213 Sterling Road

In 1910, 213 Sterling Road began its life as a tractor plant for the Fairbanks-Morse Company. Imagine the clang of machinery and the hiss of steam as tractors rolled off the assembly line. 213 Sterling Road later transformed, becoming a transformer factory for Moloney Electric Co. of Canada Limited in 1923. The building pulsed with a different kind of energy, the hum of electricity replacing the roar of engines. 213 Sterling Road stood as a testament to Toronto’s industrial heart. This robust structure weathered the decline of industry in the late 1960s, witnessing the neighborhood’s transformation. Artists and entrepreneurs breathed new life into Sterling Road, repurposing former factories like 213 Sterling Road for creative pursuits. Today, 213 Sterling Road stands amidst a cluster of historic industrial buildings, forming the heart of the Lower Junction Triangle. This neighborhood takes its name from the intersection of three railway lines: the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Metrolinx GO Transit Barrie line (formerly the Grand Trunk Railway), and the CPR east-west lines. 213 Sterling Road has witnessed the Lower Junction Triangle evolve from an industrial hub to an “artist haven,” with buildings like the Tower Automotive Building across the street, now home to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). The neighborhood continues to change, with new residential and commercial buildings rising alongside the old factories, creating a dynamic mix of old and new. 213 Sterling Road stands as a witness to this ongoing evolution, a symbol of the neighborhood’s resilience and adaptability.