Upper Jarvis in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
James Cooper House (1881)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 11, 2025
1. James Cooper House (1881) Marker
Designed in the Second Empire style, this landmark building features a mansard roof with dormers and rich detailing in stone and wood. From its completion until 1894, it was the private residence of James Cooper, a partner in the prominent footwear manufacturing firm, Cooper and Smith. In 1910, the home was acquired by the Toronto Council of the Knights of Columbus, a Roman Catholic fraternal and mutual aid organization that remained here for the next 95 years. The house was then moved forward and incorporated by Tridel Group into a residential tower, completed in 2010.
Erected 2010 by Heritage Toronto.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Toronto Heritage series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.
Location. 43° 40.257′ N, 79° 22.587′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Upper Jarvis. It is on Sherbourne Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 582 Sherbourne Street, Toronto ON M4X 1K7, 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 Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sherbourne Blockhouse (about 180 meters away, measured in a direct line); Underground Railroad Restaurant (about 180 meters away); Church of St. Simon-the-Apostle (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); St. Pauls Anglican Church
this page online
Also see . . .
1. James Cooper House (Wikipedia). Of note:
James Cooper House is an historic house in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2008, the house became the heaviest residential structural relocation in Canadian history, when it was moved 20 feet (6.1 m) east and 5 feet (1.5 m) south from its original location. The relocation took place over two phases, moving east on September 25, 2008 and south on December 11, 2008, at a reported cost of CA$1 million.(Submitted on August 18, 2025.)
2. Inversion (Eldon Garnet). (Submitted on August 18, 2025.)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 11, 2025
2. James Cooper House and Marker
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 11, 2025
3. Wolf - part of Inversion, by Eldon Garnet (2011)
Surrounding the house is an art installation, Inversion, consisting of sculptures of a stag, doe, fox and wolf. As the artist notes, The multi-sited sculptural work, Inversion is a comment about our current, local relationship with this age old Canadian and particularly urban interaction with nature. Simply put, nature has now been turned on its head. The threat has gone, the desire is not to fortify our existence against the wilderness which has been tamed to disappearance, but rather, it is now a nostalgic desire to embrace what no longer exists.
The animals represented as realistic sculptural renderings in bronze are intended to invoke a pastoral past, inverted.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 109 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 18, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
