For the very first time The National Club will be participating in
Doors Open Toronto and allowing the public a rare look inside our 108-year-old clubhouse at 303 Bay Street.
The 16th annual Doors Open Toronto presented by Great Gulf is held on
Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, offering free and rare access to
more than 155 architecturally, historically, culturally and socially
significant buildings across the city.
Founded July 6, 1874, the National Club's first clubhouse opened at 96 Bay Street on March 30, 1875 as a home for the "Canada First Movement". Its first decade was a little rocky, suffering “financial embarrassment” in 1879 and again in 1883, with an appeal to its members to set the accounts in good shape. By 1893 the Club was ready to move out of the building it was renting and buy its own on King Street, but then the economic depression of 1894 hit and the Club decided it was more prudent to walk away from it’s $2,000 deposit on the United Empire Building and concentrate on renovating the current building. The Club moved next door to 94 Bay Street (owned by a Club member) during most of 1896 and moved back in that November to enjoy “an era of prosperity unparalleled in its history” – at least looking back from 1900 when one of the first club histories was written.
The National Club was so successful by the beginning of the 20th century that it was again contemplating new and enlarged premises. By 1903 membership had increased from 300 to 500 and the premises at 96 Bay Street were feeling cramped. Despite objections that moving north of King Street would put the Club “out of the core”, a location was found between King and Adelaide Streets known as Robinson House. The deep lot included an apple orchard at the back. The National Club saved and raised a $140,000 from its members to buy the land and erect a new clubhouse at 303 Bay Street with all the conveniences, including delivery through the alley of large blocks of ice for the state of the art wooden refrigerators and cooking meals over coal ranges. On September 12, 1906 the cornerstone was laid and on December 17, 1907, The National Club’s new premises opened.
The 48,000 square foot clubhouse has been renovated, restored and maintained over the past 108 years to all its Edwardian glory. It houses the club's art collection, 40,000+ bottle wine cellar and many surprises.
Book your tour through the
Doors Open Toronto website.
