If you live or work in Toronto’s King-Spadina neighbourhood, you’ve most likely passed by this Toronto house numerous times without giving it a second thought.
However, you might not know that the H.S. Strathy House at 342 Adelaide St. W. is a property that has weathered more than 150 years of change around it.
Originally built in 1858, the two-storey home has endured well over a century of urban transformation, and somehow, against all odds, has resisted the wave of high-rises and entertainment venues that now surround it.
The house, which was constructed in the Second Empire architectural style, has undergone a few alterations over the years. In 1876, a mansard roof was added, and the front store addition was added in 1912.
H.S. Strathy House in 1950. Photo: City of Toronto Archives.
Originally, the house was nestled in a modest residential and commercial area with buildings of a similar height, but now, it’s dominated by the towering high-rises around it.
In the 1920s, the property was known as the Colley Foster House, and over the past few decades, a fur company that’s been in business since 1923 — known as New York Fur — operates out of the house by appointment only.
Although the property is listed on the city’s Heritage Register, it does not boast the same protections as being a designated heritage property. Being listed simply means that further evaluation of the property will take place if there are any plans to have it demolished.
H.S. Strathy House in 1972. Photo: City of Toronto Archives.
Throughout its history, the area around the house has seen the rise of various local businesses.
In the 1970s, the Dial Restaurant stood on the northeast corner of the intersection, while the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (now CIBC) operated at the street level of the southeast corner.
The northeast corner of the intersection in 1972. Photo: City of Toronto Archives.
This southeast corner site — otherwise known as the Commodore Building — was retained for more than a century by the trustees of Toronto General Hospital.
In 1925, the trustees sold the parcel to Simon Fremes, who continued to rent out the four swellings occupying the site.
Southeast corner of the intersection in 1972. Photo: City of Toronto Archives.
In 1930, all ten floors were occupied with the majority of tenants associated with the clothing industry, including ladies wear manufacturers, hats and cloaks makers, and furriers. The Robert McCausland Company, which was a well-known manufacturer of stained glass, was also an original occupant, reserving the entire 8th floor.
H.S. Strathy House in 1980. Photo: City of Toronto Archives.
While the skyscrapers and busy streets around the H.S. Strathy House continue to evolve, the 150-year-old home has managed to miraculously hold on to its historic character.
