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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.
Born in Blackstock Ontario, Bruce founded Wellesley Hospital in Toronto, and was a professor of surgery at the University of Toronto. During the First World War, he took on the position of inspector-general of the Canadian Army Medical Corps.
Bruce was a member of Toronto's rich and famous, living in a mansion locally known as Annandale on Bayview Avenue (coined “Millionaire's Row”). In 1932, Bruce moved into a new home, Chorley Park when he became Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. It was built in 1912 by F.R. Heakes and located in the prestigious Rosedale neighbourhood. Chorley Park was a sight to be seen both on the interior and the exterior...built of Credit Valley stone in the French Chateau style.
Between 1915 and its closing in 1937, Chorley Park was home to five Lieutenant Governors and was the venue for lavish parties, receptions and charity balls. Bruce was in fact the last Lieutenant Governor to live in the residence. After it closed, the building was taken over by the Canadian government, and served as a military hospital from 1940 to 1953. Later it became headquarters for the RCMP. In 1960, the City of Toronto purchased Chorley Park, but it was demolished only a year later and the site was redeveloped into a public park.
By this time, Bruce had served as a Member of Parliament from 1940 to 1946. He authored several medical books as well as his autobiography titled Varied Operations. Bruce passed away in Toronto in 1963.
His Honor is seen in this centre of this photograph in 1934 at Chorley Park.
Sources:
http://torontohistory.org/Pages_GHI/Honourable_Herbert_Alexander_Bruce.html
http://www.lt.gov.on.ca/en/History/Bio_HerbertAlexanderBruce.asp?nav=7&sub=2
http://www.lt.gov.on.ca/en/Visit/chorley_park.asp?nav=8&sub=2
Many thanks to both Gary Switzer of MOD Developments and Maya Bilbao for putting together the photos and research.
