Description:

583 Church Street is a detached Second Empire house that was constructed in 1884. 583 Church Street is located on the east side of Church Street approximately 25 meters south of Isabella Street in the Church-Wellesley Village neighbourhood of Toronto.  

583 Church Street is an excellent example of Second Empire architecture both within the Church-Wellesley Village neighbourhood and broader City of Toronto. 583 Church Street is also an uncommon surviving example of a detached Second Empire house in the Church-Wellesley Village neighbourhood, as most Second Empire houses in this neighbourhood are and/or were originally semi-detached or part of a row structure. 

The exterior of 583 Church Street is largely intact. Historical photographs indicate that a small porch and trim work have been removed since the 1920s. The interior condition of the property is not known to the public at present.

The architect or builder of 583 Church Street is not known at present. However, archival materials - presently inaccessible due to the temporary closure of archival collections to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic - may be able to assist in identifying the architect or builder. Notably, a number of architects and builders are known to have been active on Church Street during the period in which 583 Church Street was constructed, including: David Brash Dick, who designed neighbouring 585 Church Street in 1883; and William St. Croix who built numerous houses in the Bay-Cloverhill and Church-Wellesley Village neighbourhoods from the 1870s through early 20th century. 

Prior to 1890, 583 Church Street was known as 507 Church Street.

First Occupants: 

583 Church Street was first home to Robert McClain (c. 1856-1920) and family between its construction in 1884 and 1900. McClain was an executive director (and potential co-owner) of the Toronto-based safe manufacturing firm J. & J. Taylor. The 1891 Census of Canada notes that McClain employed around 150 workers.

The 1891 Census of Canada identifies that Robert McClain was born around 1856 in Ireland. He was married to Joanna McClain, who was Scottish-Canadian. The couple had 1 daughter - Helen McClain (born c. 1885) - as of the enumeration of the 1891 Census of Canada. The McClains were Presbyterian. 2 domestic workers - Lizzie Milne (house maid) and Mary Sharp (cook) - also resided with the family.

The McClains had emigrated to Manhattan, New York City by 1910 - where Robert McClain had taken a managerial role with a chemical company. Joanna McClain died in 1919. Robert McClain appears to have died in Toronto in 1920. 

Please note that:

• Some historical sources spell the surname McClean, although the family appears to have more often used the spelling McClain. 

• Robert McClain associated with 583 Church Street was a separate individual from Robert Watson McClain who was additionally associated with J. & J. Taylor and who was the donor of the Rosetta McClain Gardens. Robert Watson McClain was married to Rosetta West McClain, who was the daughter of J. &  J. Taylor's owner Thomas West. 

• Robert McClain of 583 Church Street was also a separate individual from Robert McClain (died 1904), who served in a prominent managerial role at Massey-Harris and promoted British-Canadian business relations of that company. 

Later Occupants and Uses: 

1901 to early-to-mid 1910s: Between 1901 and the early-to-mid 1910s, 583 Church Street was used as a private residence. Residents during this period included: Harry Symonds from 1901-1902; Mary J. Graham - the widow of James E. Graham - in 1903; and Mary Stewart from circa. 1904/1905 until the early-to-mid 1910s. 

Mid-to-late 1910s through early 1920s: During this period, 583 Church Street was the site of the dance studios and residence of Hiram A. Mosher. Mosher was a dancer and dance teacher. Mosher's studio moved through the area during the early 20th century with other previous locations including sites on Bay Street and Bloor Street. In 1921, Mosher staged a show with Dimitri Vladimiroff (Dimitri von Prebsting-Cesarevsky) and his wife Leontina Vladimiroff at Massey Hall. Mary Jane Warner in Toronto Dance Teachers: 1825-1925 (1995) notes that Vladimiroff was one of the pioneers of Russian ballet in Toronto and arrived in the city after being displaced by the Russian Revolution. Their 1921 Massey Hall show also featured dancing by Edna Liggitt, one of Toronto's earliest professional Spanish dancers. 

Circa. 1922:Eleanor Scammell (Seammell) - chiropodist / William Richardson - dance studio. 

Mid-1920s: During the mid-1920s, the offices of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) were based at 583 Church Street. The CNIB was founded on Beverley Street in Toronto in 1918 to support soldiers wounded in World War I, as well as victims of the 1917 Halifax Explosion (the largest mass blinding in Canadian history). The CNIB also ran skills workshops for visually impaired individuals from 583 Church Street.

Early 1930s (circa. 1930): During the early 1930s (circa. 1930), B. Fuglsang - a publisher - was based at 583 Church Street. 

Early 1930s (circa. 1932): During the early 1930s, Bert Humphrey - Toronto-based funeral director - lived at 583 Church Street. Newspaper articles also identify that Humphrey likely operated a funeral chapel from the property during this point in time. 

Early 1940s to early 1950s: During the early 1940s through early 1950s, 583 Church Street had returned to use as a private residence. During this period, residents included: Konrad L. Bjorkstrand (Bjorkstrind) - an employee at Lawrason-Doughty, which was a paper box and carton manufacturer based at 9-11 Hamilton Street; and Joseph P. Cunningham - a salesman at Eaton's. 

Mid-1950s to mid-1960s: During the mid-1950s through mid-1960s, the offices of the National Association of Master Plumbers and Heating Contractors of Canada - later known as the Canadian Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association - were based at 583 Church Street.

Mid-1970s (circa. 1974): During the mid-1970s (circa. 1974), 583 Church Street housed the sales offices for the condominium development at 86 Gloucester Street. 86 Gloucester Street was completed in 1979 and is known as The Shoreham Apartments. 

Mid-1980s (circa. 1984): During the mid-1980s (circa. 1984), the Kayn Meyer Gallery was based at 583 Church Street. Newspaper advertisements indicate the gallery largely exhibited paintings, including oil and watercolours. 

Note: By the late 20th or early 21st century, 583 Church Street appears to have been converted from residential and mixed residential-commercial to solely commercial use. Further research is required to determine if this is still the case as of 2021. 

Late 1990s / 2000s / Early 2010s: During the late 1990s and early 2000s, tenants of 583 Church Street include(d): Jaz Hair Studio, Vincent Custom Tailoring, and Cy's Courier House.  

Present Day (September 2021): The present-day tenants of 583 Church Street include Cy's Courier House - a couriering business; and Psiphon - an internet application and software developer. 

Please note the above list of Later Occupants and Uses is not exhaustive of all former occupants and uses and aims to provide a general overview of the history of 583 Church Street. 

Further research is required to discern if records exist which may identify the architect of 583 Church Street.  Notably, David Brash Dick designed neighbouring 585 Church Street in 1883. 

Research by Adam Wynne.