Sorry for two posts in as many days. I don’t normally do that, but this door post was written several days ago. I suppose I COULD hold onto it for another week, but …. nah.
I’ve moaned and groaned more than a few times about my city’s tendency to run roughshod over heritage buildings in an effort to build one more critically important tower of concrete and glass after another (sarcasm intended).
In fairness, there have been notable exceptions and one of them resides hidden downtown within the massive 2 tower complex called Brookfield Place.
Situated within the Allan Lambert Galleria is the former Midland Commercial Bank, built in 1845, and later bought by Merchants’ Bank in the late 1800s.
This was one of a dozen buildings that survived a massive downtown fire in 1904 and the waves of demolition that followed. The facade of the Merchants’ Bank building was later dismantled from its original location and reassembled here.
The Galleria itself is 6 stories high and this tall expanse of glass and light was given the nickname ‘Crystal Cathedral of Commerce’. However, for me, it is not the towering glass ceiling, but the juxtapositioning of the old and new together, that makes this galleria so uniquely attractive.
I was enamored with this building-within-a-building from the first time I saw it many years ago.
In my research, I found a couple of pre-1904 photos of the old Merchants’ Bank.
In this first photo, I was thrilled to notice that the door on the far right is the same door that’s on the re-assembled building.
Another photo was found in a retrospective piece written to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Brookfield Place. This “before” and “after” shows the original building at a very different angle, but the missing street lamps in the first photo are clear in this version.
As a child, I used to love those school exercises where you had to compare 2 pictures and find what’s different about them. In fact, I still love doing that.
The most obvious difference I noted from these old photos was that the original building had a basement with windows visible behind the iron railing. Those windows are now missing. Whether or not there is still a basement in the rebuilt bank is unknown.
To my surprise, I discovered that the former Merchants’ Bank is only one of twelve heritage buildings contained with Brookfield Place. It seems that I will have several more reasons to revisit this massive complex.
Thursday Doors is a weekly photo feature hosted by Norm Frampton at Norm 2.0.
[…] few months ago when I featured Brookfield Place on a Thursday Doors post, I mentioned that there were 12 heritage buildings incorporated into the […]
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I just love “old” things and one of the things that simply crushes me is seeing an old building torn down and replace with an Urban Renewal building…in an area that still possesses a majority of the old. I don’t think I can appreciate the beauty you see in this juxtapositioning. 😦
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That’s ok. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea 🙂
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I love the juxtaposition too! It is pretty dramatic. Good photos and with yoyr research capabilities you would be a really good sleuth!
Peta
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Thanks 🙂
Maybe all those detective shows I’ve watched over the years have rubbed off on me 😉
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What a fascinating post, Joanne. I think it’s brilliant the way the old building is incorporated in the new one.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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… and it’s been suggested I need to see this decorated for Christmas. Looks like another trip downtown might be in order very soon 🙂
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How cool!
love that second photo. What a great way to combine old and new.
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I love finding little unexpected treats like this 🙂
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I also love this building and often make a point of entering Brookfield Place when I go to St Lawrence Market just so I can walk past it.
It shows that old and new can work side by side and I wish developers and city hall in Toronto would make more of an effort to make it happen.
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They’ve proven it is do-able … to wonderful results.
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I worked right next door at Commerce Court so I’ve walked through Brookfield for many years – but that part of the building never fails to fascinate and I love to watch visitors to the city discover it – there is always someone taking a photo and commenting on what a surprise it is.
I walked through yesterday on my way to the Market and it is all decorated for Christmas. It is well worth a visit once it’s gone dark to see the way it is lit up for the holidays – just amazing with lights falling from the “cathedral arch”.
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oooo – thanks for the tip. I’ve never seen it decorated for the holidays. You’ve given me a reason to revisit in December 🙂
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I’ve always loved the juxtaposition of old and new. One reason I enjoy visiting the City area of London so much! Thanks for sharing your photos and information–very interesting. 🙂
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Thank you. Unfortunately, I’ve only had one very brief visit to London, but yes, I could see there is a lot of interesting new combined with the very old!
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This would be one site I wouldn’t want to miss if I ever get to visit Toronto!
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So many things to see, so little time 🙂
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I don’t know about everyone else, but I was actually hoping your enforced downtime for recovery purposes would generate MANY posts from you. I’m very glad to see a second post so soon and I’m sure you can see from the comments that I’m not the only one! Your doors, as always, as unique and filled with history as you…..this brings me to a new query about whether the doors you are drawn to and photograph are evenmore a door into the psyche of the person? Hmm…..an interesting idea, yes?
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HA! I think of my psyche as a Pandora’s Box. Best not to explore it 😉
What would you make of me waking up this morning in a bit of a panic because I was dreaming my former employer was trying to have me killed for corporate espionage? On a positive note, I was a pilot of a fighter jet 😉
Just call me Indiana Jo.
…. And this is why I don’t deep too deeply 😉
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Oh my….what a dream…..yes, perhaps we shan’t delves further….however …..you do seem to have a most creative bent even in sleep so now with your enforced downtime I’m thinking you need to crank out a book!!! You’ve already got your title, Indiana Jo, and your setting, and some of the plot worked out….yep I’m seeing it…
Indiana Jo, a hero for all girls!
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… or a warning for all those who venture too close to the edge …
oh, this is good stuff! Wonder if we could squeeze out a book of tag lines strung together? 🙂
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I like the way the old and new was melded together, Joanne. It makes for an interesting visual. You’re probably not the only one who’s imagination perked up for a little research. 🙂
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Aren’t those the best kind of discoveries? … the ones that perk our curiosity to learn more 🙂
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How cool that they did that, Joanne! I posted twice yesterday, too. 🙂
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That’s just the way it seems to go sometimes – days with nothing to say followed by endless ideas bouncing around between the ears 🙂
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Joanne I love the intermingling of old and new. Very creative and I have to think far more work for architects and builders than just bulldozing. Bravo for such initiatives!
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I doubt developers ever do something like this voluntarily, but given the challenge, they did an amazing job of it with this one 🙂
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How fantastic you found the same door in the research, it’s really rather impressive but possibly too heavy for sneaking?….
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yeah … I suppose it won’t fit neatly in my purse 😉
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The door…I’m sure if you just act as though you own the door and are supposed to be carrying it out to your car…no one will question you!!
I agree with you on the love of the combination of old and new…beautiful
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You are so right about acting like I own the door. There has been a lot of crimes committed by people who simply behaved like they belonged.
I don’t plan to test the theory though … at least not while we’re still in a Monkey year 😉
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Probably a good plan….that monkey has been rough on you
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I love that complex and the building within a building. Ingenious architecture…to combine old and new. Thanks for the views from inside, but sorry I’m a day late. Too much fun yesterday 😃
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I’m always delighted by a visit!! … and happy to hear you had ‘too much’ fun. How is that possible?!! 😉
Hope you can layer even more fun onto the rest of your long weekend 🙂
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It’s always possible to have too much fun with friends, food and WINE! 😊
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Preaching to the the choir, Sister! 🙂
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I really love that last door. It would NOT look good on my house, but I love it anyway 🙂
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Well, if I’m being honest, it wouldn’t look great on my house either, but I’d be willing to go with it 🙂
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LOL
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Haha if it doesn’t work as the front door, you could always use it elsewhere in the house. I think it’d be a fitting entrance for a study/library. If only my home had a dedicated library room…
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I was thinking the exact same thing this morning as I mused – for the millionth time – that I don’t have a really good reading spot in this house.
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That is a cool way to preserve the old but bring it into the present. I like it.
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I thought it was rather unusual and really liked it too.
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That door is very elegant! I love the old and new together here. It’s a place I’d like to see!
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I appreciate the effort made to preserve the past and they did a great job of melding the 2 together. Now I’m curious about the other 11 heritage buildings …
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Me too. I’m looking forward to those future posts.
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In Melbourne we have an old shot tower which has been encased in a glass and steel cone. I walked past it yesterday. It was absolutely bubbling with people; mainly shoppers. I’m not sure what I prefer. Today’s craziness, or the mid-city peace I experienced while walking past this old tower in the mid 70s on my way to uni. I guess it would no longer be there if not for this development. I have blog post on it somewhere but I couldn’t find it. ☺
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If you do find the post, please shoot it over to me, … or reblog it. I’d love to read about it.
Life is surely different today than it was in the mid 70s!!
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Easier to find on my laptop
https://regionalcognisance.wordpress.com/2014/11/16/coops-shot-tower-survives/
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Now, now, don’t you go trying to lift this door single-handed, or you’ll do yourself another injury. I’m just impressed that you are able to blog at all at the moment!
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Typing with one hand is reeeealllly sloooow. Mind you, there is little else I can do right now.
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It looks like the old and new can be mingled quite artistically!
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They can! … and I was impressed 🙂
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In general the old stuff is cooler, but it’s good that the old/new is combined, rather than that the old is totally demolished and replaced with glass & steel.
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I agree completely!
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I love the concept of a building within a building! What a great way to preserve history while making way for new structures. And, two posts in two days from you are very welcomed. 🙂
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Thank you. Happily I wasn’t overwhelmed by the sound of groaning complaints 🙂
… although I’m reasonably confident there won’t be a 3rd!
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Two posts in a row?? Seriously Joanne…do you really expect me to read these both???!!! Ha, ha, always a pleasure to hear from you and some beautiful and interesting scenery here for sure. A building within a building…you don’t say!
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I wouldn’t want you to think ‘god! not HER again!!’ 😀
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That’s a good way to preserve a bit of history. And, you’ve given me an idea. I know that one of our tall buildings in Hartford, includes the facade of Mechanic’s Savings Bank. I have to check that out at some point.
This was a great post. (I love comparing old and new photos, too) and there’s always room for a door’s post on Thursday.
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I love when old and new are melded together. I hope you go check out the Mechanic’s Savings Bank. I’d be interested in what they did.
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The pictures look nice and though it’s glass and steel, it seems to fit well to me 🙂
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It works surprisingly well, but it’s one of those hidden treasures that a visitor might never find except by accident.
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Love the juxtapositioning of the old and new!!I look forward to reading about your next visit to Brookfield Place.
Donna
http://www.retirementreflections.com
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Thanks. I already know what it’s going to be and it doesn’t fill me with joy – the Hockey Hall of Fame.
I passionately dislike the game and my status as a Canadian is always in peril when I make that confession
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The incredible and respected honor of keeping, preserving the old Merchants Bank within this new and glorious structure is a grand tribute, Joanne!
I loved the gorgeous evergreen colored door! The golden brass lion and door knob are worthy of a “heist” but with your 2016 “luck” we would be gathering funds to “post your bond” here on the Thursday’s Doors community!! 😉
Hope you have a lovely weekend! I can imagine people on my blog probably wish I would cut back on my posts!! Your two in a row doesn’t bother me a bit, as long as you don’t mind my delayed reading. . . xo
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Yikes! Good point about my dodgy luck this year. Might be wise to hold off on this caper until I get a better alignment of stars.
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Wow, Joanne, this is super interesting. Love your trips around town and shared door photos. ❤
I'll race you for that last door. How about it? 😀 😛
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There are 2 of them – we can each have one!!
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Oh my gosh. Two? This is my lucky day. When are you picking up yours? 😛
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Sometime in February – by then my shoulder should be healed. Family Day seems like a good day … it will be quiet 😉
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Excellent post Joanne. I’ll have to check this place out the next time I’m there.
I know I’ve mentioned before that there’s no bail money in the ThursdayDoors fund for traffic violations but FYI, this applies to doors thieves too – so just make sure you behave out there 😉
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You’re just going to suck all the joy out of this, aren’t you? 😀
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I was a little blasé about these pictures of door posts initially but this, and one or two others, have converted me. And not just because I thought last Thursday was Friday. Won’t be making that mistake again! Thanks Joanne, a top post and two in two days is a treat.
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Someone should have warned you that doors are highly contagious.
You might just be watching from the sidelines now, but before you know it, you’re going to be seeing cool and funky doors everywhere. By then it will be too late. Soon, you too will be going out specifically to find them!!
You’ve been warned.
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An old building inside a new building is very unique. And classy also, in my view.
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I thought so too. Whoever came up with this design idea gets top marks from me!
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I like that door. Very smart.
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It’s a statement door. Do you think they would notice if it suddenly went missing? 😉
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I’ll carry one end if you get the other.
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Piece of cake.
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Interesting!
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Thanks 🙂
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