1-9 Kensington Avenue are a row of 5 houses on the east side of Kensington Avenue immediately north of Dundas Street West in Kensington Market, Toronto.  

1-9 Kensington Avenue were completed in 1892 and replaced an earlier detached structure at 1 Kensington Avenue that existed on the site pre-1891. As of 1888, the site (detached home) was home to John J. Ellis - a mason.  1-9 Kenisngton Avenue are in a Bay and Gable style.

1, 7, and 9 Kensington Avenue have all had ground floor commercial modifications. 1 Kensington Avenue - the southmost of the row - also has the addresses 558A-560A Dundas Street West; and additionally has 556-558 Dundas Street West attached to its side/rear (Dundas Street West elevation). Please see the separate TO Built entry for 556-558 Dundas Street West for more information. 

1-9 Kensington Avenue were vacant in 1892. As of 1893, the first occupants were: 

1 Kensington Avenue:  Dr. John H. Watson, MD (physician).  

3 Kensington Avenue: Dr. Arthur J. Husband, dentist.  Dr. Husband was born in Toronto in 1864 and began his dental practice in 1885. As of 1893, his practice was based at 507 Queen Street West. In 1899, Dr. Husband contracted James Augustus Ellis to build a residence for him at Spadina Avenue and Willcocks Street. However, a few years later, in 1905, the Husband family relocated to Cleveland, Ohio. 

5 Kensington Avenue:  John S. Burton - a travelling representative / salesman for A. Allan & Company.  A. Allan & Company (Alexander A. Allan) was a wholesale seller of hats, caps, and furs which was based at 51 Bay Street. 

7 Kensington Avenue:  Daniel R. Decatur - a traveller. 

9 Kensington Avenue: Henry Leslie Moore Weller (H. L. M. Weller) - then the Secretary of the Ontario Lumber Company. 

Jesse Edgar Middleton's The Municipality of Toronto: A History - Volume 3 (1923) provides the following biographical sketch of Henry Leslie Moore Weller:    

Henry Leslie Moore Weller: 

"Henry Leslie Moore Weller is a descendant of an old English family that came to Canada from the United States, his grandfather, William Weller being a native of Vermont. [...]  Henry Leslie Moore Weller, son of Thomas Moore Taylor Weller and Elizabeth Scott (Edgar) Weller, was born at Cobourg, Ontario, October 29, 1871, and was educated in the public schools and collegiate institute of his native place. Coming to Toronto at the age of sixteen years, he became identified with the Victoria Harbour Lumber Company. Two years later he entered the office force of the Ontario Lumber Company, where he was engaged for ten years as a secretary and treasurer. In 1899, Mr. Weller began business independently dealing in timber limits and manufacturing lumber. Continuing in this field of activity until 1905, he then entered the world of finance and has been successfully engaged as a broker, with offices in the Canada Permanent Building. Mr. Weller is affiliated fraternally with the Free and Accepted Masons, and is a communicant of the Church of England." - (Middleton 1923, 153-154). 

Henry Leslie Moore's grandfather was William Weller, who arrived in Canada in 1815. William Welelr was a prominent figure who operated the first stagecoach line to and from Cobourg, Ontario; as well as a prominent stagecoach line that connected Montreal and Toronto. These stagecoach lines fell out of use following the completion of the Grand Trunk Railway in 1855. William Weller also owned one of Canada's first telegraph companies - the International Telegraph Company - which connected Toronto with Montreal and other eastern regions. 

Kensington Avenue and St. Patrick Street Riot (July 1913):  On the evening of 14 July 1913, there was a riot at the intersection of Kensington Avenue and St. Patrick Street (now Dundas Street West). The riot was started by Jewish residents in response to an open-air meeting/sermon conducted by Rev. Henry Singer.  Rev. Singer was the Superintendent of the Toronto Jewish Mission, which was a Christian mission that sought to convert Jewish residents and conducted outreach in Jewish neighbourhoods. Notably Kensington Market had a large Jewish population by this point in time. There was another similar riot 2 years prior in 1911 on Agnes Street (now Dundas Street West) due to similarly inflammatory activities by Christian Missionaries in a largely Jewish neighbourhood. The July 1913 riot occurred in direct proximity to 1-9 Kensington Avenue. 5 residents of Kensington Avenue were arrested during the riot: 

Samuel Greenberg, barber - resident of 5 Kensington Avenue. 

Jack Popropsky, age 16, tailor - resident of 11 Kensington Avenue. 

Rosie Israelson, housekeeper - resident of 11 Kensington Avenue. 

Samuel Goldstein, aged 16 - resident of 40 Kensington Avenue. 

Perey (Percy) Goldstein, aged 9 - resident of 40 Kensington Avenue. 

Barnett Weinstein of 539 College Street provided bail to all those arrested at a cost of $100 each.