Corktown in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Consumers’ Gas Company Water Gas Purification House

circa 1899

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 3, 2025

1. Consumers’ Gas Company Water Gas Purification House Marker

Inscription. Prior to the use of natural gas, the Consumers' Gas Company complex that once dominated this area produced both coal gas and water gas to provide light and fuel for Toronto. This building was constructed for the final purification process of water gas. Given the risk of explosions caused by gas leaks, James H, Hill, the building's architect, skilfully integrated natural ventilation into the structure's Renaissance Revival design. Fresh air entered the plant through brick grilles below, and metal louvres above, the first floor windows, and exited through two brick chimneys and through clerestory louvres running along the upper roof. The Water Gas Purification House was vacated by Consumers' Gas after the company became a natural gas retailer in the 1950s. In 2004-2005, the building was rehabilitated as a new facility for the Toronto Police Service, Designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, 1978

Erected 2008 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 1899.

Location. 43° 39.11′ N,

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79° 21.763′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Corktown. It is at the intersection of Parliament Street and Front Street East, on the right when traveling north on Parliament Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 51 Parliament St, Toronto ON M5A 0B2, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, 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: 403 King Street E. (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Tavern and Druggist Shop (about 120 meters away); Reid Lumber Company (about 150 meters away); Enoch Turner Schoolhouse / École Enoch Turner (about 150 meters away); Consumers’ Gas Company Engine and Pump House (about 150 meters away); Little Trinity Church (about 180 meters

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 3, 2025

2. Consumers’ Gas Company Water Gas Purification House Marker

Marker is at the lower left of the building.

away); Consumers’ Gas Company Condenser House (about 180 meters away); Consumers’ Gas Company Purifying House (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

Also see . . . Toronto- City of Gas, 1909-1936 (spacing.ca).

In Toronto, a private firm, Consumers Gas, had a monopoly on the distribution of town gas between its incorporation in 1848 and the introduction of natural gas delivered by pipeline from the United States in 1954. During that period, its high-pressure distribution system allowed it to serve the growing city from two coal gasification plants, Station A at Front and Berkeley Streets (on the site of Ontario’s first parliament building) and Station B, at Eastern Avenue and Booth, just east of the Don Valley.

(Submitted on May 5, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Former Consumers’ Gas Company Water Gas Purification House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 3, 2025

3. Former Consumers’ Gas Company Water Gas Purification House

Adaptive reuse as the Toronto Police Serve 51 Division

Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 5, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 152 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 5, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.