78 Mimico Avenue
Though now boarded up and seemingly abandoned 78 Mimico Avenue was built circa 1920 and began life as an active and busy dairy founded by John Mackenzie and his son Percy, serving Mimico and the surrounding community as John Mackenzie and Son, Dairy.
Built on Part Lots 7 & 8, Plan 852, the dairy first appears in the Toronto City Directory in 1921 suggesting that it began operation in 1920 despite the 1919 date in the Story of Mimico (which also has a mistake in it indicating the founders were Wm Mackenzie and Sons).
source: The Story of Mimico by Edwin Eland, 1935
In October 1930 Mackenzie sold the land to Samuel Oldham, Leonard Oldham and A.R. Munro. They sold it in June 1932 for $1 to the Hillside Dairy. This suggests that the Oldhams were the owners of Hillside Dairy, or this was in effect a merger.
The president of the Hillside Dairy was Robert Thomas Stillman who lived nearby at 38 Hillside Avenue. He died in December 1943 and in December 1944 the dairy was sold to the Silverwood Dairy for $1, also suggesting a merger.
Globe and Mail December 18, 1943
The Silverwood Dairy then operated at the site until December 1956 when it ceased operation and the property was sold to the Hogle family of Hogle Funeral Home across the street who appear to still own it today.
In 1958 the building appears in the Toronto City Directory with four units inside it.
Along with its neighbouring buildings to the west it presents a pleasing streetscape as all the buildings are built to the lot line and of uniform height.
Update - January 18, 2024
Today the Toronto Preservation Board recommended designation of the property under the Ontario Heritage Act along with the properties at 80 and 86 Mimico Avenue. The recommendation will proceed to Toronto City Council for a decision. At the meeting a planner representing a developer that owns 78 and 80 indicated that they will be submitting a development application for this site in the second quarter of 2024. The city staff report on this item can be found here.
Update - February 6, 2024
The item was deferred to the March Toronto City Council meeting.
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