Downtown Yonge East in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Consumers' Gas Company Building

1852 (with later additions)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 28, 2022

1. Consumers' Gas Company Building Marker

Inscription.
This building was the headquarters of the Consumers’ Gas Company for 125 years. It was built in stages between 1852 and 1899 on what was one of Toronto’s principal financial streets. Architect Joseph Sheard designed the first building at 17 Toronto Street and 24 years later, architect David Brash Dick designed an addition at 19 Toronto Street. In 1899, Dick unified the appearance of the buildings with a Renaissance Revival-style façade that included Corinthian pilasters, ornate windows, and columns made of granite from the Bay of Fundy. The ground-floor hall, decorated with an intricate mosaic floor and brass teller’s cages, was a customer service area. Offices were located on the upper floors. The Consumers’ Gas Company initially provided Toronto with street lighting; in 1879, it expanded to serve homes and businesses as well. After the Consumers’ Gas Company moved in 1977, the structure deteriorated. In 1983, it was renovated by the architecture firm Stone & Kohn.

Designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, 1977

Erected 2016 by Heritage Toronto.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1952.

Location. 43° 39.024′ N, 79°

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22.568′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Downtown Yonge East. Marker is on Toronto Street just north of Court Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the old Consumers' Gas Building, just to the right/south of the front entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 19 Toronto Street, Toronto ON M5C 2R1, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Consumers' Gas 150th Anniversary (here, next to this marker); York's Second Jail (within shouting distance of this marker); Toronto Post Office/Le bureau de poste de Toronto (within shouting distance of this marker); Excelsior Life Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Adelaide Street Court House (within shouting distance of this marker); York's First Jail (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); The King Edward Hotel / L'hôtel King Edward (about 120 meters away); Toronto's Eighth Post Office (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. Consumers' Gas Building.

The Italianate/neo-Renaissance style Consumers' Gas Building at 19 Toronto Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada was first built in 1852, as the Consumers Gas company's head office. The 19 Toronto Street
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 28, 2022

2. Heritage Canada Foundation Marker
(mounted below the historical marker)
1984 National Award of Honour
to the
Counsel Trust Company
for
19 Toronto Street
façade, designed by David B. Dick, was added to the north in 1876, and the unified façade treating the two structures as one was built by Dick, 1899.

(Submitted on March 3, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. The Consumers' Gas Company of Toronto.

Today Consumers' Gas Company Ltd. distributes natural gas to over 1 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in south central and eastern Ontario, western Quebec, and northern New York State. Consumers Gas also explores for and produces oil and gas, maintains underground storage facilities, and contracts well drilling for oil and gas. Looking toward the future, the hold that Consumers Gas has on the Canadian natural gas market — the world's largest — is expected to grow. According to the Geological Survey of Canada, about 40 percent of potential natural gas reserves in western Canada are still undiscovered.

(Submitted on March 3, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 28, 2022

3. Consumers' Gas Company Building Marker

(markers are between the #19 and #17 entrances)

Consumers' Gas Company Building (<i>west/front elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 28, 2022

4. Consumers' Gas Company Building (west/front elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 3, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 193 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 3, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.