Old City Hall (Toronto)

Toronto's Old City Hall was home to city council from 1899 to 1966 and remains one of the city's most prominent structures. It is located at the corner of Queen and Bay Streets, opposite the new City Hall in the centre of downtown Toronto. It has a distinctive clock tower which can be seen the whole length of Bay Street from Front to Queen.

Related Topics:
Toronto - 1899 - 1966 - Bay - New City Hall

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Work on the Romanesque Revival building designed by E.J. Lennox began in 1889. Lennox "signed" his name in scrollwork around the first floor exterior. When it opened on September 18, 1899 it was the largest building in Toronto, and the largest municipal building in North America.

Related Topics:
Romanesque Revival - E.J. Lennox - 1889 - September 18 - 1899

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Toronto City Council moved to the new city hall in 1965, and soon after plans were made to start construction of the Eaton Centre. The original plans called for old City Hall to be knocked down and replaced by a number of rather uninspiring skyscrapers, leaving only the cenotaph in the front. Public outcry forced them to adbandon these plans, and today the building is the home of the municipal courts.

Related Topics:
Toronto City Council - 1965 - Eaton Centre - Skyscraper

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The building is sometimes used to film movies and television shows, such as This is Wonderland.

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