Queen's Hotel, Toronto

The Queen's Hotel was a large hotel, in Toronto, Ontario, located on the north side of Front Street, between Bay and York streets - the current site of the Royal York Hotel.[1] In 1927 Canadian Pacific Railways acquired the Queen's Hotel, across the street from the newly opened Union Station, so it could demolish it, and build a larger hotel.

History

In 1844 four rowhouses, designed by J ohn Howard, were combined to form a hotel, which opened as "Sword's Hotel", in 1856.[1] In 1860 the hotel was renamed the "Revere House".[2] The hotel was purchased, and renovated, by Thomas Dick, and renamed the "Queen's Hotel" in 1862. The Hotel was considered luxurious, and hosted prominent guests, including the Prince of Wales.

During the American Civil War the hotel was very popular with Americans from the Confederacy.[3] Some accounts assert Southerners had booked the entire hotel. The hotel served as an informal headquarters for Confederate Secret Service activities in neutral Canadian territory against the United States during the Civil War.[4]

At its height it provided 210 rooms, a restaurant, and extensive gardens.[1] It was the first hotel in Canada to have elevators installed.[2]

See also

References
  1. Jamie Bradburn (2008-11-01). "Historicist: Royal Accommodations". Torontoist. Archived from the original on 2018-11-12. Retrieved 2018-11-11.
  2. Mike Filey (2003). "Toronto Sketches 7: The Way We Were". Dundurn Press. p. 16-18. ISBN 9781550024487. Archived from the original on 2018-11-12. Retrieved 2018-11-11.
  3. Kevin Plummer (2011-05-21). "Historicist: Confederates and Conspirators". Torontoist. Archived from the original on 2018-11-12. Retrieved 2018-11-11. With more than 100 Southerners renting out the entire hotel, residents included both aristocratic refugees and fugitive soldiers who'd escaped Northern prison camps.
  4. Kevin Plummer (May 21, 2011). "Historicist: Confederates and Conspirators". Torontoist.

43°38′47.1″N 79°22′52.3″W

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