Discover Toronto's history as told through its plaques

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Western Branch, Toronto Public Library 1909

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted November, 2009

Riverdale Branch, Toronto Public Library 1910

Photo Source - Toronto Public Library

On the left edge of this photograph of the library, now known as the Annette Street Branch of the Toronto Public Library, can been seen this 2009 Heritage Toronto plaque. This is what it says:

Coordinates: 43.663319 -79.466407

Library service was introduced to this area by the West Toronto Junction Mechanics' Institute in 1888. Twenty years later, Toronto Junction received a Carnegie grant to construct this library, which opened in September 1909. By this time, the City of Toronto had annexed the municipality and the building became the Western Branch of the Toronto Public Library. Ellis & Connery, the architecture firm of Junction resident James A. Ellis, designed the building in the Beaux Arts style, typical of many Carnegie-funded libraries. The exterior is defined by strong symmetry, a broad flight of stairs leading to a raised single storey, and entrance doors flanked by a pair of Corinthian columns. 'Public Library' is inscribed in the parapet above. The branch was renamed the Annette Street Branch in 1962; an addition to the west was completed in this 1979-80 renovation. After Yorkville Branch, Annette Street Branch is the Toronto Public Library's second-oldest building.

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