Adelaide Street Court House Heritage Property Plaque, 2020
File information | File dimensions | File size | Options |
Original JPG File | 1800 × 1200 pixels (2.16 MP) 15.2 cm × 10.2 cm @ 300 PPI |
1.5 MB | Restricted |
Screen | 1200 × 800 pixels (0.96 MP) 10.2 cm × 6.8 cm @ 300 PPI |
331 KB | Restricted |
Resource ID
8124
Access
Open
Address
57 Adelaide St E, Toronto, ON M5C 1K6
Date of Creation
2020
Historical Themes
Architectural Heritage, Black Heritage, Law and Justice
Program Category
Historical Plaques
Time Period
1835-1899
Caption
Adelaide Street Court House Heritage Property Plaque, 2020
Description
This building was Toronto’s city and county courthouse for nearly 50 years. It was Toronto’s third courthouse, designed by Cumberland & Ridout in the Classical Revival style, inspired by historic Greek architecture. Many high-profile trials were held here, including the trial of James Brown that resulted in Toronto’s last public hanging in 1862 and the infamous 1895 murder trial that acquitted Clara Ford. The building was often described as dingy and dirty, and in 1897 someone scratched the words “Long Live Anarchy” above the front door. In 1900, court moved to the new city hall located at Queen and Bay Streets. The Arts and Letters Club, an organization devoted to Canadian art, then held meetings in the old courtroom upstairs from 1910 to 1920. The artists who became the Group of Seven met through this club. Over the last 100 years, this building has undergone several renovations. Designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, 1978.
Marker lat / long: 43.650951, -79.375675 (WGS84)