Description: 

152 Saint George Street is a 2.5 storey house located on the west side of Saint George Street approximately mid-block between Bloor Street West and Sussex Avenue on the University of Toronto Saint George Campus. 152 Saint George Street was constructed in 1897/1898 and is in the Annex style of architecture with Queen Anne Revival, Romanesque Revival, and Bay and Gable elements. 

Research is ongoing to identify the architect(s) and/or builder(s) of 152 Saint George Street.


First Occupants:  

152 Saint George Street was first home to W. Murray Alexander (1866-1955) and family between 1897/1898 and 1901/1902. 

W. Murray Alexander was born in 1866. The Alexander family were Scottish-Canadian and members of the Presbyterian Church. W. Murray Alexander was married to Eliza Alexander (1857-1947).



Eliza Alexander (née Crosby) was originally from the United States and immigrated to Canada in 1897. The Crosby family were an eminent and wealthy family from New York. Eliza was the daughter of The Hon. Clarkson Crosby (1817-1858) — a prominent New York politician. She was also the sister of John Schuyler Crosby (1839-1914) who was a prominent American official that served in Union Army during the Civil War and was later appointed the American Consul in Florence (1876-1882), the Governor of Montana (1882-1884), the first Assistant Postmaster General of the United States (1885), and the School Commissioner of New York City (1889-1892). 



W. Murray and Eliza Alexander had at least 3 children — which consisted of both biological and adopted step-children. Three domestic workers — Dora Corrigan, Sarah Vokes, and Maggie Shaw  — also lived with the family as of 1901.



While living at 152 Saint George Street, W. Murray Alexander was a clerk and stockbroker at Fergusson and Blaikie — a brokerage firm based on Toronto Street. He was also a shareholder of and a scrutineer for the Canadian Bank of Commerce. 



W. Murray Alexander later became involved with The Vacuum Gas & Oil Company. The Vacuum Gas & Oil Company was a petroleum prospecting company that was active in southwestern Ontario during the early 20th century. During the mid-to-late 1910s, he served as its Secretary-Treasurer. By the early 1920s, he was its Managing Director.


The Alexander family later moved to Hamilton. Eliza Alexander died in 1947 and W. Murray Alexander died in 1955. 

The Alexander family later moved to Hamilton. W. Murray Alexander died in 1955. 

Later Occupants and Use:  


1902/1903 to 1932/1933:

Between 1902/1903 and 1932/1933, 152 Saint George Street was home to Colin F. Gordon and his wife Janet Gordon. Colin F. Gordon was the Secretary-Treasurer of John Kay, Son, & Company. John Kay, Son, & Company was a home furnishings company specializing in carpets, linoleums, curtains, and other similar products. John Kay, Son, & Company was based at 36-38 King Street West. 

Colin F. Gordon died in 1927. His widow continued living at 152 Saint George Street until 1932/1933. 

1933/1934 to 1940/1941:

Between 1933/1934 and 1940/1941, 152 Saint George Street was home to Marie Judge. Marie Judge was the widow of James S. Judge. 


1941/1942 to Present Day:

Since 1941/1942, 152 Saint George Street has been home to the Epsilon-Epsilon Zeta chapter of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. The Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity was established at Boston University in 1909. The Epsilon-Epsilon Zeta Chapter was established in Toronto in 1927 and was the first Canadian chapter of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. 



(Research by Adam Wynne)