St. Lawrence in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Consumers’ Gas Company Purifying House

1888

Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 12, 2025

1. Consumers’ Gas Company Purifying House Marker

Inscription. Designed in the Renaissance Revival style by architects Strickland & Symons, this building was part of a major expansion of the Consumers’ Gas Company manufacturing plant. The final stages of coal gas production took place in the Purifying House, where impurities were removed from the gas prior to its sale for heating and lighting. Gas production ceased here in the 1950s. In 1985, the building was adapted for use by the Canadian Opera Company.

Designated under the Ontario Heritage Act 1976

Erected 2011 by Heritage Toronto.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Toronto Heritage series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.

Location. 43° 39.061′ N, 79° 21.879′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in St. Lawrence. It is at the intersection of Front Street East and Berkeley Street, on the right when traveling east on Front Street East. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 239 Front Street East, Toronto ON M5A 1E8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in Greater Toronto

and on the Golden Horseshoe.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Standard Woollen Mills Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Consumers’ Gas Company Engine and Pump House (within shouting distance of this marker); Consumers’ Gas Company Condenser House (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); 219-221 Front Street (about 90 meters away); Reid Lumber Company (about 120 meters away); Tavern and Druggist Shop (about 120 meters away); Ontario’s First Parliament Buildings / Les premiers édifices du parlement de l’Ontario (about 150 meters away); Consumers’ Gas Company Water Gas Purification House (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

Also see . . . 227 Front Street East (Jamie Bradburn’s Tales of Toronto).

Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 12, 2025

2. Consumers’ Gas Company Purifying House Marker

Consumers Gas purchased much of the land on the south side of Front between Berkeley and Trinity streets and quickly built a complex of processing facilities eventually known as Station A. Among them was a purifying house built in 1887 at the southwest corner of Front and Berkeley. Designed by the firm of Strickland & Symons, the building was styled to resemble a basilica. As architectural writer Patricia McHugh observed a century later, the building and its neighbouring facilities were “striking reminders of how architecturally accomplished utilitarian factories can be.

(Submitted on April 16, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Former Consumers’ Gas Company Purifying House (currently used by the Canadian Opera Company), 2025 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 12, 2025

3. Former Consumers’ Gas Company Purifying House (currently used by the Canadian Opera Company), 2025

Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 193 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 16, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.