Description:


358 Markham Street is a 2.5 storey Annex Style house (with Bay and Gable and Queen Anne Revival elements) located on the west side of Markham Street midblock between College Street and Ulster Street in the Palmerston - Little Italy neighbourhood of Toronto. 358 Markham Street was constructed in 1891/1892 and is representative of the late 19th residential development of Markham Street. 


358 Markham Street is architecturally unique on Markham Street and within the broader Palmerston-Little Italy neighbourhood. Of additional note is the coat of arms and/or crest relief at the base of the turret. This coat of arms and/or crest contains Fleur-de-Lys, crescent moons, and stars. This relief is the same as the ones on the base of the turrets at the heritage listed, semi-detached houses at 90-92A Walmer Road in the Annex. This points towards the relief being decorative rather than symbolic (heraldic) in nature. Built one year apart from each other, these shared features also point towards both 358 Markham Street and 90-92A Walmer Road having the same architect(s) and/or builder(s). 

Research is ongoing to identify the architect and/or builder of 358 Markham Street. 


As of June 2022, the interior of 358 Markham Street has been subdivided into 7 rental units. 


Please note that while the property was constructed in 1891/1892, it does not appear in Fire Insurance Plans until 1913. 


First Occupants:

Between 1891/1892 and 1925/1926, 358 Markham Street was home to Rev. Dr. Stuart S. Bates (1851-1924) and his family.  Rev. Dr. Bates was the Pastor of College Street Baptist Church (located at 510 College Street, at the northwest corner of College Street and Palmerston Boulevard) from 1886 to 1904/1906 and the Educational Secretary of McMaster University from 1907 until his death in 1924. 



Rev. Dr. Bates' December 1924 obituary in The Globe (Toronto) provides the following biography:  


"Rev Dr. S. S. Bates Dies At His Home

Educational Secretary of McMaster University Succumbs to Stroke

18 Years in One Pulpit

Rev. Dr. Stuart S. Bates, Educational Secretary of McMaster University and one of the outstanding ministers of the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec, died last night at his home, 358 Markham Street. Death came suddenly, although Dr. Bates had been ill for three weeks, suffering from the effects of a slight stroke. 

Born in Iowa

A son of the late Rev. John Bates of Woodstock, Stuart S. Bates was born in Iowa, United States, in 1851. He began his education at Woodstock College, whence he proceeded to an arts course in the University of Toronto, graduating with the class of 1878. Subsequently, he graduated from Rochester Theological Seminary. His first pastorate was at Gobles, near Woodstock. In 1886, he was called to College Street Baptist Church, Toronto, where he continued as pastor for 18 years. It was during Dr. Bates's incumbency that the present College Street building was erected. On leaving College Street, Dr. Bates took up the duties of General Secretary for Sunday Schools, under the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec. He left this post to become pastor of the Baptist Church at St. Catharines. Seventeen years ago, he accepted the post at McMaster University, which he has since occupied. 

Always keenly interested in foreign missions, Dr. Bates was at one time the Chairman of the Foreign Mission Board of the Convention and he had also been given the honour of the Convention's Presidency.

Surviving Relatives

He is survived by his widow, a daughter of the late Joseph Jeffrey, of London, Ont.; three sons, Dr. Stuart Bates, Professor of Physical Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena; Harold Bates, Toronto, and Dr. Edgar Bates, of the Pathological Department, University of Toronto, and one sister, Mrs. McLaurin, widow of the late Dr. John McLaurin, missionary to India. The late Mrs. A. B. Timpany, another missionary in India, was also a sister." (The Globe (Toronto), 15 December 1924, page 11).  


The Canadian Men and Women of the Time: A Handbook of Canadian Biography (1898) further notes that Rev. Dr. Bates was a Liberal and a supporter of both Free Trade and Prohibition. Of additional note is that the Bates family arrived in Ontario during the 1860s due to pressures from the American Civil War (1861-1865).  A photograph of Rev. Dr. Bates has been included with this entry.


In 1912, Rev. Dr. Bates commissioned architect J. Hunt Stanford to design a 4-storey building containing apartments, stores, and a hall at the northeast corner of Clinton Street and College Street.  However, it does not appear that this structure was ever built.


During World War I, Rev. Dr. Bates youngest son — J. Edgar Bates — served as a signaller with the 4th Canadian Artillery Brigade. In February 1918 (at age 22), he was awarded a Military Medal for Conspicuous Bravery while laying wires under shell fire


Between 1926 and 1929, 358 Markham Street was listed as vacant in the City of Toronto Directories.  Further research is required to determine when the Bates family sold the property. 



Later Occupants and Uses:

Please note that this list is not exhaustive and aims to provide a general overview of former occupants and uses. Dates are also approximate. 


1929/1930:

As of 1929/1930, 358 Huron Street was home to Caroline O'Neill — the widow of William J. O'Neill. 

1930s to Present Day (June 2022):

Since the 1930s, 358 Markham Street has been used as an apartment house and/or rooming house. During the mid-20th century, the house had 6 units, which has since been increased to 7 units. Past proprietors included: Abraham Knight — a tailor at Tip Top Tailors — during the 1930s and 1940s; and Michael Jedrzkiewicz — a tireman at Michelin and Smith Transportation — during the 1950s and 1960s. 

Recent Sale:

In May 2022, 358 Markham Street was listed for sale for $2 900 000. 

In recent years, several Markham Street properties have been lost to demolition following sales — including 394 Markham Street, which was demolished in 2018/2019; and 699-705 Markham Street (the oldest surviving houses on Markham Street and the surrounding neighbourhood) — which were demolished in 2016/2017.  As such, 358 Markham Street should be considered at increased risk of demolition and/or significant alteration.

(Research by Adam Wynne)