The Spadina House Museum

 

 

 

During a recent 'Open Doors' in Toronto I wanted to check out the Spadina Museum, also known as Spadina House just based on the photos alone. I've lived here my whole life and never heard of it.

The Spadina House is a historic mansion located at 285 Spadina Road in Toronto, Ontario. It's operated by the City of Toronto's Economic Development & Culture division, it serves as a historic house museum preserving the architecture and decor from the 1860s through the 1930s, including styles like Victorian, Edwardian, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Colonial Revival.

After closing for extensive renovations, it reopened on October 24, 2010, showcasing the inter-war era style of the 1920s and 1930s. The estate's gardens reflect the landscape during the Austin family's residence. (incidentally, the Austin family which owned Casa Loma is a stones throw away from here)


Dr. William Warren Baldwin built the first house on the site in 1818, naming the 200-acre property "Spadina" from the Ojibwe word for "hill." The original house burned down in 1835, and Baldwin moved to Front Street. He built a smaller estate on the property in 1836. Believe me, we had to bike up it to get here, and it is definitely a hill!

In 1866, James Austin, founder of The Dominion Bank and Consumers Gas, acquired the property, then reduced to 80 acres. By 1889, Austin had sold off 40 acres. In 1892, he transferred the house and 20 acres to his son, Albert William Austin, who expanded the house, adding a third floor in 1912. Albert sold much of the property to the city in 1913 for the St. Clair Reservoir and died in 1933.


Albert's daughter, Anna Kathleen Thompson, lived in the house from 1942 until 1982. Facing expensive renovations, the family donated the house and its furnishings to the city instead of selling it. It opened as a museum in 1984, jointly owned by the city and the Ontario Heritage Foundation, and is noted for its gardens.


Take some time out of your schedule to take a tour into the past and enjoy this historical site!