Sherbourne Blockhouse Commemorative Plaque, 2016
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Resource ID
5214
Access
Open
Address
450 Bloor St E, Toronto, ON M4X 1L7
Credit Line
Heritage Toronto
Date of Creation
2016
Historical Themes
Program Category
Rights
Heritage Toronto
Time Period
Caption
Sherbourne Blockhouse Commemorative Plaque, 2016
Description
From 1839 to the late 1860s, a military blockhouse stood at the intersection of Bloor and Sherbourne Streets. This small, two-storey fort served a defensive purpose. Constructed of square logs, it could house up to 20 soldiers on the top floor and 24 on the ground floor, where stoves were used for cooking and warmth. The upper level sat diagonally to the lower one, allowing for easier surveillance and for better defense.
The Sherbourne blockhouse was one of three built after the Rebellion of 1837, when insurgents led by William Lyon Mackenzie marched south on Yonge Street demanding the establishment of responsible government in Upper Canada. While Toronto's defenses had traditionally focused on protecting the city from naval attack, the blockhouses were built to guard against rebel raids from the north.
The military use of the blockhouses declined rapidly as new weaponry made them difficult to defend and as threats to Toronto decreased. By the 1850s, discharged soldiers were living in the Sherbourne blockhouse, windows having been cut in the log walls to make the building more hospitable. Artists appreciated the romantic and nostalgic aspect of the remaining structure and frequently depicted it in their work. Sam Blake, the last owner, had the Sherbourne blockhouse demolished in the late 1860s.
Marker lat / long: 43.672526, -79.376748 (WGS84)