1/19/2019

The Runnymede Library

Located at 2178 Bloor Street West, near High Park; this branch is nationally recognized for its distinctive Canadian style of architecture.


It was designed by John M. Lyle in 1929 and is dominated by a steeply pitched slate roof with bell-cast eaves.
The walls are made of variegated red and yellow Credit Valley limestone. 
The doorway is framed with totem poles of stylized ravens, beavers and bears.


The aboriginal theme continues in the building's ironwork, which includes inverted triangle and arrowhead patterns. 
Other Canadian motifs highlighted in the stonework are lilies, pinecones, plus keystones of squirrels and native Indian heads.

As part of  Heritage Toronto's Plaques and markers program, an unveiling of a plaque took place in June of 2008.




According to this plaque, the branch was featured on a postage stamp celebrating Canadian architecture in 1989.




Like most libraries, these days, this one has had a couple of renovations done in order to modernize and enlarge the space.
It was renovated first in 1978, and then again in 2004. 
Thankfully, the architect's original building was carefully restored.



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