Lake Simcoe Ice Company Commemorative Plaque, 2014
File information | File dimensions | File size | Options |
Original JPG File | 8400 × 6000 pixels (50.4 MP) 71.1 cm × 50.8 cm @ 300 PPI |
6.2 MB | Restricted |
Low resolution print | 2000 × 1429 pixels (2.86 MP) 16.9 cm × 12.1 cm @ 300 PPI |
696 KB | Restricted |
Screen | 1120 × 800 pixels (0.9 MP) 9.5 cm × 6.8 cm @ 300 PPI |
287 KB | Restricted |
Resource ID
5140
Access
Open
Address
2276 Gerrard Street East
Credit Line
Heritage Toronto
Date of Creation
2014
Historical Themes
Architectural Heritage, Business History, Industrial Heritage
Program Category
Historical Plaques
Rights
Heritage Toronto
Time Period
1900-1953
Caption
Lake Simcoe Ice Company Commemorative Plaque, 2014
Description
Lake Simcoe Ice Company Lake Simcoe Ice Company operated on this site for six decades. It was the city's largest provider of ice and, beginning in 1914, also the operator of the city's first artificial ice plant.
Founded in 1894 by James Fairhead as Spring Water Ice Company, the company harvested, cut, and shipped blocks of
ice from Ontario's frozen lakes to Toronto homes and businesses before electrical refrigeration came into common use. A combined branch office and ice house was built here in 1912; it was destroyed by a fire the following year.
The company then operated out of a wooden frame structure for a decade before completing, in 1924, a red-brick building with Classical Edwardian details. The front façade incorporated a decorative cornice and signage, brick pilasters accented by a capital and base, and brick arches with keystones that highlighted the door and windows. In 1976, Lake Simcoe Ice Company closed this branch of their business. The building was later used as a warehouse, an animal rescue shelter, and a furniture store before being demolished in 2004.
Marker lat / long: 43.684973, -79.296153 (WGS84)