Item 2023.000.19 - Dutch Sisters Inn, Smorgasbord Lobby.

The Photogelatine Engraving Co. Ltd. (or PECO) was founded by Rowley Shillito Hooper of Dudley, England. He came to Ottawa in 1915 to fill a position as a factory superintendent at an Ottawa-based printing firm (Rolla L. Crain Company, Ltd.). Two years later, he left the firm and established his own printing business. The Photogelatine Engraving Company was incorporated in Ottawa on June 18, 1920. “A used Photogelatine Engraving Co., Ottawa postcard, found with the date July 21, 1921, would confirm that the business was up and operating by the summer of 1921.” (Toronto Postcard Company). The PECO opened a branch In Toronto in 1926 and in 1947, PECO fully moved to Toronto. Rowley Shillito Hooper died June 16, 1951. In 1952, he was replaced as president and general manager by Robert D. Church. PECO closed in 1954.

PECO published postcards with images from communities all across Canada and even those from as far away as the British West Indies (however, images were of Ottawa were the largest collection they published – 41 out of 497). “The postcards, whether monotone black, monotone green, or full colour, were printed on a matte card stock and most had a wide white border.” (Toronto Postcard Club). The early printing methods by PECO was a gelatine process, similar to the “Bromoil” bromide process used in photography. “The postcards are generally recognizable today because of the diffuse detail. Under magnification there is limited resolution and broad tonal effects – not the tiny squares, or dots found with half-tone illustration.” (Toronto Postcard Club). The earliest postcards printed by Photogelatine Engraving Co. (1921-1929) were white border designs in monotone black or monotone green tints with hand written captions on the image. In 1930, Photogelatine Engraving Co. introduced a line of white border, full colour postcards. Different than the previous postcards, the caption was printed in the border of the design. Beginning in 1947, postcards produced by PECO carry a Toronto address. “Most of the postcards produced in this period are reprints of earlier white border gelatine colour, monotone black and sepia designs. Early in the 1950s the firm introduced a different type of postcard. The white border, which had become a trademark of the Company over the years, was dropped in favour of an image occupying the entire front and the caption was removed to the back.” (Toronto Postcard Club).

The Dutch Sisters Inn was located at 227 Lakeshore Road in the Humber Bay area. It was opened by Hans and Anna Sachau who immigrated to Canada from Germany in 1928. In 1931, Hans was a former Naval architect who founded the Sachau Marine Construction which built various types of boats. In the late 1930s or early 1940s Anna started a breakfast counter/restaurant on their property called The Dutch Sisters Restuarant with the name coming from their three daughters Greta, Elisabeth, and Elsa-Ann. While the family was German and not Dutch, the use of Dutch in the title was due to the ongoing war where references to Germany should be avoided. In the early 1950s, the couple converted the restaurant to the Dutch Sisters Inn. The restaurant specialized in German and seafood dishes and was well known for its desserts. In 1958, Hans died but the restaurant remained in operation by his executors until 1969. The property was sold and was rebuilt under a Spanish style and reopened as the Casa Mendoza, a restaurant with influence from middle Europe and Argentina.

In the 1940s-1960s, Etobicoke saw a rise in motels due to motor vehicles becoming more accessible and widely used. Motor hotels (motels) became prominent tourist destinations. Etobicoke Lakeshore’s prime motel era is seen in many postcards from the time period (primarily shots from Mimico and New Toronto). “Replacing the traditional cottage industry in Long Branch, local sites hosted waterfront beaches, attractions, and quaint motels with easy and affordable access for local tourists following Lakeshore Road as the main link between East (Toronto), and the West (Buffalo and Niagara Falls) along the shoreline. Construction of the 401 and QEW diverted traffic away from the Lakeshore, causing a steep decline in Mimico’s motel industry in the 1980s, with the last structure demolished in 2012. Many of these sites were replaced by condos as tourism moved away from the area.” (LGIC). Casa Mendoza closed in 2012 and was replaced by a condo tower.