Tuesday Treasures

 Tom hosts Tuesday's Treasures.

August 2026 - Toronto ON

After the great fire of 1904 destroyed much of the city’s downtown core, renowned Canadian architect J.P. Hynes was commissioned by hotelier Fredrick Mossop to create one of the city’s first fireproof buildings.

In 1909, the 48-room, eight-storey gem—appropriately named the Hotel Mossop—opened to the public. ​​A respected architectural journal of the time called the Hotel Mossop “one of the most thoroughly constructed fireproof buildings in the Dominion.”

“The façade is of red pressed brick with cut stone piers and belt courses up to the third floor, and finished at the top story with arched opening which agreeably relieves the otherwise somewhat rigid and austere treatment of the windows.” — Construction, November 1909

The hotel was prosperous for many years, and even served as an emergency hospital during the flu pandemic in 1918, when hospitals were overflowing with sick patients. After facing difficult times during the Prohibition movement of the 1920s, the Hotel Mossop was forced to close in 1927.

This architectural gem was quickly snapped up by the Elliot Brothers, who refurbished and renovated the entire building—and renamed it the Hotel Victoria in tribute to the Queen.

1930s – 1970s: Wartime Hub & Transition

The hotel's liquor licenses were fully restored in 1935, making it a prominent hotspot for local business professionals and veterans.

During World War II, the hotel established the "Churchill Club" to raise money for the war effort, cementing it as one of the city's best-known landmarks for returning soldiers.

The hotel shifted into the "Phelan Era" when ownership changed hands again in 1971.

1980s – 2010s: Architectural Overhaul

Under the ownership of the Goldsmith family, the hotel's interior was dramatically altered. The original spiral staircase, old crank elevators, and dumbwaiters were removed for fire safety. The lobby was transformed into an airy atrium of steel and glass.

The property was purchased by the Silver Hotel Group in 1997. They executed an extensive historic restoration of the facade and guest rooms in 2011, intentionally preserving the original 1909 marble pillars and crown molding.

2020 – 2023: Shelter Operation & The Grand Reopening

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hotel paused commercial operations. The City of Toronto leased the building, and the multi-service agency Dixon Hall operated it as an emergency housing shelter for two and a half years.

The municipal shelter program at the site officially closed in February 2023. The building then underwent a massive top-to-bottom renovation to restore its boutique status.

The Hotel Victoria officially reopened to travelers in the summer of 2023 with completely modernized amenities, bold new interiors, and the addition of its current restaurant, Mossop's Social House (original hotel name).

If you look closely at the building's facade at 56 Yonge Street, the heritage designation protects its Edwardian Classical styling. This includes:The original 1909 structural setback and scale.Symmetric exterior brickwork drawn from antiquity.The original interior plasterwork and marble pillars preserved in the main lobby.