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Description:
12 Alexander Street is a 1-to-3 storey building located at the northeast corner of Alexander Street and Maitland Terrace in the Church-Wellesley Village neighbourhood of Toronto. 12 Alexander Street was constructed in 1912/1913 and designed by Toronto architect Harold John Smith. 12 Alexander Street was originally built for use as an automotive garage and showroom. Since 1967, 12 Alexander Street has been used as a performance and theatre space. Since 1994, 12 Alexander Street has housed Buddies in Bad Times Theatre — the world’s largest and longest-running queer theatre.
12 Alexander Street was formerly known as 10-14 Alexander Street prior to the 1960s.
Two Heritage Toronto plaques have been erected in front of 12 Alexander Street: one for Buddies in Bad Times Theatre and one for George Luscombe and Toronto Workshop Productions. Attached with this entry are photographs of the two heritage plaques.
Site History:
12 Alexander Street is situated on former Park Lot 8. Park Lot 8 was granted to George Playter on 4 September 1793. The Playters sold sections of the Park Lot off over time, including the southern 40 acres to John McGill - who owned neighbouring Park Lot 7 - in June 1797. In the early-to-mid 19th century, Alexander Wood (1772-1844) - a regional merchant - purchased a parcel of land that bisected sections of Park Lots 6, 7, and 8. This parcel of land - bounded by present-day Jarvis Street to the east; Maitland Street to the north; Carlton Street to the south; and Yonge Street to the west - became known as the Alexander Wood Estate / Molly's Wood. 26 Alexander Street is situated within the boundaries of the former Alexander Wood Estate / Molly's Wood.
Following the death of Alexander Wood in 1844, his lands were subdivided and sold off for redevelopment. Church Street north of Carlton Street to Bloor Street East was opened to the public in May 1847. Other neighbourhood streets - such as Alexander Street and Wood Street, named after the eponymic Alexander Wood - appear in an 1851 subdivision plan for the Alexander Wood Estate, although were then undeveloped. By 1853-1854, Wakefield & Coate were advertising building lots on the former Alexander Wood Estate - including sites on present day Alexander Street, Church Street, Maitland Street, Wood Street, and Yonge Street – as “the best site within the City Limits for first-class residences." City of Toronto Directories indicate that by 1856, Alexander Street had 7 residences. By 1861, this number had increased to 14 residences; and by the late 19th and early 20th century, all of the lots on Alexander Street had been built on. The extant building at 12 Alexander Street replaced earlier, 19th century residences.
In 1910, Eaton's purchased approximately 75% of the properties in the area bounded by Alexander Street, Carlton Street, Church Street, and Yonge Street as part of their shift northwards (which saw their flagship store built at the southwest corner of College Street and Yonge Street in 1928-1930). During and after the Great Depression and subsequent World War 2, Eaton's was looking to offload their surplus property holdings in the area.
Subsequently, in 1952 the City of Toronto declared the Wood-Wellesley neighbourhood as a "Redevelopment Area" via Bylaw 18746. This allowed municipal authorities to expropriate properties in the area and sell them to private developers at a nominal cost in the name of tackling urban blight, urban deterioration, and slum conditions; providing increased housing opportunities; and increasing property values and tax assessments. Significant debate arose as to whether this was an inappropriate application of municipal legislation to a neighbourhood which was reportedly in good repair and upkeep, as well as in regards to the postwar business-political relations in this decision.
Around the same time, the Toronto Transit Commission was constructing the Yonge Street Subway Line, which brought further challenges to the area — including the expropriation and demolition of area buildings to allow for underground construction.
While Bylaw 18746 was repealed due to multi-year challenges and community opposition in 1957, much of the Wood-Wellesley area underwent drastic redevelopment in the 1950s-1970s. This included mass demolition of 19th and early 20th century streetscapes and the construction of numerous high-rise apartment towers - including Canada's first high-rise apartment complex at City Park Apartments.
12 Alexander Street appears to have been a hold-out property and is now one of only a few surviving properties on Alexander Street which predate World War 2 and the abovementioned postwar redevelopment of Alexander Street.
The Alexander Street Parkette (16 Alexander Street) abuts 12 Alexander Street to the immediate east.
Architect — Harold John Smith:
12 Alexander Street was one of the earliest buildings designed by Toronto-based architect Harold John Smith. 12 Alexander Street is also the only known automotive garage and showroom designed by Harold John Smith.
The Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada: 1800-1950 has provided the following biography of Harold John Smith:
"John Harold Smith (1891-1976) of Toronto was widely acknowledged as an expert in hospital design in Canada and wrote frequently on the subject. Born in Toronto on 26 July 1891 he attended courses at Central Technical School but appears to have had no formal education in architecture. He worked as a student under J. Francis Brown (in 1907-08), and with John M. Lyle (in 1909-11). In 1912 he obtained a position as draughtsman with Frederick C. Lee, and was later appointed the Toronto office manager for Stevens & Lee, specialists in hospital planning with headquarters in Boston. This position enabled Smith to gain extensive experience in the design of medical facilities, and led to his appointment as full partner in the firm in 1931, but within a year he had left to form a partnership with B. Evan Parry of Toronto. Their collaboration ended in late 1935 and Smith continued to practice under his own name until after 1960. His approach to the design of modern hospitals was outlined in 'The Small General Hospital' and in 'Hospital Blueprint.' Smith died in Toronto on 26 July 1976."
Other Toronto buildings designed by Smith include Women's College Hospital (built between 1932 and 1935) on Grenville Street; the Viceroy Manufacturing Company Ltd. factory (built between 1938 and 1942) on Dupont Street; and various residential properties (built during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s).
Early Occupants and Uses:
White Company Ltd.:
Between its construction in 1912/1913 and 1927/1928, 12 Alexander Street housed an automotive garage and showroom associated with the White Company Ltd. (also known as the White Motor Company). The White Motor Company was a Cleveland-based American vehicle manufacturer that was founded in 1900 by Thomas H. White. Several decades prior, in 1876, White had founded the White Sewing Machine Company.
The White Motor Company produced automobiles, buses, trucks, and tractors. During the 1920s and 1930s, the White Motor Company provided some of the first buses used by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Of additional note is that during both World War I and World War II, the White Motor Company manufactured vehicles for wartime use.
By 1929/1930, the White Motor Company's Toronto garage and showroom had moved to 605 King Street East. During the mid-to-late 20th century, the White Motor Company also had a farm equipment factory near Brantford, Ontario. During the mid-to-late 20th century, the company had become part of White Consolidated Industries. The White Motor Company was active until 1980.
Willys-Knight Company Ltd.:
Between 1928/1929 and 1933/1934, 12 Alexander Street housed an automotive garage and showroom associated with the Willys Knight Company Ltd. (also known as the Willys-Overland Motors Company). The Willys Knight Company Ltd. was a Toledo-based automobile company that was active between 1908 and 1963. During World War II, the company manufactured a well-known line of military jeeps.
Other Nearby Automotive Garages and Showrooms:
Of contextual and historical note is that the White Company Ltd. and the Willys-Knight Company Ltd. were part of a series of automotive companies that established dealerships, garages, and showrooms on and/or in close proximity to Yonge Street (between Bloor Street and College Street) during the early 20th century. Other examples included: the York Car Company and Studebaker at 543-545 Yonge Street (during the mid-1910s); the Canadian Motor Car Company Showroom (later the Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg Showroom) (built 1919) at 577 Yonge Street; the Republic Motor Car Company of Canada at 589 Yonge Street (during the mid-1910s); Arthur Wilson Auto Sales and the Universal Car Company at 619-623 Yonge Street (built 1923); The Dominion Automobile Company at 627-629 Yonge Street [and potentially 635-637 Yonge Street] (built 1921, 1905); and the Herreshoff Motor Car Company at 692A Yonge Street (during the early 1910s). Further north, the Pierce-Arrow Showroom (1930) was based at 1140 Yonge Street.
Later Occupants and Uses:
Toronto Bearings & Parts Company:
In circa 1934/1935, 12 Alexander Street housed the Toronto Bearings & Parts Company.
Brewers Warehouse:
In circa the late 1930s through mid-1940s, 12 Alexander Street housed a branch of Brewers Warehouse.
Canada Hardware Company Ltd.:
From circa the late 1940s until 1964/1965, 12 Alexander Street housed the Canada Hardware Company Ltd. The Canada Hardware Company Ltd. was a hardware company which sold building supplies.
Use as a Performance and Theatre Space (Toronto Workshop Productions and Buddies in Bad Times Theatre):
Since 1967, 12 Alexander Street has been used as a performance and theatre space. Since 1994, 12 Alexander Street has housed Buddies in Bad Times Theatre — the world’s largest and longest-running queer theatre.
The Buddies in Bad Times Theatre website has provided the following history of performance and theatre venues at 12 Alexander Street:
"12 Alexander Street has fulfilled many functions. Built at the turn of the century, it was originally a commercial space that, over time, has served as a mechanic’s garage, a hardware store, a car showroom, and a rehearsal hall. It has also sat vacant on more than one occasion. Since the 1960’s, it has served as an alternative performance venue, giving birth of some of Toronto’s most important independent theatre.
For nearly twenty years, 12 Alexander Street was home to the venerable Toronto Workshop Productions (TWP), one of Toronto’s first experimental theatre troupes. The company completed renovations of the building in December 1967, turning it into an intimate theatre with a capacity of 285 seats. Tragically, 12 Alexander Street was seriously damaged by fire in 1974. Starting in the back of the theatre, TWP’s dressing rooms, costume shop, stage, and lighting equipment were destroyed. Although only a lease-holder on the property, TWP raised the funds to pay for repairs to the building and equipment.
In 1977, TWP’s lease on 12 Alexander expired and the future of the building as a theatre was in jeopardy. However, a public relations campaign led by the company persuaded the City of Toronto to disallow commercial development. The Ontario Government backed an interest-free mortgage, allowing the company to buy the space.
In 1988, TWP disbanded and for the next 3 years, 12 Alexander Street lay dormant and the City of Toronto took possession of the property. In 1991, the municipal government announced a competition for theatre companies to gain a 40-year lease of the building. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre put together a proposal in which a collective of local alternative theatre companies (including DNA Theatre, The Augusta Company, Platform Nine Theatre, and Native Earth Performing Arts) would share the space, with Buddies as the primary resident. In the fall of 1992, the collective was awarded the space, but by that point the other companies had moved on and Buddies became the sole resident of 12 Alexander Street. After an extensive fundraising campaign that saw the community come together to create a permanent home for queer theatre in Toronto, 12 Alexander Street reopened as the new home of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in 1994. Since then, Buddies has become the world’s largest and longest-running queer theatre and is an important aspect of what makes Toronto one of the most liberal and accepting cities in the world."
Sky Gilbert Lane — which runs east-west behind 12 Alexander Street — was named for Sky Gilbert in 2014/2015. Sky Gilbert is a director, playwright, writer, drag queen, and served as the founding artistic director of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre between 1979 and 1997.
(Research by Adam Wynne)
