A Walking Tour of Wood�eld excerpted from the book

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Queens Ave.

London

Dufferin Ave.

Rosedale St.

Princess Ave.

Hope St.

Waverly Pl.

Wolfe St.

Hyman St.

Central Ave.

Central Ave.

William

St.

Adelaide

St.

Maitland

St.

Cartwright

St.

ClarenceSt.

ColborneSt.

ColborneSt.

Waterloo

St.

PictonSt.

Centential Ln.

Wellington

St

Rich

mo

nd

St.

Pall Mall St.

VictoriaPark

PeterSt.

Dufferin Ave.

Princess Ave.

William

St.

ProspectA

ve.

PalaceSt.

Maitland

St.

East WoodfieldHeritage Conservation District

Woodfield is part of the historic heart ofLondon and it flourished in the latter part ofthe 19th century. The upper and middle class-es built their homes along Queens Avenue,Dufferin Avenue, and Princess Avenue.Although Woodfield has suffered from thegrowth of the business district, much of it hasremained unchanged and it is still possible tofeel the charm and beauty of the area.As you can see from the map, Woodfield is

very close to downtown. Much time and effort,mainly by the Woodfield CommunityAssociation, has been spent fighting inappro-priate rezoning applications. Although it is ofcourse impossible to keep all office conversion

away, Woodfield remains a largely residentialneighbourhood. During the 1950s and 60s, itbecame fashionable for families to leave thedowntown and move into subdivisions. Butrecently there has been a turn-around andpeople are now moving back into the largehomes, and bringing them back to the single-family dwellings they once were.Most of the houses on the tour were built

during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901)and reflect a wide variety of architecturalstyles. You’ll pass buildings built in theRomanesque style, the Queen Anne style, theOntario Cottage style, the Italianate style andso on.

Woodfield Tour

Woodfield Corner

London City Hall

Woodfield Tour

V

The start and finish of the Short Tour begins on page 85

At a very leisurely pacethe Woodfield Tour willtake approximately 1½to 2 hours to complete.The Short Tour will takeapproximately ½ to 1 hour.

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Significant architects in WoodfieldDuring the 1850s, London attracted architects

eager to take part in the development of anew community. During the next 80 years,three men made significant contributions to thedevelopment and the overall design of London:William Robinson (1812-94), George Durrand(1850-1889) and John H. Moore (1837-1930).These three architects were responsible formany of the City’s significant business and resi-dential buildings. The bulk of these buildingsare found here in Woodfield. Unfortunately,many significant buildings have been demol-ished, often in the name of progress.

William Robinson was city engineer for 21years and the most influential architect in thecity’s history. Some of his achievementsinclude: 469 Colborne Street, 477 WaterlooStreet, 350 Queens Avenue (First-St Andrew’sChurch) and 367 Princess Avenue.

George Durand’s career, although relativelyshort, was impressive. In fact, he was the mostimportant Victorian architect in southwesternOntario during the late 19th century. Heapprenticed at the architectural firm of William

B. Robinson and was later employed byThomas Fuller whose firm designed theParliament Buildings in Ottawa. Unfortunately,many of Durand’s homes have beendemolished. However, a few do remain inWoodfield and in other parts of London, suchas 177 Queens Avenue (London Club), TalbotStreet Baptist Church (now the First ChristianReform Church) and the mansion thatbecame the Central Baptist Church onQueens Avenue at Adelaide Street.

John Moore also articled with Robinson andwent on to design not only residential homesbut many of the factories built before the FirstWorld War. He married Louise McClary whowas the daughter of Oliver McClary, founderof McClary Stoves. Like Durand andRobinson, many of his buildings have beendemolished. He designed the main Arts andAdministration buildings at the University ofWestern Ontario, the London Armoury (nowthe Delta London Armouries Hotel), 360Queens Avenue, 400 Queens Avenue (ArthurMcClary House), 471 Waterloo Street (RobertMacDonald House) and 553 Dufferin Avenue.

Woodfielders are excited that the City ofLondon is proposing to officially recognizetheir neighbourhood by creating a landscapedentry point at the northeast corner of VictoriaPark. At “Woodfield Corner” there will bebench seating extending from a large pillaredentryway to the park. A planting bed withgraphic and written displays detailing

Woodfield’s history is also planned. WoodfieldCorner will make an ideal gathering place andstarting point for walking tours through theneighbourhood. With this visible recognition ofthe district’s historic importance, we hope thatmore and more Londoners will come to know– and love – Woodfield.

A Special Place for Woodfield

Your tour begins atWoodfield Corner(the northeast corner)in Victoria Park

Victoria ParkOriginally the site of the BritishGarrison. In response to the 1837-38 Rebellion, British troops werestationed in London from 1838 to1871. The garrison lands weresold to the city after the BritishArmy left. Part of these landsbecame Victoria Park, which wasopened by Lord Dufferin in 1874.

Refer to pages 26 and 27 for pho-tographs of some of the housesdemolished for make room forCity Hall, Centennial Hall andCentennial Apartments.

Walk south and turn left(east) onto Wolfe Street

Wolfe StreetNot a street of the wealthy elite,but with Victorian houses for thecomfortable middle class.

314 Wolfe Streetbuilt c 1888 (designated)

This is a prototype of a HighVictorian domestic structure. Theverandah is remarkable and thewoodwork very decorative, featur-ing paired slender columns. Therailings are original. The upper bal-cony has been faithfully recon-structed. The concrete block sup-

ports are somewhat later. Note theslate roof and the patterned shin-gles on the dormer. The house isbuilt of the local white brick.

315 Wolfe Streetbuilt 1908 (designated)

Attractive late Victorian residence,refreshingly different. Probablybuilt for Walter Simson, a partnerin a wholesale hat company.Massive centre gable, enclosedporch and above, a beautiful ellip-tical window.

318 Wolfe Streetbuilt 1890

This house was designed byGeorge Durand and built for JohnD. LeBel, a lumber merchant fromQuebec, apparently “a gentlemanof experience with ample capital.”It has a few English features suchas the small paned windows, andthe lowered eaves. While the

building’s bay window has beenmassively re-interpreted, it still sitscomfortably in the centre of thisresidential street.

317 Wolfe Streetbuilt c 1900

Built for William J. Legg. A designof simple and restrained character,asymmetrical façade with towerand cut stone foundation andgenerous double front woodendoor with stained glass transom.

Pause at the corner ofWolfe and Waterloo

559 Waterloo Streetbuilt 1908

Another house built for William J.Legg, a few years after his WolfeStreet residence. Particularly suitedto its corner location, with thetower having been sited at anangle to the house. Note thefish-scale roofing on the tower.

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Woodfield Tour

Look east acrossWaterloo Street

570-572 Waterloo Streetbuilt 1875

562 Waterloo Streetbuilt 1875

554 Waterloo Streetbuilt 1875

These three large houses (554,562 and 570-72 Waterloo) werebuilt during the 1870s when

Italianate was the preferred stylein London. Italianate is recogniza-ble by its use of a series of pairedbrackets at the eaves, and a gen-erally square shape with largebays. Usually the entry is locatedat one side of the front façade.

Continue south (right)on Waterloo Street

526/528 Waterloo Streetbuilt 1874 (designated)

This Italianate style double houseis extremely symmetrical and well-proportioned. The bay windowsare a later alteration to the origi-nal house. This strong style wasvery popular for townhouses inthe mid-19th century. Some of thecharacteristics of this style ofhouse are the round-headed win-dows and prominent decorativebrackets under the wide eaves.

Turn east (left) onPrincess Avenue

339, 341, 343, 345, 347 and349 Princess AvenuePrincess Terrace built c 1886

Terrace housing or row housingis a very traditional British custom.In Ontario, this form of housingwas only found in larger urbanareas. Late 19th century (HighVictorian) in style, the roof-lineis broken by three gables withdecorative wooden details andround windows.

Renovated a number of years ago,the old porches were removedbecause they were infested withcarpenter ants. The pattern ofthe brick and the form of thechimneys establish that the build-ings were constructed in the latterportion of the 19th century.

359 and 361 Princess Avenuebuilt c 1888

Large double house with highwindows, large bays and doubleverandah. The double chimneysare most likely of the originaldesign.

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367 Princess Avenuebuilt c 1874

Built in the late Georgian/earlyVictorian Style, it features bal-anced façades, center doors andsmall paned windows. Originally,this house had shutters. Brick hasbeen used in a variety of ways toadd textural interest. There arebrick keystones over the windowsand visual support for brackets.

Turn south (right)at Colborne Street

520 (c 1890) and 522 (c 1907)Colborne Street

Designed by Moore and Henry,these two houses are built togeth-er, which is a little unusual.Thefirst resident at 522 ColborneStreet was John Dromgole whoworked for W. J. Reid & Co., awell known glassware, china andcrockery store. He later establisheda wholesale crockery businessunder the name of John Dromgole& Co.

516 Colborne Streetbuilt c 1898

The first occupant was Samuel J.Radcliffe, principal of the LondonCollegiate Institute from 1899to 1907.

512 Colborne Streetbuilt 1913 (designated)

This is often called the H.E.Boomer House, referring to thefirst owner. Built in the rathergrand Edwardian Classicism style.The classical elements can beseen in the two Palladian win-dows, one in the gable and onein the dormer.

513 Colborne Streetbuilt c 1850 (designated)

This Ontario cottage was thehome of Miss Hazel Taylor, a pianoteacher who taught hundreds ofchildren in the 1940s, 50s, and60s. The hip roof, one-and-a-halfstoreys, and central doorway arehallmarks of an Ontario cottage.The name has been applied to astyle of home that flourished inUpper Canada between 1830 and1840. It evolved from the simple,symmetrical British Regency cot-tage, popular prior to theVictorian era.

The oldest part of this cottagemay have been built as early as1840. A large verandah used toextend across the front of thebuilding but is now replaced by asmaller porch. The large dormercontaining four windows with 15smaller panes was added in the1940s. A side extension wasadded much later.

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504 Colborne Streetbuilt c 1872

Built for Alexander McBride, this isa very fine example of anItalianate house.

501-503 Colborne Streetbuilt c 1902 (designated)

Built by George Tambling, whohad a construction business andbuilt many houses in the core. Hissignature was the red brick, greystone foundation and slate roof(since removed). One of Mr.Tambling’s three daughtersreceived the double house. Eachdaughter was given a house byher father, whereas the seven sonswere left to fend for themselves.The daughter and her husbandlived in one side on the two floors,the third floor was for the servantsand the other side was rented.Each side consists of 3,500 squarefeet of living space.

Turn east (left) onDufferin Avenue tocontinue the tour

The optional short touralso starts here

412 Dufferin Avenuebuilt 1907 (designated)

An excellence example of a middleclass Edwardian residence. Thistwo storey house has a stonefoundation, a steep multiple gableroof, an entrance way offset left, aprojected bay on the west side ofthe building and two small baywindows.

You are now enteringthe East WoodfieldHeritage ConservationDistrict

464-466 Dufferin Avenuebuilt c 1889

This was known for many years asFitzgerald’s Corners. This propertywas originally part of a larger par-cel of land which belonged to Ira

Schofield, London’s first magis-trate. In the late 1930s andthrough the 1940s, number 464was a fur store. Over time, it hasalso been a butcher shop, barbershop, real estate office, drug store,doctor’s office and laundromat.

James Fitzgerald started a grocerystore at number 466 in 1890 andit remained as such until 1972when it became a variety store.

The front portion of the building istypical of a popular commercialstyle of architecture which persist-ed from mid to late century and isusually associated with rowdwellings. Look at the dormers,one for each dwelling, and thecurved arch brick pattern abovethe windows. The rear addition ofthe building lacks the parapetwalls (low wall along the edge ofa roof) but contains ornamenta-tion on the woodwork, absentfrom the front portion. There isfretwork below the porch roofincorporating the spindle designs.Note the lines of the bargeboardand an intricate pattern in the tri-angle at the top of the gable.

486 Dufferin Avenuebuilt 1902 (designated)

This fine example of a romanticQueen Anne-style townhouse wasbuilt for George A. Mathewson,an executive with the London FreePress and later the LondonAdvertiser. The house is two-and-one-half storeys in height with athree-and-one-half storey cornerturret, topped by an unusually

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ornate skirted finial. The verandahextends across the front and sideand has a wooden ceiling.

499 Dufferin Avenuebuilt c 1881

This house was built for LemuelH. Ingram, a founder of theSmallman and Ingram DepartmentStore, and was long occupied bythe Ingram family. Its Victorianfeatures are enhanced by the glassenclosure of part of the extensivewrap-around porch. An L-shapedgable roof is punctuated by agabled dormer filled in with thesame half-timbered panelingthat exists in the façade gables.The gables are unusual in thatthe fascia line is broken atmidpoint. The north elevationtwo-storey bay is surroundedby wood moulding.

493 Dufferin Avenuebuilt 1902

Lemuel Ingram’s brother lived inthis house, built on the originalwest lawn of 499 Dufferin. Built in

the High Victorian style, there isan unusual gently-curved baywhich is dissected by windows.With its tripartite dormer andbalcony over the porch, thehouse radiates classic charm.

The Smallman and IngramDepartment Store, which becameone of the biggest in London, waseventually purchased bySimpson’s.

Turn north (left) onProspect Avenue

3 Prospect Avenuebuilt c 1880

This Italianate-style house wasonce the home of Charles J.Beal, an accountant at the HymanTannery. His son, Herbert, becamethe first principal of the technicalhigh school located on DundasStreet between William andMaitland. It later became hisnamesake.

Prospect Avenue was originallycalled Salter Street, named afterDr. John Salter, a druggist whoowned most of the properties onthe street. It is another streetwhich has kept its old atmosphereand charm. Note the hitchingrings in the curbs. These werealmost lost a few years ago whenthe street was re-paved, but savedand re-inserted at the request ofthe residents.

Imagine for a moment life inWoodfield a century ago. Youwould find yourself standing onwooden sidewalks on this street(replaced by concrete ones in1911 and 1913).

In winter, the only snow clearedwas on the sidewalks by a horse-drawn plough. Roads were notcleared and they flooded in thespring. The horses were arounduntil the Depression of the 1930s.

Children in the area went to LordRoberts School, which replacedthe former Princess Avenue Schoolin 1915. Lord Roberts was consid-ered innovative and at one timehad a swimming pool.

5, 7 and 9 Prospect Avenuebuilt c 1884(7 and 9 are designated)These three cottages on the westside of Prospect were built by thesame person. The owner occupiedthe middle one. This one is closestto its original state, still framewith a pretty porch. 5 Prospecthas been covered in vinyl sidingand the porch taken off, and 9Prospect has been pebble stuc-coed with a more recent porchadded on.

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26 Prospect Avenuebuilt c 1881 (designated)

This two-storey frame house wasbuilt for school inspector WilliamCarson who had purchased theland from John Salter (see photoof William Carson and his familyon page 18) The family of WilliamO. Carson, who was ChiefLibrarian of the London PublicLibrary from 1906-1916, lived hereuntil the present owners bought itin 1977. They added a small addi-tion to the south, but were carefulto fit it in with the rest of thehouse. On the outside, it is framewith a small mansard roof and thecorners have been shaped tomatch the bay on the front.

Note the paneled double doorsand the rope twist pattern aroundthe bay windows as well as theiron cresting.

The laneway to the north is typicalof many London laneways whichrun behind or along peoples’properties. The owners of 26Prospect still have the old right-of-way document from 1885 whichgives permission to drive all sortsof vehicles down the lane-waysuch as “sleighs, wagons andcarriages, laden or unladen, alsoto drive all manner of cattle andbeasts whatsoever by day orby night.”

36 Prospect Avenuebuilt 1878

This is possibly the oldest houseon Prospect Avenue built by JohnSalter. It was purchased by thegrandfather of Miss Howie, whowas born in this house in 1911and who lived here until themid 1990s.

489 Princess Avenuebuilt 1881

This Gothic-style clapboard houseat the corner of Princess andProspect has been called a“fantasy in wood.” It was built byLondon notable Charles F. Colwell,a printer who came to the city in1867. He worked for both theAdvertiser and the Free Pressbefore opening Colwell’s PopularMusic House.

One of Woodfield’s most uniqueproperties, the house featuresextensive classical mouldingaround doors and windows, afrieze with cornice brackets and

significant treillage in the frontgable in addition to a variety ofpediment styles on the windowheads. The dynamic façade istopped by unpredictable butcompatible rooflines. A pleasureto view.

Turn east (right) onPrincess Avenue

510 Princess Avenuebuilt 1882-83 (designated)

A fine example of domesticItalianate architecture, this housewas built for Reuben Brummit, ablacksmith and carriage-springmaker.

Note the (reproduction) hitchingpost on the boulevard in frontof the house. They were oncecommon in Woodfield.

507 Princess Avenuebuilt c 1885 (designated)

This High Victorian townhousewas built for William D. Taylor, a

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piano tuner. A Mr. Gibson oncelived here and was the first resi-dent in the neighbourhood to buya motorcar. He acquired his dri-ver’s license after merely drivingaround Victoria Park twice.

The porch is a later addition withtwin columns and Ionic capitals.Note the bull’s eye window in thegable. Cresting on top of the bayshas been removed.

522 Princess Avenuebuilt c 1890

This white brick townhouse wasbuilt in the Queen Anne style withstrong vertical lines accentuatedby a steep, hipped roof. The off-set front gable features decoratedfascia and bargeboard with asmall rectangular double windowsurmounted by brackets. Theupper windows, which are newand have lost their transoms, arecrowned with voussoirs. Note theoriginal stained glass windows atthe front and side of the house.The wooden shed-roof verandah issupported by slender turned woodcolumns and brackets. It featuresa gablet over the front entrance.

524 Princess Avenuebuilt c 1890

This medium-size Victorian househas elegant corbelled chimneyswhich pierce the gables of a medi-um hipped roof. There is an L-shaped gable with decoratedbargeboard and a small squareleaded window. The main win-dows are plate glass with leadedtransoms, voussoirs and shutters.The balcony and verandah havematching balustrades.

527 Princess Avenuebuilt 1899-1900 (designated)

This Queen Anne Revival was builtby architect J. M. Moore for FrankCooper, London’s leading portraitphotographer.

This massive 4,500 square-foothouse was once a nine-roomboarding house but has beenrestored by more recent ownerswho bought it in 1990. It is slight-ly asymmetrical with turrets andtowers and features six fireplaces.

529 Princess Avenuebuilt 1880 (designated)

This generally Italianate house wasbuilt for Dr. John Salter, the well-know “patriarch druggist” whodied in 1881. By 1884 it wasoccupied by Maxwell D. Fraser, anoted London barrister who had“easily one of the best practices inLondon.” It was later occupied byhis son Harrison G. Fraser.

Architect Moore rebuilt the brickkitchen and servants’ wing on thewest side c 1900 when he builtthe Cooper house (next door)where the Frasers formerly had atennis court.

Turn south (right)on William Street

515 William Streetbuilt between 1878 and 1881

This house is believed to be thework of George Durand and com-bines several styles of architecture.

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The regular roof and dominantfront gable are Queen Anne,whereas the cornice brackets andtall narrow windows are Italianate.Note the unusual semi-ellipticalshape of the verge board on thegable. The house features interest-ing keystones in the brick workabout the windows, nice trim andbay windows.

509 William Streetbuilt 1880 (designated)

This Italianate-style house wasbuilt for Rowland Dennis andremained in the Dennis familyuntil 1961. Dennis worked as ablacksmith but by 1890 he billedhimself as a maker of “ornamen-tal and architectural wire and ironwork including cresting, finials andvanes.” Presumably all the verydetailed cresting on this housewas made by Dennis’ shop.

Note the yellow brick coachhouse, decorated with barge-boards and bichromatic brickwork.This structure is shared with theowner’s neighbour.

Turn west (right) onDufferin Avenue

532 Dufferin Avenuebuilt c 1887 (designated)

A handsome example of aVictorian residence, it was built forRobert D. Millar, the secretary-treasurer of the Advertiser Printingand Publishing Co. The company’snewspaper, the London Advertiser,was a formidable competitor tothe London Free Press until 1936.

The house has many HighVictorian features such as theimmense and ornate bargeboardsin the gables and the lattice workon the verandah. The third floordormers are a recent addition.

518 Dufferin Avenuebuilt 1876

This High Victorian structure is aunique interpretation of theOntario cottage style. The house istaller than most cottages and thecentre bargeboard-trimmed gableis larger. Note the stained glasstransoms in the front windowsand over the front door. There is a

rural air about the white, paintedbrick house and it sits as an inter-esting contrast to the manyItalianate houses surrounding it.

510-512 Dufferin Avenuebuilt c 1880

This unique double house is setfurther back than the houses onadjacent properties. Double hous-es were not uncommon in 19th-century Woodfield. With theexception of the later porch addi-tion, the fine architectural featuresof this Italianate-style homeinclude twin, narrow semi-circularheaded windows in the centreabove the two main entrances.The other windows are segmental,capped by brick voussoirs andframed with shutters. Brickpilasters and entablature form aframe for the whole building.

506 Dufferin Avenuebuilt 1876

This simple Ontario cottage pres-ents an unchanged exterior to the

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street, belying a large addition tothe rear. The front door is centredunder a gable with a small semi-circular headed louvre within. Thetwo flanking front windows retainthe admirable proportions of thisstyle and are enhanced by glasstransoms. The façade is enlivenedby a gingerbread porch.

Turn south (left)on Peter Street

22 Peter Streetbuilt c 1870 (designated)

This clapboard house is an excel-lent example of a one-and-a-halfstorey Ontario farmhouse placedin an urban setting. It was built forOran Benson, a melodeon maker,and was later occupied by furni-ture maker Robert Bennett. Heinstalled the very handsome inlaidwooden floors inside. Later, thiswas the home of Evelyn Crooks,one of the original founders ofthe Woodfield CommunityAssociation. A plaque commemo-rating her contributions can befound at the base of the magnoliatree in the front yard.

23 Peter Streetbuilt c 1877 (designated)

Exceptionally fine example of anItalianate townhouse.Symmetrically balanced in compo-sition with a multi-paneled doorwith transom and sidelights pro-viding the principal focus of thestreet façade.

518 Queens Avenue (at Peter)built 1874

The Duffield mansion, built forJames Duffield who became an oilmillionaire when oil was found inPetrolia and London became arefinery town. It belonged to thesame family until 1940, but hassince served various institutionaluses. Presently, it is a comfortableretirement home.

It was built in the Second EmpireStyle, distinguished by themansard roof and a decoratedfrieze under the cornice.

The Coach House at 518 Queens

Although changed from it'soriginal use, the Duffield mansioncoach house still stands. If youlook closely, you can see wherethe old entrance has been filled inwith bricks. Generally, Woodfield’sremaining coach houses are notvisible from the street and most,while originally built to accommo-date horse and carriage havebeen converted to garages.

Turn west (right) onQueens Avenue

498 Queens Avenuebuilt 1973

A good example of what hasreplaced the disappearing London.A magnificent home from 1876,built by Durand’s architectural firmRobinson and Tracy, was torndown. See the original mansionon page 28.

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513 Queens Avenuebuilt c 1887

507 Queens Avenuebuilt 1887

513 and 507 Queens Avenuewere built in a mirror image. HighVictorian in style with gable roofsand bichromatic brickwork.

491-499 Queens AvenueThis terrace was completelyrenovated c 1970 for art patron

Gordon Jeffery. The reconstruc-tion included a large private musicroom, three stories high, in thewest part of the house. The musicroom incorporated a largeBaroque pipe organ (shownbelow). It was designed and builtby Gabriel Kney & Co. of London,Ontario for Gordon Jeffery. It wasa three manual organ with 54stops. After his death the organwas acquired by The Fathers ofthe Oratory of St. Philip of Neri,Holy Family Church in Toronto.The organ was adapted by GoberOrgans Incorporated of Elora,Ontario for their church.

Photo of organ courtesy ofGabriel Kney

466 and 468 Queens Avenuebuilt c 1878 and earlier

These two houses were actuallybuilt at different times. 468 is theoldest part. Its date of construc-tion is unknown at this time. 466was built c 1878. The elegantdoorways are original and thebeautiful rounded stained glasswindow is an early replacement.

408-410 Queens Avenuebuilt 1909

Designed by the eminent localarchitect John Moore as was itsneighbour, 400 Queens Avenue. Itis an impressive Late Victoriandouble house of red brick with alarge classical verandah. It wasbuilt for Arthur McClary, probablyas a rental property.

400 Queens Avenuebuilt c 1909

This simplified version of theQueen Anne style was built forOliver McClary’s son, Arthur. Thereis no tower, the front and sidebays project only slightly and theporch across the front of thehouse is symmetrical. Often in thepast, expensive houses were builton corner properties such as this.

Turn north (right)at Colborne

468 Colborne Streetbuilt 1902-1903

(The Mocha MosqueShriners Club)Built for John (Bamlet) Smallman,a founding partner in Smallmanand Ingram department store.

Smallman lived in this house untilhis death in 1916. Thereafter itwas occupied by his sisters until

the last of them died in the 1950s.The maiden sisters were driven outevery day by their coachman.

It is almost impossible to describeits architecture. It has been calleda “monumental Edwardian pile.”Note the round turret and massivegables.

Turn west (left) onDufferin Avenue tocontinue the tour

The optional shorttour also ends here

385 Dufferin Avenuebuilt 1907

This classic Queen Anne-style redbrick house features a cut-stonefoundation, strong semi-circulartower and a Palladian window onthe front façade. Window glass onboth floors has been rounded tofollow the curve of the tower.There is a two-storey square orielwindow on the west side of thehouse with a decorated base, partof which survives.

370 and 368 Dufferin Avenue370 built c 1864368 built c 1875

These houses are called the “sisterhouses” because they were builtby Alexander McLean for his twodaughters. Number 370 was builtfor Ellen Irvine. For years bothhouses were occupied by descen-dants of the McLeans. Both aresimple designs possibly reflectingthe sisters’ taste. Built as town-houses with few side windowsand elegant doorways. The door-way of number 368 is of mostimportance with its arched side-lights, deep curved mouldings andthe bull’s eye window above thedoor. Shutters add to the charm ofthe houses.

Pause at the corner ofDufferin Avenue andWaterloo Street to studythe corner properties

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509 Waterloo StreetCentral Secondary Schoolbuilt 1921

This building, designed inCollegiate Gothic, replaced an1878 school which burnedin 1920.

496 Waterloobuilt 1893

Another of London’s fine QueenAnne style homes, a style popularfrom the 1850s into the early1900s and known for assymetricalshapes achieved by placingtowers and gabled bays onto asquare form.

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484 Waterloo Streetbuilt c 1875

A large porch was later added tothe house. Note the enclosedupper balcony used as a sleepingporch. Other examples of sleepingporches can be found throughoutWoodfield.

477 Waterloo Streetbuilt c 1878

This Regency-style cottage display-ing a symmetrical façade and agable over the central entrancewas designed by WilliamRobinson. It was built forNathaniel Reid, a crockeryimporter, and later occupied byother prominent London familiessuch as the Carlings and HelenGibbons. One-and-a-half storeyswith low hip roof, centre door andlarge windows create classicdimensions.

Turn south (left) atWaterloo Street

471 Waterloo Streetbuilt 1910 – 1911

Built for R.D. McDonald, a cigarmanufacturer, this house displaysmany Neo-Classical details popularin this period particularly in the

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use of Corinthian columns.Designed by John Moore.

350 Queens AvenueFirst-St Andrew’sUnited Churchbuilt 1868-69

Designed by London architectWilliam Robinson, this largeGothic-style church is one of thethree churches built by a highly-fractured Presbyterian populationduring the 1860s. Many were ofScottish descent, by then one ofthe largest groups in the city andwell represented among the mer-chant class.

A provincial plaque noting the lifeof founder Reverend WilliamProudfoot is on the front lawn.

444 Waterloo Streetbuilt c 1875

Formerly the home of GeorgeDurand, a prominent Londonarchitect who designed many ofthe large mansions in Woodfieldand elsewhere in London in the1880s. A typical Italianate-stylebuilding, it has had several alter-ations made to the ground floor

Turn west (right) onQueens Avenue

305 Queens AvenueFormer Central Librarybuilt c 1939Influenced by the Art Deco style,the building has a smooth,streamlined look, almost devoid ofornamentation. The classicalcolumns of an earlier period arehere reduced to a fluted pilasterset between the windows. Thebuilding served as the CentralLibrary until 2002, and the upperlevel as London’s art gallery until1980. Above the door is Socrates,his beard stained with thedeadly hemlock.

300 Queens Avenuebuilt c 1876

Built for a Dundas Street hatmaker, Edmond Beltz, the buildingnow houses the swimming poolfor the neighbouring condomini-ums. It is an Italianate buildingwith paired brackets, a hip roofand a central tower, part of whichhas been lost.

Turn north (right) onWellington Street

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460 Wellington StreetThe former Hayman Courtapartmentsbuilt c 1910

460 Wellington Street is part ofthe apartment complex on theeast side of this intersection thatwas built between 1908 and1921. The complex is still as hand-some today as it was when it wasbuilt. It includes 440 WellingtonStreet on the north side of QueensAvenue and London’s first apart-ment houses, The Alexandra andVictoria on Queens Avenue.

They were built by John Hayman,an Englishman who settled inLondon in 1868. Four years later,he started his own contractingbusiness. Today, the family firmstill retains his name.

People and the City Monument1991 (on the median WellingtonStreet, between Dufferin Avenueand Queens Avenue)

This monument, designed byStuart Reid and DoreenBalabanoff, portrays a large num-ber of Londoners who have madecontributions to the city and toCanada in various fields. A plaqueidentifying each person is locatedon the boulevard adjacent to themonument.

468 Wellington StreetMetropolitan United Churchbuilt 1896

Originally known as FirstMethodist, the church would havecounted many of Woodfield’s resi-dents among its parishioners.Designed by Edmund Burke ofToronto, it is a Romanesque-stylebuilding, featuring a heavy, rusti-cated stone base and a series ofnarrow window openings in thetower. Much of the originalstained glass came from HobbsGlass, a London firm.

Enter Victoria Park at thesoutheast corner. To yourleft is 255 DufferinAvenue.

255 Dufferin AvenueFormer London Life head office(now Great-West Life)built 1926 with additions in1950 and 1964

In 1926, London Life decided tobuild a new office on the site oftwo large mansions facing VictoriaPark. Initially, the City opposedthe move but relented when thecompany began to considerrelocating to another city. Thecompany had been founded in1874 by a group of Londoninvestors led by Joseph Jeffery.

The building’s design, the work ofJohn M. Moore and his son O.Roy Moore, relies heavily on Neo-Classical elements including flutedcolumns with Corinthian capitals.Only the east half of the DufferinAvenue façade was completed in1927. A large addition, c 1950,designed by Mathers andHaldenby, extended the DufferinStreet façade and included aseven-storey tower behind it.The large Queens Avenue addi-tion, designed by the Marani,Morris and Allen firm, wasbegun in 1964.

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Continue walking towardthe middle of the park

Boer War Monument

Near the Boer War Monument aretwo cannons captured from theRussian army by British troops dur-ing the Crimean War. The thirdcannon is British.

Provincial Plaque

Near the north end of the park isa blue plaque describing theBritish Garrison that was stationedhere.

Return to the northeastcorner of Victoria Park