- Address
- 119 Spadina Avenue
- Source
- Landmarks
The Balfour Building is a Toronto landmark and designated heritage building that is located at 119 Spadina Avenue. It was designed by Benjamin Brown and was one of his most important commissions.
- Address
- 119 Spadina Avenue
- Time Period
- 1930-Present
- Scope Note
- The Balfour Building is a Toronto landmark and designated heritage building that is located at 119 Spadina Avenue. It was designed by Benjamin Brown and was one of his most important commissions.
- History
- Built in 1930, the building is twelve storeys high and crowned by a two storey tower. It is considered one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in Toronto. Initially, many Jewish garment businesses were located in the building. It currently houses offices for several graphic design and advertising firms, shops and a post office. The Balfour Building was declared a heritage building by order of City Council in July of 1989.
- Category
- Architecture
- Manufacturer
- Source
- Landmarks
![Shiffer-Hillman suit brush, [194-]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, fonds 22, item 151.|The Balfour Building was designed and built for the Shiffer-Hillman company, who later leased out space to other garment businesses.](/media/Digital Assets/Artifacts/9055.jpg?maxheight=1000&maxwidth=1000&watermark=wmk)
- Address
- 225 Richmond Street West
- Source
- Landmarks
The Gelber Brothers, Louis and Moses, were born in what is now Austria in the late nineteenth century. Together they founded the Imperial Clothing Company, which later became Gelber Brothers Woolens. Their head office was designed by Benjamin Brown and was located in the Gelber Building at 217-225 Richmond Street West. Although selling woolens was their main business, the brothers had other investments, including ownership of a service station at Simcoe and Richmond and a public garage at 287 Spadina Avenue.
- Address
- 225 Richmond Street West
- Time Period
- 1923-present
- Scope Note
- The Gelber Brothers, Louis and Moses, were born in what is now Austria in the late nineteenth century. Together they founded the Imperial Clothing Company, which later became Gelber Brothers Woolens. Their head office was designed by Benjamin Brown and was located in the Gelber Building at 217-225 Richmond Street West. Although selling woolens was their main business, the brothers had other investments, including ownership of a service station at Simcoe and Richmond and a public garage at 287 Spadina Avenue.
- History
- The Gelber Brothers were prominent members of the Toronto Jewish community. They were involved in many philanthropic and charitable activities and were active in many Jewish organizations.
- Category
- Architecture
- Manufacturer
- Source
- Landmarks
- Address
- 197/199 Spadina Avenue
- Source
- Landmarks
The Empire Clothing Company building was another fine example of commercial buildings designed by Benjamin Brown. The building was located at 197/199 Spadina Avenue at the corner of Phoebe Street and Spadina Avenue. Brown built the original and a later addition to the building.
- Address
- 197/199 Spadina Avenue
- Time Period
- 1923-present
- Scope Note
- The Empire Clothing Company building was another fine example of commercial buildings designed by Benjamin Brown. The building was located at 197/199 Spadina Avenue at the corner of Phoebe Street and Spadina Avenue. Brown built the original and a later addition to the building.
- History
- Mr. Abraham M. Schiffer and Mr. William Leibel were the co-owners of Empire Clothing Co. and Cornell Tailored Clothing Ltd. The Empire Clothing Company Building served as the headquarters for both businesses. The Empire Clothing Company manufactured men's clothing and sold it wholesale. Leibel and Schiffer were also close neighbours, living only a few houses apart. William Leibel was a prominent member of the Toronto Jewish community. He was involved in many philanthropic and charitable activities and was active in many Jewish organizations, particularly in the area of Jewish education.
- Category
- Architecture
- Manufacturer
- Source
- Landmarks
- Address
- 21 Dundas Square
- Source
- Landmarks
The six-storey Hermant Annex and 14-storey eastern tower were designed by Benjamin Brown in 1920 and 1930 respectively. The building is named after Percy Hermant and served as the headquarters for his company, Imperial Optical. The Hermant Building was built at Wilton Square - which was later renamed Dundas Square. Benjamin Brown's office was located in the Hermant Building in the 1940s. The offices of the Canadian Jewish Review were housed in the building on Dundas Square. The buildings were designated as heritage buildings in 1990.
- Address
- 21 Dundas Square
- Time Period
- 1930-present
- Scope Note
- The six-storey Hermant Annex and 14-storey eastern tower were designed by Benjamin Brown in 1920 and 1930 respectively. The building is named after Percy Hermant and served as the headquarters for his company, Imperial Optical. The Hermant Building was built at Wilton Square - which was later renamed Dundas Square. Benjamin Brown's office was located in the Hermant Building in the 1940s. The offices of the Canadian Jewish Review were housed in the building on Dundas Square. The buildings were designated as heritage buildings in 1990.
- History
- Percy Hermant was born in Mogilev, Russia in 1882. In 1897, he immigrated to Canada, arriving in New Brunswick, where he began working as a dry goods peddler. In 1900, he founded the Imperial Optical Company, the first prescription lens business in the Maritimes. This company eventually grew to be the largest company of its kind in the British Commonwealth. In addition to his successful business, he was very involved with philanthropic and community activities within Jewish and non-Jewish circles. He sponsored academic and musical scholarships.
- Category
- Architecture
- Manufacturer
- Medical
- Source
- Landmarks
![Ground floor plan of lavatories of the Hermant Building at 21 Dundas Square, [between 1929 and 1930]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, fonds 49, series 3, file 97.|](/media/Digital Assets/49-Brown/49-3-97/F49-s3-f97_i10.jpg?maxheight=1000&maxwidth=1000&watermark=wmk)
![South elevation drawing of the Hermant Building at 21 Dundas Square, [between 1929 and 1930]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, fonds 49, series 3, file 97.|](/media/Digital Assets/49-Brown/49-3-97/F49-s3-f97_i5.jpg?maxheight=1000&maxwidth=1000&watermark=wmk)
- Address
- 254-256 Victoria Street
- Source
- Landmarks
The six-storey Hermant Annex and 14-storey eastern tower were designed by Benjamin Brown in 1920 and 1930 respectively. The building is named after Percy Hermant and served as the headquarters for his company, Imperial Optical. The Hermant Building was built at Wilton Square - which was later renamed Dundas Square. Benjamin Brown's office was located in the Hermant Building in the 1940s. The offices of the Canadian Jewish Review were housed in the building on Dundas Square. The buildings were designated as heritage buildings in 1990.
- Address
- 254-256 Victoria Street
- Time Period
- 1920-present
- Scope Note
- The six-storey Hermant Annex and 14-storey eastern tower were designed by Benjamin Brown in 1920 and 1930 respectively. The building is named after Percy Hermant and served as the headquarters for his company, Imperial Optical. The Hermant Building was built at Wilton Square - which was later renamed Dundas Square. Benjamin Brown's office was located in the Hermant Building in the 1940s. The offices of the Canadian Jewish Review were housed in the building on Dundas Square. The buildings were designated as heritage buildings in 1990.
- History
- Percy Hermant was born in Mogilev, Russia in 1882. In 1897, he immigrated to Canada, arriving in New Brunswick, where he began working as a dry goods peddler. In 1900, he founded the Imperial Optical Company, the first prescription lens business in the Maritimes. This company eventually grew to be the largest company of its kind in the British Commonwealth. In addition to his successful business, he was very involved with philanthropic and community activities within Jewish and non-Jewish circles. He sponsored academic and musical scholarships.
- Category
- Architecture
- Manufacturer
- Medical
- Source
- Landmarks
