Toronto Ghost Signs

This firm was in business at this site from 1921 to 1961, briefly becoming Callow-Beare's after that before vanishing in the mid-1960's.

This is probably the best example of a practice common in the early years of the century: painting your firm's name in large horizontal white letters on a black background in the space between building floors. In those days, this was the cheapest and most effective way to obtain what advertisers call "signage". It was a pain in the butt for anyone who took over the building afterwards, though, as it would have taken a lot of work to paint over all of that.