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On This Spot: King and Simcoe

Posted by Rick Moldovanyi / January 15, 2008

King and Simcoe, showing Roy Thomson Hall, Metro Hall, and St. Andrew's Church
King Street West is a street of variety. It is home to bank office towers, Canada's Walk of Fame, Metro Hall and the busiest streetcar line in Toronto, along with numerous restaurants, clubs and theatres.

At the corner of King Street and Simcoe Street stands Roy Thomson Hall. It is obvious by its architectural design that that wasn't always the case. In fact, the history of the corner of King and Simcoe is almost as varied as King Street itself.

Roy Thomson Hall, originally known as New Massey Hall, was completed in 1982. To the west of the building stands Metro Hall. The somewhat controversial structure was completed ten years after Roy Thomson Hall, in 1992. However, it was not the first time that this area was home to government. From the late 1700s until its destruction by fire in 1862, Government House stood at what is now the corner of King and Simcoe. The building was the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. In 1870 a new Government House was built on the same spot.

Government House, formerly at the corner of King and Simcoe
That structure stood until 1912 when the land was sold to the Canadian Pacific Railway, which demolished it to make way for a building of its own.

While a great deal has changed about this area, one building that has remained for over 100 years is the Royal Alexandra Theatre. It was completed in 1907 and since that time it has only been closed for one year. 86 years after the completion of the Royal Alex, Ed Mirvish opened the Princess of Wales Theatre just to the west.

King Street, the Royal Alex is in the distance
Predating the Royal Alex is St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, which was completed in 1876. The church still exists today, standing just east of Roy Thomson Hall.

Looking east on King across Simcoe, St. Andrew's Church is visible.

Historic images from The Toronto Archives

Discussion

4 Comments

David E / January 16, 2008 at 01:13 am
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I'm borrowing a quotation from lostrivers.ca. This is a description of the King Simcoe intersection.
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Four Nations Corner: The King and Simcoe Streets intersection was a busy place in the latter part of the 19th century. Government House, the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, was located in the block now occupied by Roy Thomson Hall and Metro Hall and the Parliament Buildings were in the block to the south. Upper Canada College stood on the north west corner. A popular tavern was on the north-east corner. St. Andrews Church, opened in 1876, is still on the fourth corner. The four corners were known as ?The Four Nations: Legislation, Education, Damnation and Salvation.

Government House

Jerrold / January 16, 2008 at 08:56 am
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This is also the spot where the city destroyed a homeless man's art:

http://www.blogto.com/city/2006/03/municipal_audacity_and_tripping_hazards/
Maria / January 16, 2008 at 09:58 am
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The Elephant and Castle pub is now where Upper Canada College was back then.
David S. / March 12, 2011 at 10:52 am
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I've collected a set of online photos from the Government House at this corner - 12 in total, including photos of the main drawing room and staircase, one of the bedrooms, and 'The last dance, Farewell to Government House'. I also have 10 photos from Chorley Park, including its demolition... Check out http://wholemap.com/historic/toronto.php?subject=Government%20House

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