Keg Mansion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Keg Mansion, formerly known as Euclid Hall is a prominent heritage building in downtown Toronto, Canada. The structure was originally built in 1867 by Arthur McMaster, nephew of the prominent businessman William McMaster. At the time Jarvis Street was one of the wealthiest parts of Toronto and the street was lined by large manors. The house was set back from the street and surrounded by large gardens.
In 1880 it was purchased by Hart Massey and his wife who had just returned to Toronto from Cleveland. The building was named Euclid Hall by Massey's granddaughter Lillian, after Euclid Street in Cleveland. The Masseys expanded the house and added greenhouses outside. Hart Massey's sons bought homes surrounding the manor. To the north his son Chester D. Massey built the home where Hart's grandchildren Vincent and Raymond were raised.
As the area became more urban and various commercial operations moved into the area, the Masseys decided to leave. The building was then bequeathed to the University of Toronto’s Victoria College in 1915. The manor served as the first home of Toronto radio station CFRB in the 1920s and was home to an art gallery for several decades until 1960. It then became a restaurant named Julie's Mansion, owned by one-time bastion of Toronto Julie Fine. The grounds were sold off and the greenhouses demolished and replaced with a service station. In 1976 it became home to a The Keg corporate store, and it was renamed the Keg Mansion.
