Toronto's Great Fires of 1849, 1871, 1904 and 1977!

**The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $95.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email
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** Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket price when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:
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The destruction of Toronto's downtown started on a windy, cold night in early spring. The above sentence sounds like a mystery novel set in Victorian England. But things were about to heat up in old hog town on that April evening. As the workday ended at the E&S Currie Neckwear company on Wellington Street at Bay Street, on April 19, 1904, a tiny flicker of light spelled disaster for the entire city.

A police officer on the downtown beat spotted smoke and flames at precisely 8 pm. He headed to the emergency call box on King Street at Bay to alert the fire department, but by then, the fire had spread to the adjacent buildings. The fire department responded to a fiery nightmare as most of Wellington Street was already in flames. Moreover, the night was turning colder, and a stiff wind blew in from the north. Toronto's second great fire was about to explode out of control.

Toronto was well aware of the dangers of fire. In April of 1849, a small fire started in stables near the corner of Jarvis and King Streets and destroyed the old downtown including St. James Church, and the market. By the time the fire was out most of the core of the old city was in ashes. Toronto, after the great fire of 1849, was a different place. The old town was centred around St. James Church, and the commercial district was then on King Street East. With the great fire and its aftermath, there was a shift west, both physically and emotionally; the central core moved to Yonge and King Streets as the city spread. Now the heart of the business district was at risk once again. And the stakes were much higher.

The fire that had started at the E&S Currie Neckwear Company spread quickly along both sides of Wellington Street, as far as Yonge Street to the east and York Street to the west. But with a stiff wind blowing, embers touched off other fires to the south and southeast, threatening the historic Bank of Montreal building at Yonge and Front Streets. Ships docked at the Yonge Street and Church Street piers were moved to safety, and documents from the old customs house were packed up and moved to other venues around the city. Some business owners who had managed to get into their businesses removed precious documents before the flames engulfed their premises.

Firefighters held their ground at several points, putting up fire lines, including Yonge Street just feet west of the old Bank and around the majestic Queen's Hotel. Help came in the form of Queen's Hotel guests, and staff as they moved from room to room and tore down draperies, and dampened the wooden window sills. Their efforts saved the Queen's Hotel and possibly the rest of the downtown, including the old Union Station south of Front Street. Had the Queen's Hotel been destroyed, the rest of the city may have been destroyed as well.

Eight hours after the fire was first spotted, it was brought under control. Residents and business owners fled to the downtown core to watch their lives go up in smoke. Thousands of curious people crowded the streets around the burned area. Toronto would have to be rebuilt, and fire would be tamed through laws and building restrictions. But out of the great fire of 1904, a new modern city emerged; one such building was the new Union Station which was built on the ruins. The city hasn't suffered a great fire like the one in 1904, but came close to disaster in 1977, with the Eaton's Annex fire. That fire just about destroyed the new Eaton Centre. Where would we shop, that is the question of the day? and let's not forget 1871. And everyone thought Toronto was boring!

This walk is for all fitness levels. Please dress for the weather. This walk begins and ends outside St. James Cathedral at 106 King Street East at Church Street.

This tour has a ticketed price of $15.00 per person!

** Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket price when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:
torontohistorywalks@gmail.com