St. Joseph's, Leslieville, 1878
From the 1830's priests from downtown Toronto began to visit Leslieville, an area of market gardens and brickyards, to administer the sacraments to Catholics living in the east end of the city. In 1863 under the direction of father Francis P. Rooney, Pastor of St. Paul's, the farmers built near Doel Avenue, now Dundas Street, a frame school which also served as a chapel for Mass on Sundays. This was replaced in 1871 by a brick structure north of Doel Avenue, also on the east side of Curzon Street.
On Sunday, November 10, 1878, the Parish of St. Joseph was formally created to serve all of Toronto lying east of the Don River. The founding Pastor, Rev. Michael M. O'Reilly, built to the north side of the present rectory the first church which was blessed in 1886. This church burned in 1907 and a second one was completed on the same foundations in 1909. The present church was erected in 1958 on the old orchard grounds, the former site of many garden parties.
Plaque via Alan L. Brown's site Toronto Plaques. Full page here.