Former gatehouse once part of vast estate

July 17, 2009

Robin Burgoyne

Special to the Star

Nestled at the foot of Valleyanna Dr. sits an intriguing house with a rich and unusual history.

Once an old gatehouse, it served as the entrance to a large estate on Bayview Ave., owned by two wealthy Torontonians. It was subsequently converted by a prominent architect into a private residence. As a result, the house today stands not only as a unique piece of architecture in its own right, but also as a valuable piece of Toronto's history.

Located north of Eglinton Ave. E., the property upon which the house is situated was initially designated as Concession 2, Lot 4. It was once part of a vast farming estate owned by the family of Robert Jones, who farmed the land for 90 years before Herbert Bruce — a well-known surgeon and former lieutenant-governor of Ontario — purchased it in 1920.

Herbert Bruce worked as a Professor of Surgery at the University of Toronto during the years following World War I. He also worked at the Wellesley Hospital, which he had founded in 1911.

During a visit to Europe, Bruce met Angela Hall, a nurse, and they married in 1918. At this time, Bruce began to construct a home on his purchased land; a grand estate fit for his future family.

The grand estate that Bruce built was designed by Eden Smith, a well-known architect, and was named "Annandale." It included a gatehouse that was later converted into a home; the same one that now sits at 2 Valleyanna Dr. and is for sale for $1.350 million.

Angela and Herbert Bruce lived in Annandale from 1921 to 1930. They had one child, a son named Maxwell. In 1930, Bruce sold off two parts of the estate to J.J. Vaughan, and J.S. McLean, for $60,000 each. He sold most of the estate, including the main house and the gatehouse, to Alfred Rogers, son of Elias Rogers, the famous coal baron whose company Alfred Rogers eventually took over.

There are differing theories as to why Bruce sold the estate. Some say he wanted a larger house, befitting someone of his stature. The other theory, put forth in the Toronto Star in 1930, was that Herbert Bruce anticipated being awarded a government post in London and so relieved himself of his significant real estate holding. It was not until 1932, that Bruce became Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, a position that he retained until 1937.

Herbert Bruce and Alfred Rogers socialized a great deal, a friendship that likely hinged upon a common love: horses. Alfred, especially, was involved in the equestrian community and created the Rogers Cup. He was also the honorary president of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair for many years.

Annandale went through many changes following Rogers' acquisition of what was to become 2 Valleyanna Dr.

First, the house was expanded at a reported cost of $250,000, a huge sum during the Great Depression.

Second, the property was renamed "Uplands" to reflect the name of Rogers' main horse stables near Lake Simcoe. In archival photographs of the estate, "Annandale" is prominent on the gatehouse facade, later to be replaced by a sign that reads "Uplands."

Third, the lands surrounding the estate were extensively landscaped. A part of these gardens are still there today, at the end of Valleyanna Dr., and have been designated a heritage site.

Fourth, due to Roger's frustration that delivery trucks would not fit through the archway as his horse-drawn coal trucks once had, a road was created around the gatehouse. This road became Valleyanna Dr.

Rogers lived on the estate with his wife, Winifrede (nee Warwick), and their three sons until his death in 1953. Winifrede continued to reside there until her death in 1955. However, due to the high cost of maintaining the estate and heavy property taxes, the family decided to sell Uplands following her death.

Through the years, Rogers had used the gatehouse for a number of purposes. The north side of the existing archway was used as a tack house and living quarters for the groomsmen. The south side was a four-car garage where Rogers kept his work equipment and trucks. The upstairs housed the servants' quarters, which were not accessible from the inside of the building, but through a tower that had steps leading up to the second floor.

In 1957, James Crothers, a man in the construction industry, bought the land and subdivided it. Thus began the redevelopment of 2 Valleyanna Dr. The gatehouse, which had remained an integral part of the estate since its inception, was radically reshaped. In 1957, the Toronto Star announced that Crothers and his partner K.W. Peacock, who was also in construction, were subdividing the area surrounding Valleyanna and that Crothers had plans to build a new home at the back of the property. The existing estate house was to be replaced. Lots were priced at $30,000, and they anticipated the homes to be in the range of $75,000 to $100,000.

Frederick E. Fletcher, a forward-thinking and innovative architect, along with Gordon S. Adamson and Assoc., set his sights on the land. He envisioned a total transformation for the gatehouse — one that would eventually make it the perfect environment for his family, his wife, Barbara, and their two children, Erin and Keith — to make their home.

In 1957, Fletcher approached Crothers and asked if he could purchase Lot 1. That year, the Fletchers bought the lot, along with the "Uplands" gatehouse, for $45,000.

For the first four or five years, the Fletchers lived upstairs in the former servants' quarters. They took their time renovating the gatehouse into an aesthetically pleasing and functional living space, making sure to preserve the historical and architectural integrity. They retained all of the original brickwork, some of the fixtures on the exterior, and even turned what had been a garbage pit into a decorative pond.

They enclosed the archway with a large glass window, thus creating a sitting room area under the arch. A stairway was created to connect the upstairs to the lower floor.

Some of the furnishings and light fixtures in the home were designed by Fletcher. He also created a walkway connecting the gatehouse to a new dining area off the side of the original structure. A swimming pool was constructed on the property in 1980.

Fletcher designed other homes, including the Crothers' house on Valleyanna Dr.; Ken Peacock's house at the corner of Teddington Park Ave. and Mt. Pleasant Rd.; St. Clair Balfour's house at 17 Ardwold Gate; and the Harvey McFarlane home in Picton. However, his own home was truly a labour of love.

Today, 2 Valleyanna Dr. stands, not only as a tribute to Frederick Fletcher's talent and creativity, but also as a symbol of the energy and uncontested ingenuity of the 1960s architectural community.

For more information, contact real estate agent Michael Meltzer at 416-489-1882.

Robin Burgoyne is a historian who specializes in uncovering the rich, fascinating histories of homes and properties in the Toronto area. For more information, to go housestories.ca.