Government buildings.

Details of Site Location: Front Street southeast of Berkeley at the foot of Parliament Street.

Boundary History: The Government Reserve was many acres and included other buildings. The Parliament building itself occupied only a portion of the Reserve.

Current Use of Property: On the south side of Front west of Parliament, an auto rental; east of Berkeley, a brick building, a parking lot; to the south is Parliament Park.

Historical Description: The earliest session of the colonial government of Upper Canada was in Newark, now Niagara on the Lake. In 1791, Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe had the capital moved to York, now Toronto. The very first parliament buildings here were constructed between 1794 and 1797. They were two English vernacular Georgian brick buildings with colonnaded porches facing the bay, which was at that time only a few feet away. Later in 1805, the buildings were connected by a colonnaded walkway with a frame wall to the rear. Simcoe, who had left York before the buildings were completed, planned that the Government House would be constructed between the two buildings. The Upper House of seven legislators used one building, while the Lower House of Assembly with up to sixteen members used the other. During the War of 1812, the Americans burned down the buildings in 1813, taking with them many books from the library and the mace. The mace was returned in the 20^th century.

Relative Importance: This site is of first rank importance. The site has three small buildings and a kiosk at present, but most of it is covered with asphalt. There has been a partial archaeological investigation, but a full-scale dig is necessary, particularly if the property is to be redeveloped.

Planning Implications: Some of the archaeological potential is as follows: the parliament buildings; remains of the old Toronto and Nipissing Railway at the southwest corner; remains of the John Howard jail of 1840 at the northwest corner; and some Consumers Gas buildings of 1878. On the proper scale, an archaeological dig would be continuous and exhaustive and accompanied by continuing and changing displays, talks, and public participation. The site must be flagged for protection until archaeology is done. Where the Esplanade ends is Parliament Park, and a plaque at the northwest corner gives the history of two parliament buildings sites. For generations to come, a major plaque must be at the actual site.

Reference Sources: Eric Arthur, Toronto – No Mean City (1964); William Dendy, Lost Toronto (1978); Archives of Ontario.

Acknowledgements: Ontario Archaeological Society, Toronto Branch.