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48-605: The Toronto Armouries , also known as the University Avenue Armories and the Toronto Drill Hall , was an 1894 armoury building in downtown Toronto , Ontario , Canada. It was located on University Avenue, just north of Osgoode Hall . It was the largest armoury in the country and trained over 250,000 soldiers to serve Canada in various wars. It was sold in 1961 to the Metropolitan Toronto government for

96-557: A new courthouse building and demolished in 1963. In the 1890s, the Government of Canada decided to consolidate all of the facilities in Toronto that were used to train and maintain local volunteers and professional militia regiments. The new armoury building was designed by architect Thomas Fuller , Canada's Chief Dominion Architect . It was to be the largest armoury in Canada. The foundation

144-522: A heavy robust base that is taller than the rest of the building. This is topped with another section that is more ornate, yet lighter, detailed with two columns to make three bays, and finally the actual clock and roof. The clock tower is modeled after the Campanile of St. Mark's in Venice, which had collapsed and was being rebuilt shortly before the construction of the station began. It is an interesting effect of

192-427: A large scale that tapers once one circulates to the midway under the tracks, and would have opened up again once one were to move up to the platform, because, at the time of construction the embankment built for the tracks would have been one of the higher points in the vicinity. The choice of materials is quite monochromatic from the beige Tyndall limestone from Manitoba , the beige, brown and green marble throughout

240-457: A mess of the square if they block the sale." The Association planned to fight the demolition in the courts. In March 1962, The 48th Highlanders, Queen's Own Rifles and the artillery regiments agreed to the Toronto Board of Control proposal to build a new armoury at Queen Street East and Jarvis Street for a new Moss Park Armoury . The fight was lost and the building was demolished in 1963. Outside

288-443: A midway and baggage room built under the tracks that measured 156 feet, 8 inches, by 81 feet, 1 inch, and clock tower was 24 feet, 9 inches, square. The clock tower stands 140 feet tall and, estimating from the photographs, the main building is about 50 feet high. Once entered, the building only has one floor with the rails elevated by an embankment that allows passage underneath without having to change floors. Additions in 2003 added

336-488: A modern map of Toronto and a few bottles of spirits (in homage to the current use of the building as an LCBO outlet). Though the former beauty of the station's exterior could be surmised even in its most downtrodden days, much of the station's elegant interior was hidden behind boardings put up by Brewers' Retail and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO, the government-owned alcohol retailer which had moved into

384-441: A proposal to institute a Midtown corridor , and this was repeated by Metrolinx in their regional transportation plan, The Big Move . In addition, it has been suggested that the station could be used for some Via Rail and Ontario Northland trains in order to relieve congestion at Union Station , or as a branch of a future city-airport rail link . The original building measured 75 feet, 9 inches, by 114 feet, 2 inches, with

432-452: A tipping water fountain, provides a wide public space on the southern aspect. In the mid-1980s, GO Transit first proposed reintroducing passenger service for commuters through North Toronto station in the form of a ‘Midtown’ line allowing commuter traffic to run between the existing Kipling and Agincourt stations without travelling through the city centre. A new transit plan announced by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty in 2007 included

480-413: A triangular section to the north side of the building that includes more retail space and a loading dock, pushing the west façade tight to the side walk bordering Yonge Street, and also extending the eastern side of the building to include another loading dock. The scale is quite grand and is apparent by the 38 foot high ceiling as one enters into what once was the main waiting area. The public areas are at

528-565: A year after it was found that the City of Toronto had first right to purchase the facility after the Government of Canada had deemed it surplus. Opposition sprang up to preserve the Armouries, similar to the opposition to the demolition of New Fort York . The "Preserve The University Avenue Armouries Association" was formed to fight City Hall. It was composed of various Historical Societies. Public opinion

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576-551: Is a place of temporary storage or carrying of weapons and ammunition, such as any temporary post or patrol vehicle that is only operational in certain times of the day. The term in English entered the language in the 16th century as a loanword from French : arsenal , itself deriving from the term Italian : arsenale , which in turn is thought to be a corruption of Arabic : دار الصناعة , dār aṣ-ṣināʿa , meaning "manufacturing shop". A lower-class arsenal, which can furnish

624-519: Is noted for its weather resistance, embedded fossils, and dappled beige hues. The station was designed by Darling and Pearson and built in 1916 by P. Lyall & Sons Construction Company to service the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) line running across Toronto. The cornerstone was laid on September 9, 1915, by Mayor Tommy Church , and the station officially opened for passenger service on June 14, 1916 (though it had already been serving in

672-473: The Ontario Heritage Act since October 13, 1976. The building was a former Heritage Railway Station but was removed from the list of protected stations as a railway no longer owned the property. A Heritage Easement has been placed on the property since December 5, 1997. The City of Toronto also lists the building as part of the "South Rosedale Heritage Conservation District". Though it now serves as

720-518: The Boer War , World War I , World War II and the Korean War . In March 1919, approximately 18,000 people gathered at the Armouries to welcome back the 58th Battalion, CEF , and the 2nd Battalion, CMR , composed of over 1,000 reservists from Toronto after World War I. The veterans had marched from North Toronto Station down Yonge Street then west to the Armouries. They were greeted by John Hendrie ,

768-424: The materiel and equipment of a small army, may contain a laboratory, gun and carriage factories, small-arms ammunition, small-arms, harness, saddlery tent and powder factories; in addition, it must possess great storehouses. In a second-class arsenal, the factories would be replaced by workshops. The situation of an arsenal should be governed by strategic considerations. If of the first class, it should be situated at

816-469: The public domain :  Chisholm, Hugh , ed. (1911). " Arsenal ". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. North Toronto station The North Toronto railway station is a former Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) station in the northwest corner of the Rosedale neighbourhood of Toronto , Ontario, Canada. It is located on the east side of Yonge Street , adjacent to

864-527: The Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario and Thomas Church , the Mayor of Toronto. The six regiments at the time of decommissioning: The Armouries was also used for civilian events, such as professional boxing, car shows and horse shows in the large drill hall. The Metro Toronto government, inaugurated in 1954, made plans for a new Metro Toronto Courthouse (now Toronto Courthouse) in the downtown, to complement

912-577: The Richmond Street Armoury (87 Richmond St. East), along with the 29th Field Artillery. They eventually moved to Moss Park Armoury. The Governor General's Horse Guards and the 5th Column RCASC moved to Denison Armoury at Downsview . The 42nd Medium Artillery regiment moved to the Falaise Barracks on Lake Shore Boulevard at Spadina. The Moss Park Armoury opened in 1965. The new Toronto Courthouse opened in 1967. Armoury A sub-armory

960-466: The Summerhill LCBO outlet, the largest liquor store in Canada, freight trains still run behind the station. During restoration, to break up train-induced vibrations that might otherwise rattle bottles and 'bruise' more expensive merchandise, the concrete floor was impregnated with rubber from discarded automobile tires. A piazza , called Scrivener Square (named in honour of Margaret Scrivener ), with

1008-463: The area underneath the tracks that include the midway and baggage area, leading up to the platforms. The breaking down of components into 'threes' figures heavily in the building, from three separate programmatic elements to the main building being broken down into three sections. Having the elevation drop on either side to give it an ABA rhythm breaks the main building into three and the groupings go further. There are three very large arched windows with

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1056-669: The armoury also opposed the decommissioning. The Association also had the support of the Royal Canadian Legion, Canadian Corps Association, Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire, Silver Cross Mothers, the Associated Historical Societies Committee, and many ex-serviceman's associations. Toronto City Council voted to waive its right on June 19, 1961, at the urging of Gardiner who warned that they "could make

1104-439: The base of operations and supply, secure from attack, not too near a frontier, and placed so as to draw in readily the resources of the country. The importance of a large arsenal is such that its defences would be on the scale of those of a large fortress . In the early 21st century, the term " floating armoury " described a ship storing weapons to be supplied to merchant vessels in international waters subject to piracy , so that

1152-401: The custody, issue and receipt of stores. Frederick Taylor introduced command and control techniques to arsenals, including the U.S.'s Watertown Arsenal (a principal center for artillery design and manufacture) and Frankford Arsenal (a principal center for small arms ammunition design and manufacture). [REDACTED]   This article incorporates text from a publication now in

1200-556: The festival, for which a 3,000-seat set of bleachers would be constructed in the drill hall. The railways offered discount travel of return tickets for the price of one-way tickets. Admission prices ranged from 25 cents to $ 1 for seats and loges for $ 6. The patrons were the Governor-General of Canada Earl of Aberdeen and Lady Aberdeen; and George Kirkpatrick , the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario; James Patterson , Minister of Militia and Defence; Major-General Ivor Herbert , commander of

1248-427: The interior and light brown terrazzo for the flooring. There are only a few variations from this palette and are made to be very meaningful. They are the ornate white plaster ceilings of the waiting room, and green copper spire of the clock tower. Even the steel used for the overpass and the covered area outside are of a similar palette. The building is very approachable because of the materials chosen. They work well on

1296-413: The large scale to give the building weight and solidity but as one more closely inspects the materiality, the scale will change with the slight rustication of the limestone showing fossil evidence, and the veining of the marble unique in every square foot. The station can be broken down into three main areas: the main building, encompassing the waiting room, ticket office and concourse; the clock tower; and

1344-509: The local Stonecutter's Association to complain about the work not being done in Toronto. The final cost of construction of the building was CA$ 280,000 . An additional CA$ 15,000 was spent on the building in 1894–95. The Queen's Own Rifles marched to the new armoury in April 1894 to take possession, followed by the Governor-General's Body Guards . That month, the grand opening was announced. It

1392-414: The main entrance set at ground level in the center. At ground level there is also a grouping of three smaller windows set to either side of the entrance under the large arched windows as well as a grouping the same size to either side. Vertically, the elevation is also broken into three main components: the ground level, which is given a human scale with the overhang, and included smaller windows and entrance;

1440-765: The militia; Sir Casimir Gzowski ; and Warring Kennedy , the Mayor of Toronto and their wives. The official opening took place on May 17, 18 and 19, 1894. The first exhibition at the hall took place in June 1894, held by the Queen's Own Rifles. A nearly full-scale reproduction of the Midway Plaisance section of the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 was constructed, including the "Streets of Cairo", "The Moorish Palace", "Old Vienna", "Irish Village", "Turkish Theatre", "The Dahomeyan Village", "The Indian Village" and "Chinese Theatre". The scenery

1488-741: The neighbourhood of Summerhill , and a short distance south of the Summerhill subway station . The building is now home to a Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) liquor store . The station, constructed in the Beaux Arts style, consists of a 43-metre (141 ft) clock tower and a three-storey main terminal. The tower is modelled after the Campanile di San Marco at Saint Mark's Square in Venice . The main terminal gallery has an 11.6-metre (38 ft) high ceiling supported by marble-clad walls and with elegant bronze suspended light fixtures. The foot print of

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1536-457: The new civic square and City Hall complex that the City of Toronto government was planning. According to Metro Chairman Fred Gardiner , a search of the downtown found that the most suitable location was the Armouries building. Metro began negotiations to purchase the property for CA$ 2 million in 1960 to demolish the Armouries and erect a CA$ 13 million courthouse building. The purchase was delayed for

1584-835: The new courthouse, a large plaque marks the spot of the armories building. A stone from the building was used as the cornerstone for the Moss Park Armoury and some stone was used at the Guild Inn . The various militia and regiments dispersed to various locations – the new Moss Park Armoury, the Falaise Barracks, the Richmond St Armoury, the Armoury building at Old Fort York and the new Forces Base at Downsview. The 48th Highlanders moved to temporary quarters at Fort York Armoury and are now at Moss Park Armoury. The Queen's Own Rifles, Canada's oldest regiment, took its stone fireplace and moved to

1632-573: The newspapers and tarnish on the coins. A new capsule was buried in the space formerly occupied by the old one, and it included items from September 9, 2015 – issues of the Toronto Star , The Globe and Mail and National Post , a copy of the September issue of Toronto Life magazine, and the current edition of the LCBO Food & Drink guide were included. Also buried were a BlackBerry and an iPhone,

1680-402: The restoration of the tower was the removal of approximately 4,000 kilograms (8,800 lb) of desiccated pigeon droppings that had accumulated in its base. The original movements of the clocks themselves were almost completely recovered and restored; now, with the help of GPS signals, they display the time with much greater precision and reliability. The building is protected under Part IV of

1728-422: The role since June 4). The station was built at a cost of CA$ 750,000 . ($ 17.6 million in 2023 dollars) The current structure replaced a more modest railway station to the west of Yonge. The two structures existed together for a time (an existing photograph, circa 1920, showing the two buildings, is currently held in the City of Toronto Archive collection). Canada's first shipment of whale meat passed through

1776-426: The second level is the tallest, and includes three large arched windows; and the third grouping, a relatively simple frieze , cornice and parapet . The plaster ceiling in the waiting room is also broken into three sections by two large beams and unity is drawn from outside to inside by the dentil detail in the plaster and on the cornice. The interior also follows the same hierarchy as the exterior by having changes in

1824-409: The southern part of the terminal building in 1940) until the building was restored in 2004 by Woodcliffe Corporation. The architects were Goldsmith Borgal & Company Ltd., and Eastern Construction was contracted to do the work. The clocks had been removed from the tower between 1948 and 1950, allowing pigeons to enter the structure through holes in the clock faces. The first order of business during

1872-544: The station is 75 feet 9 inches by 114 feet 2 inches and that of the clock tower is 24 feet 9 inches, according to plans published in the August 1915 edition of Canadian Railway and Marine World . The four clock faces, each 2.4 metres (8 feet) in diameter, were always illuminated at night during the station's service life. This station was the first building in the city to be constructed of Tyndall limestone from Manitoba , supplied by The Wallace Sandstone Quarries. The material

1920-601: The station, circa 1917. When Union Station opened in 1927 and the Great Depression followed shortly thereafter, the North Toronto Station, which served smaller towns in Ontario and was originally meant to augment the bigger station, began to suffer. The last paying passengers filed through the station on September 27, 1930. Brewers' Retail moved into the northern portion of the terminal building in 1931. The station

1968-514: The station; they were its last rail passengers. On September 9, 1915, a time capsule was entombed in the 1.7 tonnes (3,700 lb) cornerstone laid by the then mayor of Toronto, Tommy Church . The capsule was found and opened 100 years later in September 2015. It contained around 50 items, including 10 blueprints, an old map of Toronto, six newspapers from September 9, 1915, coins, and a 1915 City of Toronto municipal handbook. The items were found in exceptional condition, with only yellowing pages on

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2016-468: The wall treatments. The marble makes a break at what seems to be traditional ceiling height to give the retail space a human scale, while the rest of walls are pure marble all the way the ceiling which makes the third part. The concourse, which is still in the main building but acts as a transition to the area underneath the tracks, has a vaulted ceiling broken in the three separate elements. The clock tower also follows this rule of threes. In elevation it has

2064-475: The weapons do not enter territorial waters where they would be illegal. The branches in a great arsenal are usually subdivided into storekeeping , construction and administration : In the manufacturing branches are required skill, and efficient and economical work, both executive and administrative; in the storekeeping part, good arrangement, great care, thorough knowledge of all warlike stores, both in their active and passive state, and scrupulous exactness in

2112-635: Was made of Kingston limestone and the walls were 6 feet (1.8 m)-thick. It was designed in the Romanesque Revival style with towers and castellations. Inside, there was a drill hall measuring 280 by 125 feet (85 m × 38 m), with a 72 feet (22 m)-high ceiling. The contract for the project was awarded in October 1891 to Major Saba Stewart of Ottawa for CA$ 240,000 . Construction began soon after. The stones were cut in Belleville, causing

2160-412: Was painted by the scenic artists Sosman and Landis of Chicago at a cost of CA$ 10,000 . The exhibition also included the "Congress of Beauties", a fashion show of international women's fashion as well as evening musical performances. The admittance fee was 25 cents, and an extra 5 cents for the villages displays. The Armouries was the site for the training of over 250,000 reservists. The soldiers served in

2208-529: Was re-opened, briefly, at 10:30 a.m. on May 22, 1939, when King George VI and his consort, Queen Elizabeth (mother of Queen Elizabeth II ), arrived for their first visit to Toronto. This was the "first visit to Canada by a reigning British monarch." The king was also officially the Canadian monarch , marking the first visit by one to the city. The royal couple departed Toronto through Union Station. Shortly after World War II , returning soldiers passed through

2256-438: Was split on the merits of the building. Architects were in favour of keeping it on heritage merit. Architect Charles Dolphin called it a "great sturdy, colourful structure which you can learn to love and appreciate for what it is when you look at all those boxes we are putting up today under the guise of modernism." Toronto Alderman Horace Brown called it an "ugly duckling" and "architectural monstrosity." The six regiments housed in

2304-419: Was to be a three-day-military festival of competitions and displays. The tournament was open to all officers, non-commissioned officers and men of all militias in Canada. Competitions were held in "head and post", tent-pegging, sword versus sword, horse riding and jumping, wrestling on horseback, bayonet versus bayonet, cavalry melee and others. Displays included march pasts and musical rides were to all be part of

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