Transportation history and railway heritage, landmark status.
Details of Site Location: At the northeast corner of the Esplanade and Simcoe Street in the block formerly occupied by the Parliament Buildings
Boundary History: The property was three quarters of the block and was bounded on the south side by the Esplanade, on the west by Simcoe Street, on the east by York Street, and north to near the southern lot line of the Walker House Hotel.
Current Use of Property: Extensive railway trackage and Convention Centre.
Historical Description: The second Union Station was a huge and beautiful building that served as a major waterfront landmark. In its day, it was regarded as the most pretentious in the country and it intended to be so. Along the harbour edge there were sets of tracks where trains and ships could load back and forth. Maps of the site show tracks running inside the huge building to pick up passengers. The building itself, made of stone, had three towers of large size facing over the harbour, and the central tower had clocks on all four sides. The main hall was entered through one of three arched bays, and the sides had offices, waiting rooms, and baggage storage. From the main pedestrian entrance on the south side, a boardwalk extended along the Esplanade. Construction began in 1853 and took ten years. The Great Western Railway, builder of the first Union Station, did stop at this one but went on to their own station at Yonge and Front. Primary users of this station were the Grand Trunk Railway, the Credit Valley Railway, and the Toronto Grey and Bruce Railway. In 1889, there were 57 passenger trains recorded as arriving on a single July day. In 1891, this station was expanded again to accommodate traffic on the various lines. When the present Union Station was opened in 1927, Union Station II was demolished.
Relative Importance: Union Station II is important because of its size, the number of railway companies that used it, the volume of traffic, and its direct link with lake shipping and passenger lines. Of even greater importance was its landmark status and the fine character of its architecture. Today, infill has moved the shoreline south by a quarter of a mile and all signs of this station have vanished.
Planning Implications: Because this fine building has vanished, there is even greater importance attached to the protection of the existing Union Station. Suggested locations for a permanent exhibit on all three Union Stations and the Great Western Station at Yonge include the present Union Station and the Convention Centre. Commemoration should include insights into how the railways dominated the Toronto waterfront and how they contributed to the building of the lower city and boosted the economy.
Reference Sources: William Hood, private collection; Toronto Reference Library.