Colborne Lodge facts for kids
Colborne Lodge in 2009
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| Established | 1890 |
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| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Type | Historic house museum |
Colborne Lodge is a cool old house in Toronto, Canada, that is now a museum. It's located inside High Park. A famous architect and engineer named John George Howard built this house in 1836. After he passed away in 1890, the house became a property of the city.
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What is Colborne Lodge?
Colborne Lodge was built in 1836 by John George Howard, who was the City Surveyor. He built it for himself and his wife, Jemima Frances Meikle. The house sits on top of a hill and looks out over Lake Ontario.
The Unique Design of the Lodge
The house is a great example of the Regency cottage style. It was one of the first buildings of its kind in the area. This small house was designed to blend in with the nature around it. This was very different from the formal Georgian architecture that was popular back then. The house first had only one floor, but Howard later added an upper level.
Who Was Colborne Lodge Named After?
The house got its name from Sir John Colborne. He was the Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada from 1828 to 1836. He was also the first person to support Howard's architecture. Next to the house, you can find the Colborne Lodge gardens. The Howards created these beautiful gardens themselves.
The Land Around Colborne Lodge
The cottage was built on a large piece of land, about 165 acres (0.67 square kilometers), that Howard owned. He first wanted to start a farm there and even kept some animals. Later, he tried to divide his land into smaller pieces to sell them and create a new neighborhood.
Why Was the Land Hard to Develop?
At that time, the area was quite far from downtown Toronto. It was also hard to travel to and from the city. Howard himself had another home in the city center. The land itself also made it difficult to build on. It had steep hills, wet areas, and sandy soil.
How Did the City Get the Park?
John George Howard and his wife did not have any children. So, in 1873, they gave their property to the city. In return, the city gave them a regular payment for the rest of their lives. Howard continued to live in the house until he died in 1890. The city bought more land in 1873 and 1930. This helped expand the park to its current size of about 399 acres (1.61 square kilometers).
The Howard Tomb
Howard and his wife are buried in a stone monument called the Howard Tomb. It overlooks Grenadier Pond. Howard designed this monument himself. The fence gate for the tomb is very special. It originally came from St Paul's Cathedral in London, England. The famous architect Christopher Wren designed it in 1714. Howard had it shipped from London in 1875.
Colborne Lodge Today
Today, Colborne Lodge is a museum run by the City of Toronto. The museum shows what a house and its furniture looked like in the 1800s. Many of the items on display belonged to the Howards themselves, including their furniture and artworks.
Fun Events at the Museum
The museum hosts a yearly Harvest Festival. They also have summer camps and March break camps for kids. Every Halloween, guides lead a "Haunted Walk" where they share stories about ghosts that are said to appear at the Lodge.
See also
