First Toronto Post Office
Encyclopedia
Toronto's First Post Office (or Fourth York Post Office) is the oldest purpose-built post office
in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
, and the only surviving example of a post office that functioned as a department of the British Royal Mail
.
The building was built between 1833 to 1834, with construction commencing before York
became the City of Toronto. Therefore, the post office is known both as the "Fourth York Post Office" (as there had been three prior post offices in the settlement) and the "First Toronto Post Office" (as it was the first post office to serve the newly incorporated city). The building served as a post office until 1839. It was altered last in 1876. Located at 260 Adelaide Street East, the building now houses a museum and a full-service post office, run by the Town of York Historical Society.
The style of the building is late Georgian architecture
. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1980.
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and the only surviving example of a post office that functioned as a department of the British Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
.
The building was built between 1833 to 1834, with construction commencing before York
York, Upper Canada
York was the name of Old Toronto between 1793 and 1834. It was the second capital of Upper Canada.- History :The town was established in 1793 by Governor John Graves Simcoe, with a new 'Fort York' on the site of the last French 'Fort Toronto'...
became the City of Toronto. Therefore, the post office is known both as the "Fourth York Post Office" (as there had been three prior post offices in the settlement) and the "First Toronto Post Office" (as it was the first post office to serve the newly incorporated city). The building served as a post office until 1839. It was altered last in 1876. Located at 260 Adelaide Street East, the building now houses a museum and a full-service post office, run by the Town of York Historical Society.
The style of the building is late Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1980.
See also
- Toronto Street Post OfficeToronto Street Post OfficeThe Toronto Street Post Office was also called Seventh Toronto Post Office and was built by Frederick William Cumberland and Thomas Ridout from 1851 to 1853. It is designed in the Greek Revival style....
- List of oldest buildings and structures in Toronto