Carlton and Church

Today we are visiting an intersection well known by many sports fans, Carlton Street and Church Street. The intersection is located in Toronto’s Garden District, so named because of its proximity to Allen Gardens. It is located at what is considered the southern edge of Toronto’s “Gay” village and close enough to Jarvis as to get the occasional hooker from Allen Gardens on the south east corner. It is home to Maple Leaf Gardens, what was once known for a while as the hub of the Hockey world. Now the stadium (a heritage site) is being converted into a grocery store and centre for Ryerson University’s’ sports programs.

However back before its creation the land was owned by Ann Wood the wife of Bishop Strachan, she donated the land above Gerrard Street for the creation of a road which she would have named after her brother Guy Carleton Wood. It was a dirt road for many years until plans were made to create a stadium in 1931 when it was determined by the city and TTC that it would be a valuable street for track to be laid as to assist with transportation. Church Street was named simply because the first church was located on this road down near the lakeshore. Many of the first major churches are located the base of this road which extends vertically through the downtown core.

I used to pass this intersection as I would go to and from work, and I noticed that the building on the south west corner (now a CIBC branch) had the words “Somerset House” written on its façade. I was always curious what the building used to be and I’m happy to finally discover its history. Built in the Richardsonian Romanesque style in 1895 by architect Frederick H Herbert it was the Somerset House Hotel. Herbert would build many of Toronto’s first brick homes, hotels and office buildings. Then in 1930 during the re-development of the area the building was remodeled by Langley & Howland to house the Imperial Bank of Canada (as is depicted in the images below).

On the North West corner in the vintage photographs you can see that they have started construction on Maple Leaf Gardens, It would not be completed until later that year. It was built in six months by Conn Smythe, who happened to be the Leafs managing director. It cost 1.5 million dollars to make, built on land purchased from the Timothy Eaton Co ltd. The Toronto Maple leafs would win 11 Stanley cups between the years of 1932–1967 in that building, including their first win in the first year of the buildings completion. Wrestling and boxing matches would also be held here as well as the first ever basketball game hosted by the Basketball Association of America (NBA). Elvis Presley played at the Gardens in 1957 in his first ever concert outside of America and the Beatles also played there three times from 1964-66. I would have loves to have been to either of those shows, I need a Delorian!

The only other building that I can tell is still present is in the 1931 image looking east. There behind the trees is the steeple of what appears to be St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church. What makes me a little sad is that street cars no longer run up and down Church Street unless it is when cars are being diverted or short turned. In fact the track has been removed north of Carlton Street, so I feel bad for the men putting the effort into laying the track in the 1931 images. It is a testament that this city is always changing.