Prior to 1900
The original site was swamp land and part of the Garrison Military Reserve for Fort York. There is some speculation that the area even hosted skirmishes from the American attack on Fort York in the War of 1812.
Sketch of the ground in advance of and including York Upper Canada. by Geo. Williams R.M.S.D. Novr 1813
Image courtesy Library and Archives Canada: Winearls, MUC No. 2035
The North East sector of Liberty Village was developed first starting in 1871 when the provincial government gave 20 acres of land from the Garrison Common for development.
With access to rail lines from the Grand Trunk Railroad / Canadian Pacific now the Georgetown Line on the North side of the Village. The Canadian National main line was the Toronto-Hamilton line known then as the Great Western Railroad to the south. There was actually another railroad line that cut right through the village area known as the Toronto, Grey & Bruce Railway.
In the 1850’s the railway lines were built almost haphazardly throughout the village. Evidence of it is still found on the north side between the LCBO and West Elm on the way to Mildred’s Temple Kitchen and the Line following behind the Brazen Head through the Galleria leading to the Green P Parking Lot off Hanna. Most of the line was dug up and replaced by the curve connecting Liberty Street to East Liberty before it straightens out to connect with Strachan.
Between 1865 and 1900 the northeast section of what is Liberty Village up to King and over to Strachan, was the first developed. In 1879 this was the home of the Massey Manufacturing Company which later merged in 1891 to become Massey-Harris Company that manufactured farm machines.
About 1865 the Toronto Steel, Iron and Railway Works Company was established to make rails, axles, wheels, switches and points. It stood on the west side of Strachan just north of the Toronto, Grey & Bruce Rail line. In 1872 the company’s premises and machinery were taken over by the Canadian Car Company.
In 1871, a two year process of building by prison inmates under prison guard supervision created the largest prison of its time, the Central Prison. The Canada Car Company negotiated to do some of its manufacturing using prison labour in workshops within the walls of the Central Prison.
Finished in 1973 the Prison grounds covered about 40% of the area from Strachan to Hanna Avenues and from the CN line to King Street. The prison housed a number of buildings that provided other workshops for inmates. There was: a woollen mill, tool maker and machine shop, blacksmith; twine, broom, shoe and furniture manufacturing, greenhouses, kitchen and bakery. The products would be sold to other prisons.
In 1877 the prisoners built a Roman Catholic Chapel at the south end of the Central Prison. It was an add-on and is one of two surviving pieces of the Prison architecture. It actually had the address of number 20 Strachan Avenue. The chapel continued to serve Sunday Mass for the Women at the Mercer Reformatory who would walk over.
In 1878 the Andrew Mercer Reformatory for women opened and remained until 1969. There is very little written about the Reformatory but if you want to know more about incorrigibility and ‘Fallen Women’ you may try here. Most of the women were young with 43% under the age of twenty.
In 1975 the Alan Lamport Stadium was built on the site of the reformatory. The only building that remains today from what was a gorgeous piece of architecture is the ‘Gardener’s or Superintendent’s’ House at the southeast corner of Fraser Avenue at 1177 King Street West.