Description: 

316 Bathurst Street is a large, 2.5 storey Queen Anne Revival house situated on the west side of Bathurst Street approximately 110 meters south of Dundas Street West in the Alexandra Park and Trinity-Bellwoods neighbourhoods of Toronto. 316 Bathurst Street was constructed in 1880/1881 and is one of the grandest surviving 19th century houses on Bathurst Street south of College Street. 316 Bathurst Street is of  brick construction and has retained a high degree of its architectural features despite the addition of some modern materials. 

Prior to 1890, 316 Bathurst Street was known as 276 Bathurst Street. Please note that a neighbouring property constructed in the late 1870s was originally assigned the address 276 Bathurst Street prior to the construction of 316 Bathurst Street in 1880/1881. 

Connection of 316 Bathurst Street to the Evolution of Bathurst Street and Dundas Street West:

316 Bathurst Street historically overlooked the western terminus of St. Patrick Street at its intersection with Bathurst Street and served as an architectural vista for westbound traffic on St. Patrick Street. St. Patrick Street and nearby Arthur Street were both incorporated alongside a number of other downtown east-west streets to create the present-day iteration of Dundas Street in 1918. However, the misalignment of St. Patrick Street and Arthur Street at Bathurst Street created a significant jog for east-west traffic and resulted in congestion issues. As such, a street realignment project in the mid-1950s eliminated the jog and created the present-day bend on Dundas Street West just east of Bathurst Street. This realignment project saw the demolition of a number of properties in the Bathurst Street and Dundas Street West area. This street realignment additionally resulted in 316 Bathurst Street becoming a midblock property rather than directly overlooking an intersection at the western terminus of a busy street. The historic sightlines of westbound traffic on Dundas Street West (formerly St. Patrick Street) are still visible for users of the Alexandra Park Trail along the south side of the Scadding Court Community Centre. Satellite imagery showing the former route of Dundas Street West (formerly St. Patrick Street) prior to the mid-1950s realignment has been included in this entry.  

Of additional note is that 316 Bathurst Street was historically situated in proximity to the Gzowski family's The Hall estate. The Hall estate was a large Victorian Gothic mansion with extensive landscaped grounds that was constructed in 1858 for Sir Casimir Gzowski (1813-1898). The Hall served as an important social site for Toronto's upper class for much of the mid-to-late 19th century and hosted the Prince of Wales (later known as King Edward VII) during his 1860 visit to Toronto. The Gzowski family continued residing at The Hall until 1904. The Hall estate was then purchased by the City of Toronto that same year (1904) and transformed into Alexandra Park. Alexandra Park is named for Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), the wife of King Edward VII (1841-1910) - who reigned between 1901 and 1910.  

The Scadding Court Community Centre and Sanderson Branch - Toronto Public Library are situated immediately across the street from 316 Bathurst Street. These important public facilities opened in June 1979 and are slated for an upcoming revitalization project. Further details have been included below.

For more information on the early history of the Bathurst Street and Dundas Street West area, please see the attached source The Early History of Bathurst Street between Dundas Street West and Queen Street West (2021) by Adam Wynne. 

First Occupant(s):  

The first occupant of 316 Bathurst Street was Walter McFarlane, who lived here in 1881.

In 1881, Walter McFarlane was associated with the Toronto-based Milk Depot. By 1882, he was the proprietor of the Farmers' Dairy, which was located near the present-day intersection of Augusta Avenue and Queen Street West. The Farmers' Dairy offered yearly contracts to farmers across Ontario to produce milk and milk products, then ship it to the dairy via rail for sale on Toronto's markets. The Farmers' Dairy was reported in The Globe to have had the best prices for butter in Toronto as of 1882. The dairy also passed inspections by Robert Awde, with these inspections being initiated by the municipal government in 1882/1883 out of concern that regional food producers were adulterating products with admixtures prior to public sale in Toronto (i.e.: milk being watered down, etc.). 

By 1891, McFarlane was also a merchant of coal and wood, alongside his proprietorship of the Farmers' Dairy. His coal business was reported in newspapers to have experienced financial issues due to unpredictable prices in the mid-1890s (which aligns with a recession that impacted much of North America). By the late 1890s, he appears to have closed and/or sold the Farmers' Dairy and his merchanting company had become known as McFarlane & Co. McFarlane & Co. had 2 locations as of 1899: 318 Spadina Avenue and 649 Queen Street West. By 1901/1902, McFarlane & Co. was additionally offering jobber services and was based at 112 Yonge Street.  

Unfortunately, limited information about Walter McFarlane's personal life is available. Historical records identify that he was born in Ontario around 1844. By the early 20th century, a relative - also named Walter McFarlane - was also involved in the operations of McFarlane & Co. By 1891, he was living at 55 West Lodge Avenue in Parkdale, Toronto. Walter McFarlane appears to have later spent time in Winnipeg (Manitoba) during the early 20th century, potentially for business-related activities. Walter McFarlane may have died in 1929, although this requires further research to confirm due to another family member having the same name. 

Interestingly, the intricate wood trim along the roofline on the south (side) elevation of 316 Bathurst Street contains design elements reminiscent of wagon wheels. If original to the house, this design feature may pay homage to the connection of Walter McFarlane - its first occupant - to regional farm and dairy industries. 

It is unclear at present why Walter McFarlane's residency at 316 Bathurst Street was so brief. 

Other Former Occupants and Uses (Pre-1969): 

William Telfer: William Telfer - an accountant at the Cook Brothers lumber company - resided at 316 Bathurst Street (then known as 276 Bathurst Street) in 1884-1886.

Joseph H. Ford: Joseph H. Ford - a photographer with his studio at 286½ Queen Street West - resided at 316 Bathurst Street (then known as 276 Bathurst Street) in 1886.

Charles Thomas Brandon: Charles Thomas Brandon - the Vice President of the Brandon Manufacturing Company - resided at 316 Bathurst Street in 1887-1888. The Brandon Manufacturing Company was based at the Central Prison and used prison labour to manufacture house furnishings and woodenwares.

Reverend John A Turnbull: Reverend John A. Turnbull - the pastor of the Weston Presbyterian Church - resided at 316 Bathurst Street between 1894 and 1912.  Reverend Turnbull served as the Chairman for this district during the Evangelistic Campaign of Toronto in 1910/1911.

Rabbi Samson Garfunkel and Family: Rabbi Samson Garfunkel and his family resided at 316 Bathurst Street between 1913 and 1916. Rabbi Samson Garfunkel (c. 1865 - 1943) was considered a prominent Jewish resident of Toronto. Samson Garfunkel was born in [Poland] and arrived in Toronto around 1890. Rabbi Samson Garfunkel's 1943 obituary in The Globe and Mail notes that he was a pioneer rabbi who was the President of the Beth Jacob Synagogue on Henry Street for many years. Richard Dennis in Property and Propriety: Jewish Landlords in Early Twentieth-Century Toronto (1997) notes that Rabbi Garfunkel owned a number of rental properties, alongside his significant involvement in construction and development projects that were largely in the West End of Toronto. Rabbi Garfunkel additionally co-owned and operated Toronto's first Jewish steamship ticket agency and foreign exchange business in Toronto, which was based at 117½ Queen Street West - in the southmost block of St. John's Ward - during the early 20th century. He was noted to have been involved with the Jewish Old Folks Home for many years. Rabbi Garfunkel was appointed a Justice of the Peace and called to testify on behalf of Toronto's Jewry in provincial tribunals during Premier James Whitney's administration (1905-1914). Within the Jewry, Rabbi Garfunkel was also a shochet (ritual Kosher slaughterer). Rabbi Garfunkel likely resided here with his wife (although he is later listed as being widowed) and his 3 children. His son Jacob Garfunkel was involved in the insurance industry, as well as the operations of the above-mentioned steamship ticket agency during this period in time.

Alexandra Park Repair Shop: In 1923, the Alexandra Park Repair Shop was based at 316 Bathurst Street. The Alexandra Park Repair Shop was a gramophone repair shop operated by Charles Schlifer, who also lived on site. 

Reuben Rubinoff and Family: The Rubinoff family resided at 316 Bathurst Street between 1924 and 1931. Known Rubinoff family members who resided at 316 Bathurst Street include: Reuben, Sonia, and Rachmil Rubinoff. Reuben Rubinoff was involved with the management of the Peoples Credit Clothiers - a ready-to-wear clothing business that was owned by Myer Rubinoff and based at 1402 Danforth Avenue. Sonia Rubinoff was a stenographer at the Berger Tailoring Company. Limited information about Rachmil Rubinoff is available at present, although they were reported to have been killed after being hit by a truck at Dundas Street West and University Avenue in 1931.

Note on 1930s: There appears to have been a frequent turnover of occupants during the 1930s. 316 Bathurst Street may have been divided into rental spaces during this period.

Alfred Vincent: Alfred Vincent resided at 316 Bathurst Street for much of the 1940s. Unfortunately no further information is available about Alfred Vincent at present. 

George and Helen Leluk: George and Helen Leluk resided at 316 Bathurst Street between 1946 and 1959. George Leluk was an employee at Canada Packers, the precursor to Maple Leaf Foods.  

Anthony Bain: Anthony Bain - an electrician - resided at 316 Bathurst Street between the late 1950s and early 1960s. Bain initially resided here with the Leluk family, but had purchased the house by 1960.  

Mid-to-Late 1960s: By the-mid-to-late 1960s, 316 Bathurst Street was listed as a "rooming house" in the City of Toronto Directories, with no data provided about specific occupants. 

Please note the above list aims to provide a general overview of occupants associated with 316 Bathurst Street pre-1969 and is not exhaustive of all former occupants of 316 Bathurst Street. 

Present-Day: 

316 Bathurst Street presently appears to be divided into residential rental spaces. 

Ongoing Alexandra Park and Scadding Court Redevelopment: 

During the 1960s and early 1970s, multiple blocks in the Alexandra Park neighbourhood were declared "slums" by government planning officials. This resulted in the government expropriating and/or purchasing large numbers of properties in the neighbourhood and subsequently demolishing them to facilitate the construction of the Alexandra Park and Atkinson Housing Projects. 

In April 2003, the Alexandra Park and Atkinson Housing Projects became the Alexandra Park and Atkinson Housing Co-Operative - the first public housing project to convert into a co-op in Canada.  

In November 2009, the aging Alexandra Park and Atkinson Housing Co-Operatives were announced and approved to be slated for redevelopment and revitalization. As of September 2021, this project is ongoing. Extensive demolitions have occurred and are ongoing within the housing co-operative and construction has begun for new neighbourhood buildings and facilities. 

In 2011 and 2018, a government announcement was made that the Scadding Court Community Centre and Sanderson Branch (Toronto Public Library) complex - which opened in June 1979 - would also be revitalized in upcoming years. 

The redevelopment and revitalization of the Alexandra Park neighbourhood and neighbourhood facilities will undoubtedly bring renewed and increased interest to the area. Steps should be taken to mitigate the loss of area heritage resources. Notably, 316 Bathurst Street is surrounded by low density commercial and residential buildings and is additionally situated in proximity to a sizable surface parking lot and franchise restaurant which abuts 2 major transit lines. These forms of property are known to be appealing to developers. As such, 316 Bathurst Street would benefit from the protections provided by heritage status to ensure that it is not lost to potential future demolition. 

Research by Adam Wynne.