Old Town in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Little York Hotel

1880

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 3, 2025

1. Little York Hotel Marker

Inscription. Toronto architecture firm Langley, Langley & Burke designed this building and its accompanying stables on George Street. It is a rare example of decorative Second Empire architecture, with intricately carved keystones over the windows. Robert Waterhouse was the first owner of the Little York Hotel, which was also known as the York Hotel or Toronto House. Robert Davies, owner of Dominion Brewery, bought it in 1885. It stayed a hotel until 1930. Designated in 1979 under the Ontario Heritage Act

Erected 2022 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 1880.

Location. 43° 39.038′ N, 79° 22.231′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Old Town. It is at the intersection of George Street and King Street East, on the right when traveling north on George Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 187 King St E, Toronto ON M5A 4L8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker

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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: Home District School (here, next to this marker); The First Ten Blocks of York (within shouting distance of this marker); The Great Fire of 1849 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Daniel Brooke Building (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); George Brown College (about 120 meters away); 61-75 Jarvis Street (about 120 meters away); Underground Railroad Restaurant (about 120 meters away); The Bank of Upper Canada Building / L'édifice de la Banque du Haut-Canada (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

Also see . . . Little York Hotel, Stables and Coach House (Hiking the GTA).

The site of the building is Lot 20 on the original town
Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 3, 2025

2. Little York Hotel Marker
plan and it was patented to Richard Beasley in 1805. Beasley quickly sold it to Rev. George O’Kill Stuart who opened the Home District School there and operated it from 1807-1817. George Duggan bought the school in 1817 and turned it into a tavern. Over the next 62 years it was the site of taverns, hotels, a grocery store and even a furniture store. In 1879 Robert Waterhouse bought the property and put out a tender to build a new hotel. In May the local architectural firm of Langley, Langley & Burke began contracting the construction of the four story hotel in the Second Empire style that they were using on several other buildings around town at the time. Unfortunately, all those other buildings have been demolished already leaving this as the sole survivor.

(Submitted on May 4, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

George Street looking toward King Street, 1885, the Little York Hotel is at the far left image. Click for full size.

May 4, 2025

3. George Street looking toward King Street, 1885, the Little York Hotel is at the far left

Toronto Public Library

Former Little York Hotel, 2025 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 3, 2025

4. Former Little York Hotel, 2025

Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 4, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 259 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 4, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.