Description:

7-9 Elm Street is a 2-storey cottage located on the south side of Elm Street approximately 80 meters west of Yonge Street in Toronto. 7-9 Elm Street was constructed in 1866/1867 and is an excellent example of a Confederation era cottage. 7-9 Elm Street is in the Georgian Revival style of architecture.

7-9 Elm Street was originally a semi-detached cottage. The cottages were consolidated together during the 1960s by Barberian's Steak House and were later also consolidated with 11 Elm Street. Fire Insurance Plans indicate that 11 Elm Street may have also originally been a 19th century cottage that was demolished and replaced with the extant building during the early 21st century.

A storefront has been added to 7 Elm Street.

The exterior brickwork of 7-9 Elm Street has been painted white.

Early Occupants:

As of 1866/1867, the occupants of 7-9 Elm Street were:

7 Elm Street: Ambrose Kent (Sr.) and family.  Ambrose Kent (Sr.) was a bricklayer.

9 Elm Street: Howard Bryant and family. Howard Bryant was a bookkeeper. 

Ambrose Kent (Sr.) and Family:

The Kent family lived at 7 Elm Street from 1866/1867 until 1870.

Ambrose Kent (Sr.) was born in Caistor, Lincolnshire, England in 1818. In 1844, he married Harriett Kirk (1809-1894) in Hull, England. In September 1851, the Kents emigrated to New York in the United States. By 1861, the Kents had relocated to Canada. 

In Toronto, Ambrose Kent (Sr.) was a bricklayer by trade. He had retired by the enumeration of the 1871 Census of Canada. Ambrose Kent died in Toronto on 8 October 1878 of paresis. 

Ambrose (Sr.) and Harriett Kent had 4 sons born between 1832 and 1846: William Kent (1832-1867), Joseph Kent (1833-1902), Ambrose Kent Jr. (1843/1844-1926), and Benjamin Kent (1846-1918). Their sons also resided at 7 Elm Street during the late 1860s.  

Harriett Kent later moved into 9 Elm Street during the late 1870s and resided there until the 1890s.

In 1867, Ambrose Kent Jr. and Benjamin Kent established Kent Brothers — a jewellery, watchmaking, and fine goods company. Kent Brothers was originally based nearby on Yonge Street. The company was also (later) known as Kent's Limited and Ambrose Kent & Sons.

Charles Pelham Mulvany has provided the following biographical sketch of Kent Brothers in Toronto Past and Present: A Handbook of the City (1884):

"Kent Brothers, Watch-Makers and Jewellers, 168 Yonge Street — This establishment is not only a splendid monument to the intelligent enterprise of its management, but it is one of those houses whose great and honourable success reflects lustre upon the name of the city. It is leader in its line, and holds a commanding position among the mercantile institutions of the country. Dealing with the loveliest forms of artistic production, it has contributed largely to the elevation of the standard of taste and culture among the people, and its own progress has kept it in the lead of the general advance, at every step satisfying the more critical demands of the improved conditions it was prominently instrumental in creating. 

The firm consists of [Ambrose] Kent and Benjamin Kent, and was established in the year 1867. The enterprise and experience of the proprietors made it a success from the start. In the year 1881 they erected the handsome and imposing structure which they at present occupy, one of the finest in the city, where their business has grown to such magnitude as gives it a powerful influence in the support and promotion of the city's prosperity. 

The business includes the manufacture of watches, gold and silver-ware, in which the house has an extensive trade and a reputation second to that of no other similar concern in the country. Also diamond setting, for which the firm is equally well and widely noted, and its production in that line are universally acknowledged to be unrivalled in design and workmanship. The firm also deals extensively in electro silver-plated table ware, American and foreign watches from the best and reliable makers, bronzes, clocks, jewellery, chains and elegant Bijouterie of every description — in fact everything that a jewellery-store needs.

The department allotted to diamonds and precious stones displays the genius and skill of the jeweller in their highest development. The gems are purchased in Europe, being carefully selected for their flawless beauty and perfect shape, the mounting and setting being done by the firm. 

In the spacious store-rooms, on a level with the street, which are fairly ablaze with the magnificent exhibitions of beautiful goods, is one of the finest collections of bronzes, gold and silver ornaments, watches, clocks, modern novelties side by side with the rarest works of art hundreds of years old, elegant ceramic-ware, fine clock-cases, etc. 

The manufacturing departments are equipped with the most approved devices to aid in the delicate processes, which include engine-turning, etching and enameling. The firm is able to produce work fully equal to the best imported goods in watches or jewellery. 

The house, as well as its goods, is a favourite with its many customers on account of its honourable methods and conscientious regard for the interest of its patrons, every representation being scrupulously exact, and the great resources of the immense concern enabling it to offer a wider and better range of selection and more advantageous terms than any other house less thoroughly equipped. Kent Bros.' name is inseparably connected with the history of the jewellery trade of Toronto, in which they have been a prominent figure for the last sixteen years, and their pride in the colossal enterprise they have established is shared by the community, among whose industrial and mercantile interests it wields so potent and valuable an influence."  (pages 285-288). 

Illustrations of the Kent Bros.' business on Yonge Street provided by Mulvany (1884) have been included with this entry.

The Kent Bros.' also designed the Indian Clock — a popular public attraction and novelty in Toronto during the late 19th century. The Indian Clock contained life-size figures of a First Nations Chief and First Nations woman who struck the hour and quarter hour. The clock was illuminated all day and night. An 1893 illustration of the Indian Clock has been included with this entry.

Ambrose Kent Jr. additionally served as the Superintendent of the Trinity Methodist Sabbath School for 21 years from 1891 until his retirement in 1912. Ambrose Kent Jr. later resided in Eglinton in the 1880s and at 14 Walmer Road in the Annex during the 1890s. 

Please note some historical sources erroneously refer to Ambrose Kent Jr. as Andrew Kent.

Howard Bryant and Family:

Howard Bryant and his family lived at 9 Elm Street from 1866/1867 until 1871. Howard Bryant (c. 1840-1909) was an accountant and bookkeeper by trade. 

Census and genealogical records indicate that Howard Bryant was born in about 1840 in Huntingdonshire, England. In 1859, he was arrested and imprisoned for embezzlement and theft. He appears to have immigrated to Canada after his release. While living at 9 Elm Street, Howard Bryant was employed as a bookkeeper. He later established a dry goods business in Yorkville. 

Howard Bryant was married to Sarah Bryant (born c. 1839). Howard Bryant and Sarah Bryant had 3 children — 1 daughter and 2 sons — born between 1870 and 1877.

In 1909, Howard Bryant died unexpectedly while visiting his daughter in New York.

Please note genealogical sources provide his full name as both Howard Napoleon William Bryant and Howard Nathan William Bryant. 

Later Occupants and Uses:

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

Circa 1871/1872:

7 Elm Street: John Parker — missionary.

9 Elm Street:  Howard Bryant — accountant.

Circa 1874/1875:

7 Elm Street: Abraham B. Flint — merchant.

9 Elm Street: John Kirk — jeweller.

Circa 1879/1880:

7 Elm Street: Harry Elton — watchmaker.

9 Elm Street: Harriett Kent — widow of Ambrose Kent (Sr). 

Circa 1884/1885:

7 Elm Street: James B. Wilson — egg dealer.

9 Elm Street: Harriett Kent — widow of Ambrose Kent.

Circa 1889/1890:

7 Elm Street: William Davidson — cabinetmaker at The Atcheson Company. 

9 Elm Street: Harriett Kent — widow of Ambrose Kent. 

Circa 1894/1895:

7 Elm Street: James Auld — a labourer; and James Auld Jr. — a printer at Imrie, Graham, & Company. 

9 Elm Street: Miss M. Logan - dressmaker. 

Circa 1899/1900:

7 Elm Street: Margaret Wrenn 

9 Elm Street: Miss M. Logan — dressmaker.

Circa 1909/1910:

7 Elm Street: Antonio Mandarino

9 Elm Street: Aylmer A. Spoffard

Circa 1919/1920:

7 Elm Street: George Parkinson

9 Elm Street: Angelo Ricco

Circa 1929/1930:

7 Elm Street: James Choney

9 Elm Street:  Absent

Circa 1939/1940:

7 Elm Street: Minry Eslynne 

7A Elm Street: Vacant

9 Elm Street: Arthur, Fleury, & Piersol — architects; and Samuel H. Maw — architect. 

For more information on these architects, please see the following Biographical Dictionary of Canadian Architects — 1800 to 1950 articles:

Eric Arthur: http://dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/node/61

William E. Fleury: http://dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/node/2023 

George Piersol: http://dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/node/1708

Samuel Herbert Maw: http://dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/node/2069 

Circa 1949/1950:

7 Elm Street: Wonder Snack Bar & Grill. 

7A Elm Street: Pauline Baga and Leslie Bye

9 Elm Street: Sadie Carr 

1959 to Present Day:

Since 1959, the property has been associated with Barberian's — a prominent and well-known Toronto steak house and tavern. Barberian's was established by Harry Barberian in 1959. Barberian's was initially based in 7 Elm Street, but expanded into and consolidated 9 Elm Street during the 1960s. Barberian's later  consolidated 11 Elm Street (constructed c. 2006).  Barberian's also contains a large private collection and gallery of Canadiana.

Harry Barberian is the eponym of nearby Harry Barberian Lane, which runs north-south from south of Elm Street. 

(Written research by Adam Wynne)