20 replies to this topic

[John Gilinsky]

One of Canada's largest (and it was intended at one point to make it CANADA'S largest) military hospitals from World War I is now GONE>  

In the summer of 2005 it was torn down by a housing developer in Whitby Ontario.  This hospital was intended to house 1,500 or more veterans and invalids upon return to Canada.  It was originally designed and built by the Ontario government as a major psychiatric facility in the English cottage type style of hospital which the British had promoted from the 19th century onwards.  It had working farm as well.  
John

[ErikH]

One of Canada's largest (and it was intended at one point to make it CANADA'S largest) military hospitals from World War I is now GONE>  

In the summer of 2005 it was torn down by a housing developer in Whitby Ontario.  This hospital was intended to house 1,500 or more veterans and invalids upon return to Canada.  It was originally designed and built by the Ontario government as a major psychiatric facility in the English cottage type style of hospital which the British had promoted from the 19th century onwards.  It had working farm as well.  
John

I live very close to the site and went by it a few times when it was being torn down.

[Chris Best]

One of Canada's largest (and it was intended at one point to make it CANADA'S largest) military hospitals from World War I is now GONE>  

Another facility used by Canadian medics (in WW2) within the curtilage of the current Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, North Yorkshire has also just been torn down (or is soon to be destroyed).  

Chris

[182 CEF]

Eric, where do you live..I live on Brock Street south of the 401.

There are still a couple of buildings left there..I went through the site before it was torn donw...those buildings were in bad shape and the sidewarks had collapesed where the heating tunnels went under them.

Dean

[Paul Stephenson]

I was recently down there and a couple of the old cottages were still standing.

I had no idea about its connection to WW1.

[Muskoka]

The Duchess of Connaught's Canadian Red Cross Hospital, part of the Astor's Cliveden estate at Taplow, has also disappeared. It was constructed in WW1 around the indoor tennis court. I believe it was dismantled after the war but a new hospital was built there in WW2. My aunt- and grandfather-in-law were both hospitalized there in the 60s and 70s, but it has recently been torn down. See http://www.crcmh.com/abandonment.htm for more info.

Apparently there is a small cemetery (about 40-something if memory serves) of WW1 Canadian casualties in the grounds there.

[Gunner Bailey]

Orpington (Kent) was also a Canadian hospital and a lot of the site has now been redeveloped. Many of the old huts have gone.

Gunner Bailey

[alanh]

Orpington (Kent) was also a Canadian hospital and a lot of the site has now been redeveloped. Many of the old huts have gone.

Gunner Bailey

Not as much as the Health Authority would have liked tho   There is also a sizable part of  All Saints Churchyard in Orpington, called Canadian Corner, given over to those Hospital Patients who 'didn't make it'.

[Michael Johnson]

There is also a sizable part of All Saints Churchyard in Orpington, called Canadian Corner, given over to those Hospital Patients who 'didn't make it'.

The first pair I ever owned (wish I still had it ) was to 348728 Gnr. B. McDonald who is buried there A. 11. Jan. 28, 1918.

[John Gilinsky]

I was recently down there and a couple of the old cottages were still standing.

I had no idea about its connection to WW1.

I hope someone can really update this Whitby (old hospital) site.  My understanding is that the developer was given the go ahead to tear down everything except about 2 or so buildings.  One was the former CO's residence and 1 cottage perhaps as an example of the architecture (not sure which at the time).  The CO's residence I believe was to be turned into an interpretation center.  Any actual updates as of December 2007 what is going on (or has gone on)?
John

[eyes]

One of Canada's largest (and it was intended at one point to make it CANADA'S largest) military hospitals from World War I is now GONE>  

In the summer of 2005 it was torn down by a housing developer in Whitby Ontario.  This hospital was intended to house 1,500 or more veterans and invalids upon return to Canada.  It was originally designed and built by the Ontario government as a major psychiatric facility in the English cottage type style of hospital which the British had promoted from the 19th century onwards.  It had working farm as well.  
John

Hi John
Bit off topic but Whitby involved, sort of. I grew up hearing of GW casualties who, having been exposed to massive amounts of mustard gas, were never able to leave the hospitals. Their skin was badly damaged and they required special care (oil baths, etc). Whitby was allegedly one of those hospitals. Would you happen to know if it was true, or was it one of those ghoulish urban myths adolescences delight in. Cheers.
Colin

[John Gilinsky]

Hi John
Bit off topic but Whitby involved, sort of. I grew up hearing of GW casualties who, having been exposed to massive amounts of mustard gas, were never able to leave the hospitals. Their skin was badly damaged and they required special care (oil baths, etc). Whitby was allegedly one of those hospitals. Would you happen to know if it was true, or was it one of those ghoulish urban myths adolescences delight in. Cheers.
Colin

Thanks for the query.  Whitby military hospital was closed in the mid-summer (July I think) of 1919 and many of its patients dispersed to Toronto area military hospitals including the still incomplete St. Andrew's Military Hospital in Rosedale and the newly opened Christie Street Military Orthopeadic Hospital.  Both of these hospitals were demolished decades ago.  The province took over Whitby and used it right up until the late 1970's as a mental hospital for civilians.  A new Whitby Mental Health Center was built in the 1990s and still functions "next door" to what used to be the old Whitby "Ontario Hospital."
John

[Peter Gower]

Canadian members should also be aware that part of Sydenham Hospital, Kingston, is now owned by Queen's University and is about to be developed - how, we do not yet know. They own the Stella Buck building, 390 King West. The City still owns the other part of the Hospital, the Tett Centre, 370 King West. The site was a Military Hospital from about 1918-1960. Peter

[John Gilinsky]

Sorry for posting a reply a bit late (!) Peter but can you a) be specific as to which King Street address in Kingston,Ontario was a military hospital and update us as to the current fate  or state of these older building(s)?
Thanks,
John
Toronto

[Ken S.]

J.K. TETT CENTRE SITE

Along with the Stella Buck Building and the Domino Theatre Building, the J.K. Tett Centre, located at 370 King Street West, was originally an important component of the Morton Brewery and Distillery complex reputed to be the largest of its kind in mid-19th century North America. Morton himself was an influential personage with a wide range of enterprises Over the course of time and history, the building and site has served as a military hospital, regional headquarters for National Defense, office space for City staff and now as a location for a number of not for profit groups and cultural programs.

The J.K. Tett Centre is a designated heritage site (buildings and site) on waterfront property with a marvelous view of the lake and is close to Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, Queen's University and downtown Kingston.

http://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/cul...feasibility.asp

[John Gilinsky]

Thanks Ken for your kindess in pointing out Kingston's current day useage of these buildings and their addresses.  Also thanks for the hyper link t your website on Hamilton Ontario's part in WWI.  I should point out that with the exception of your LISTS hyperlink and Introduction the other hyperlinks did not work for me btw.  
John
Toronto

[Ken S.]

Thanks Ken for your kindess in pointing out Kingston's current day useage of these buildings and their addresses.  Also thanks for the hyper link t your website on Hamilton Ontario's part in WWI.  I should point out that with the exception of your LISTS hyperlink and Introduction the other hyperlinks did not work for me btw.  
John
Toronto

I haven't begun to work on those yet, but I will correct this shortly.

[Peter Gower]

I have not been updating you on the Sydenham Military Hospital in Kingston because Queen's has been slow in their plans. As far as I know, most of the Hospital was on the site now known as 390 King West. The outbuildings are long gone, but the Stella Buck building remains, and will remain when the Performing Arts Centre is built. However Queen's had a choice: should they restore the site to the Brewery period, or to the military period. In fact, there is very little of the military left except for some windows that were changed, and a chimney that presumably was part of the heating system. Queen's will hold a public meeting with their plans on July 26th, 7 p.m., Memorial Hall. Archaeological work has uncovered some of the hospital foundations, and the new building work will no doubt uncover more. The design company is very historically minded, so it will be interesting to see just what emerges. Go to www.queensu.ca and search 'performing arts centre' for what they plan. I'll keep you updated over the months (and years: Queen's moves slowly!)

[John Gilinsky]

Thanks Peter for the connections and information on how Queens U plans to redevelop what remains of Sydenham Miltiary Hospital.  Interested in the archaeological studies - does this site go back pre-1900 as a human use site?  
John
York, Upper Canada

[Peter Gower]

It is the site of one of Canada's first breweries, in the early 1800s. It is almost certainly a native american site being right on Lake Ontario, and between other known sites. Peter

[John Gilinsky]

Thanks Peter for enlightening us.  One of the first breweries eh?  Do you have any GPS or aerial stuff showing us the actual location Peter?
Tx again,
John