So typical of short sighted bureaucrats. The craftsmanship and materials had already been spent. They could have imagined future generations enjoying this magnificent building. When such narrow minded men can’t create they destroy.
UDPATE from my earlier comment; I just came home from a walk over to the site where this building stood. A few of the elements remain, like the driveway, a small bridge and a fence. The rest is lovely, large park. It was amazing to imagine the house standing there once upon a time. I suddenly realized that in 1945, my parents were married in the church directly across the street from Chorley Park when it still stood. They would have looked upon it as they descended the steps of the church.
Very cool! My parents were married at St. Peter's church near Bathurst & Bloor. Their view when exiting the church would have (almost) been Honest Ed's 😆!
I grew up in Toronto and there are so many old buildings that had been torn down in the 60’s/70’s in the name of “progress”. Such a shame tbh. Then into the 2000’s, the facades of old buildings that were too far gone were incorporated into the new building. Now lots of old industrial buildings are being repurposed into lofts.
I doubt the taxpayers of Ontario Canada wanted to continue paying the upkeep on that building. It was a taxpayer funded house for a taxpayer funded person.
I live very close to where that house stood. I have lived here all of my life and I didn't know about it. I'm going to take a walk today and look again at the space where it stood. I love that kind of old world architecture of which, sadly, there are so few examples remaining.
To see preserved and repurposed beautiful old architecture, we have to go to Europe, where they thankfully keep ancient architectural masterpieces. Isnt that why people go there! Here, each town, especially the main street, looks identical to hundreds of other towns. Anything of character, is demolished, seen as impractical, instead of being cherished and repurposed.
Shameful waste of a splendid building. It could have been preserved and used for many purposes - no need to destroy it. Think what such workmanship would cost today.
It really would be something to marvel at today. Stunning architecture. The trouble however, is in the upkeep of such old buildings. The maintenance costs over 100+ years would far outweigh any “cultural” value placed upon it. It was / would be deemed a symbol of wasteful government spending. Were it still here, it would have likely fallen into private hands for some ultra wealthy snob who wouldn’t let the public near it anyway.
@@Chernosaurus who said anything about Casa Loma? That place also just barely avoided the wrecking ball back in the day. Since then it’s been run by a private trust for decades. I’m not suggesting that grazing these mansions is the right thing to do, but merely saying that the upkeep is extremely costly. Like people that buy older luxury cars for $5-10K and expect the maintenance to cost the same as a Hyundai because they got it used/cheap. It’s still a luxury $100K+ car with associated maintenance costs to match. These extravagant mansions have operating costs in the millions of dollars per year, so I’d suggest going over there and supporting it with your wallet, lest it too will meet a similar fate.
This beautiful building could have been repurposed into unique apartments, or a hotel. What would Europe look like if they demolished all their ancient buildings? Thankfully, they do not, keeping their town's charm and uniqueness, and the tourists who go to see them.
As with the demolition of many US gilded age mansions and UK stately homes, it is such a shame that the building couldn’t have been repurposed. What a loss
It would most likely have been bought by some ultra wealthy pos with too much money and be closed off from public view anyway and left to rot. Like many of the UK’s mansions being owned by saudis or Chinese “investors”. They get rich, taxpayers foot the bill.
Why do people flock as tourists to Europe? It's to see ancient buildings and unique towns that have maintained character, by cherishing their history and architectural masterpieces. Old buildings have been repurposed, many of them turned into small boutique hotels. The larger mansions, often turned into large hotels ... or are places of interest for the public to enjoy, at the cost of an entry fee. A restaurant is often built into the mansion, or the gardens, to help offset costs.
Very interesting video and thank you for that. It was two blocks from my grandparents house. I was 7 in 1959 and befriended the security guard who showed me inside. My only memory was the cavernous front hall and a giant safe with a torch scar across the front of it he said was from a robbery attempt. We moved to Montreal shortly after and I was shocked when we returned three years later and it was gone. A magnificent building - even to a kid. The kind of stately residence we might visit in Europe but sadly not here.
Movie companies used to love using locations in Toronto because of its very great variety of period architecture which could represent different eras. Now as more snd more historic buildings are demolished and replaced with towering condos, Toronto is looking very generic and ‘monochrome’; just another blah modern vertical cityscape.
I just love your channel and all the wonderful historic homes you bring back to life. It makes me so sad that the jealousy and shortsightedness of people led to the destruction of these beautiful homes. There could’ve been so many wonderful uses for that home instead it met the wrecking Ball and that just breaks my heart.
It’s a sadly repeatable story. Instead of building a serviceable yet elegant moderate mansion to fit the needs and requirements of a Provence or state, this magnificent behemoth was created. Way too big for a family situation and far too expansive to maintain in later years. Ken you did a fine job on this story. I’m pleased it lasted through the early 60’s and useful as a hospital and refugee center.
So basically taxpayers paid for the house and then without thinking the city demolished it, sounds about right. Heck with preserving our history just tear it down. Probably a tent city now instead of a park.
In Canada, while we will often pronunciation lieutenant as the Americans do, the Lieutenant Governor of a province is pronounced in the British way - ‘leftenant’. I was about halfway though the video before it clicked you were talking about the viceregal position and not, like, the second in command of a state and I was slightly confused as to why they had a big house in Canada.
I covered Casa Loma in this video, it is truly a breathtaking house: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-70b_OhME-Qc.htmlsi=bQCcRoZDSVRsB9R7
There's also Spadina Mansion with the Baldwin Family, Ardwald Manor with the Eaton Family, Benvenuto (walls so thick it required dynamite for demo) with Janes family and Sir William Mackenzie, Oaklands mansion for John Macdonald, Keg Mansion built for Arthur McMaster, Gooderham Mansion by the Gooderham family.
Wow...I can believe how wasteful demolishing it was. It could have been repurposed in so many different, yet still profitable ways. This type of waste and loss of history is nothing short of shameful, particularly since it was such an elegant building.
Wow 😮 I was born in Toronto and lived most of my life there. I was a kid when it was torn down and so obviously wasn’t aware of it. Too bad it wasn’t turned over to U of T or made into a library. But like Casa Loma the builders went overboard for a residence.
Only in Canada would such a magnificent structure be let to be run down and then demolished. Kind of reminds me of the Prime Ministers residence in Ottawa. Kind of embarrassing actually.
My Bramston family's manor house, Skreens Manor, in Essex, England was demolished in 1929. Like many other such houses, a terrible loss! Chorley was unknown to me, but it joins many other mansions in Toronto and Montreal. Vancouver is attempting to save older homes. tThe only stone mansion, Gabriola Mansiona at 1523 Davie St., is again becoming an apartment building. My hope was that it become a public library. I understand that the grand staircase has been removed. Shameful!
The premier, Mitch Hepburn, portrayed himself as the taxpayer's friend. One of his first actions as premier was to auction off all government limousines in Varsity Stadium. His government then bought new limousines to replace them.
This is our Canadian apologist mentality in action - We are repurposing our heritage to settle individual claimed grievances; if our heritage offends the claimed grievance we rush to rip out the foundations or our heritage in self-flagellating name-service to those aggrieved. This monumental building was a shared, eloquent heritage of all of us, and fell to a populist politician marketing schadenfreude retribution to a small, angry mob. In contrast.... the Parisian Olympics we witnessed, and the monumental efforts Parisians exert to preserve their heritage against the aggrieved.
I couldn't agree more. Every word, as a fellow Canadian, was well said. We have been under attack by the Left for so long...and now things are finally starting to turn around..... And I notice, brother, that your comment did not elicit a "love" reaction from our American friend. I suppose it was too political.
"our heritage"? it was built and repurposed within a few decades. by the sixties i agree it should have been preserved, but don't pretend it had any kind of grand historical legacy: it operated as a government residence for only 22 years.
It was the official home of Ontario's lieutenant-governor, and its downfall was in part an attack against the Monarchy by socialists who, to this day, are still attempting to establish a Canadian Socialist Republic.
Not all Canadians. I view this as Ontario being too elaborate with taxpayers money, not part of my heritage as a Nova Scotian. Government House in Halifax was built in 1805 and is still in use by the lieutenant-governor. Ontario is the only provinces that did anything this stupid
@@Mac3622 Toronto has become the Moscow of North America. That's why the municipalities were amalgamated....to stop the old Toronto city council's spread of socialism.
This building was a home that functioned as Government House. It was the official home of the Crown, Canada’s head of state. Each Canadian province has a lieutenant Governor and the is a Governor General in Ottawa for the National Government. There are many protocols and legal functions if these individuals. They are not elected but chosen by the government. They are not political in nature and one of their roles is to “sign” our legislation into law. They are a very stabling force from the time an election is called and completed. Not to get into the many pros and cons, the Ontario lieutenant General, after this house was closed, moved offices into the Government Legislative Buildings. Much of the furniture was moved into these chambers. There are many roles that these rooms play now. From hosting Ambassadors, Royalty and Council Generals from foreign countries. The Lieutenant General must be consulted and can dissolve government and is the person to make the decision who will lead the government. In the case of Minority governments, who forms government may change without an election. BC did just take a few years back. The Lieutenant Governor works at the behest of the Crown, not the politicians. Too bad we lost this house to a right wing government that measures value in dollars and cents with little consideration for the value of the creative parts of society. My rant! G
Would have bee nice to see this. I was at a reception at Rideau Hall, the Govenor General's residence once, and the video kind of reminded me of it, especially the huge reception hall.
I still very much enjoy this content. I listen to a few beats of dialog often to see if your voice inflection has aged or improved or if maybe you were able to hear the beats and rhythms and their repetitive notes through each sentence. It still sounds the same to me. I will continue to watch on mute and hope that CC is correct and up to date. Please do not think of this as a negative. Thanks for the research you do !
It was magnificent & appropriate if you have royalty in mind but too big. Too hard to maintain & would have required lots of technical updates but could have eventually become great condos.
The architectural inspiration ? If you visit the great chateaux of the Loire Valley.... you will NOT find English Gothic Revival with a few decorative "gables" that seem to have been stolen from Azay- le- Rideau. This was bad taste in its own day, and appeals to some who think Downton Abbey had something to teach Canadians.
Those in power that think "they know", are often so short-sighted. And the ephemeral nature of any person in charge, at any given moment in time. That allows the atrocities such as destroying an amazing monument. That really actually and truly, would have stood the test of time. And l would have long outlived, not just the custodianship of those that force its demise but they're entire lives. And, actually way beyond. It could still have been a testament to the nation of Canada (as intended) so that present and future generations could have always enjoyed it. But no, unfortunately that's not the world we live in. Then or now. Those in charge can never see beyond their own moment in power. And they don't see beyond the required and expected hubris of any great moment in time they are incumbent, or the unnecessary modesty for the tragedy of any low moment in time of which they are the custodian. They (Nor the potentially relatively short lived people that elect them} seem to realize that a building can outlast those moments ...if you give it the opportunity. Sadly everybody is only wrapped up in their own mortal time on this planet, with their own agendas. And instead scapegoats are made. Rather than thinking of future generations that could have enjoyed an amazing, of its time, never to be repeated work of art, created by incredible artisans.
Are you sure that the little bridge that you showed when describing the current sight of Chorley Park is correct? I live in the area and have never seen it.
Imagine Europe if they tore down all old buildings, the beautiful, inherited architecture, from people before them. What would you go to Europe to see? Europe has other beauty, but it wouldn't be as interesting, without its castles, mansions, narrow alleys with preserved old homes, turned into unique shops and cafès.
Halifax attempts to preserve historic structures for history-as-tourism interests; Toronto demolishes them b/c of real estate values; Hamilton lets them deteriorate until they collapse. Every municipality/region has its own story.
When it was proposed and built in the heady days of the Roaring Twenties, critics noted its cost overruns and its absurd position in a family neighbourhood made of valleys. Premier Hepburn signalled his intent to close the place down once Dr. Bruce's term expired in 1937. He also sold off all government cars (65) by auction in 1934. The Tory Premier used a Dusenberg Limousine. You can draw your own conclusions. The staff required to maintain the house and grounds was extensive. Pellatt had already left Casa Loma because he could not pay municipal taxes. Lady Eaton had Sir John's and her home, Ardwold, torn down. It did have other uses until Nathan Phillips ordered its destruction. It was offered to HSC when my grandfather was chair of the board. The board declined. Moving patients and staff through Rosedale would be an unpopular challenge. Think of the noise from the ambulances. Good riddance.
Absolutely stunning house! And what a shortsighted nitwit, the guy was that Sealed its fate. But then we do that a lot don’t we so many gorgeous buildings in our city have been let fall into ruin and then demolished. So many replaced with ugly condos. Thank goodness that hasn’t happened to Casa Loma yet. I would love to have been able to see Chorley Park in its glory.
The pronunciation in Canada and Great Britain is ‘Lef-tenant’. Hepburn represented fodder to the masses, much like today’s Ford. Science Centre and Ontario Place, anyone?
Most other countries turn these historical beauties into hotels, or find some other purpose for its use. Think about Europe, people don't go there to see thousands of boring, modern look-alike buildings. The beauty is in preserving, and repurposing wonderful old architecture.
Some really beautiful rooms, but some rooms and the exterior have too much of a resemblance to the Canadian railroads' grand hotels. Maybe that's what it should have been used for.
Another beautiful place is Dundurn Castle - if you're looking for more locations to explore. One pronunciation note: as Canadians we pronounce the word 'lieutenant' as 'leftenant' .
Toronto has been zealously tearing down gorgeous historical buildings for well over a century. Many barely last 60 years, and down they go. Workmanship that can never be replaced. Casa Loma and Old City Hall were both considered for demolition, but very thankfully survived.
Omg we hung out there as teenagers in the 80s! My 1st bf ever lived on Whitney ave among other friends from Rosedale OMG WE DROPPED ACID under the bridge so MANY TIMES and drank there every weekend for 3 years or more ... I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS A CHATEAUX BEFORE I dont think anyone our age has any idea actually I'm 50 now! Rosedale security used tp chase us thru the park and we'd head down the hill that led to the old BrIck factory below the DVP Thank you!
This is what Trudeau wants for the PM home and why he has not done work on the decrepit Sussex drive residence. He felt it didnt have enough land, wast far enough from the public, and traffic. Yet he uses taxes to pay for his personal property development far outside Ottawa. The Governor Generals Residence in Ottawa acts like this Chorley House for the country.
I think the building itself was beautiful. (I loved the picture of the overcoated men in their top hats) The interior rooms were not overdone and by our narrative the building was a functioning part of the governmental landscape; its a shame it could not be saved. BUT I understand the resentment people must have felt during the Depression when people were losing their farms and jobs but the government was heating and staffing this grand mansion. (By the way…The British Royal Family has so MANY “homes” castles mansions parks…Im astounded that the British people dont “get rid” (by democratic means) of the Royals altogether. I suppose that is just the American in me. )
It's unfortunate that the building was destroyed by short sighted politicians and was not kept for public use as a heritage building. There are so few beautiful buildings in Toronto, it is a city without style or heart, only ugly condo buildings.
The 'Simon's House' in Niagara Falls is another particularly BAD one because of its major historical importance as well its beauty. It was allowed to deteriorate and, then, "mysteriously" burned down in 2022. Halifax attempts to preserve historic structures for history-as-tourism interests; Toronto demolishes them b/c of real estate values; Hamilton lets them deteriorate until they collapse. Every municipality/region has its own story.
For whatever reasons, N.A have/had no appetite in maintaining their historic building. This is very short minded. Yes it does cost money but 100% worth it to create a cultural heritage
How sad such a beautiful waste of money, especially when the house was only used for entertainment. Aside from helping out as a hospital and an orphanage 😢👵🏻👩🌾❣️
Toronto has a number of these gilded age white elephants. Pellatt’s Casa Loma is the biggest surviving. Admirers should remember that his wealth came out of finance deals, such as the DOSCO deals that impoverished generations of Nova Scotia coal miners. The Hart Massey house, Euclid Mansion, is now the Keg Mansion. Most, like Charley Park, were demolished, because though they were big, no one wanted to live there.
The famous demolition firm Teperman, was contracted to raze this glorious Government House. In an interview with Mr Teperman, he was asked if any of their demolition projects invited sadness - his reply "Oh yes, Chorley Park". A political football has made Ontario's Lieutenant-Governor without a proper showcase to host visiting dignitaries. I believe that Queen's Park has a small suite of rooms for this use. Sad, sorry state of 😢affairs.
very pretty building indeed, but thankfully the wasteful thing was removed from the taxpayer's bill. We should do the same to the Government House here in Victoria. Put the LG in a suite within the Legislature or the Empress Hotel instead. Let a private entity turn the GH into a hotel or other private venture like a high end retirement home.
You really think people back than really built those buildings? Not one photograph exist of construction. Those buildings are way older than what we are told. Toronto was founded in 1793. Your telling me that in Less than a hundred years all these beautiful buildings were built when the work force was small? They apparently built all those buildings but couldn't pave a road? Something is wrong in the history
Nah replacing this old relic with some modern concrete brutalist cuboids was a great idea. You could even paint the concrete in white after a few years and upgrade the rooms with window AC units! 😂🤦♂️
It took 4 years to build yet 44 years later it was demolished the story don't make sense.. nobody today can build such a building..it was already here// founded. Not any pictures or videos of the construction..
