Description:

73 Isabella Street is a 2.5 storey house located on the south side of Isabella Street approximately 10 meters west of Church Street in the Church-Wellesley Village neighbourhood of Toronto. 73 Isabella Street was constructed in 1874. 73 Isabella Street is in a Gothic Revival style with polychrome brickwork (yellow brick with red brick accents) and could be considered an early form of the Bay and Gable style. 

73 Isabella Street was the second eastmost of a row of 6 houses that were constructed in 1874. The part of the row to the west of 73 Isabella Street was demolished in the mid-1960s during the construction of the Gramercy Apartments / Gramercy House Apartments (59 Isabella Street). Comparatively, the house to the east of 73 Isabella Street - at the southwest corner of Church Street and Isabella Street - was replaced with the Churchill Apartments (608 Church Street) in 1925.

Prior to 1890, 73 Isabella Street was known as 67 Isabella Street.

Isabella Street - A Brief History:

Isabella Street runs east-west between Yonge Street and Sherbourne Street. Isabella Street bisects Former Park Lots 5, 6, 7, and 8. 73 Isabella Street is situated on former Park Lot 7. Park Lot 7 was granted to Commissary John McGill on 4 September 1793.  

Isabella Street was created between 1846 and 1850. Isabella Street does not appear in the 1846-1847 City of Toronto Directory, but does appear in the 1850 City of Toronto Directory.

Eric Arthur and Stephen Otto theorize in Toronto, No Mean City: Revised Edition (2017) that Isabella Street was named for Margaret Isabella Richardson (c. 1831-1883) - the daughter of Bishop James Richardson (1791-1875). Bishop Richardson was a prominent, one-armed Methodist, naval officer, and War of 1812 veteran that lived at the nearby Clover Hill estate at the northeast corner of present-day Bay Street and St. Joseph Street between the 1850s and his death in 1875. Reportedly, Bishop Richardson was the one who opened Isabella Street as a public thoroughfare. On 28 June 1849, Margaret Isabella Richardson married John Roaf III (1827-1870) - a Toronto-based barrister. Margaret Isabella and John Roaf were both involved with the management of Toronto's Girls' Home and Public Nursery during the 1860s. 

As of 1850, the earliest residents of Isabella Street included: Edward Claxton Bull — an Upper Canadian artist; George Davis — a cabman; and John Wood — a carpenter. Regarding infrastructure on Isabella Street: newspaper articles indicate that sidewalks were installed between Church Street and Yonge Street in 1855 and sewers were installed on the same stretch in 1857. By 1858, there were over 15 residences on Isabella Street with almost all of these being situated between Yonge Street and Church Street. Residential development - including a mix of detached, semi-detached, and row houses - continued to intensify on Isabella Street during the late 1850s through 1900s.

The source of Moss Park Creek - which historically flowed south through the Church-Wellesley Village neighbourhood - is situated under the present-day intersection of Church Street and Isabella Street in proximity to 73 Isabella Street.

From the 1910s onward, much of Isabella Street's original streetscape - which was largely houseform structures - was demolished and replaced with apartment buildings. Early apartment buildings on Isabella Street were under 5-storeys. Early apartment buildings on Isabella Street include: the Aughisto Apartments (1917) at 72 Isabella Street; the Churchill Apartments (1925) at the southwest corner of Church Street and Isabella Street; the Isabella Arms (1926) at 96 Isabella Street; The Merlan (1927) at 81-83 Isabella Street; and The Brownley (1931-1932) at 40-42 Isabella Street. Following World War 2, larger apartment buildings were constructed on the street, including: 33 Isabella Street; the Gramercy Apartments / Gramercy House Apartments (late 1960s) at 59 Isabella Street; 89 Isabella Street; and the Mulock Apartments (1959) at 105 Isabella Street. In several cases, these larger apartment buildings demolished multiple houses to create enough room for the project. During the early 21st century, intensification has continued to occur on Isabella Street, with at least two mid-to-late 20th century high-rises - 33 Isabella Street and 66 Isabella Street - having built or proposed additions to increase their number of units. 

73 Isabella Street is one of a declining number of 19th century houses left on Isabella Street. Steps should be taken to ensure that the remaining 19th century houses are not lost to demolition or redevelopment. Notably several houses along Isabella Street have been converted to institutional use, such as The ArQuives (Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives) in the Jared Sessions House (1859/1860) at 34 Isabella Street and the Renascent Wright Centre in the Robert Wood House (1885) at 38 Isabella Street; whereas others have been incorporated into modern redevelopments, such as the Foy/Smith House (1888) at 88-90 Isabella Street.

First Occupant - Sir William Mulock and Family:

The first occupant of 73 Isabella Street was Sir William Mulock (1843-1944) and family who resided here from 1875 until 1876. Sir William Mulock is a person of historical significance both within the Church-Wellesley Village neighbourhood and broader Canadian history. 

Sir Mulock was born in 1843 in Bond Head - a village near Bradford, Canada West (now Ontario). His father - Dr. Thomas Homan Mulock (1811-1847) - was an Irish-Canadian physician. In the late 1850s, William Mulock moved to Toronto to pursue studies at the University of Toronto. In Toronto, William Mulock rose to prominence in a number of fields, including business, education, law, politics, and philanthropy.

University College (at the University of Toronto) has provided the following biography of Sir William Mulock in their Alumni of Influence project: 

"Sir William Mulock [BA 1863 UC, MA 1871 Toronto, LLD 1894 Toronto] was a lawyer, educator, businessman, politician and judge.

In Parliament from 1882 to 1905, he was Postmaster General under Sir Wilfred Laurier and organized the federal Department of Labour, becoming its first Minister. He negotiated an intergovernmental agreement to establish a telecommunications cable linking Canada, Australia and New Zealand and was instrumental in joining Canada and the United Kingdom through radio. He chaired the parliamentary inquiry into telephones that led to the regulation of Canadian telecommunications, and took part in the negotiations that led to the creation of Alberta and Saskatchewan as provinces.

He was Chief Justice of Ontario from 1923 to 1936. As Vice-Chancellor of the University of Toronto from 1881 to 1900, he was the primary force in federating denominational and professional colleges into the modern university. He served as Chancellor from 1924 to 1944.

Mulock was active in both business and the community and was involved in the founding of the Toronto-Dominion Bank, the Toronto Star, Toronto Wellesley Hospital and Canada's first national peace organization. In later life, he was known as the "Grand Old Man" of Canada."

Alongside his role as the University of Toronto's Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, Sir Mulock served on the University of Toronto's Senate for 71 years (1873-1944). Additionally, in 1898 - while serving as Postmaster General - Mulock was instrumental to the introduction of penny postage which ensured affordable postage rates across the British Empire; as well as being responsible for the introduction of the first Christmas postage stamp.

While residing at 73 Isabella Street, Mulock was employed as a barrister at Mulock & Campbell - a law firm based at 42 King Street East. During this period, he was also a new University of Toronto Senator and was a leading figure in the establishment of the University of Toronto's School of Science in 1876 and an Independent School of Practical Science in 1878 (which later joined the University of Toronto and became the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering in 1889). One of Mulock's other major goals at the University of Toronto was to establish the best law school in North America.

In May 1870, William Mulock married Sarah Ellen Cawthra Crowther (1850-1912).  William and Sarah Mulock had 7 children - 4 daughters and 3 sons - born between 1871 and 1882. Cawthra Mulock - one of his sons - became well known as the "boy millionaire" when - at age 15 - his aunt left him an estate of $4 million. He donated parts of the estate to various charitable organizations and public services, including a $100 000 donation to the Toronto General Hospital. 

Sir Mulock was a life-long resident of the Church-Wellesley neighbourhood. While studying law in the mid-1860s, he boarded at 188 Church Street, which was just north of Shuter Street. By the early-to-mid 1870s, Sir William Mulock was living on Isabella Street, several properties west of 73 Isabella Street. Then, between 1875 and 1876, Sir Mulock lived at 73 Isabella Street. By the late 1870s, he was living at 52 St. Albans Street (now known as Wellesley Street West). Sir Mulock later moved into a mansion at 518 Jarvis Street - at the northwest corner of Jarvis Street and Gloucester Street - in 1890. This mansion appears to have formerly been owned by the Crowthers - his wife's family, but was heavily renovated around 1890. Sir Mulock continued to live at 518 Jarvis Street until his death at age 101 in 1944, after which the property was sold to the Salvation Army and used as an orphanage prior to its demolition. Sir William Mulock's son - Cawthra Mulock - also had a large mansion on Jarvis Street to the immediate north, which has since been demolished as well. 

The Mulock family are the eponym of the Mulock Apartments (105 Isabella Street) which were constructed in 1959 near or on the former site of the family's mansion(s). Sir William Mulock is additionally the eponym of the Sir William Mulock Secondary School in Newmarket and the Mulock House student residence at University College (University of Toronto). The family is also the eponym of Mulock Avenue in the Junction (Toronto) and Mulock Drive in Newmarket. The Mulocks were connected to the Cawthra family and thus are also linked to the eponym of the 1958 Cawthra Apartments (100 Gloucester Street) and Cawthra Square in the Church-Wellesley Village, as well as Cawthra Avenue in the Junction.

In 1880, Sir Mulock purchased a 400-acre farm in Newmarket which he frequently visited and used for experimental and hobby farming, as well as for agricultural education of students. In 1926, he later purchased an additional farm in Markdale which he used for fishing and reforestation. 

In 1902, Sir William Mulock was knighted by King Edward VII.   

Sir Mulock was involved with many charitable and philanthropic enterprises. At various points in time, Sir Mulock had leadership roles within the following community organizations: the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the Federation for Community Service, St. John Ambulance, the Working Boys Home, and the Soldiers Rehabilitation Fund. Sir Mulock spoke out against militarism and served as the first President of Canada's first national peace organization - the Canadian Peace and Arbitration Society - which was established in 1905 following the Boer War. During the 1920s, following World War I, Sir Mulock organized and served on the executive of the Toronto and York County Patriotic Fund which assisted soldiers' families. In total, the fund raised over $8 million and less than 2% was spent on administrative expenses. Later, during the early years of World War II and at age 99, Sir Mulock served as Chair of the Canadian Committee of the International YMCA, which supervised enemy prisoners in Canada.  

Sir Mulock had a colourful reputation. Reportedly, he occasionally used profanity in parliament and threatened to gag a fellow Member of Parliament during a debate in 1905. Sir Mulock was also known to enjoy Cuban Cigars and rye whisky. Just prior to the implementation of the Ontario Temperance Act in 1916, Sir Mulock built a large specialized cellar in his Jarvis Street mansion to store a lifetime supply of whisky. 

Sir Mulock's 100th and 101st birthdays (in 1943 and 1944 respectively) were celebrated across Canada. Prime Minister Mackenzie King visited Sir Mulock for both occasions. Sir Mulock died at home on 1 October 1944 - age 101. 

Photographs of Sir William Mulock have been included with this entry.

Later Occupants and Uses:  

Please note the following list is not exhaustive of all former occupants and uses of 73 Isabella Street and aims to provide a general overview. Dates are approximate. 

1877-1878:

In 1877-1878, 73 Isabella Street was listed as being vacant in the City of Toronto Directories.

1879-1880:

Between 1879 and 1880, 73 Isabella Street was home to Lewis Nelson Soper (1831-1919) and family. Lewis Nelson Soper was a piano and organ merchant, manufacturer, and tuner. During the 1870s and 1880s, Soper had a business partnership with William Norris and the company was known as Norris & Soper. Norris & Soper was based at 8 Adelaide Street East. 

Lewis Nelson Soper was born in Niagara in 1831. In 1855, he married Elizabeth Tune. Lewis and Elizabeth Soper had 5 children - 3 daughters and 2 sons - born between 1858 and 1876. By 1891, the Soper family had moved to Guelph.

1881:

In circa. 1881, 73 Isabella Street was home to C. H. Reddoe. Reddoe was an accountant.  

1882:

In circa. 1882, 73 Isabella Street was home to C. H. Meadow. Meadow was an accountant.

1883:

In circa. 1883, 73 Isabella Street was home to C. H. Beddow. Beddow was a bookkeeper.

Note: Further research is required to determine if C. H. Reddoe, C. H. Meadow, and C. H. Beddow could be the same person that had their name erroneously recorded in City of Toronto Directories. 

1884-1888:

From 1884 to 1888, 73 Isabella Street was home to Robert C. Bothwell and family. Robert C. Bothwell was a merchant of fancy goods and jewellery with a shop at 112 Yonge Street, Toronto. 

1889-1892:

Between 1889 and 1893, 73 Isabella Street was home to Dr. Norman Bethune Sr. (1822-1892) and family. Dr. Bethune was a prominent physician and surgeon.

The Bethunes were a prominent Scottish-Canadian Presbyterian family. Dr. Bethune's grandfather - Rev. John Bethune (1751-1815) - founded the first Presbyterian Church in Montréal. His father - Angus Bethune (1783-1855) - was a fur trader; whereas his uncle - Donald Bethune (1802-1869) - was a judge and politician in Upper Canada. Norman Bethune Sr. was born in Moose Factory on Hudson's Bay in 1822. In 1842, Norman Bethune Sr. moved to Toronto to pursue medical school and later spent time in the late 1840s in England training with the Royal College of Surgeons. In 1849, Dr. Bethune was one of the four doctors who founded the Upper Canada School of Medicine.

Dr. Bethune later joined the Toronto School of Medicine, Trinity College's Medical School, and the University of Toronto's Medical School. In July 1856, Dr. Bethune delivered the notice of mass resignation of faculty at Trinity College's Medical School in response to requirements that medical students pass Anglican religious tests in order to graduate. Dr. Bethune then spent time in Scotland and Continental Europe during the late 1850s to late 1860s, including furthering his studies in Edinburgh, Strasbourg, and at the Battle of Solferino (Italy). In 1871, he returned to Toronto and accepted the post of Professor of Surgery at Trinity College's Medical School after the religious examination requirements were lifted. 

In 1855, Norman Bethune married Janet Ann Nicolson (1831-1881). Norman and Janet Bethune had 9 children - 5 daughters and 4 sons - between 1854 and 1871. Dr. Bethune was also the grandfather of the well-known Dr. Henry Norman Bethune (1890-1939). Dr. Bethune (Sr.) died in Toronto in 1892.  Photographs of Dr. Bethune (Sr.) have been included with this entry.

Circa. mid-1890s to early 1900s:

Between the mid-1890s and early 1900s, 73 Isabella Street was home to Patrick McBrine (c. 1820-1902) and family. The McBrine family were Irish and originally from Tyrone County, Northern Ireland. 

Alongside Patrick McBrine other family members who resided at 73 Isabella Street during this period include: Rebecca J. McBrine - a teacher at the Elizabeth Street School; John W. McBrine - a clerk at William Brown; James H. McBrine - a clerk at the Bank of Toronto; and Frederick W. McBrine - an agent. Patrick McBrine is the eponym of the Patrick McBrine House (1872) at 103 Maitland Street.  

Circa. 1905:

In circa. 1905, 73 Isabella Street was home to Daniel Jamieson. Unfortunately, no further information is available about Daniel Jamieson at present.

Circa. 1910:

In circa. 1910, 73 Isabella Street was home to Judson C. Henry. Unfortunately, no further information is available at present about Judson C. Henry.

Circa. 1915: 

In circa. 1915, 73 Isabella Street was home to George W. Spicer. No further information about George W. Spicer is available at present.

Circa. 1920:

In circa. 1920, 73 Isabella Street was home to John H. Lloyd. Lloyd was a clerk by profession.

Circa. 1925:

In circa. 1925, 73 Isabella Street was home to Sarah Deegan. Unfortunately, no further information is available about Sarah Deegan at present.

Circa. 1930:

In circa. 1930, 73 Isabella Street was home to Jennie Smith. Jennie Smith was the widow of William Smith.

Circa. mid-1930s to early 1950s:

Between the mid-1930s and early 1950s, 73 Isabella Street was home to Ernest J. Marsh. Ernest J. Marsh was an employee at the Canadian Linseed Oil Mills. Harold Raymond also resided at 73 Isabella Street as of 1940.

In May 1939, 73 Isabella Street suffered a roof fire at its rear. The fire was determined to have been caused by a cigarette butt. During the fire, a firefighter made headlines after being knocked unconscious when a metal pipe fell off the roof and hit him. Ernest J. Marsh was noted to own the house in the newspaper article about the fire. 

Circa. 1955:

In circa. 1955, 73 Isabella Street was home to Joseph Roos. Unfortunately, no further information is available about Joseph Roos at present. 

Circa. late 1950s to mid-1960s:

From circa, the late 1950s to mid-1960s, 73 Isabella Street was home to Lillian Jardine. Lillian Jardine was a stock keeper at Eaton's. 

Circa. late 1960s:

By the late 1960s, 73 Isabella Street was in use as a rooming house. Notably, many properties in the Church-Wellesley Village neighbourhood were used as rooming houses during the mid-to-late 20th century.

Present Day:

73 Isabella Street is presently divided into rental units.  

Research by Adam Wynne.