879:

628 Queen Street West: Jesse R. Vennell (J. R. Vennell) - fancy dry goods.

630 Queen Street West: Unoccupied.

Further information on Vennell has been included below.

1880 and 1881:

628 Queen Street West: Thomas Purvis - a boots and shoes merchant and/or manufacturer. 

630 Queen Street West: James Jackson - a boots and shoes merchant and/or manufacturer. 

1882:

628 Queen Street West: David Caslor (D. Caslor) - a hardware merchant.

630 Queen Street West: James Jackson - a boots and shoes merchant and/or manufacturer. 

1883:

628 Queen Street West: David Caslor (D. Caslor) - a hardware merchant.

630 Queen Street West: Snowden Temple (S. Temple) - a boots and shoes merchant and/or manufacturer.  

1885:

628 Queen Street West: David Caslor (D. Caslor) - a hardware merchant. John Caslor and James Caslor also worked here. John Caslor lived nearby at 212 Bathurst Street. 

630 Queen Street West: Snowden Temple (S. Temple) - a boots and shoes merchant and/or manufacturer.  

1890:

628 Queen Street West: John Caslor - a hardware merchant.

630 Queen Street West: Charles F. Porter - a shoe merchant and/or manufacturer. 

Later Occupants and Uses: 

1900:

628 Queen Street West: John Caslor - a hardware merchant.

630 Queen Street West: Charles F. Porter - a shoe merchant and/or manufacturer. 

1910:

628 Queen Street West: John Caslor - a hardware merchant.

630 Queen Street West: Thomas H. Bigwood - a shoe merchant and/or manufacturer. 

1920:

628 Queen Street West: John Caslor - a hardware merchant.

630 Queen Street West: Isabel Blake - a shoe merchant and/or manufacturer. 

1930:

628 Queen Street West: John Caslor - a hardware merchant; and John A. Wilson. The Caslor's hardware business was based here until 1932. Further information on the Caslor's hardware business has been attached below.

630 Queen Street West: Dominion Stores supermarket branch. 

1935:

628 Queen Street West: Morris Lams - dry goods. Of note is that prior to 1932, Lams was based next door at 626 Queen Street West. Lams first appearst at 628 Queen Street West in 1933.

630 Queen Street West: Dominion Stores supermarket branch.

1940:

628 Queen Street West:  Belgium Dry Goods and Morris Lams. Lams is listed as owning 628 Queen Street West as of this point in time. 

630 Queen Street West: Steve Krumpoch - butcher and grocer. Mr. Krumpoch was listed as owning 630 Queen Street West as of this point in time. Of note is that Steve Krumpoch is likely the same individual as Steve Krumpack (see below).

1950:

628 Queen Street West: Belgium Dry Goods and Peter Paley.

630 Queen Street West: Victoria Butcher & Grocer, Steve Krumpack, and the City Ligting Fixture Metal Spinning (at rear). Steve Krumpack was listed as owning the building as of 1950.

1960:

628 Queen Street West:  Belgium Dry Goods.

630 Queen Street West: Lilia Flower Shop and Mary Krumpack. As of 1960, Mary Krumpack was listed as owning the building.

1969:

630-632 Queen Street West: New York Furniture.

628 Queen Street West does not appear in the 1969 City of Toronto Directory.

Present-Day:

As of September 2021, the commercial tenants of 628-630 Queen Street West are: 

628 Queen Street West: Neat - a specialty homewares store. 

630 Queen Street West: Durumi - a women's clothing and accessories store. 

Brief Biographies of Select Former Occupants and Uses: 

Jesse R. Vennell (J. R. Vennell): Jesse R. Vennell was previously employed as a clerk and salesman during the early-to-mid 1870s. Vennell resided on Wood Lane in Yorkville during this period in time, prior to residing above J. R. Vennell on Queen Street West. Jesse Vennell was married to Mary Robson. The couple had at least 2 children: a daughter named Edith May Vennell and a son named William E. Vennell. The J. R. Vennell fancy dry goods store appears to have been in business only a short time. 

Caslor's Hardware: Between 1882 and 1932, the Caslor family operated a hardware store at 628 Queen Street West. The hardware business was originally known as D. Caslor and owned by David Caslor (c. 1848/1849). However, by 1900 John Caslor (born c. 1852/1854) had taken over the operations of the business and it became known as John Caslor. James Caslor also worked for the business during this period. John Caslor was significantly involved with the Ontario Retail Hardware Dealers' Association and served on its executive for over 20 years in the early 20th century. Both David Caslor and John Caslor were sons of Solomon Caslor (c. 1812-1899) and Margaret Reid (c. 1818-1896). Solomon and Margaret Reid had 12 children. After the death of Margaret Caslor, Solomon Caslor remarried to Sarah McChesney (1835-1923) and had 2 additional children. Census records indicate that the Caslor family were of Dutch-American (Hollander) and German-American background. The family had members who belonged to both the Church of England and Methodist sects. The grandfather of David Caslor and John Caslor was Richard Casler (1774-1876) - a United Empire Loyalist who was an early settler in Streetsville. A 1928 photograph of John Caslor has been included with this TO Built entry.

S. Temple: Between 1883 and 1887, S. Temple was based at 630 Queen Street West. S. Temple was a boot and shoe manufacturer and retailer owned by Snowden Temple (1834-1887).  M. G. Bixby & Company's Industries of Canada: Historical and Commercial Sketches of Toronto and Environs (1886) provides the following sketch of Snowden Temple: "Snowden Temple, Dealer in Boots and Shoes, No. 588 Queen Street West. — There are retail dealers in boots and shoes who do a larger business than Mr. Snowden Temple, but there are none who sell better goods for the same money, or conduct their business on a more fair or honest basis. For more than ten years, he has been established and has made his attractive store at No. 588 [630] Queen Street West one of the most popular in the neighbourhood. Boots, shoes, and gaiters for men, women and children are to be found here in great variety, inclusive of fine and medium grades, and the quality of their material and workmanship, their style and finish, are superior. The custom work done by Mr. Temple is held in high estimation by a large number of regular customers, who look to him for their regular supplies. Mr. Temple was born in Darlington, County Durham, England in the year 1834, and came to the Dominion in 1857, learned his trade and commenced business after a while upon a very small capital, and by his own industry, energy and skill has advanced to his present condition." (page 116). Prior to 1883, S. Temple was based further east at 480 Queen Street West.  Snowden was married 3 times and had 10 children. He died in 1887.

Research by Adam Wynne.