Urban Toronto has partnered with Heritage Toronto to capture a moment in Toronto's past. On a weekly basis, we highlight historic photos of the city's people, places and events, and tell the stories behind them.

Many thanks to both Gary Switzer of MOD Developments and Maya Bilbao for putting together the photos and research. 

This week's photo:

Temple Building

Seen here is the Temple building, built in 1895, one of Toronto's most significant 19th century office buildings. It stood for more than 70 years at the northwest corner of Richmond and Bay.

The Temple building was designed by well-known architect, George W. Gouinlock. George William Gouinlock (1861-1932) was a prolific Toronto architect responsible for numerous commercial, ecclesiastical, residential and institutional works. He was also known for designing a plethora of buildings for the redesign of the Canadian National Exhibition in the early 1900s.

Gouinlock designed the Temple building as the North American headquarters for the fraternal organization, the Independent Order of Foresters. Built in 1895, the Temple building was one of Toronto's first highrise buildings standing ten storeys. Though ten storeys doesn't seem a lot today, in the late 19th century, a building such as this would have seized the attention of passersby, standing out from its surroundings.

It was designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style — a popular trend at the time shared with its neighbour, today's Old City Hall — and built of Credit Valley sandstone and red brick. Gouinlock added decorative features including deeply shadowed balconies, cornices, and tall arches. Above the arches was an acanthus leaf decoration. The sheer mass of this building, combined with its height and elegant appearance made it one of the city's greatest works at the time. It was also notable for being one of the first skyscrapers on Bay Street, a street that would become the city's chief financial address.

The Temple building was demolished in 1970.

Sources:

Lost Toronto, p. 102