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Adelaide Street Court House

1852 establishments in CanadaBuildings and structures in TorontoCourthouses in CanadaFormer courthousesGovernment buildings completed in 1852
Neoclassical architecture in Canada
Adelaide Court
Adelaide Court

The Adelaide Street Court House, or York County Court House, is a historic former courthouse located at 57 Adelaide Street East in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It served as a court house from 1852 until 1900. It currently houses Terroni restaurant.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Adelaide Street Court House (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Adelaide Street Court House
Spice Mill Lane, Toronto

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Wikipedia: Adelaide Street Court HouseContinue reading on Wikipedia

Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 43.650878 ° E -79.375623 °
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Address

Spice Mill Lane
M5C 2R1 Toronto
Ontario, Canada
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linkWikiData (Q4681789)
linkOpenStreetMap (62058558)

Adelaide Court
Adelaide Court
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Toronto Mechanics' Institute
Toronto Mechanics' Institute

The Toronto Mechanics' Institute, originally named the York Mechanics' Institute, was an educational institution in 19th century Toronto that became the city's first public library. It was one of a series of mechanics' institutes that were set up around the world after becoming popular in Britain. Established in 1830, it was designed to provide technical and adult education.Paying members had access to lectures, courses, and a library. In 1853 the Institute erected a new permanent home at the corner of Church and Adelaide Streets, but it struggled to attract new paying members. In 1883 the Institute was thus transformed into a municipally-supported public reference library. The idea was promoted by alderman John Hallam, but it met considerable resistance in city council. No other city in Canada at this time had a completely free public library. Hallam brought the initiative to a public referendum, and the citizens of Toronto voted in its favour on January 1, 1883. The 5,000 book collection of the Mechanics' Institute became the first books of the Toronto Public Library and James Bain was selected as the first chief librarian. As chief librarian, he focused on building the library's special collection documenting Canadian history. He also applied to Andrew Carnegie for a grant to build more branches and to replace the Mechanics' Institute as the central reference library. The building remained the main branch of the Toronto Public Library until 1909 when the Carnegie grant allowed the library to open its new location at College and St. George (today the Koffler Centre). It remained a library branch until 1927, and was torn down in 1949. Today a condominium complex (84 Adelaide Street East) stands on the site, although it is marked with a heritage plaque.