September 23, 2011

Designed by local architect George W. Gouinlock in a Romanesque Revival that would Old City Hall would come to compliment a few years after its construction in 1896, the Temple Building was arguably the first skyscraper built in Toronto, and the tallest building in the city for a brief period. Home to the world headquarters of the Independent Order of Foresters (IOF), a fraternal society and charitable institution lead by Dr. Oronhyatekha, a prominent First Nations entrepreneur, it would stand until 1970.

The reason for its demolition was pretty simple. At the time it was deemed an outdated building in an area where office space was in high demand. Although there was some discontent at the prospect of its loss, I’ve found no records of organized protests or the like (which did happen when Old City Hall came under threat by an earlier version of the Eaton Centre). In its place sits the Queen-Bay Centre, which though not an awful building, will always pale in comparison to its predecessor.

Sometimes one just wants to ask: why Toronto, why?

Queen and Bay - 1920?

Bay Street from Canada life building 1910-1920?

Bay Street 1928

Bay Street Looking South from old city hall -1929

Bay Street Looking North

Bay Street Looking South - Old city hall to the left

Temple Building - Richmond & Bay - 1907

Temple Building -1960's?

Temple Building Interior

Source for pictures and text: The tragic fate of the Temple Building

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