Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
The beautiful new Seaway Towers Motor Hotel
General material designation
- Graphic material
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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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c. 1963 (Creation)
- Creator
- Maple Leaf Press
- Place
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Physical description area
Physical description
2023.000.26: Postcard
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Front: Colour photo. The image shows the street view of a building. The building has two parts, a short brown brick part on the left, and a twelve-storey white tower section on the right. The brown section has white text across the front and a section to the left of the text which is black with three windows. On the roof of the brown section, there is a black fence around the building and a pink rounded tent. The white tower section is rectangular and has various windows and balconies throughout. The first floor of the white tower had white pillars. In front the of the whole building, there is a parking lot with multi-coloured cards. At the edge of the parking lot, there is a strip of grass with light posts and around the light posts are multi-coloured flags on a string. Behind the building on the lower right are some green trees and the rest of the background is a blue sky with a few white clouds.
Back: Divided blank back. There is some blue text across the top with a rectangle in the right corner. There is a vertical line of text in the middle dividing the page.
Notes area
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Language and script note
Mark / Inscription text: SEAWAY TOWERS MOTOR HOTEL
Mark / Inscription type: Image detail
Mark / Inscription description:
Mark / Inscription technique: Printed, blue ink
Mark / Inscription position: On front, lower one-third of the image, off centre to the left
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Mark / Inscription text: ST / The beautiful new SEAWAY TOWERS / MOTOR HOTEL, Lake Shore Blvd., Tor- / onto, Canada, overlooking the Toronto / parklands and Lake Ontario
Mark / Inscription type: Title and hotel information
Mark / Inscription description: “ST” are very stylized
Mark / Inscription technique: Printed, blue ink
Mark / Inscription position: On back, top left corner
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Mark / Inscription text: BR 99071
Mark / Inscription type: Alteration
Mark / Inscription description:
Mark / Inscription technique: Handwritten, pencil
Mark / Inscription position: On back, to the left of the stamp box
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Mark / Inscription text: POST / CARD
Mark / Inscription type: Item detail
Mark / Inscription description:
Mark / Inscription technique: Printed, blue ink
Mark / Inscription position: On back, top, off centre to the right
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Mark / Inscription text: STAMP / HERE
Mark / Inscription type: Instructions for use
Mark / Inscription description: Rectangle surrounds text
Mark / Inscription technique: Printed, blue ink
Mark / Inscription position: On back, upper right corner
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Mark / Inscription text: MAPLE LEAF PRESS - TORONTO - CANADA
Mark / Inscription type: Maker mark
Mark / Inscription description:
Mark / Inscription technique: Printed, blue ink
Mark / Inscription position: On back, vertically down centre middle
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Mark / Inscription text: A / Seaway / Motel
Mark / Inscription type: Item detail
Mark / Inscription description: Text is within a blue circle with triangles around it
Mark / Inscription technique: Printed, blue ink
Mark / Inscription position: On back, lower left corner
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Mark / Inscription text: WILSON, DRYSEN,
Mark / Inscription type: Maker mark
Mark / Inscription description:
Mark / Inscription technique: Printed, blue ink
Mark / Inscription position: On back,
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Mark / Inscription text: ADDRESS
Mark / Inscription type: Instructions for use
Mark / Inscription description:
Mark / Inscription technique: Printed, blue ink
Mark / Inscription position: On back, off centre to the right
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Mark / Inscription text: 5493R
Mark / Inscription type: Serial number
Mark / Inscription description:
Mark / Inscription technique: Printed, blue ink
Mark / Inscription position: On back, bottom right corner
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
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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.
The Seaway Motor Hotel opened in 1955 and operated for 38 years (until 1993). The architects were Ants Elken & R.W. Beckstead. In 1955, the hotel won Silver Medal of the Massey Medal for Architecture. The original structure was three storeys tall but in 1963, a 12 floor tower was added. The hotel had wraparound balconies, a rooftop patio with a swimming pool, and a restaurant. The restaurant, which was enclosed in glass, was a main attraction. The Seaway was stretched horizontally to capitalize on the southern sun and views over the lake. The hotel was torn down to allow room for a new on/off ramp for the Queen Elizabeth Way.
Ensure when the postcard is from. There is little information on the printer, Maple Leaf Press, and the postcard itself. It likely is from around the time the new addition was added in 1963 as the caption calls it “the new Seaway Towers Motor Hotel”.