History of Liberty Village
Image Credits: Patrick Cummins
Liberty Village has transformed from an industrial hub into one of Toronto’s most vibrant and dynamic neighborhoods. Once filled with factories, warehouses, and wartime barracks, its historic buildings have been reimagined as modern offices, studios, and lofts, seamlessly blending the past with the present.
Today, Liberty Village thrives as a center for creativity, technology, and innovation, all while preserving its industrial charm. This unique mix of history and progress has made it a lively and sought-after community for businesses, residents, and visitors alike.
Liberty Village’s history is a fascinating blend of industry, innovation, and transformation. In the 1850s, railway tracks from the Toronto, Grey & Bruce Railway and the Great Western Railway cut the area off from the rest of the city, shifting its development away from residential plans. Instead, it became home to institutions like Toronto Central Prison (1873) and the Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women (1878), which housed women deemed "incorrigible" or "vagrant." When the prison closed in 1915, only its paint shop and chapel remained. The name Liberty Village comes from Liberty Street, the first road that freed convicts would walk upon release.
Image Credits: Patrick Cummins
The neighbourhood’s proximity to the railway fueled its industrial boom. In 1884, John Inglis and Company set up a factory for heavy machinery, boilers, and later, electrical appliances. By 1891, Massey-Harris (later Massey Ferguson) opened a plant producing agricultural equipment. Other manufacturers, like Toronto Carpet Manufacturing, St. David’s Wine, and Ontario Wind Engine & Pump, soon followed, cementing Liberty Village as a key industrial hub.
By the late 1970s and early 1980s, Liberty Village’s industrial golden age began to wane. The shift from rail to road shipping, coupled with the growing demand for larger, more modern manufacturing facilities and the allure of lower production costs in suburban or offshore locations, led to a steady decline in local manufacturing operations.
Image Credits: Patrick Cummins
In 1990, the Toronto Carpet Manufacturing plant on Liberty Street closed its doors, marking the end of an era. The following year, the Inglis plant, which had been acquired by Whirlpool in 1985, also ceased operations. Soon after, most of the Inglis and Massey-Harris factories were demolished, except for the historic building at 947 King Street West, which still stands today as a reminder of the area’s industrial past.
As manufacturing faded, industrial activity decreased, causing property values to plummet. Many of Liberty Village’s once-thriving factories and warehouses fell into neglect and disrepair, leaving behind vacant spaces with immense creative potential. During this period, Liberty Village experienced an unexpected artistic revival. The combination of low rent and spacious industrial buildings attracted a wave of visual artists, who transformed the area into an informal arts enclave. Large, open-concept spaces became affordable studios and galleries, sparking a new cultural identity for the neighbourhood.
Image Credits: York Heritage Properties
Today, remnants of Liberty Village’s industrial heritage remain, beautifully repurposed into modern lofts, creative offices, and trendy businesses, embodying the neighbourhood’s remarkable transformation from factory floors to creative hubs, making Liberty Village one of Toronto’s most dynamic neighbourhoods.
Historic Landmarks: Then and Now
Image Credits: City of Toronto Archives
Central Prison (1873–1915)
Liberty Village was once home to Central Prison, where inmates worked in industrial roles to support rehabilitation and generate income for the facility. Today, most of the prison grounds have been redeveloped into townhouses, but the Roman Catholic chapel remains on East Liberty Street as a designated heritage property.
1915 Liberty Street
At the north corner of Liberty and Dufferin Streets, the Russel Motorcar Company produced fuses for bomb shells during World War I, employing many women in its 24/7 operations. Today, the site is a parking lot, but its history remains a testament to the area’s industrious spirit.
Image Credits: York Heritage Properties
Toronto Carpet Factory (1899–1920)
Originally built by the Hayes family, this English industrial-style complex produced woven carpets and later converted its looms to manufacture coats and blankets for soldiers during both World Wars. Now, the Toronto Carpet Factory is home to numerous businesses, restaurants, and cafés, retaining many original architectural features.
The ‘Castle’ at 135 Liberty Street
Once the production site for the iconic “Magic” Baking Powder by E.W. Gillett Company, this corner also housed Diamond Park, a professional baseball stadium, until 1912. Today, it serves as an office space for companies like Kobo and StickerYou while continuing Liberty Village’s connection to sports through nearby Lamport Stadium.
Snooker Street
At 99 Atlantic Avenue and 38 Hanna Avenue, The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company manufactured bowling alley floors, billiard tables, and accessories. In 1991, the Academy of Spherical Arts restaurant took over, leading to the street being renamed “Snooker Street” in homage. Today, the building is being redeveloped into retail and office space.
Image Credits: Patrick Cummins
Liberty Market (est. 2003)
Once home to John Inglis and Sons, this site evolved from a flour mill to a machinery manufacturer for marine steam engines and eventually produced the Bren Light Machine Gun during World War II. Post-war, the company shifted to consumer goods before moving in 1981. Now, the Liberty Market is a vibrant mix of restaurants, retail, and services.
Image Credits: Patrick Cummins
Hanna Avenue
The Hinde & Dauch Paper Mill at 41 Hanna Avenue once produced cardboard boxes, while 43 Hanna Avenue was the headquarters of Irwin Toys, known for leisure products and sporting goods. Both buildings have been repurposed into residential spaces, including the award-winning Toy Factory Lofts.
Liberty Village’s transformation showcases the resilience and adaptability of its community. Evolving from an industrial hub into a thriving center of creativity, collaboration, and innovation, the neighborhood has retained its historic charm while embracing progress. Its landmarks stand as symbols of its rich past, shaping its identity and inspiring the future.