In 1803, Governor Peter Hunter issued a proclamation, following recommendations made as early as 1796, that all the land north of Front, west of Jarvis, south of King and east of Church street was to be designated officially as the "Market Block."
Since 1901, the South St. Lawrence Market has been known primarily for its fruits, vegetables, meat and cheese. For many years, few people realized that Toronto's original City Hall had been incorporated into today's south market. The history of the South St. Lawrence Market also includes the north "farmer's market" and St. Lawrence Hall as well.
In March 1979, The Market Gallery of the City of Toronto Culture Division opened as the official exhibition centre for the display and storage of the City's art and archival collections. Located inside the South St. Lawrence Market on the south-west corner of Front Street East and Jarvis Street, The Market Gallery is on the second floor in the original council chamber which was once part of Toronto's City Hall from 1845 to 1899.
The City of Toronto was incorporated from the Town of York in 1834 and for the first eleven years, city council members met in temporary quarters in a market building which once stood on the south-west corner of King Street East and Jarvis Street. This brick structure, the second market building to occupy the site, was built in 1831 but burnt down during a great fire in 1849. It was replaced in 1850 by the St. Lawrence Hall which still stands today.
By 1844, the population of Toronto had grown from 9,000 inhabitants in 1834 to over 24,000. Along with sufficient funds, council members were able to sponsor a competition for the construction of a City Hall. Not only would this building house the municipal offices, but the market and Police Station Number One, as well. Henry Bowyer Lane's design was chosen over those submitted by William Thomas, John Tully and John George Howard. Other buildings in Toronto to Lane's credit include Little Trinity Church (1843) and Holy Trinity Church (1847).
This new City Hall was built at a cost of $52,000 on the site previously occupied by the Home District Farmer's Storehouse. By early 1845, all of the municipal offices had moved into the new building and City Council was holding meetings in the newly appointed Council Chamber located on the second floor.
The exterior facade of the City Hall, with a frontage of 140 feet facing onto Front Street, was built in contrasting red brick and white stone in the Georgian tradition. Above the three storey centre block was a pediment topped by a cupola with a clock. The two wings extending on either side were only two stories high.
Police Station Number One was located on the main floor in the centre of the building and the jail cells were in the basement. Directly above, on the second floor, accessible by a staircase located in the entrance foyer, was the Council Chamber. This room was actually two stories high with a balcony above the north end which served as the public gallery. Hanging from the ceiling were "stove-pipe" ventilators which cleared the room of stale air and gas fumes emitted by the lamps.
Along the corridor on the second floor in the west wing were the offices of the Mayor, the City Clerk and assistants. In the east wing were the offices of the Chamberlain, General Inspector of Licences, City Engineer and the Board of Works. On the ground floor of both wings were various shops. On either side of the main entrance there were two archways which provided passageway from the front of the building to a market area in the rear where stalls of fruits, vegetables and poultry were found.
As early as 1850, less than six years after its completion, John George Howard, the City Engineer, presented the first of many reports on the condition of the building. There were complaints that the shops were too small and that flooding in the basement forced prisoners to be knee-deep in water. Efforts at that time were made to control the flooding, but jail cells were eventually relocated elsewhere in the city.
In 1851, the facade was first altered when William Thomas designed new shops for the wings, added keystones to the arched windows and rearranged the police station and jail cells. From 1868 until 1872, Henry Langley was responsible for yet another renovation. The facade took on another new look when the entranceways to the stores were no longer off Front Street and wooden doors were added to the passageways that let to the market. Additions were also made to accommodate the increase in the civic bureaucracy.
Finally in 1899, the over-crowded civic offices were transferred to the "new" City Hall, designed by E.J. Lennox and located at Bay and Queen streets. Toronto's original City Hall was vacated.
The Front Street City Hall was soon altered almost beyond recognition in order to provide the City of Toronto with a much larger market. Following recommendations of a Market Commission, a major renovation was undertaken from 1899-1901. The cupola, pediment and side wings were removed and a huge roof was placed over the entire structure. This "new" building was nicknamed "Siddall's Shed" after the architect responsible for the design, John William Siddall. The Council Chamber was altered when the floor was raised to allow for more height in the main entranceway below and the ceiling was lowered due to the intrusion of the new beams needed to support the roof. A canopy connecting the south and north markets extending over Front Street was also built. (It would be removed in 1954.)
It wasn't until the 1970's that another renovation was undertaken. In 1971, efforts were first made to save the building from demolition as had been proposed by the planning board and a consultant's report. Fortunately, a public meeting held in the fall of 1971 revealed tremendous public support. In 1972, Time and Place , a group of Torontonians interested in the continuity of the City's life, submitted a proposal to the City of Toronto's Property Department which stated that this historic building should be renovated rather than replaced. As for the Council Chamber, which had been unused for most of the 70 years, they suggested that an appropriate use be found for it, such as, a "City display space."
By 1974, with the initial financial aid coming from a Federal-Provincial Winter Capital Projects Fund, the first step in the renovations was begun. The facade was cleaned, half of the almost one acre roof area was replaced and the brick piers supporting the roof trusses were reinforced. The City Property Department continued the renovations with funds included in the 1975 Capital Budget.
In 1977 however, the City Property Department requested and obtained approval for a capital expenditure to restore the original City Hall in the South St. Lawrence Market for a proposed "Civic Art Gallery and Depository." Proposals had actually been made as early as May 1975 by the City Archivist and his staff to use the renovated space as a display centre for the City's fine art and archival collections.
Renovations at the market were virtually completed at the end of 1978. The entire basement which had been used for wholesale storage was gutted and made available for retail use. On the main level, the floor was completely rebuilt, a freight elevator installed and new doors put in to accommodate the increase in pedestrian traffic. Merchants were responsible for the design and installation of freezers and counters.
In July 1978, City Council gave approval for the renovated Council Chamber and accompanying areas to be used as an exhibition and storage area for the City's fine art collection. On March 7, 1979, The Market Gallery was officially opened by Mayor John Sewell.
Shortly following Governor Hunter's proclamation of 1803, the first permanent market was erected on the northern end of the Market Block, fronting onto King Street. This rather primitive wooden structure, some thirty-five by twenty feet, was enclosed on the east, west and south sides in 1820.
This wooden market building was replaced in 1831 with a quadrangular brick structure that ran from King Street to Front Street. Designed by James Cooper, an assembly hall was located in the pedimented centre of the King Street facade which included three arches. The flanking two-story wings included shops and offices for rent. A large open courtyard was accessible through several pedestrian and wagonway archways. Unfortunately, this building along with much of the City, was destroyed by fire in 1849.
Following the Great Fire of 1849, plans for the rebuilding of the Market Block area, to be named the St. Lawrence Buildings in honour of Canada's patron saint and in reference to the political ward of St. Lawrence where it was located, included the construction of the St. Lawrence Hall on the south-west corner of King Street East and Jarvis Street. Designed by William Thomas and completed in 1850, the St. Lawrence Hall was the social centre of the city hosting public meetings, concerts, lectures and exhibitions. It was restored in 1967 to commemorate the centennial of Canadian confederation.
The new north market building was also built in 1851 but located at the south end of the St. Lawrence Hall on the north-west corner of Front Street East and Jarvis Street. It could be entered either from the north via St. Lawrence Hall or through its main entrance, a large archway on the north side of Front Street. Butchers' stalls were located in this market building whereas produce, poultry and cheese were on sale across the street in the market area connected to the rear of City Hall.
At the turn of the century, the north market building was demolished and a new one completed by 1904 following recommendations of the Market Commission. The north and south markets were also connected by a canopy that spanned Front Street. Shoppers could enter off King Street and proceed all the way to the south market completely sheltered.
The north and south St. Lawrence Markets remained virtually unchanged until 1954 when the canopy across Front Street was removed.
In 1968 the north market was demolished and replaced by the present building. Farmers come every Saturday to sell their meat and produce just as they have been doing for over 75 years. During the rest of the week, the north market building is available for rent.
The original Council Chamber is the main display area where thematic exhibitions illustrating the cultural, commercial and social development of the city are presented using artifacts, photographs, architectural drawings and maps.
The office, conservation work area and storage vault are on the third floor. The rooms are climate-controlled to provide the best possible environment for the preservation of the works.
The two mezzanine areas which extend from the east and west walls are available to outside organizations and other civic departments for displays of public interest.
It is unfortunate but few of the original furnishings from this City Hall have survived. The paintings and sculpture seen in the photograph of the Council Chamber are still in our collection. The Mayor's chair has been restored and is often on display in its original location in front of the large fan window.