Description:

22 Baldwin Street is a 2.5 storey Gothic Revival houseform building located on the north side of Baldwin Street between McCaul Street and Henry Street in the Baldwin Village neighbourhood of Toronto. 22 Baldwin Street was constructed in c. 1873/1874.

22 Baldwin Street was one of the first properties built on the north side of Baldwin Street. The north side of Baldwin Street between McCaul Street and Spadina Avenue was undeveloped as of 1872/1873, whereas the south side of the street had some development by this point in time. The section of Baldwin Street west of Spadina Avenue was originally known as Baldwin Street West and had some development on both sides of the street by the early 1870s.

The storefront of 22 Baldwin Street was likely added during the early 20th century (potentially c. 1930s). 


Neighbouring 24 Baldwin Street — which 22 Baldwin Street shares a wall with — was originally a 19th century house that was demolished and rebuilt with the extant building at 24-26 Baldwin Street during the 20th century.  

First Residents: 

22 Baldwin Street was first home to William Hannah — a carpenter and grocer — who resided here with his family from 1873/1874 until 1878.  

William Hannah (1836-1916) was born in Lennox and Addington County (Ontario) in October 1836 to an Irish-Canadian family. William Hannah was married to Eliza Ann Hassard (1840-1927). William and Eliza Ann Hannah had 7 children — 2 daughters and 5 sons — born between 1867 and 1877. By 1879/1880, the Hannah family had relocated to Parliament Street in Cabbagetown. William Hannah died in Toronto in January 1916.

Later Residents and Uses: 

Please note the following list of former residents is not exhaustive and aims to provide a general overview. Dates are approximate. This information was sourced from the City of Toronto Directories. 


1878/1879:

In 1878/1879, 22 Baldwin Street was home to Dr. Beresford Gahan, a physician.


1879/1880:

In 1879/1880, 22 Baldwin Street was home to John Masters. John Masters was a commercial traveller. 


1890s and 1900s:

In circa the 1890s and the early 1900s, 22 Baldwin Street was home to Margaret Mather. Margaret Mather was the widow of William Mather. 


1909/1910:

In 1909/1910, 22 Baldwin Street was home to the Parlow family. The Parlow family consisted of Herman Parlow, George Parlow, and Isabel Parlow. George Parlow was employed as a clerk. 


1920s: 

During the 1920s, 22 Baldwin Street was home to Joseph Feldman and Benjamin Banks. Joseph Feldman and Benjamin Banks were both tailors.


1930/1931 to 1967 — Berlin's Kosher Butcher:

Between 1930/1931 and 1967, 22 Baldwin Street was home to Berlin's Kosher Butcher. This butcher shop was run by Isaac Berlin (1896-1962), Solly Berlin, and William Berlin.


The Berlin family were Jewish. Census records indicate the family emigrated from Bogoria, Poland to Canada in 1911. Isaac Berlin was married to Annie Langer (1891-1956) and the couple had at least two sons. In Toronto, the Berlin family initially settled on Gerrard Street West in Saint John's Ward. Prior to establishing the butcher shop, Isaac Berlin was employed as a tailor. The Berlin family were members of the nearby Ostrovtzer Congregation — then based on Cecil Street. Please note that Isaac Berlin is an Anglicized name and in Hebrew he was known as Yizhak Hena. 

During this period, the Berlin and Langer families lived above the butcher shop. By December 1957, the building was owned by Jack Berlin (one of Isaac's and Annie's sons) and had been seized by a county sheriff due to outstanding debts. Following its seizure, 22 Baldwin Street was put up for public auction in January 1958. Despite this, the butcher shop continued in business at 22 Baldwin Street for another decade. William Berlin was still working as a butcher as of 1972, although had moved to Highland Hill Avenue in Lawrence Heights.


Notably, during the early 20th century, Baldwin Village — like nearby Kensington Market — had become a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood. Many Jewish businesses were established along Baldwin Street and McCaul Street. William Berlin's move to Lawrence Heights in the late 1960s or early 1970s aligns with a trend of Jewish businesses and families moving to that district following World War II. 



1968 to 2009/2010 — Yung Sing Pastry Shop:

Between 1968 and 2009/2010, 22 Baldwin Street was home to the Yung Sing Pastry Shop. The Yung Sing Pastry Shop was established by Chu Ko and was Toronto's first Hong Kong style bakery. 


Chu Ko was born in Hong Kong in 1928. In Hong Kong, he was a dim sum chef. In 1967, David Ko, his wife Ngan Ko, and 5 young children emigrated to Toronto where the family began working in Chinese restaurants in Old Chinatown. Ko and his wife worked long 16 hour days with the goal of eventually owning their own business.


In 1968, the Kos established the Yung Sing Pastry Shop at 22 Baldwin Street. The Yung Sing Pastry Shop "introduced Torontonians to a unique variation of authentic Chinese baked goods including Chinese buns such as the popular BBQ pork, Curry Beef, Vegetable, Fried Rice and Tofu buns; pastries, such as Egg Tarts, Pork and Veggie Spring Rolls, Woo Gok, Hum Sui Gok, and deep fried shrimp rolls; weekend only dim sum such as Har Gow, Shiu Mai and Pan Fried Pork Dumplings and on rare special occasions, Moon Cakes." The shop became a beloved and renowned culinary institution. The Ko family ran Yung Sing Pastry Shop for 41 years until its closure for renovations in 2009. Chu Ko passed away in November 2020. For more information, please see Mr. Ko's obituary: https://ogden.funeraltechweb.com/tribute/details/18267/Mr-Chu-Ko/obituary.html 


The Yung Sing Pastry Shop has been featured in the Baldwin Street Gallery 1960s-1970s photography series. The Yung Sing Pastry Shop was also featured in a painting in the Chinatown Scenes Series by artist Jamie Ly. 


David Ko — the son of Chu Ko — ran his own restaurant — the Chinese Vegetarian House at 39 Baldwin Street — during the 1980s and 1990s. David Ko also published the Yung Sing Dim Sum Recipes: A Chinese Snackbook (1982) and has previously offered historical walking tours of Chinatown. 


Present Day (2009/2010 Onward): 

Since 2009/2010, the Yung Sing Pastry Shop and 22 Baldwin Street have been "under renovation." The future of the restaurant and building is uncertain at present. 



(Research by Adam Wynne)