Mackenzie House

I did a tour of Mackenzie House today ... it was a Single Horizons event.

Mackenzie House (82 Bond Street) was the last home of Toronto's first mayor, journalist and rebellion leader, William Lyon Mackenzie. He lived there from 1858 to 1861.

The neighbouring row houses were demolished in 1936. Here's the front and back of the house.

Our guide was Mark and he led us on a two hour private tour. He did an excellent job and I learned a lot!

We started in the parlour.

Christmas trees weren't a tradition in Canada at that point. Wrapping paper hadn't been invented and gifts were set out after the kids went to bed. That's when the house was decorated.

The formal dining room is set up with fancy Christmas desserts.

This is Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie's bedroom. He died in his bed in 1861.

The bed is in the "winter" position. The headboard faces the window to block drafts. In the summer, the bed would be reversed to encourage the flow of the cooler air.

This is Mackenzie's office.

This is his daughters' bedroom.

This is the day room where they spent most of their time (the parlour and dining room were used for special occasions).

Here's the kitchen ...

I wouldn't have survived without today's conveniences!

The house is run on gas ... here is the gaslight in the kitchen.

Mark made us some traditional cookies ... yum! There was also so warm mulled cider.

The view from Mackenzie's house is quite different now. Looking east, he would have seen a convent and a girls' school not a parking lot and apartment buildings.

Looking west, he would have seen houses not the Canon Theatre.

Mark gave us a demonstration of the printing press (Mackenzie had established three newspapers for an outlet of his political views).

Imagine doing all that buy hand! So much less work now that we have computers!

Cholera was widespread at that time and this was a "Cholera Prevention Costume".

Imagine if this is how we are combatting H1N1 today?!