On the agenda today is the North Toronto CPR Station, aka the Summerhill L.C.B.O.
There were only three tours today, and I arrived just before noon to find a crowd gathering near the tipping fountain at the south entrance.
There is only one photo of the station's interior at the City of Toronto Archives.
This black and white photo print was taken around 1915-16.
If you compare it to the picture taken below, you will see where the ticket windows are still in evidence along the west wall of the liquor store.
Behind this wall is the "testing kitchen", where we were treated to some free wine samples. The drawers used by the ticket sellers are still intact, and can be seen here:
Our tour guide was the manager of the store; and he explained some of the history behind the railroad station and a story about the ghost that appears in the basement.
This is one of the benches that was preserved form the station when it was being renovated.
Directly east of this bench is the "table wine" section of the store. Here was the Men's and Women's Waiting Room/Lavatory. Behind a locked door the manager showed us an original spittoon that was part of the men's room.
This is the largest L.CB.O. store in Canada, and has managed to keep a lot of the history of the old train station intact; including a conductor's uniform.
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