ANALYSIS I ANALYSE

TORONTO'S TOWER OF PURE WATER: A LOST CIVIC VISION

STEVEN MANNELL is Professor in the School of >STEVEN MAN NELL Architecture at Dalhousie University, teaching in the areas of design and technology, and is principal of Steven Mannell Architect of Halifax. In addition to his ongoing study of twentieth-century public works and waterworks, he is active in the field of modern heritage. His book Atlantic Modern: The

Architecture of the Atlantic Provinces 1 950-20:0 ABSTRACT was published by Tuns Press in 2004. The Toronto Water Works Extension (TWWE) project of 1913-1955 proposed a comprehensive water supply and dis­ tribution system in the context of a vi­ sion of public works as a great civic deed, demanding a great civic architecture. The St . Clair Reservoir was the first completed element of the TWWE, comprising a cov­ ered reservoir topped by a public park giving on to a developed ravine land­ scape. Organized in relation to views from new civic roadworks-the Spadina Road Bridge and the boulevarded St . Clair Avenue-the intended climax of the res­ ervoir landscape was the ornamental St. Clair overhead tank. The proposed rich dressing of brick, limestone, and copper masks a large steel water tank, giving monumental architectural expres­ sion to prosaic engineering function in a manner that would characterize the architecture of the TWWE. The cancel­ lation of the tank project by Toronto's Board of Control indicates a deep gulf between Harris and his political overseers regarding the value and importance of monumental architectural expression to the TWWE project and to public works in general. A contemporary reconstruc­ tion of the tank, using architectural CAD modeling and renderings constructed in accordance with archival documents, re­ veals the rich architectural expression of the tank design, while photomontages using archival photographs of the reser­ THE DISTRICT NO. 3 OVERHEAD TANK AS PROPOSED BY POMPHREY AND HARRIS WITH BRICK AND STONE CLADDING, VIEWED FROM THE SPADINA ROAD BRIDGE, SHOWING THE TUNNEL PORTAL AND VALVE HOUSE BUILDINGS IN THE CENTRE voir demonstrate the full civic vision of OF THE VIEW, WITH STEPS GIVING ACCESS FROM THE RESERVOIR TOP DOWN INTO THE RAVINE PARK. J PHOTOMONTAGE, RENOER· the reservoir landscape as a whole. lNG AND DIGITAL MODEL: BEN JAMIN CHECKWITCH, STEVEN MAN NEll, WILLIAM RAWLINGS. BASE PHOTO: ARTHUR GOSS. SOURCE : CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVES, RGB , SERIES 721TEMS 1166 & 1167

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LA K ~ Toronto & ~lii'Oistric:ts ::~= - FIG. 1. THE TOWER OF PURE WATER: DIGITAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE UN BUILT DISTRICT FIG. 2. GENERAL LAYOUT OF WATER WORKS EXTENSION, FROM THE 1913 COMMISSIONER'S NO.3 OVERHEAD TANK, VIEWED FROM ABOVE SHOWING THE FRONT FA~E OF REPORT. DARK GRAY CIRCLE SARE VICTORIA PARK (LEFT) AND SCAR BOROUGH HEIGHTS THE TANK FACING THE PLAYING FIELDS ON TOP OF THE ST. CLAIR RESERVOIR. THE (RIGHT). LIGHT GRAY CIRCLES ARE PARKDA LE (LE FT) AND ST. CLAIR (TOP).I DIAGRAM R.C HARRI~ DOORWAY WITH BROKEN PEDIMENT AND MONUMENTAL URN ISATTHE BASE; THE 1913, REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF WORKS ON ADDITIONS AND EXTENSIONS TO THE TORONTO WATfRWORKS PUMPING ROOFTOP CUPOLA ACCOMMODATES THE ROOF ACCESS LADDER. ! RE NDERING AND DIGITAL AND DISTRIBUnON PlANT, TORONTO, CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVES PLATE NO. 1 MODEL: BENJAMIN CHECKWITCH, STEVEN MANNEll Wi lliAM RAWliNGS

INTRODUCTION The cancellation of the tank project by tute one of the most beautiful areas in Toronto's Board of Control indicates the Toronto." 2 Harris's report further sug- The Toronto Water Works Extension (TW­ deep gulf between Harris and his po­ gested linking the new waterworks to WE) project of 1913-1955 proposed not litical overseers regarding the value and a proposed encircling carriage drive and only a comprehensive water supply and importance of monumental architectural parkway system for the city. distribution system, but also embodied a expression to the TWWE project, and to highly developed vision of civil engineer­ public works in general. The civic dimension was very dear to Har­ ing and public works as great civic deeds, ris. He had a hand in various manipula­ demanding a great civic architecture.' PRELUDE: THE TORONTO WATER tions of the Bloor Viaduct design process The St. Clair Reservoir was the first com­ WORKS EXTENSION PROJECT before becoming commissioner of works, pleted element of the TWWE, comprising and there is much evidence for his on­ a covered reservoir topped by a public In 1913, newly installed Toronto works going close relations with key figures in park and giving on to a developed ravine commissioner R.C. Harris presented his the Guild for Civic Art.' The Guild was a landscape. The complex was organized in Report of the Commissioner of Works on progressive planning advocacy group, in­ relation to the view from the monumen­ Additions and Extensions to the Toronto cluding such architects as Edmund Burke tal new bridge carrying Spadina Road to Waterworks Pumping and Distribution and John Lyle, dedicated to implementing its intersection with the proposed civic Plant. Urgently prepared in rebuttal to City Beautiful ideals in Toronto. Projects boulevard of St. Clair Avenue. The archi- the 1912 Report of the Board of Water included: tecture and landscape vision of the TWWE Commissioners sponsored by Harris's dis- was the product of the collaboration of graced predecessor Charles Rust, Harris's • The G u i I d's 19 0 9 Report on a architect Thomas Canfield Pomphrey with 1913 Commissioner's Report proposed Comprehensive Plan for Systematic his patron, commissioner of works R.C. construction of a duplicate waterworks Improvements in Toronto; Harris; the climax of that collaboration just beyond the eastern city limit at Vic- was the ornamental St . Clair overhead toria Park. A vision of public works as civic • The Civic Plan Commission of 1911, tank, proposed for the southern prow of works pervaded the Commissioner's Re­ recommending ornamental space on the reservoir at the head of the ravine, port: "It is proposed to erect handsome roadways, boulevards between curb which would have dominated views from buildings, which, in conjunction with the and sidewalks, and the beautification the ravine and from the Spadina Bridge. park district and the beach, will consti- of St. Clair Avenue (by 1909, St. Clair

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Fla . .._Dl•l••m •howin& cleval ion of willu dlatrkh and 1be lnluconnccdon ol the ~~~~nt a nd new w&tH t upply IJ't tana.

FIG. 3. ELEVATION SCHEMATIC OF THE TWWE PROJECT OF 1926. THE ST. CLAIR RESERVOIR FIG. 4. PLAN OF THE TWWE DISTRICTS, FROM THE 1926 REPORT. DISTRICT NO. 3 IS TONED BLUE AND DISTRICT NO. 3 OVERHEAD TANK ARE AT THE UPPER LEFT. IDIAGRAM WlLLIAM GORE, AT THE UPPER LEFT. I DIAGRAMoH. G. ACRES AND WILLIAM GORE, 1916, REPORT ON PROPOSED EXTENSIONSTO 1929, • FOURTEEN MILUON DOllAR EXTENSIONS TO TORONTO'S WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM •. CONTRAO RECORDS AND THE WATER WORKS SYSTEM, TORONTO, CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVES. RG 1 REPORTS. BOX 4, PLATE 1 ENGINEERING REVIEW, VOL 43, JUNE 19, P. 728, FIG. 2

was the main east-west street at the motives, and would be accompanied by jor block west of the eventual site), just northern limit of the city); significant improvements in social and below St . Clair Avenue.6 Upon submission market conditions in the city.• As well, ofthe drawings for approval in 1924, the • Study of alternative alignments of the Harris was certainly intimate with the City Architect wrote to Harris: "The sug­ Bloor Viaduct (1911 ); contemporary report prepared by Cous­ gested masonry housing is not specified, ins and the Harbour Commission on the though shown on the drawing." 7 This sug­ • A proposal for a Don Valley Parkway future of the waterfront and port, which gests that the tank was considered and (1912); proposed a continuous belt of parks with developed in ornamental terms, with an scenic boulevard carriage drives along the intention for decorative form, an impulse • A proposal for a system of encircling western waterfront, then swinging south in keeping with recent trends in public parks and parkways with boulevard across the Toronto Harbour islands and works thinking. That tank proposal was carriage drives (1913). lagoons before returning to Woodbine killed by the Board of Control in June 1924 Beach at the east. 5 due to (in Harris's words) the "strong pro­ Harris also sat on the Civic Transportation test from property owners in the area."" Committee with the Hydro-electric Power WATER SUPPLY PROBLEMS IN Other sites were mooted along the align­ Commission of Ontario's chief engineer NORTHWESTERN TORONTO ment of St . Clair Avenue, but none were F.A . Gaby and the Toronto Harbour Com­ developed due to the commissioner's mission's chief engineer E.L. Cousins. The Concerns regarding water pressure and perception of likely neighbourhood group produced the 1915 Report to the supply interruptions in the northwestern opposition. Civic Transportation Committee on Radi- pumping District 3 were raised through- a/ Railway Entrances and arrangements out the late teens and early twenties. THE ST. CLAIR RESERVOIR within the city, advocating a major east- That district was largely above the level west electric-powered commuter rail line ofthe main reservoir at Rosehill, and thus War and recession had combined to place along waterfront, connecting to a north­ dependent on steam and later electric the 1913 report on hold. Finally, in 1925, south line up Yonge Street to Summerhill pumps for supply, rather than gravity an external consulting engineer's report Avenue. Ridership increases of 500 to 1000 feed. The Works Department's in-house was commissioned from H.G. Acres and percent were predicted to result from the studies resulted in a proposal for a water William Gore. Their report, issued in 1926, use of electric-rather than steam-loco- tank located on Bathurst Street (one ma- declared: " The scheme above described

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ground and leave the ravine lands, worth­ ~~ less in the eyes of both city officials and the Eaton trustees.12

St. Clair Avenue was a hot point for the activities of the Guild for Civic Art. The Guild's summary of accomplishments ranks the widening of St. Clair as number one in importance among the successes of its early years, along with the estab­ lishment of boulevards at the centre and between curb and sidewalk along St. Clair as number five in importance.13 For Harris, the St. Clair site offered an opportunity to bring together in one project his mul­ tiple obsessions of waterworks, bridges, FIG. 5. SITE PLAN LAYOUT OF THE GROUNDS AND BUILD­ FIG. 6. PLAN LAYOUT OF THE ST. CLAIR RESERVOIR SHOW­ INGSATOP THE ST. CLAIR RESERVOIR AND OF THE ING HEXAGONAL LAYOUT OF CON CRETE COLUMNS. I boulevard streets, and public parks. The SPADINA ROAD BRIDGE. IDRAWING : H.G.ACRES & CO. LTD. DRAWING : H.G. ACRES & CO. LTD. AND GORE, NASMITH & STORRIE, 1929, park character of the reservoir design was AND GORE. NASMITH & STORRIE, 1929. WATER WORKS EXTENSION: ST. WATER WORKS EXTENSION: StCLAIR RESERVOIR CONTRACT DRAWINGS, ClAJR RESERVOIR CONTRAG DRAWINGS. TORONTO, CITY OF TORONTO TORONTO, CITY OF TORONTO DEPARTMENT OF WORKS; SHEET R-3 confirmed in a letter from Gore to Harris DEPARTMENT OF WORKS; SHEET R·l dating from early 1926, before the Water is substantially in harmony with the con­ • A new filtered water tunnel across the Works Extension report was issued : "The ception of the Commissioner of Works, lakefront from Victoria Park to John whole will be sodded over and sidewalks as outlined in his 1913 Report." • Howev­ Street and Parkdale; and flower pots could be placed on same. er, the waterworks project had become The whole area will be closed with an or- much more comprehensive than in 1913 • No changes to the existing Island filtration namental fence." 14 By 1929, the civic ambi- and proposed an overall strategy for the and pumping works (centre south).10 tions of the design were more ambitious: entire city. The full scope of the 1926 " The reservoir has been made to conform scheme comprised: Together with the development of St. Clair to extensive improvements in roads and Avenue as the city's northern boulevard, bridges in the vicinity, and the grounds • A new duplicate waterworks (includ- the establishment of Lakeshore Boule- are to be laid out and planted for use as ing filtration, pumping and reservoirs) vard at the southwest, and the proposed a public park."' 5 at Victoria Park, the eastern edge of north-south carriage drives, the water- the city; works projects mark out the key points Road bridges were as prominent as water- of a diagram of an encircled, quadrate works in Harris's vision of a renewed To­ • A new Sunnyside pumping plant with Toronto. ronto. Design of the Prince Edward Viaduct surge tower at the western edge of (1909-1919) involved significant collabora­ the city, adjacent to the new Lake­ The proposed development of the tion with architects and designers outside shore Boulevard with its amusement St. Clair site comprised two waterworks of the Works Department, much public parks, beach, and bathing station; components, a reservoir serving pumping debate about alignment and image, and District 2, and an overhead tank-serving some degree of political interference.• • Per­ • A new reservoir and overhead tank district 3." The St . Clair and Spadina site haps in an effort to maintain tighter con­ at St . Clair and Spadina, at the north was identified as early as 1925 for the res­ trol of the very many bridges projected for edge on the city's central axis; ervoir location by Acres and Gore, and the near future, Harris moved to develop was finally purchased from the estate of in-house capacity for bridge design. By the • A new surge tower at the existing Sir John Eaton in 1930, after the reser­ late 1920s, the Works Department's design­ John Street pumping station, at the voir had been tendered. The expropria­ ers had developed a characteristic bridge centre of the city; tion process was controversial due to the design based loosely on the Viaduct, with city's initial attempt to take only the high steel truss substructure surmounted by

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FIG. 7. VIEW OF RESERVOIR AND BRIDGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION. IPHOTO : ARTHUR Gos~ CITY OF FI G. 8. VIEW OF INTERIOR OF RE SERVOIR UNDER CONSTRUCTION, SHOWING HEXAGONAL COL­ TORONTO ARCHM~ RG8. SERIES 6S. ITEM 71 UMN GRID. I PHOTO: ARTHUR GOS~ CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVE~ RGS. SERIES 6S. ITEM 81

concrete road deck, pylons, and rails. De ­ DISTRICT 3 OVERHEAD TANK that "Within the next few days we hope ployed in various situations around the city, to place before you the design which we the consistency of the language of those In a letter from Gore to Harris in June have selected out of a number of sketches bridges reinforced the systematic nature of 1927, the architectural ambitions of the that have been prepared for this Water public works in Harris's vision of the city. tank were established: " The tank will be Tower." That letter also noted that the At the St. Clair site, the in-house engineers protected from frost and heat by a build­ tank plan had been changed to a do­ of the Works Department designed a steel ing to an architect's design conforming decahedron from the original octagon, truss and concrete bridge to replace the old with the gate house and pipe tunnel por­ based on the advice of the steel tank wooden trestle on Spadina Road south of tal of the service reservoir and suitable manufacturer. 22 St . Clair, simultaneous to the reservoir de­ to the surroundings." 20 During the period sign process of 1927 to 1929. The Spadina from late 1928 through early 1929, the THOMAS CANFIELD POMPHREY Road Bridge provides an appropriate frame language, layout, and detail of the Vic­ and viewing platform for the reservoir park, toria Park works were finally resolved to Thomas Canfield Pomphrey was ap­ along with a grand approach to the new the satisfaction of Harris, who was both prenticed as an architect in Scotland boulevard of St. Clair Avenue. The reservoir particular and demanding in his review before immigrating to Toronto, where and bridge were tendered together as one of drawings, and very concerned to avoid he worked for John Lyle and Darling & contract in 1929, w ith Nelson River Con­ plain, workmanlike buildings. By mid-1931, Pearson, among other firms. He was bad­ struction the successful bidder.' 7 Included Harris had become anxious to view the ly wounded in the right shoulder during in the contract were just two visible archi­ tank design. In September 1931, William the war and spent a number of years in tectural elements, the tunnel portal and Storrie replied to Harris: "Our architect convalescent hospitals before resuming gatehouse buildings, along with steps and Mr. Pomphrey is on holiday at the present his practice in Toronto. In 1925, Pomphrey terraces and the foundations for an octag­ time and as soon as he comes back we will and William Ferguson won the competi­ 2 onal overhead tank, though not the tank have this matter attended to." ' tion for the Toronto Cenotaph and, from itself.' 8 In describing the completed design, 1927 (at the latest), he was staff architect Gore noted that "[t)he tunnel portal has Harris was compelled to repeat his re- for Gore, Nasmith & Storrie.2' been featured architecturally and provides quest for architectural drawings a num- access both inside and out to the reservoir ber of times, including twice in January Pomphrey's relationship to Commissioner and grounds."'9 1932; Storrie replied on January 20, 1932 Harris appears to have undergone a

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T T I

FIG. 9. VIEW OFTHE VALVE HOUSE (UPPER LEVEL) AND TUNNEL PORTAL (LOWER LEVEL) ATTHE FIG. 10. DETAIL OF THE ORNAMENTAL STONEWORK AT THE TUNNEL CROOK OFTHE RESERVOIR. ISTEVEN MANNELL PORTAL PEDIMENT. I STEVEN MANNELL

significant shift in course of the TWWE otherwise insisted that all approvals be three years following the tender of the project. In October 1932, Harris com­ issued over his signature alone. reservoir. Situated on a triangular earthen plained to the engineers that Pomphrey prow at the south end of the St . Clair Res­ alone had signed approval on drawings: THE TOWER OF PURE WATER ervoir, the tank was to command views "Will you please ensure that in future from both the new Spadina Road Bridge this approval is indicated on the draw­ The valve house and pipe tunnel portal and from the eventual Ravine Park below. ings by a member of your firm and not buildings delineated in the 1929 reservoir William Storrie noted, somewhat laconi­ by just one of the staff." 24 By the mid- contract drawings are the first expres­ cally: "In keeping with the surroundings 1930s, however, Harris had a very dif­ sions of the monumental architectural this tank is of an ornamental type [ ... ]In ferent attitude towards Pomphrey. The language to be deployed in the TWWE. general the building is to be faced with commissioner of buildings had written Ornament conforms to a fairly general­ brick of first quality grey stock with stone to Harris, concerned that "[f]rom time to ized neo-classical manner, using such base, pilasters and trim cut from the best time Mr. Pomphrey of Messrs. Gore, Na­ devices as urns, deep rustication, and quality Queenston limestone."26 As pro­ smith & Storey [sic] makes decisions on prominent pediment forms, and contains posed in the 1932 contract drawings, a the Job in respect to materials and de­ none of the stylized references to water standard steel water tank (capacity of tails, or interprets the specifications [ .. . ]1 supply engineering process that charac­ 460,000 gallons, or five million pounds would be glad to know if this meets with terize the later buildings at Victoria Park. of water) is encased by vertical limestone your approval," to which Harris replied: In the plumpness of form and depth of pilasters, projecting above the tank top in "Mr. Pomphrey [ ... ]when advising on the modeling, the decorative carving of the copper-capped finials. Continuous, deep aforesaid work will request the presence portal has affinities to the details of Fer­ relief copper spandrel panels bearing the of your Inspector so that he may be fully guson and Pomphrey's Toronto cenotaph "TWW" device are set between the pilas­ informed;" 25 an oblique but nonetheless of 1925. ters, flanked by panels of yellow brick. definitive delegation of decision-making The north side, facing the playing fields authority. From that point forward, Pom­ The overhead tank at St . Clair was in­ atop the reservoir, features a rusticated phrey was to be considered Harris's agent tended to be a centrepiece of the Water limestone portal, topped by a broken in all matters architectural-a delegation Works Extension project, and its de­ pediment with monumental urn. Towards of authority that he never bestowed on sign was developed by Pomphrey under the ravine and bridge, the tank presents the engineers, on a project where he Harris's careful scrutiny over a period of a continuous projecting bay housing a

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tion of the St . Clair tower design in 1932, a large line drawing of the tower eleva­ tion takes the place of the Victoria Park rendering in articles on the TWWE, with the tower now acting as the exemplar of architectural quality and ambition.29

The matter of the name of the tank runs somewhat counter to the rhetoric of the architecture. In February 1932, Harris's assistant James Milne proposed "The St . Clair Water Tower," which Harris re ­ jected as misleading: "I think that the name given to this tower should indicate the purpose of the tank, i.e., the district to be served, and to this end the struc­ FIG. 11 . DISTRIG NO. 3 OVERHEAD TANK: WORKING DRAWING FIG. 12. DISTRICT NO. 3 OVERHEAD TANK; DIGITAL MODEL ELEVATION AND SEGION SHOWING THE STEEL TANK SHOWING THE MASONRY MASK PARTLY REMOVED ture might be designated 'District No. 3 CONCEALED BEHIND A MASONRY MASK. I DRAWING H.G TO REVEAL THE STEEL WATER TANK. I RENDERING AND Water Tower."' Milne's chastened reply ACRES & CO. LTD. AND GORE, NASMITH & STORRIE, 1929, WATER WORKS DIGITAL MODEL: BENJAMIN CHECKWITCH. STEVEN MANN Ell, EXTENSION: Sf ClAIR RESERVOIR CONTRAG DRAWINGS, TORONTO, CITY OF WILLIAM RAWLINGS was: "District No.3 Water Tower is a very TORONTO DEPARTMENT OF WORKS; SHEET R-101 3 descriptive and most suitable name." D roof access ladder extending above the Victoria Park pumping station, though parapet and culminating in a small dome the strong blue-green vertical panels of A FAMILY OF TOWERS IN THE and flagpole. copper vividly signal the reserve of pure TWWE water stored within the tower. 27 ------The classical language and the brick, lime­ The creation of expressive towers out of stone, and copper material palette of the Commissioner Harris's satisfaction with operational necessity is a theme of the overhead tank relate to those of the ad­ the design of the tower is expressed architecture of the TWWE. There are no jacent tunnel portal and the valve house, somewhat indirectly in articles on the purely honorific towers, rather each tower but with variations signalling the future TWWE published in engineering journals is incited by some necessary aspect of the direction of development of the archi­ in the late 1920s and 1930s. Water filtra­ purification or distribution of water: tectural language of the TWWE. Deeply tion, pumping, and distribution are the modeled horizontal limestone mouldings, principal focus of those articles, along • The overhead storage tank at St . Clair is neo-Greek urns, and heavy rustication with discussion of structural and material the founding tower design from 1932, around the tower doorway are carried issues, and construction logistics. Archi­ and was to contain a reserve of water over from the tunnel portal. Wall surfaces tectural expression is touched upon only at high level to ensure pressure and of the tower are brick panels framed by lightly in the texts, as in William Gore's supply in a power outage. As described slightly projecting limestone pilasters, an­ 1929 mention that "The architectural ap­ above, the tank was to provide a mon­ ticipating the Victoria Park filter building; pearance[ .. . ] should be quite pleasing."28 umental and visible sign of the vast other foreshadowing elements are the That article was accompanied by a large subterranean reservoir; the column of limestone finials that extend the pilasters reproduction of a lovely inkwash render­ water within expressed in bright blue­ above the roofline, and the metal deco­ ing of the plan and elevation of the filter green verticals of the oxidized copper rative elements: flat incised copper pan­ and administrative building at Victoria panels on eleven of the twelve faces. els and bronze grillage. Unlike the later Park, done in beaux-arts manner. As the buildings at Victoria Park, the decorative lead image in the article, dominating its • The surge tanks at John Street (on elements of the tower do not give figural first page, the filter building rendering an octagon plan, designed 1933) and rhetorical expression to the elements of unequivocally declares the central role of Sunnyside (Parkdale-on a round plan, engineering process. There are no carved monumental architectural expression in designed 1934, redesigned 1938) both equivalents to the stylized turbines of the the TWWE project. Following the comple- contain a regulating chamber allowing

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for variations of pressure in the main waterfront distribution tunnel.

• The alum feed tower at the Victoria Park pumping station, designed 1934, is a rectangular prism with battered walls housing two gravity feed alum flocculant hoppers and the associ­ ated head pump equipment. At the very top of the tower is a tall room with no defined function, featuring tall, round arched windows that act as a beacon on the landscape when illuminated after dark.

An explicit architectural hierarchy among the towers is clear, and was consciously es­ tablished. The alum tower and overhead tank were intended as high-order expres­ sive architecture, rendered in panels of yellow brickwork (traditionally referred Those are both associated with the gravity The Cenotaph's geometry follows that of to in Toronto as "grey" or "stone" brick), feed of alum flocculant to the screened in­ Lutyens's prototypical 1920 Cenotaph in framed by substantial limestone pilasters take water. High-level viewing balconies are London, which manifests the axis mundi and cornices, with copper flashings and another shared feature, though they were between the centre of the earth and dome decorative panels and bronze ornamen­ not part of the public tour routes through of the sky through entasis of the sides to­ tal screens, and Harris insisted on closely the works. In those waterworks, as at Victo­ wards a point 1000 feet in the sky, and with following their design development. The ria Park and St. Clair, the tower is a device for the steps and string courses following a surge tanks were lower-order work, ren­ organizing and orienting the overall com­ curve centred 900 feet below the surface dered in red utility brick with minimal position. For Pomphrey, the tower is not an of the earth.32 Towers are also a recurring flashing and stone detailing. That differ­ element of the literal, physically habitable theme in waterworks development more entiation was established by direct order public space of the architecture; instead, generally, including such icons of water of the commissioner, well before any con­ the towers acted in a manner analogous supply as Chicago's Water Tower. The role cerns for fiscal retrenchment. In March to the folly temple or hermitage of the of the tower in the image of water sup­ 1932, Harris wrote to the engineers: "It English garden tradition, providing a focus ply as a public service is emphasized in a has been decided to erect the surge tanks for distant views and a place for imagined number of early twentieth-century publi­ at John Street and Parkdale pumping inhabitation. Any tower is a symbolic con­ cations, including numerous articles in The stations without embellishments." The nection of earth to sky; in the context of the American City and the 1890 Architectural consultants were forced to write back to TWWE, where the overwhelming majority Competition for Water Towers sponsored clarify such instruction, as a masonry skin of the physical construction is hidden be­ by The Engineering Record.33 was essential to protect the tanks from low ground in the form of main and sup- the elements, and certain "decorative" ply tunnels, and underwater in the form of THE END OF THE TANK stone elements in fact had key structural the intake crib and tunnel, the tower also or weather protection roles. 31 symbolically connects distribution and use of Design work on the District No. 3 over­ water back to the sky and its clouds and rain, head tank was completed by early 1933, Towers also play significant roles in the com­ closing the hydrological cycle. That cosmo- and tenders were returned in September position of other waterworks designed by logical understanding of the TWWE towers of that year. 34 Construction (or not) of the Pomphrey for Gore, Nasmith, Storrie around provides a point of linkage to Ferguson and tank quickly became highly controversial, the same period, at Calgary and Ottawa. Pomphrey's Cenotaph in terms of symbolism. w ith Toronto's Board of Control unwilling

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lo' ill. ld \Va rer Tower fur Uhnrkl Nu. 3 . FIG. 14. LINE DRAWING OFTHE FRONT ELEVATION OF THE DISTRICT FIG. 15. THE FAMILY OF TOWERS IN THE TWWE. FROM LEFT: DISTRICT NO.3 OVERHEAD TANK, REAR ELEVATION OF THE DIGITAL NO. 3 OVERHEAD TANK. THIS IMAGE REPLACED THE VICTO­ MODEL SHOWING THE PROJECTING BAY AND CUPOLA HOUSING THE ROOF ACCESS LADDER; THE ALUM FEED TOWER AT RIA PARK RENDERING AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ARCHI­ VICTORIA PARK; THE SURGE TOWER AT THE JOHN STREET PUMPING STATION; AND THE SURGE TOWER AT THE PARKDALE TECTURAL AMBITIONS OFTHE TWWE IN THE ENGINEERING f SUNNYSIDE PUMPING STATION. I FROM LEFToRENDERING AND DIGITAL MODEL Of DISTRICT NO.3 TANK oBENJAMIN CHECKWITCH. STEVEN MANN ELL. PUBLICATIONS OF THE EARLY 1930S. I DRAWJNG WIWAM STORRIE. WilliAM RAWLINGS. PHOTO OF JOHN STREET SURGE TOWER: ARTHUR GOSS, CITY Of TORONTO ARCHIVES, RGB, SERIES 6S, ITEM 13. PHOTOS Of VICTORIA PARK ALUM 1935, c THE TORONTO WATERWORKS EXTENSIONS •. ENGINEERING JOURNAl. FEED TOWER AND PARKDALE SURGE TOWER: STEVEN MANN ELL VOL XVIII, N0. 2, FEBRUARY, P. 71 , FIG. 18 to support the estimated $62,000 cost of seeing the designs, with and without or­ having a new specification prepared for the ornamental cladding (out of a total namentation, together with a plan show­ a less elaborate design."38 The consulting low bid of $113,347). Commissioner Har­ ing its exact location." 36 engineers prepared drawings for an un­ ris composed a rare, signed memo to file, adorned steel tank, but Harris preferred describing the events following upon his On September 27, Harris sent a memo to to cancel the tank altogether for the time being "summoned to appear before the the Board of Control along with a book being. Time proved to be the enemy of Board of Control" to justify the expendi­ of photos of exposed steel water tanks, the tank, however. Designed to provide ture.35 He immediately met with his senior provided by the fabricator. Regarding the thirty minutes of pressure and supply dur­ staff engineer Mr. Powell, and William exposed tanks, he wrote: "A few of these ing power outages, the need for the tank Storrie, to discuss strategy. structures have been built in the United became increasingly reduced as both the States. I have not seen any of them and number and the duration of power out­ The Toronto Telegram supported the op­ therefore cannot advise as to their ap­ ages dropped steadily and dramatically position w ith the headline "Bill for Cam­ pearance. The designs however do not ap­ through the late 1930s and early 1940s. ouflage a Trifle Large." The local residents peal to me." In regards to a more modest By the time the Victoria Park works were and the Toronto Star were generally in "dressed" tank, he advised : "[ ... ] we have operational in 1941, the data in the Works favour of the cladding scheme, as being made further study of the design and Department's annual reports show that "a credit to the city and to the fine district have concluded that modification cannot power interruptions had become negli­ in which it will be erected," but at a time be made without such sacrifice of appear­ gible, eliminating the problem the tank of economic difficulty, many felt the lo­ ance as to make it relatively unsightly."37 was meant to solve.39 cal district alone should bear the cost of the dressing. Given that the tank was in­ Harris's rather haughty tone did little The foundations had been constructed tended to serve a different district of the to appease the Board of Control. Con­ under the 1929 reservoir contract, and city entirely, it was an ironic proposition. sequently, on September 30, "in view were diligently maintained, protected by Harris had done little to ensure strong of the existing financial conditions, the a timber hoarding. Commissioner Harris local support. A . E. LePage, in support of Board decided not to award a contract passed away in 1945, having jealously the tank also wrote to the mayor: "the for this work [ ... ] and directed the com­ protected the tank foundations through ratepayers of the Hill should have the missioner of works to give the question the intervening years. His vision of the privilege, through the newspapers, of of design further study with a view to Water Works Extension was maintained

JSSAC I JSEAC 31 > N" 1 > 2006 31 STEVEN MANNE LL > ANALYSIS I ANALYSE

FIG. 16. EXTEN DED FAM ILY OF WATERWORKSTO WERS DE SIGNED BY POMPHREY AND GNS. FROM LEFT: LEMIEU X ISLAND WATER WORKS, OTIAWA; GLENMO RE WATER WORKS, CA LGARY. ISTEVEN MANNELL

by his immediate successors as commis­ and material maps are based on scans of sioner of works, most of w ho had w o rked the present state of the materials of the closely with Harris in the original vision gatehouse and tunnel portal building FIG. 17. HONOURABLE MENTION DESIGN FOR A WATER TOWER BY "ALERT" (0. VON NERTA, WASHI NGTON and execution of the project. In 1947, at the St . Clair site, and of materials at D.C.), FRO M THE 1893 ENGINEERING RECORD COM· the Ward 4 Committee of Women Vot­ the V ictoria Park filtration plant. Views PETITION FOR WATER TOWER, PUMPING AND POWER STATION DESIGNS. I DR AWI NGo !ENG INEER ING RECORD EOITORSL ers wrote to Commissioner G.G. Powell of the model were then rendered and 1893, WATER TOWER, PUMPING AND POWER STATION DESIGNS, NEW YORK, ENGINEERING RE CORD complaining of the unsafe and unsightly mapped onto scans of site and archival condition of these foundatio ns, asking photographs us ing PhotoShop. Model that they be removed. Pow ell instead o r­ construction is by Benjamin Checkwitch dered the foundations to be prot ected and material maps, renderings, and pho­ by new hoardings. Evidently, even at t hat tomontages by William Rawlings, gradu­ late date, Commissioner Harris's dream ate students in the School of Architecture for the tower of pure w ater remained at Dalhousie University. alive.40 A rchival models and digital reconstruc­ BUILDING THE VIRTUAL TANK tions offer an opportunity to honour the fullness of an original design, un­ In a posthumous effort to red re ss the covering particulars and qualities that commissioner's frustrations, the archival may not be immediately evident in the model of the District No.3 overhead tank surviving documents. In the case of the has been constructed in strict accordance overhead tank, the building was fully de­ w ith the 1933 contract drawing s, and is signed and construction drawings were a full, three-dimensional representatio n complete when the project was cancelled, of all physical elements of the tank . The so little interpolation was required in model was constructed in Vector Works, t he modeling. In effect, we carried out a 3D CAD (computer-aided design) pro­ digitally what had been intended as a FIG. 18. FERGUSON & POMPHRE Y, COMPETITION-WINNING gram, then exported to 3D Stud io MAX physical and material act in the 1930s, DESIGN FO RTHE TORONTO CENOTAPH, 1925. I SOURCE: CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVES, FO NDS 2008, SERI ES 372, for fine tuning and rendering. The t exture and the work was very literal-minded SUB-SERIES 41, ITE M 250

3 2 JSSAC I JSEAC 31 > N' 1 > 2006 STEVEN MANNELL > ANALYSIS I ANALYSE

FIG. 19. RENDERED CAD MODEL OF THE DISTRICT NO. 3 OVERHEAD TANK AS PROPOSED BY POMPHREY AND HARRIS WITH BRICK AND STONE CLADDING, COLLAGED INTO ARCHIVAL PANORAMIC PHOTOGRAPHS BY WORKS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ARTHUR GOSS. AERIAL VIEW FROM THE CORNER OF ST. CLAIR AVENUE AND SPADINA ROAD, SHOWING THE PLAYING FIELDS ON TOP OF THE RESERVOIR. I PHOTOMONTAGE. RE NDERING AND DIG ITAL MODEL: BEN JAM IN CHECKWITCH. STEVEN MANN ELL. WILLIAM RAWLINGS. BASE PHOTO GRAPH: ARTHUR GOSS. CITY Of TORONTO ARCHIVES, RG8, SER IES 65, ITE MS 157·1 58

rechecking of all the material notes on the original drawings confirmed the mod­ el, and overturned our preconceptions. Similarly, the scale of the tank had be­ come loosely associated with the scale of the existing Parkdale surge tank; once the rendered model views were montaged into the site photographs, it became clear that the District No. 3 overhead tank was at least half again as large as we had en­ visioned, with a corresponding increase FIG. 20. THE DISTRICT NO. 3 OVERHEAD TANK AS PROPOSED BY POMPHREY AND HARRIS WITH BRICK AND STONE CLADDING, in our sense of its monumental presence VIEWED FROM THE SPADINA ROAD BRIDGE, SHOWING THE TUNNEL PORTAL AND VALVE HOUSE BUILDINGS IN THE CEN­ TRE OF THE VIEW, WITH STEPS GIVING ACCESS FROM THE RESERVOIR TOP DOWN INTO THE RAVINE PARK. I PHOTOMONTAGE, on the site. RENDERING AND DIGITAL MODEl: BENJAMIN CHECKWITCH, STEVEN MANNELL WilliAM RAWLINGS. BASE PHOTO: ARTHUR GOSS. SOURCE: CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVES, RG8, SERIES 72 ITEMS 1166 & 1167 NOTES

1. For an overview of the Toronto Water Works Extension project along with a detailed account of the Victoria Parks Water Works component ofthe project, see Mannell, Steven, 1999, «The Palace of Purification», Journal of the Soci­ ety for the Study of Architecture in Canada, vol. 24, no. 3, p. 18-26. The author wishes to acknowledge the generous financial support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. As well, important assistance has been provided by the Water Supply Division of the City of Toronto Works and Emergency Services FIG. 21. THE SAME VIEWPOINT AS ABOVE, SHOWING THE " UNADORNED " STEEL TANK, AS PROPOSED BY THE BOARD OF Department, The City of Toronto Archives (es­ CONTROl. I PHOTOMONTAGE, RENDERING AND DIGITAL MODEL: BENJAMIN CHECKWITCH, STEVEN MANNELL. WILLIAM RAWLINGS. BASE PHOTO: ARTHUR GOSS, CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVES, RGS, SERIES 72 ITEMS 1166-1167 pecially Lawrence Lee, Sally Gibson and Mark Cuddy), and Wayne Reeves. Manda Vranic of and somewhat pedantic. Yet, there were the drawings, one tended to envision the the Metro Toronto Archives and Records Cen­ real discoveries to be made in the pro­ tank in terms of its outlines and linear tre (now City of Toronto Archives) identified cess. The exquisite quality of the original surface renderings, or with some effort it the contract documents and drawings related ink on linen construction drawings tend could be pictured as a grey-toned object. to the overhead tank at the St. Clair Reser­ voir during research for the 1995-1997 MTARC to focus the observer on their inherent Material rendering of the model with (Metropolitan Toronto Archives and Records qualities as artefacts, and distract from colour and texture was startling-we Centre) exhibition Pipe Dreams: The History an appreciation of the building that the were completely unprepared for the vivid of Water and Sewer Infrastructure in Toronto; drawings were intended to project into blue-green verticals of the copper span­ these were brought to the author's attention by Wayne Reeves and Lawrence Lee. the world. After some time working with drels, which at first seemed lurid. A fast

JSSAC I JSEAC 31 > N" 1 > 2006 33 STEVEN M ANNELL > ANALYSIS I ANALYSE

2. Harris, R.C., 1913, Report of the Commissioner 18. H.G. Acres & Co. Ltd. and Gore, Nasmith & Stor­ 34. The lowest bid w as submitted by the Fo unda­ of Works on Additions and Extensions to the rie, 1929, Water Works Extension: St. Clair Reser­ tion Company of Ontario, as indicated in James Toronto Waterworks Pumping and Distribution voir contract drawings, Toronto, City of Toronto Milne's analysis of tenders; Milne, memoran­ Plant, Toronto. For the preceding report: The Department of Works. dum to Harris, August 24, 1933 . CTA, series 13, Board of Water Commissioners, Report Upon file 138. 19. Gore, William, 1929, « Extensions to Water the Existing Water Works System and Upon an Works at Toronto >>, The Canadian Engineer, 35. Harris, R.C. Memorandum [to file] re << Water Additional Water Supply, Toronto, 1912. vol. 57, no. 2, July 9, p. 154. Tower for District No. 3 », September 6, 1933; 3. Reports, articles, clippings, diagrams, and CTA, series 13, file 138. 20. Gore, William, letter to R.C. Harris, June 28, 1927. sketches relating to the Civic Plan Commission, CTA, series 13, file 137. 36. << Bill for Camouflage is a Trifle large », The the boulevard design for St. Clair Avenue, the Evening Telegram, Toronto, September 5, 1933; Don Valley Parkway, and other proposals are 21 . Gore, William, letter to R.C. Harris, September << Tank to be Nice but City Bal ks at $70,000 found loose among the Toronto Guild of Civic 2, 1931. CTA, series 13, file 138. Price », Toronto Daily Star, September 6, 1933; Art papers in The Baldwin Room, Toronto Refer­ 22. Storrie, William, letter to R.C Harris, January 20, LePage, A. E., letter to Mayor W .J Stewart, Sep­ ence Library. 1932. CTA, series 13, file 137. tember 19, 1933; all in CTA, series 13, file 138. 4. Harris, R.C., F.A . Gaby, and E.L. Cousins, 1915, 23. Mannell, Steven, and Wayne C. Reeves, 1997, 37. Harris, R.C., letter to W .J. Stew art, Esq. (Mayor) Report to the Civic Transportation Committee Thomas Canfield Pomphrey: Vita and Works, and members of the Board of Control, Septem­ on Radial Railway Entrances and Rapid Transit (unpublished paper). ber 27, 1933. CTA, series 13, file 138. for the City of Toronto, Toronto. 24. Harris, R.C., letter to William Gore, October 4, 38. Somers, J.W. (City Clerk), letter from Board of 5. Toronto Harbour Commissioners, Toronto Water­ 1932. CTA, series 13, file 261. Control, Toronto, to R.C. Harris, commissioner front Development 1912-1920, Toronto, 191-? of works, September 30, 1933. CTA, series 13, 25. Gillies, K.S., commissioner of buildings, letter to R.C. 6. City of Toronto Archives (CTA), Series 13, Water file 138. Harris, November 2, 1933; Harris, R.C., letter to K.S. Supply Section Correspondence, file 136. Gillies, November 6, 1933. CTA, series 13, file 141. 39. Statistics on the number of power outages at the 7. Taylor, Thomas, internal Works Department 26. Storrie, William, 1935, « The Toronto Wa­ various waterworks facilities are contained in the memorandum to G.G Powell, April 23, 1924. annual City Engineer's Reports from the late 1930s terworks Extensions », Engineering Journal, CTA, series 13, file 136. vol. XVIII, no. 2, February, p. 70-71. and early 1940s. CTA, series RG-8, box 41. 8. Harris, R.C., letter to James C. Forman, Esq ., com­ 40. Mowat, M. Winifred, secretary-treasurer, Women 27. H.G. Acres & Co. Ltd., and Gore, Nasmith & Stor­ missioner of assessment, April 22, 1925. CTA, se­ rie, 1933, Water Works Extension: Overhead Electors Association of Ward 4, letter to commis­ ries 13, file 136. sioner of parks Chambers, May 15, 1947; Cham­ Tank District No.3 Contract Drawings, Toronto, bers, C. E., commissioner of parks, letter to G.G 9. Acres, H.G ., and William Gore, 1926, Report on City of Toronto Department of Works. Powell, Esq ., commissioner of w orks, June 5, 1947 Proposed Ex tensions to the Water Works Sys­ 28. Gore, William, 1929, << Extensions to Water (referring Mrs. Mow at's letter to the Works De­ tem, Toronto, p. 4. Works at Toronto », The Canadian Engineer, partment); Powell, G.G., commissioner of works, 10. Acres and Gore: 3-4, 36-38. vol. 57, no. 2, July 9, p. 153. letter to Mrs. H.A. Mowat, June 14, 1947. The 11 . Acres and Gore: 4, 35, 38. 29. Storrie, William, 1935, <

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