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Transcribed

The Palace of Purification

THE PALACE HARRIS FIRST WORKED AT CITY HALL AS AN OFFICE BOY. HIS MOTHER WAS A CARET AKER THERE. AS COMMISSIONER, HARRIS MANAGED THE STREETS, SIDEWALKS, TRAFFIC, PUBLIC TRANSIT, BRIDGESS, SEWERS AND WATER SUPPLY FOR THE RAPIDLY CHANGING METROPOLIS. DURING HIS TENURE TORONTO DOUBLED IN SIZE, AND POPULATION. REMARKABLY HE HAD NO FORMAL ENGINEERING EDUCATION. HE SULCEEDED ON THE BASIS OF HIS EXCELLENT APMINISTRATIVE SKILLS, HIS TIRELESS WORK ETHIC AND PRODIGIOUS APPETITE FOR THE LATEST TECHNICAL JOURNALS. "IT IS NOT STRETCHING THE TRUTH TO SAY THAT IN THE LAST QHARTER CENTURY MR. HARRIS EXERCISED A GREATER INFLUENCE ON CIVIC POLICIES THAN MOST MAYORS AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL." "THE CIVIC OFFICIAL WHO SIMPLY ENDEAVOURS TO RUBBER STAMP THE WISHES OF THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT AN ASSET EITHER TO THE MUNICIPALITY WHICH HE SERVES OR TO THE ADMINISTRATION. R.C. HARRIS 1937 OF PURIFICATION FROM AN EDITORIAL IN TORONTO TELEGRAM TWO PAYS AFTER HIS DEATH ON SEPT. 2 1945 IN 1899 HARRIS BEGAN HIS ADULT CAREER HALL AS THE CITY LOMMISSIONER'S PEPARTMENT, HE WORKED HIS WAY UP RAPIDLY, EARNING THE APPOINTMENT CITY A CLERK IN THE The R.C. HARRIS WATER FILTRATION PLANT, located at the foot of Victoria Park Ave., sits quietly dramatic, overlooking Lake Ontario. Its construction was one of the most significant achievements in the illustrious career of Rowland Caldwell Harris, Toronto's commissioner of public works from 1912-1945. Built in the 1930's, the plant continues to be one of Toronto's most magical places. OF CITY ENGINEER AND COMMISSIONER OF PHBLIC R.C. HARRIS 1875-1945 WORKS OF THE CITY OF TORONTO IN 1917. THE SITE OF THE PLANT HAS A LONG HISTORY AS A PUBLIC SPACE. IN 1878 VICTORIA PARK, A PRIVATELY RUN AMUSEMENT PARK, WAS OPENED TO THE PUBLIC. A STEAMER RAN REGULARLY FROM NAIRN'S WHARF AT CHURCH ST. TO THE PARK. THE FARE WAS 25 CENTS FOR ADULTS, AND 15 CENTS FOR CHILDREN. IT FEATURED MANY DIVERSIONS INCLUPING LIVE MUSIC, A DANCE PAVILLION,A SHOOTING GALLERY, APETTING Z00, STEAM-POWERED MERRY-60-ROUNDS, SWINGS, BOATING, FISHING AND MORE. THE LAND WAS SOLD IN 1906 AND THE PARK CLOSED. IN 1912 THE NEW OWNER DONATED THE USE OF 14 ACRES TO THE TORONTO BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR ONE OF ITS FOREST SCHOOLS. VICTORIA PARK FOREST SCHOOL WAS MAINLY FOR UNDERPRIVELEGED CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM T.B., ASTHMA AND OTHER AILMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH OVERCROWDED LIVING CONDITIONS. FROM MAY TO OCTOBER CHILOREN WOULD TROLLEY To SCHOOL FOR NATURE TALKS, HEALTH LESSONS AND A GOOD DOSE OF COUNTRY AIR. THE SCHOOL WAS CLOSED IN 1934. THAT THE SITE REMAIN "PUBLIC" WAS ALWAYS PART OF HARRIS' VISION. CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLANT BEGAN IN THE EARLY 30'S. IN ADDITION TO THE BUILDINGS AT VICTORIA PARK, NEARLY 30 KM OF 2.3-3M DIAMETER TUNNELS HAD TO BE CREATED TO SUPPLY THE CITY WITH WATER. IN 1938, MAYOR RALPH C. DAY AND MEMBERS OF THE PRESS INSPECTED THE NEARLY COMPLETED PLANT. IT WAS A MASSIVE UNDERTAKIN6. THE MEDIA WERE UNIMPRESSED. THE GLOBE AND MAI THE ENGINEERING FIRMS OF H.G. ACRES LTO. AND GORRE E STORRIE LTD. WERE HIRED AS CONSULTANTS ON THE PROJECT. ARCHITECT AT GORRE $ STORRIE, THOMAS POMPHREY, WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSFORMING HARRIS' VISION INTO ARCHITECTURAL REALITY. HARRIS APMINISTRATION WAS CRITICIZED FOR USING TAXPAYERS MONEY FOR INEXPLICABLE "APORNMENTS." THE PLANT WAS COMPARED TO THE DECADENCE OF VERSAILLES. Torontos $15,000,000 Showplace Nears Completion "IT IS PROPOSED TO ERELT HANDSOME BUILDINGS WHICH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PARK SECTION AND THE BEACH, WILL CONSTITUTE ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AREAS IN TORONTO." IT WAS THE STAFF CIVIC PLANTS NOT INTENDED AS PALACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT Torubi, onl atani FROM HIS 1913 REPORT ON THE WATERWORKS EXTENSION PROJECT Waste Of Public Money Ald. Wm. Croft Declares OF Waterworks “Palace" VATERWORKS PLANT LOOMS AS SHOWPLA POMPHREY AND WILLIAM FERGUSON DESIGNED THE CENOTAPH AT CITY HALL. THE ROOTS OF THIS LONTROVERSY ELOGUENTLY EXPLORED IN MICHAEL 1987 NOVEL "IN THE SKIN OF A LION." "YOu WATCH, IN FIFTY YEARS THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK HERE AND GAPE AT THE HERRINGBONE AND THE COPPER ROOFS. WE NEED EXCESS. SOMETHING TO LIVE UP TO. I FOUGHT TOOTH AND NAIL FOR THAT HERRINGBONE. DESPITE THE EARLY CONTROVERSY, PLANT HAS BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE. ONDAAT JE RECOGNIZED THE SYMBOLIC VALUE OF THE PLANT AS ONE OF TORONTO'S FEW EDIFICES THAT WAS CONCEIVED AND EXECUTED ON A MYTHOLOGICLAL LEVEL "WE CALLED IT THE WATERWORKS. IT WAS THIS SERIES "IN WINTER WE WOULD SET OFF TO MASTER THOSE HILLS. REALLY, OF MYSTERIOUS SLATE GRAY BUILDINGS THAT LOOMED ATOP SOME EXCELLENT SLEDPING HILLS." "WE WOULD BUILD DAREDEVIL RAMPS AND LEAP OFF BEFORE WE HIT THE BARRIER.' "AFTER, WE WOULD HEAD BACK TO THE GOOF FOR HOT CHOCOLATE. WERE THE WE WERE IN SEARCH OF BOYS. ON RARE OCCASIONS WOULD MEET SOME OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD'S CUTER SPECIMENS. Sate ONDAAT JE'S FROM THE BRUT AL WORK EXCAVATING THE TUNNELS TO THE OPULENCE OF MARBLE HALLS, HE WAS ABLE TO SHOW THE EFFECT OF THE GRAND SCHEME ON THOSE WHO BUILT IT. KATE MILBERRY GREW UP IN THE BEACHES AREA IT SUPPLIES ABOoUT HALF OF THE CITY'S WATER; ALMOST ONE BILLION LITRES OF WATER PER DAY. MARK COOPER, A TORONTO WORKS INFORMATION OFFICER, GIVES FREE TOURS OF THE PLANT EVERY SATURDAY AT 10 AM, 11:30 AM AND 1 PM. THE BUILPING ITSELF IS A MASTERPIECE OF DESIGN. THE STYLE IS ALL ART DECO FROM THE '205 AND '30s. THIS CONTROL ROOM USED TO HAVE WALL-TO- WALL EQUIPMENT WITH EIGHT PEOPLE WORKING. NOW WE NEED ONLY TWO PEOPLE WITH COMPUTERS. THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL PUMPS FROM 1938. THEY ARE REBUILT EVERY FOUR YEARS. THE UPPER PUMPS SEND TREATED WATER INTO THE CITY. THE LOWER PUMPS SEND LAKE WATER HP THE HILL TO BE FILTERED. NOTICE THE BALLROOM STYLINGS, THE HIGH LEILINGS, WELSH TILED FLOORS, AND ENGLISH HERRINGBONE TILE ON THE WALLS FILTER SETTLED WATER CONPUIT FILTERED WATER RESERVOIR ROOM GUEEN ST. FILTERED WATER CONDUIT SETTLING BASINS THE HARRIS PLANT IS THE LARGEST AND THE OLDEST OF TORONTO'S THREE FILTRATION PLANTS. IT BEGAN OPERATIONS IN 1941 NURSEWOOD RD. HIGH LIFT PUMP ROOM (FILTERED WATER) FILTER BUILDING MIXING/ FLOCCULATION CHAMBERS SERVICE BUILDING FILTER OPERATING GALLERIES TUNNEL TO CITYWIDE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. ROTUNDA A ZM WIDE PIPE, 3KM LONG AND ZOM DEEP BRINGS WATER IN FROM THE LAKE. HERE WE SCREEN THE WATER TO REMOVE LARGE OBJECTS AND ADD SOME CHLORINE. ALUM IS ADPED TO THE WATER. THE DIRT IN THE WATER STICKS TO THE ALUM, AND WE CALL THESE RESULTING PARTICLES FLOC. THIS LIMESTONE SIGNAL PANEL INDICATES WHICH OF THE PUMPS ARE OPERATING. THE WATER IS TESTED EVERY TWO HOURS BY THE PLANT OPERATORS. SIGNAL TOWER PUMPING STATION TESTING ROOM WEST LOBBY (TOUR STARTS HERE) SOUTH LOBBY (TOUR ENDS HERE) ORIGINAL CONTROL ROOM THERE ARE SIX SETTLING BASINS BENEATH THE FRONT LAWN. THE FLOC SETTLES TO THE BOTTOM OF THESE BASINS CARRYING THE IMPURITIES. THIS IS ONE OF 4 FILTER ROOMS, EACH HOLDING 10 FILTER TANKS. WATER FROM THE TOP OF THE SETTLING BASINS IS PUMPED IN AND SINKS VERY QUICKLY THROUGH THE GRAVEL FILTERS. YOU LAN SEE BITS OF FLOC FLOATING ON THE SURFACE. THE PLANT HAS BEEN DECLARED A NATIONAL HISTORIC CIVIL ENGINEERING SITE. THE PLANT IS OFTEN USED AS A FILM SET. THE X-FILES WAS SHOT HERE ONCE. PUMP SIGNAL PANEL RAW WATER CONDUIT ALUM TOWER PUMP ROOM (RAW LAKE WATER) SCREEN ROOM WHAT GOES WHERE INTAKE PIPE AT THE R.C. HARRIS WATERWORKS LAKE ONT ARIO THE HALLWAYS ARE LINED WITH FRENCH AND ITALIAN MARBLE. THE TOWER IS A BACK WASH INDICATOR. WATER FLOWS THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE PLANT PURING THE FILTRATION PROCESS. RIOKTH A VISIT TO THE SITE TODAY REVEALS THE CLARITY OF HARRIS' VISION. ON A SUNNY DAY, ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE CAN BE FOUND TAKING IN THE GRAND VIEW AND THE SERENE COMPOSURE OF THE BUILDINGS ÁDD A UNIQUE MEDITATIVE QUALITY TO THE PARK. CITY LEADERS LOOKING FOR A DURABLE MODEL OF CIVIC ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND PLANNING NEED LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE EASTERN TERMINUS OF THE QUEEN STREET CAR. BRISK LAKE BREEZES. Orrerererer yrer rrrbrrkr

The Palace of Purification

shared by Marc.Ngui on Apr 27
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This comic/info-diagram hybrid tells the story and describes the function of one of Toronto's landmark buildings, the R.C. Harris water filtration plant.

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