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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.
The
following buildings have not survived (some were probably torn down
in the early nineties during the takeover by Humber College):
Lakehouse, Moorehouse,
Nurses' Residence, Gatehouse garage, conservatory, greenhouse, laundry, incinerator, storage,
barn, roothouse, toilet.
With
the exception of the Moorehouse
as well as the New
Trades Building and Cafeteria,
all buildings were constructed free of charge to the Government of
Ontario by
using patient labour.
In
1988, the Government of Ontario designated the grounds of the former
hospital as a heritage property under the Ontario
Heritage Act.
Consult
this map
showing all of the above buildings.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Ward
B
Mimico
Building
Building
F: School of Media Studies and the Math and Writing Centre.
15
Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Humber Building
Built
between 1930 and 1934. It has not survived.
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.
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.
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.
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.
References:
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