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UrbanToronto has partnered with Heritage Toronto to capture a moment in Toronto's past. On a weekly basis, we will both be highlighting a historic photo of the city's people, places and events, and will be telling the stories behind them. Many thanks to both Gary Switzer of MOD Developements and Maya Bilbao for putting together the photos and research.
This week's photo: Independent Order of Foresters' Arch, Bay Street at Richmond Street West erected for the visit of Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York 1901.
In 1901, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, later King George V and Queen Mary visited Canada. The Royal Couple travelled extensively throughout the country and toured Ontario between October 10-16th. The first stop in the province was Toronto where they were greeted at the foot of St. George Street by numerous dignitaries including then Premier of Ontario G. W. Ross and Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier. On the first day of the tour, the Royal Carriage journeyed St. George Street, Bloor Street, Jarvis, Carlton, Yonge, King and finally Bay Streets leading up to the City Hall, then the New City Hall that had opened a couple of years prior. Every step of the way, there were decorations, thousands of spectators, and dignitaries waiting to welcome the Royal Couple in style. As the Royal Carriage travelled along Bay Street it was met with a spectacular arch at Richmond Street. It was one of several ceremonial arches that were erected for this special occasion in Toronto. The arch was decorated with numerous flags, flashing light bulbs, and crests. Topped with a large crown, the arch was erected by the Independent Order of Foresters, a fraternal organization that owned the commanding structure adjacent to the arch on the northwest corner of Richmond and Bay. The Temple building as it came to be known was designed by well known architect, George W. Gouinlock. Opening in 1895, it was one of the first highrise buildings in Toronto that eventually stood ten storeys and commanded attention in the downtown core. It was designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style... a popular trend at the time shared by its neighbour, today's Old City Hall. This immediate success of this new office building on Bay Street contributed to Bay's overall development as a street lined with office buildings. Demolished in 1970, the Temple building is remembered as an important work in Toronto's architectural history. The ceremonial arch was taken down before that but fortunately photographs such as this serve as a powerful reminder for the significance of the monarchy in the daily lives of Canadians.
Sources
http://www.toronto.ca/archives/thismonth.htm
The tour of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York through the Dominion of Canada in the year 1901, Published in 1903 (www.Archive.org)
Lost Toronto, pg. 102
