1

"Upper Canada's first courts were held in its taverns. When English civil law was introduced to Upper Canada, a meeting was held in Wilson's Hotel in Niagara at which the prestigious Law Society of Upper Canada was founded. Inns also played a role in the political process, as a venue both for the hustings in front of the inn and for the polling station inside. And in Toronto, an inn served temporarily as the Legislature of Upper Canada. Before the province's stately courthouses and town halls were built, the ubiquitous inns and taverns successfully filled the void. Everything from criminal trials to coroners' courts were held at the local inn...." quoted in 'Tavern in the Town: Early Inns and Taverns of Ontario', by Margaret McBurney and Mary Byers, U of T Press, 1987.

In the early days of Toronto, a principal venue for drinking 'booze', was in the local taverns and inns - of which there were many. During the first half of the 19th century, the inns were modest operations. As that century proceeded, larger and more elaborate hotels provided the services of inns and taverns.

Featured in this section are images of some of the early inns and taverns of Toronto, as well as some of the more elaborate establishments that characterized the increasingly cosmopolitan city of the later 19th century.

2

Old Ontario House (later Wellington Hotel)
mid 19th century
Wellington and Church Streets, Toronto, Canada

Credits:
illustration: "Landmarks of Toronto", by John Ross Robertson, vol 1, p. 274

3

Mrs. Loder's Tavern, 1844
1844
192 King St. East, between George and Frederick Streets, Toronto, Canada

Credits:
illustration: "Landmarks of Toronto", by John Ross Robertson, vol 1, p. 541

4

Bond Head Inn
1825-1840
West side of Church St, between King and Colborne Sts, Toronto, Canada

Credits:
illustration: "Landmarks of Toronto" by John Ross Robertson, v.1, p. 293

5

Blue Bell Tavern
mid 19th century
near Shaw and Dundas St. West, Toronto, Canada

Credits:
illustration: "Landmarks of Toronto", by John Ross Robertson, vol 2., p 745

6

Black Bull Hotel
mid-19th century
Queen St and Soho St., Toronto, Canada

Credits:
illustration: in "Landmarks of Toronto", by John Ross Robertson, 1894, vol. 1, p. 458

7

Red Lion Hotel
From about 1808 to 1888
East side of Yonge St, just north of Bloor St., Toronto, Canada

Credits:
Illustration: in "Landmarks of Toronto", by John Ross Robertson, Vol 1, p. 88

8

Sun Tavern
1825 -
northwest corner of Queen and Yonge Streets, Toronto, Canada

Credits:
Illustration: "Landmarks of Toronto", by John Ross Robertson, 1894, vol 1, p. 114

9

Richard Crispin's Hotel
mid 19th century
north-east corner of York and Richmond Streets, Toronto, Canada

Credits:
Illustration: in "Landmarks of Toronto" by John Ross Robertson, 1894, p. 465

10

Robert Beard's Hotel
mid 19th century
north-east corner of Church and Colborne Streets, Toronto, Canada

Credits:
Illustration: in "Landmarks of Toronto", by John Ross Robertson, vol 1, p. 51

11

Shakespeare Hotel
mid 19th century
north-east corner of York and King Streets, Toronto, Canada

Credits:
Illustration: "Landmarks of Toronto", by John Ross Robertson, 1894, vol. 1, p. 187

12

Queen's Hotel, Toronto
mid to late 19th century
Front St, between York and Bay Streets, Toronto

Credits:
from "Illustrated Toronto: Past and Present", by J. Timperlake, published in Toronto, by Peter A Gross, 1877, p. 354.

13

Queen's Hotel, Toronto, Canada
late 19th century
Front St, between York and Bay Streets, Toronto

Credits:
Collection: J. C. B. & E. C. Horwood, Reference Code : C 11-142-0-1 (356) 1, Archives of Ontario

14

Shakespeare Hotel
1876
north-east corner of York and King Streets, Toronto, Canada

Credits:
Shakespere Hotel, in "Illustrated Toronto: Past and Present", by J. Timperlake, published in Toronto, by Peter A Gross, 1877, p. 266