This property was historically known as Holme House, although this name fell out of common use by the end of World War I. The earliest reference to this property in the City of Toronto Directories is in the 1877 Edition. 

Holme House has significant heritage value.

Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Charles Denison and Family: 

Holme House was first home to Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Charles Denison (1846-1896) and family. The property was part of the Denison family's Rusholme Estate. Holme House may be the only surviving building of the Rusholme estate prior to the estate being subdivided for residential development in the early 1880s. Holme House may also be the earliest surviving property in the area bounded by Dufferin Street, Dundas Street, Dovercourt Road, and College Street. 

Charles Frederick Denison was born at Rusholme on 22 November 1846. He was the son of George Taylor Denison II (1816-1873) and Mary Anne Dewson (c. 1817-1900). He was also the younger brother of Toronto Police Magistrate George Taylor Denison III (1839-1925). The Denison family arrived in Toronto in the 1790s and played a major role in the city's history from its founding through the early-to-mid 20th century. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Denison attended Upper Canada College and was called to the bar in 1870. From the 1870s onward, he worked as a lawyer when not engaged in other enterprises.  

For much of his life, Colonel Denison was involved with Canada's militia and the Governor General's Body Guard. Lieutenant Colonel Denison entered the Canadian Militia in 1865, followed by the Governor General's Body Guard in 1866, and served during the Fenian Raids. During the Red River Expedition of 1870, he served as aide-de-camp to Lord Wolseley. Following several promotions, Denison obtained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1884. He was in Charge of the Governor General's Body Guard during the 1870s and published a book on it in 1872.


Between 1877 and 1883, Lieutenant Colonel Denison served as Toronto alderman for St. Stephen's Ward. He also served as Chairman of the Executive Committee in 1881. Denison was responsible for the extension of College Street westward to Brockton Village, which notably abutted and contained some of his family's significant land holdings in the area. This contributed to a foundation for further development in the area. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Denison was gearing up to run for mayoral office in the mid-1880s. However, in 1884-1885, Denison was selected - alongside his brother - to assist with the Canadian Voyageurs Contingent of the Gordon Relief Expedition. This contingency saw a force of 200-300 men - including both First Nations and European voyageurs (fur traders, loggers, etc.) - sent to Sudan to relieve Major General Charles George Gordon, who was under siege from Muslim forces in Khartoum. The Voyageur Contingent sailed small and medium sized watercraft up the Nile River from Egypt to Sudan over a period of several months. Many of the men were selected due to their expertise navigating this class of vessel on difficult waterways. Historical accounts note that at several points Lieutenant-Colonel Denison used a canoe while directing troops on their journey up the Nile River. However, accounts do vary as to whether Lieutenant-Colonel Denison was fully in charge of the voyageurs or whether he played more of a supportive administrative role. The Voyageur Contingent relief expedition arrived 2 days after Major-General Gordon was beheaded in a brutal murder. 


While in Africa, Lieutenant-Colonel became very ill and was subsequently hospitalized in London upon his return voyage to Canada. Upon his return to Canada, Lieutenant-Colonel gave several talks on his experience in Egypt and Sudan. 

In 1887, Lieutenant-Colonel Denison won the federal election as a Conservative candidate for the riding of West Toronto. During his time in office, he was noted to have been very active on any discussions or legislature pertaining to the militia. He was also an early supporter of free trade between Canada and the United States. 

Numerous streets in the area are named after people or places linked to Frederick Denison and the Denison Family, including Gordon Street; Middleton Street; Macklem Avenue; and the numerous "Rusholme" streets. The Denison family were instrumental in the establishment of nearby St. Anne's Anglican Church. 

Regarding his personal life, Lieutenant-Colonel married Julia Macklem (1845-1943) in 1874. The couple subsequently had 8 children - 1 daughter and 7 sons - between 1875 and 1887. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Denison died of stomach cancer in 1896 during his second term in office.  His funeral was well attended by "representatives of all walks of life." He is buried in the Denison family's cemetery (St. John's Cemetery on the Humber) near Weston.

For several years prior to his death, Lieutenant-Colonel Denison was residing at Rusholme - located a short distance to the south. However, his widow later moved back into Holme House following the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Denison in 1896 and resided here until shortly after the turn of the 20th century. 

Interestingly, Holme House remained associated with the Denison family through the 1960s. 

By 1929, Holme House was home to Herbert Walker (70 St. Annes Road); and Joseph Hookham (72 St. Annes Road). Hookham was a pressman at the printing company Welch & Quest. He was married to Jessie Denison.

Between about 1935 and 1961, 70 St. Annes Road was home to Egerton Boyer Denison. Egerton Boyer Denison (1887-1971) was the youngest son of Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Charles Denison and Julia Macklem. Robert E. Denison also resided at the property in the late 1950s and early 1960s. 

Other Occupants: 

Between 1892 and 1896, Holme House was leased to Charles Foster. Foster was the Secretary of the Western Assurance Company. 

By 1905, Holme House was home to George Evans and family.  Evans was the local manager of the Dominion Bridge Company. 

Holme House was vacant in 1917-1918. The property had been divided into 2 halves - known as 70 and 72 St. Annes Road - by 1923.

As of 1923, the occupants of Holme House included: Milton R. MacDonell - a travelling representative of the Beaver Board Company Ltd. (a lumber company), who resided at 70 St. Annes Road; and Francis J. Read - an agent at Boyd, Macrae, and Wookey (insurance agents and brokers), who resided at 72 St. Annes Road. 

Note: 

In the late 1870s through 1880s, St. Anne's Road is listed in City of Toronto Directories as having been "not built on" despite Holme House having been constructed. Early addresses for Holme House include "3 Rusholme Road" or "Rusholme" - as it was linked to the broader Rusholme estate. 

(Research by Adam Wynne)