Guildwood: Where buildings go when they die

[J]

Toronto used to have a lot more pretty buildings than it does nowadays, many of them were torn down to build the skyscrapers which form our modern downtown core & business district. However, pieces of these buildings were saved by Rosa & Herbert Spencer Clark and placed throughout their property which was then donated to the Ontario Heritage Foundation shortly before their deaths. This property is now Guildwood Park.


Back entrance








Part of the Greek Theatre




Sculpture thingy and Temple Building








Part of a bank building
















Closer view of the statue




Marble column








Marble entranceway




Greek Theatre








Provincial sculptures












More columns








Part of the old Toronto Star building

[Phantasee]

I like this one. What's it from?

[muse]

I like this one. What's it from?

We have no idea. There's some similar ones on the old Bank of Nova Scotia building which is still standing so it might be from an earlier BNS building. Could be from anywhere though.

[Isolder74]

What no bits of Grand Central Station?

[Phantasee]

While Toronto might think it's New York, it really isn't. And last I checked, Grand Central was still standing and whole.

[Isolder74]

Sorry I was thinking of this one.
Got the two mixed up.

Penn Station
The other, even grander railway station - Penn Station - was built in 1902-1911 after a design by Charles McKim. In an act of vandalism, the monumental landmark was destroyed in 1963-1966 and replaced by a banal railway station and office tower.

Grand Central Terminal almost suffered a similar fate but thanks to New York City's new landmark preservation laws - implemented in part thanks to the outcry over the demolition of Penn Station, the building was able to escape the wrecking ball.

[RedImperator]

The only surviving pieces of old Penn Station, besides a few bits in the new station (railings, a few signs, the main concourse's glass block floor) are 14 eagle sculptures (including four that ended up in Philadelphia) and, I think, one of the caryatids. That's it. The rest is in a dump in Seacaucus.

[J]

I like this one. What's it from?

According to the brochure it's from the North American Life Assurance Company.

---

A few more pictures from today's visit



A defaced sculpture




Entranceway sculpture




Limestone Mobius Loop




Bank of Toronto






Lintel from the Bank of Toronto building