Campbell House (Toronto) facts for kids
Campbell House is a very old and special house in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was built in 1822. Today, it is a museum where you can learn about history. The house was built for Sir William Campbell, who was a very important judge in a place called Upper Canada. His wife, Hannah, also lived there. The house was made to be comfortable and a great place for parties. It shows a style of building called Georgian architecture, which was popular a long time ago.
Contents
History of Campbell House
Where it All Began
Campbell House was not always in its current spot. It first stood about 1.5 kilometers (almost a mile) southeast of where it is now. This was at 64 Duke Street, which is now Adelaide Street East. It was a grand building at the end of Frederick Street, making a beautiful view.
Sir William Campbell passed away in 1834. His wife, Lady Campbell, then owned the house. After Lady Campbell passed away in 1844, the house and everything inside were sold. The money went to their children. For most of the 1800s, the house was a private home. Many important people lived there, like James Gordon and John Strathy.
A Changing Neighborhood
By 1890, the area around Campbell House started to change. It became a place with many businesses and factories. So, the house was no longer a private home. It was used as offices and even a factory by different companies. These included Hobbs Glass Company and Masco Elevator Company.
Saving a Piece of History
In 1972, the company that owned the house, Coutts-Hallmark Greeting Cards, wanted to tear it down. They needed more space for a parking lot. But before they could, they offered the house to anyone who could move it. A group of lawyers, called the Advocates Society, decided to save it.
They found a new spot for the house at University Avenue and Queen Street West. On March 30, 1972, the huge house, weighing 270 tons, was moved. It traveled 1,617 meters (about a mile) to its new home. This was a huge event! Many people came to watch as it closed several streets in downtown Toronto.
A New Beginning
After being carefully restored, the house was officially opened on June 28, 1974. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, was there for the special event.
Saving Campbell House was a very important moment for protecting old buildings in Toronto. In the 1950s and 1960s, many old homes were being torn down quickly. People worried that soon there would be no 19th-century buildings left. The amazing move of Campbell House showed people that old buildings could be saved. This inspired many Torontonians to protect other important landmarks. In 2018, an outdoor exhibit called Lost and Found was put in the Campbell House gardens to remember this.
Today, the City of Toronto government owns Campbell House. The Sir William Campbell Foundation runs it as a historic house museum. It used to be a club for the Advocates Society. The house also hosts art shows and other events. For example, in 2013, Canadian artist Harley Valentine had a show there called Barbarians at the Gate.
See also
