Inclusion on the City of Toronto Inventory of

Heritage Properties - 548 Gerrard Street East (Don River)

The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (May 25, 1998) from the Managing Director, Toronto Historical Board:

Purpose:

This report recommends that the property at 548 Gerrard Street East be included on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Not applicable.

Recommendations:

1.That City Council include the property at 548 Gerrard Street East on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties.

2.That the appropriate officials be authorized to take whatever action is necessary to give effect hereto.

Background:

In October, 1997, Heritage Toronto was requested to consider the property at 548 Gerrard Street East for inclusion on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties. The property is occupied by the St. Matthew's Lawn Bowling Club which celebrates its centenary in 1999.

As outlined in the attached report to the Board of Heritage Toronto (May 11, 1998), Heritage Toronto staff researched and evaluated the property according to the Board's criteria; it is worthy of inclusion on the Inventory of Heritage Properties as a Neighbourhood Heritage Property (Category C).

Comments:

The City Parks and Recreation Department was notified about the request but did not appear at the May 20, 1998 meeting of Heritage Toronto. The Board recommended that the property be added to the Inventory of Heritage Properties. The property at 548 Gerrard Street East (St. Matthew's Lawn Bowling Club) is identified for architectural and historical reasons as an important example of vernacular architecture in the Riverdale neighbourhood overlooking the Don River.

Conclusion:

Heritage Toronto recommends that City Council include the property at 548 Gerrard Street East on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties as a Neighbourhood Heritage Property.

Contact Name:

Ms. Kathryn Anderson

Preservation Officer, Historical Preservation Division, Toronto Historical Board

Tel: 392-6827, ext. 239

Fax: 392-6834

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(Report dated May 11, 1998 from the Managing Director, Heritage Toronto, addressed to the Chair and Members, Toronto Historical Board)

Recommendation

That the property at 548 Gerrard Street East (St. Matthew's Lawn Bowling Club) be recommended for inclusion on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties.

Comments

1.Background:

In October, 1997, former City of Toronto Councillor Peter Tabuns requested Heritage Toronto to assist a constituent in completing the documentation to nominate the property at 548 Gerrard Street East for inclusion on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties. The property is identified for convenience purposes as #2 St. Matthew's Road. The St. Matthew's Lawn Bowling Club celebrates its centenary in 1999.

2.Discussion:

The property at 548 Gerrard Street East was evaluated according to the Board's criteria which indicates that it is worthy of inclusion on the Inventory of Heritage Properties as a Neighbourhood Heritage Property.

A Property Research Summary is attached.

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HERITAGE TORONTO

PROPERTY RESEARCH SUMMARY

Basic Building Data:

Address:548 Gerrard Street East (northeast corner of Gerrard Street East and St. Matthew's Road)

Ward:25

Current Name:St. Matthew's Lawn Bowling Club

Historical Name:St. Matthew's Lawn Bowling Club

Construction Date:1906

Architect:Robert McCallum, City Architect (attribution)

Contractor/Builder:none found

Additions/Alterations:1926, interior alterations (conversion from electricity to natural gas); date unknown, one lawn bowling green converted to horseshoe pitch

Original Owner:City of Toronto

Original Use:recreational (clubhouse)

Current Use*:recreational (clubhouse)

Heritage Category:Neighbourhood Heritage Property (Category C)

Recording Date:May 1998

Recorder:HPD:KA

*this does not refer to permitted use(s) as defined in the Zoning By-law

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Property Research Summary

Description:

The property at 548 Gerrard Street East is identified for architectural and historical reasons. Historical records indicate that St. Matthew's Lawn Bowling Club was incorporated in 1905, although it was purportedly founded in 1899. An historical photograph in the possession of the club shows the site in operation in 1906. Developed on property owned by the City of Toronto, the design of the clubhouse is attributed to Robert McCallum, City Architect.

The St. Matthew's Lawn Bowling Clubhouse is a wood frame cottage clad with horizontal wood siding. With a rectangular plan, the building rises 1½ stories above a raised basement with an entrance on the south end. The clubhouse is covered by a gable roof with ventilators in the gable ends (north and south), a centre gable on the east façade, and a tall brick chimney on the west side. A single-storey hipped roof verandah wraps around the south, east and north facades to extend past the west wall of the building. The verandah has paired wood posts with brackets supported on brick piers, a decorative wood balustrade, and latticework screens along the base and at the north and west ends. The verandah is enclosed at the north end beneath a shed roof. Two entrances with wood doors are found on the east façade, and the south entry has double wood doors. Flat-headed window openings with double sash windows are introduced on all walls.

The property at 548 Gerrard Street East is located at the northeast corner of Gerrard Street East and St. Matthew's Road in Riverdale Park. To the east, the Don Jail at 550 Gerrard Street East and Riverdale Public Library at 370 Broadview Avenue are included on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties. The St. Matthew's Lawn Bowling Club is an important example of vernacular architecture in the Riverdale neighbourhood overlooking the Don River.

(Copies of map and photographs attached hereto, are on file in the office of the City Clerk.)