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  • Archives

  • December22nd

    Canada Linseed

    Posted in: Articles, General

    Canada Linseed

    Not much is written about this old Linseed Oil Mill located in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto. Shut down in the 60s, it’s a 3-level structure that features enormous wooden doors on slider rails, extremely tight staircases that lead all the way up to the rooftop, a defunct elevator, and graffiti – both tagging and artistic – on every inch of wall space. There is a basement – but when I photographed the location for Building Storeys 2010 on a blistery, sleet-driven day in November it was flooded and freezing cold.

    This location is in great structural shape and, with some vision, time, and effort, be converted into an amazing work/live space akin to 401 Richmond. There is a community group – Build Wabash Now! – that is rallying to reuse the building and turn it into the Wabash Community Recreation Centre. At a cost of between $13-$20 million, the concepts are bold and incorporate ideas of renovation to the building and addition of new space. It is interesting to not that the most expensive scenario involves demolition of the historical site instead of restoration.

    Whatever happens, it will be a slow process – the group presented their design ideas back in 2003. The longer the city takes to move on this project, the more the building will deteriorate from neglect and vandalism. With holes in the roof on the top floor letting in waterfalls of water whenever it rains, the great potential of saving and reusing one of the last remaining industrial buildings in the city rots slowly away, taking with it not only a piece of Toronto’s industrial history, but an underserved neighbourhood’s hopes for a stronger, healthier, more vibrant community.

  • November29th

    Muskoka Sanitarium

    Posted in: Articles, General

    Around the turn of the century, many people believed that locations such as Muskoka, with its quality of air and natural surroundings, were ideal locations for those suffering from lung diseases to recuperate. At this time tuberculosis, also known as consumption, was a leading cause of death in the industrialized world.

    Built by Sir William Gage, the original Muskoka Cottage Sanitarium was situated on the shores of Lake Muskoka, near the town of Gravenhurst. It opened in 1897 and housed 35 patients, from both Canada and the United States. As the need for beds grew, a newer larger hospital was built by the Provincial Government in 1904 on the same site and renamed the Muskoka Free Hospital for Consumptives – the first free hospital of its kind in the world.

    The hospital operated in the original buildings until 1920, when a fire struck the premises on November 29. The infirmary and most of the central administration building burnt down. The infirmary was temporarily housed in the patient’s recreational centre until the hospital could be rebuilt. The complex was expanded to house surgical facilities, a lab, and several service buildings.

    With a decrease in tuberculosis in the 60s, the occupancy of the San decreased as well and the 62-acre site was acquired by the Ontario Department of Health to serve as an extension of the Ontario Hospital School at Orillia. The hospital’s main focus shifted to the treatment of mental health and for 30 years it treated over 250 female patients at the Muskoka site. By 1978, the province was pushing for de-institutionalization and eventually the complex closed in 1994.

    The Muskoka Sanitarium’s rich history is still evident today as the original buildings are evident on the 62-acre spit that juts out into Lake Muskoka. Although the exteriors of the buildings are in good condition, the interiors have been ravaged by time and the elements and are in dire need of restoration. Some of the buildings are still being used by the Ontario Provincial Police for SWAT tactical training and the grounds are used for “K-9″ Unit training.

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