Description:

752-754 Queen Street West is a 2-storey building on the north side of Queen Street West midblock between Claremont Avenue and Bellwoods Avenue in the West Queen West neighbourhood of Toronto. 752-754 Queen Street West was (likely) constructed between 1856 and 1858 and is representative of early development of this block of Queen Street West. 

752-754 Queen Street West appear to have originally been part of a row of 4 similar buildings. However, the rest of the row was demolished during the 19th century when the extant Second Empire buildings on both sides of 752-754 Queen Street West were constructed.  

752-754 Queen Street West has historically been known as 560-562 Queen Street West, 660-662 Queen Street West, and 702-704 Queen Street West at various points in time. The present-day address — 752-754 Queen Street West — has been used since 1890. 

The rear (north) elevation of 754 Queen Street West contains a 3-storey modern addition fronting the back laneway.

Early Occupants and Uses: 

Circa 1859/1860:

752 Queen Street West (then 560 Queen Street West): John Hennessy — a grocer; and Denis Sullivan — a shoemaker

754 Queen Street West (then 562 Queen Street West): George Moody — a tavernkeeper. Directories are unclear as to whether Moody's tavern was located here or elsewhere (however, notably, this block had a number of taverns in operation during the 1850s, likely due to the proximity of nearby breweries). Moody later operated a grocery store at the northeast corner of Bellwoods Avenue and Queen Street West.  

Circa 1860/1861:

752 Queen Street West (then 560 Queen Street West): John Hennessy — a grocer; and Denis Sullivan — a shoemaker

754 Queen Street West (then 562 Queen Street West): George Oversby — a labourer.

Circa 1862/1863:

752 Queen Street West (then 560 Queen Street West): John Hennessy — a grocer; and Denis Sullivan — a shoemaker

754 Queen Street West (then 562 Queen Street West): Edward Appleton — a gardener and labourer — and family.

John Hennessy remained associated with 752 Queen Street West until the mid-to-late 1870s. Similarly, the Appleton family resided at 754 Queen Street West until the 1910s. Following the death of Edward Appleton in the 1880s, his widow Wilhelmina Appleton operated a poultry shop from the property. 

Later Occupants and Uses:

Circa 1879/1880:

752 Queen Street West (then 660 Queen Street West): John McNaulty — a grocer.

754 Queen Street West (then 662 Queen Street West): Edward Appleton — a gardener and labourer. 

Circa 1889/1900:

752 Queen Street West: Benjamin Caswell — a stove dealer.

754 Queen Street West: Wilhelmina Appleton — poultry shop. Wilhelmina Appleton was the widow of Edward Appleton. William Appleton — a bricklayer by trade — also lived on site.

Circa 1899/1900:

752 Queen Street West: John McNaulty — birds. 

754 Queen Street West: Wilhelmina Appleton — poultry store.

Circa 1909/1910:

752 Queen Street West: John McNaulty — musical instruments.

754 Queen Street West: Wilhelmina Appleton. 

Circa 1919/1920:

752 Queen Street West: George J. Churly — butcher.

754 Queen Street West: Joseph Rosnick.

Circa 1929/1930:

752 Queen Street West:  George J. Churly — butcher.

754 Queen Street West: Gaetino Macina — fruit store.

Circa 1939/1940

752 Queen Street West: The Empire Meat Market. 

754 Queen Street West: Gaetino Macina — fruit store.

Circa 1949/1950:

752 Queen Street West: The Empire Meat Market. 

754 Queen Street West: Gaetino Macina — fruit store.

Circa 1959/1960:

752 Queen Street West: The Empire Meat Market; and Edward Churly. Churly was listed as the owner of 752 Queen Street West as of 1959/1960.

754 Queen Street West: Gaetino Macina — fruit store.

Circa 1968/1969:

752 Queen Street West: Branko Zivic — used clothing and furniture.

754 Queen Street West: Gaetino Macina — fruit store.

Present Day (January 2022):

752 Queen Street West: Spectacle — eyewear.

754 Queen Street West: Kotn — cotton clothing.

(Research by Adam Wynne)