UrbanToronto 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.

Colborne Lodge is among Toronto’s most significant historic homes. This residence was built in 1837 by Toronto’s first city architect, John Howard and his wife Jemima. Howard emigrated to Toronto (then the Town of York) in 1832 from England and became a successful surveyor and engineer. Howard was also was an avid painter and created some scenes of Toronto that now provide an invaluable record of the city.

Colborne Lodge is located in the south end of High Park, one of the largest parks in Toronto, and was once part of Howard’s expansive 165-acre estate. The home was named after Sir John Colborne, an early Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada.

This photograph of Colborne Lodge in 1912 reveals a unique architectural design. The home was built in the Regency style, a trend that emerged in the early 19th century in Britain and named in honour of Prince Regent. It is also considered among the earliest examples of the Picturesque aesthetic in North America. The home features three chimneys, a spacious verandah, and a wide three-sided bay. What cannot be seen in this photo is the large vista that the Howards once would have had, not only of their land and Lake Ontario, but also of the developing City of Toronto. This area was then considered quite remote from Toronto but today it’s surrounded by thriving West end communities.

When visitors come to see Colborne Lodge, they will see a space that has remained much the same since

Howard’s time, aside from the interior furnishings that were added to reflect the spirit of the times. The

main core of the building includes the parlour, dining room, library and main entrance. The Howards did several renovations later on that included the master bedroom, smaller bedrooms, summer kitchen, and an attached greenhouse.

Today, Colborne Lodge is among several old homes built in the 19th century that provide a window into the social culture and the domestic architecture of the times.

Sources:

http://www.toronto.ca/culture/museums/pdf/sos-colborne-lodge.pdf

http://webhome.idirect.com/~wtcook/historic.html

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