Discover Toronto's history as told through its plaques

2004 - Now in our 14th Year - 2018

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"Old" City Hall

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted March, 2004

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted September, 2006

Photo Source - Wikimedia Commons

When the Eaton Centre was being planning back in the 70s, one public plan showed the Old City Hall being torn down. After a hue and cry, the Eaton Centre people said well we could keep the clock tower. After more hue and cry, they abandoned plans to tear the building down. Hurrah! This plaque in front of the building, by the Ontario Heritage Trust, has this to say:

Coordinates: 43.65229, -79.38110

Click here for a larger map

City Hall was designed in 1887 by E.J. Lennox to fit this central site at the head of Bay Street. In one structure, these municipal buildings combined a City Hall, in the east portion, and Court-house, in the west. The building, constructed mostly of Credit River Valley sandstone, was begun in 1889 but not opened until September 18, 1899. Massive, round-arched, and richly carved, it is in the Romanesque Revival style, then popular in expanding cities throughout North America. The interior, as complex and monumental as the exterior, includes a large stained glass window by Robert McCausland. The building was acquired by the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto in 1965, when the City moved to a new City Hall on the adjacent Civic Square.

Another plaque at this location
Old City Hall York County Courthouse

Related Toronto plaques
Robert McCausland Limited

Old City Hall
Old City Hall York County Courthouse
New City Hall
Toronto's New City Hall

More Toronto buildings designed by E.J. Lennox
Casa Loma and the Pellatts
Historic Postal Station 'G'
House of Industry
The King Edward Hotel
Massey-Harris Company
Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Queen City Yacht Club
Standard Woollen Mills Building

More
Government Buildings

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

> Posted April 13, 2010
There is another plaque at Old City Hall. To the right of the entrance is a plaque naming the members of the first City Council. My great-great grandfather, John Craig, is named and the plaque has been pointed out to many young family members to connect them to history in a more personal way. This is a valuable project!

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