23 May 2008
Historical Building to Take Part in Doors Open Before Leon's Takes Over
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Steam Whistle Brewing is currently at the historic
roundhouse.
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Toronto Ontario - Torontonians may get their last chance
this year to see the CPR John Street Roundhouse in its entirety before Leon's takes over.
Steam Whistle Brewing is currently at the historic roundhouse, a site dating from 1929 whose original purpose was a location for
repairs of over 50 train locomotives per day. It closed in 1986 and was re-opened in 1999 by Steam Whistle who renovated
the facility. Now with the highly controversial threat of Leon's coming in and taking over bays 18 - 32, that only leaves three bays
for Steamwhistle (12 -14) which will be turned into a railway museum, according to the Toronto Star and the City's approval document.
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The site site dates back to
1929.
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The Brewery's original plan was to renovate 11 of the bays and convert them into a daytime museum and an evening event venue. It
appears as though furniture superstore Leon's has won the battle despite councillor Adam Vaughan himself expressing disgust at the
proposition.
When visiting the site over the weekend, there were a couple locomotives covered up in white tarps perhaps being upgraded for a
showing. But there were also a couple out in the open. There were plenty of tourists sticking their hands though the fence that
bordered the artifacts, placing their digital cameras through the fence holes in order to take pictures of these symbols of days long
gone. It's unfortunate that there won't be many more of these as big-box stores apparently are taking over our historical
spaces.
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The site site dates back to
1929.
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In the meantime, Doors Open will happen between 24 and 28 May 2008. The Roundhouse will be only one of the 34 National
Heritage Buildings on display, open free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. During the festival, volunteers from The Toronto Railway
Historical Association will host Doors Open will answering questions about artifacts. Model trains will be on display in the Beer
Hall.
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