Spadina Museum Brings Visitors Back in Time
Located on Toronto’s popular Spadina Road, atop of Davenport Hill, is Spadina Museum, also known as Spadina House. The 19th century country estate was once owned by Dr. William Baldwin after being passed through several prominent leaders and planners of the town of York. The name “Spadina” derives from the native term “ishapadenah," meaning hill. Dr. Baldwin built a two-storey frame house which was lost in a fire in 1835; he later replaced it with a smaller home.
In 1866 the property was purchased at a public auction by prominent businessman and financier James Austin, founder of Dominion Bank and Consumers Gas. The Austins and their children used the 80 acres of land for farming. In total, four generations of the Austin family lived in Spadina House. In 1978, the last living resident transferred the house, its furnishings and remaining acreage to the city of Toronto and the province of Ontario.
The house itself went through various changes and additions over the years. In 1898, an extension saw the addition of a new kitchen, pantry and a custom-designed 35-foot billiard room. In 1912, the son of James Austin and Susan Bright Austin, along with his wife, added a third storey to the home which included two large bedrooms with adjoining sitting rooms, servants’ quarters, a greenhouse, terrace, garage and landscaping.
Spadina House embodied several architectural styles including Second Empire, Victorian and Edwardian and was one of the many prestigious Victorian houses located on Davenport Hill. The neighbourhood was an elite community with many of the Austin’s family members residing there.
Spadina House opened as a public museum in 1984, and has since become a celebrated city landmark. In Fall 2010 the museum was reopened after 10 months of extensive interior renovations. The City of Toronto invested $600,000 towards the revitalization of Spadina Museum. Renovations included several physical restorations throughout the house.
Today, a visit to Spadina Museum brings visitors back in time and educates them on the story of the Austin family, their historic connection to Toronto, and how they lived during the 1920’s and 1930’s -- the only museum in the city representing this era. The museum also features furniture, original family artifacts, family records and documentations left behind. And the museum’s Thematic Exploration programs explore the city’s experiences during this time period, including the Birth of the Modern Age, Social Welfare, Scandal and Morality, Women’s Changing Roles, and Education. This gives visitors a well-rounded perspective of both the city’s history, and also that of the Austin Family.
HelloToronto Tip: Visiting Spadina Museum? Check out neighbouring estate Casa Loma--another of Toronto’s heritage landmarks.
Posted on Mar 28, 2011 by Rosanna Bonura
