History

Buildings

The buildings were renamed throughout years of the operation of the hospital. In most cases, the first line indicates the name that was given when the asylum originally opened on January 21, 1890. At some points in the history of the hospital, the cottages were designated as wards. The names were changed again in 1975 and they refer to the geographic areas served. The last line indicates the label given by Humber College. 

Cottages 1 – 5 house female patients (southern); Cottages A – E housed male patients (northern). Cottage 5 and E were built in 1892 for severely ill patients and they were probably maximum security wards. Cottage 1 and 2, as well as Cottage A and B were later conjoined to ease the overcrowding in the wards during the thirties.     

Cottage 1

Ward 1

Mississauga Building
Building H: Schools of Business, Food Services and Health Services. 

One of the first buildings to be constructed, originally housing female patients. Due to severe overcrowding of the institution, the building was conjoined with Cottage 2 in 1931. 

23 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive.  

 

Cottage 2

Ward 2

Mississauga Building
Building H: Schools of Business, Food Services and Health Services. 

Destroyed by fire in 1905 and rebuilt a year later. In 1939, it became an admission ward, reception for incoming patients.

23 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive.  

 

Cottage 3

Ward 3

Peel East 

Building I

25 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive. 

 

Cottage 4

Ward 4

Peel West 

Building J: English Language Centre and Liberal Arts and Sciences.

27 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive.

 

Cottage 5

Ward 5

Child and Adolescent Unit 

Building K

Built in 1892 for the class of the most severe female patient cases. Contained only single occupancy rooms, which  most likely were maximum security wards. On February 6, 1967, Dr. Donald Ross Gunn, the superintendent between 1967 and 1972 opened a new Child and Adolescent Unit in this building, complete with so-called "quiet rooms." Between 1970 and 1971, the building underwent a major renovation.   

29 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive. 

 

Administration Building

Administration Building

Building G

Probably was the first of all buildings to be constructed. It was partially renovated between 1930 and 1934 and the turret was removed in order to avoid the cost entailed by its restoration. In 1946, the building was altered to provide consultation offices for medical staff. The turret was taken down in the thirties due to its deteriorating condition and lack of funds for repair. 

17 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive.  

Cottage A

Ward A

Mimico Building 

Building F: School of Media Studies and the Math and Writing Centre.

Due to severe overcrowding of the institution, conjoined with Cottage B in 1931. 

15 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive.  

 

Cottage B

Ward B 

Mimico Building 

Building F: School of Media Studies and the Math and Writing Centre.

15 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive.  

 

Cottage C (inside Mimico)

Ward C

Etobicoke East 

Building E

In the seventies, it housed an industrial therapy workshop. Also, it was the last building to bear an old remnant left behind from the hospital days: an old sign which read "COTT.3".  

11 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive.  

 

Cottage D

Ward D

Building D: School of Creative and Performing Arts.

9 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive.  

 

Cottage E

Ward E

York West 

Building C: School of Social and Community Services.

Built in 1892 for the class of the most severe male patient cases. Contained only single occupancy rooms, which  most likely were maximum security wards.

7 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive.  

 

Gatehouse 

Originally called an entrance lodge and built in 1893 (other sources cite 1910). Additions to the Gatehouse, which included new kitchen, pantry, bedroom, closets, bathroom, and enlarged cellar with hot air furnace, were made in 1909. Like other hospital buildings, it fell into a terrible state of disrepair after the closure in 1979, but it was renovated in 1999 and opened as a supportive centre for abused children known as The Gatehouse. 

3101 Lakeshore Boulevard West.

 

Lakehouse

Erected in 1912 in order to provide on-site housing for staff, located some distance away from the cottages. Abandoned, it burned down in 1987. 

 

Assembly Hall

Constructed in 1898, but another source suggest that it could have been built in 1897. Completely restored and re-opened in 2000. 

1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive.  

 

Carriage House

Garage 

William's Coffee Pub

Constructed in 1892. Some sources claim that it was erected in 1900. Originally used as a horse stable. In 1930, it was modified to store vehicles rather than horses and divided into three separate sections. 

21 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive.  

 

Cumberland House

Erected in 1896, used originally as a superintendent's residence. During the fifties, the building was named after Dr. Thomas Daly Cumberland, the superintendent between 1936 and 1959, and he was the last person to reside there. In 1960, it was renovated to accommodate patients' day and night care, and a couple of years later converted into Patients' School House. In 1984, the building was renovated and became home to the Jean Tweed Residence.

3111 Lakeshore Boulevard West.

 

Power House

Erected in 1930 (or 1937), still standing today south of the site of the former hospital, towards the lake. 

65 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive. 

 

Nurses' Residence

Humber Building

Built between 1930 and 1934. It has not survived.  

 

Moorehouse (also refer to Moorehouse)

Erected in 1968 by the association of the volunteers and named after the former superintendent, Herbert Clayton Moorehouse, who had been in charge of the hospital between 1959 and 1967. The association was still very much active after the hospital was closed down and continued to operate the lounge until it was torn down in the beginning of 1990s. 

 

New Trades Building and Cafeteria

Building L:: School of Creative and Performing Arts, Theatre

Built in 1974 on the site of the Centre Building, which burned down in 1964 and included main kitchen, recreation rooms, storerooms, and bedrooms for the staff, as well as an old fire hall and the carpenter shop. This building is planned to be demolished. 

19 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive. 

 

Pavilions

Two pavilions were constructed in 1896, each one separate for male and female patients. Only the former has survived in its entirety, while only the concrete base of the female pavilion can be seen today. 

 

Cricket Oval

Constructed in 1896, it was reportedly one of the finest in the Township of Etobicoke. The incorporation of the Mimico Asylum Cricket Club soon followed. 

 

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