Bloor Annex in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Brunswick House

1908

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 1, 2025

1. Brunswick House Marker

Inscription. In 1874, Benjamin Hinchcliffe opened the first tavern on this site. It was a two storey, roughcast structure with a stable. In 1908, John Wilson Siddall designed the present building in the Edwardian Classical style. After Albert, Molly, and Morris Nightingale purchased the Brunswick House in 1965, it became a popular drinking and meeting place, especially among students and writers. For 27 years, "Rockin' Irene" Laviolette emceed wild evenings of singing, dancing, and a dizzying variety of other entertainments in the main bar, Pickle Alley. The upstairs jazz and blues room, Albert's Hall, hosted artists like Climax Jazz Band and Etta James. Other performers included Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Albert King, Carl Perkins, and k.d. lang, as well as many other blues and jazz legends. In the 1970s; the variety TV show Peter Appleyard Presents was also filmed here. "The Brunny" changed owners, was renovated, and reopened as a drugstore in 2017.

Erected by Heritage Toronto.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the

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Canada, Toronto Heritage series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.

Location. 43° 39.952′ N, 79° 24.436′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Bloor Annex. It is at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Brunswick Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Bloor Street West. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 396 Bloor Street W, Toronto ON M5S 1X4, 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,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in 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: Young Men’s - Young Women’s Hebrew Association (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); After the Spadina Expressway (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); “Stop Spadina Save Our City” (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Spadina Expressway (approx.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 1, 2025

2. Brunswick House Marker

0.3 kilometers away); Beverly Mascoll (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); 35 Walmer Road (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); 674 Markham Street (approx. half a kilometer away); Saint Thomas’s Anglican Church (approx. half a kilometer away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

The former Brunswick House in 2025 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 1, 2025

3. The former Brunswick House in 2025

Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 228 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 8, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.