Toronto General Hospital

Details of Site Location: Located along the north side of Gerrard Street East between Sackville and Sumach, extending north toward Spruce Street.

Boundary History: The site consisted of a large building fronting on Gerrard in a.4 acre (1.5 hectares) property.

Current use of Property: Current use of the land is for housing on 66 lots divided by two new streets: Gifford and Nasmith.

Historical Description: In 1854, the newly-appointed trustees of the Toronto General Hospital decided to build a new hospitality the Park Reserve. This decision was extremely controversial as the area was considered unhealthy,due to the proximity of the sewage filled Don River an. the presence of wandering livestock. The hospital was built in classical Gothic style by William Hay, architect. The 170 foot facade contained five towers built around a central 100 foot high castle-like structure. The entire building was topped off with an imposing Mansard roof, and was surrounded by a high picket fence. Although the building was faced with white brick and stone trim, this became largely invisible as ivy grew up to cover the facade. When the first wing of the hospital opened in 1856, it had a staff of eight to look after 250 patients. The hospital boasted of the most modern amenities, including four bathrooms (two with toilets) per floor, water hydrants in every hallway and ventilation to clean the foul air. The hospital soon became renowned as a teaching facility, as medical schools were Being built nearby and Canada’s second school of nursing opened on the premises. Despite closure for a year in 1867 due to financial difficulties, the hospital grew rapidly with later additions being made in 1877, 1878, 1880, 1882 and 1888. This grand old building was abandoned in 1914 when the new Toronto General Hospital opened on College Street. Until the end of World War I, the building served as a barracks for troops of the 48th Highlanders in training. In 1922, the old Toronto General Hospital was torn down.

Relative Importance: The area of the hospital was the centre of medicine in its time, with two medical schools and the Ontario Medical College for Women. A plaque has been mounted on a lawn of Spruce Court Public School which stands on the north side of Spruce, but its location is misleading people into thinking that this was the location of the hospital.

Planning Implications: New plaques should be mounted on the actual site of the hospital and one should offer a picture of the hospital. The role of this facility in Toronto’s history of medicine should he made clear also. another plague, mounted inside the present Toronto General Hospital would also be advisable, and this one should include information about the predecessors of the Gerrard Street building.

Reference Sources: City of Toronto Archives; Cabbagetown Preservation Association, Touring Old Cabbagetown, 1992; George Rust D’Eye, Cabbagetown Remembered, Boston Mills Press, 1984; Penina Coopersmith, Cabbagetown.

Acknowledgements: Cabbagetown Preservation Association.