John Cox Cottage, at 469 Broadview Avenue, Toronto
, is the oldest known house in the city still used as a residence (and is unmarked for this reason) and still resides on its original site. The first stage was completed no later than 1807 — making it, arguably, the third oldest structure remaining in the city . It is older than both the
Gibraltar Point Lighthouse, and the various barracks in
Fort York.Built originally out of square cut logs (as is
Scadding Cabin), it over looks what is now
Riverdale Park and is aligned in the traditional strict east–west orientation, making it appear somewhat twisted to the north of the Toronto street grid, which was built successively around it. This true east-west orientation allows for the maximum use of daylight hours, to minimize the use of the expensive artificial lighting options of the period.
At present, the south wall and half of the east–west walls remain concealed original log, while the northern parts where altered during a very early Victorian renovation. The original log is still exposed in a rear bathroom.
The original attic and cedar roof survived under the later Victorian roof.
From Dundas Street looking north, November 1923.
1912
2010
This building on Sterling Avenue is one of my favourites. It was opened in 1919 by the Northern Aluminum Company and was Canada’s tallest building until the Royal York Hotel opened downtown 1929. In fact, I believe it was the tallest building in the British Empire. It actually had one the first elevators in the country, and the only manufacturing facility to have one at the time. Later on it became the Aluminum Company of Canada and then Alcan over the years. It was a continuous sheet casting facility that was employed in making products for the automotive industry. Tower automotives largest client was Daimler Chrysler before closing its doors in 2006 and auctioning off everything in May 2007.
