We were lead by the creator and author of Murdoch Mysteries, Maureen Jennings. Our tour began at the corner of Jarvis and Gerrard Streets; and moved to Allan Gardens.
Here, Ms Jennings spoke about the prejudices and mistrust that people had for those of different faiths, here in Victorian Toronto.
She told us of the churchgoers who would "take air" in Allan Gardens after the church services on Sunday.
Back then this park was known as the Horticultural Gardens.
We (almost 200) then moved over to Ontario Street, just south of Gerrard, where she told us how she came to decide where William Murdoch would take his lodgings.
Here we have 222 Ontario Street, which is attached to two other similar houses and happen to share the same attic.
One episode of Murdoch Mysteries deals with this aspect of the houses when someone tries to drug our hero cop.
We created quite a stir in the neighbourhood as we walked down the street and took pictures of the well-kept homes.
We then followed our guide over to Parliament Street and south to Queen, where the John O'Neill Hotel once stood.
It was renamed the Rupert Hotel, but burnt to the ground in 1989.
This plaque commemorates those who lost their lives in the fire.
Further south, we stopped at St. Paul's Basilica on Power Street and Ms. Jennings talked about the House of Providence that once stood nearby.
It was demolished in 1962 to make way for the Richmond Street exit ramp of the Don Valley Parkway. The sisters (of Providence) and the residents moved to a facility in Scarborough (St. Clair and Warden).
We walked east along Queen Street to the former Dominion Brewery building.
Built in 1878, it was one of many breweries established in "Corktown".
Thank you, Maureen for a wonderful afternoon and an informative tour of Murdoch's Toronto.
