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R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant

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372: 31: 430: 380: 165:, Canada, is both a crucial piece of infrastructure and an architecturally acclaimed historic building named after the longtime commissioner of Toronto's public works Roland Caldwell Harris. The plant's architect was Thomas C. Pomphrey with engineers H.G. Acres and William Gore. It is located in the east of the city at the eastern end of 454:, the grounds have remained open to the public, but security has been increased. In the summer of 2007, construction began on the installation of an underground Residual Management Facility allowing processed waste to be removed before discharging into the lake. This construction has since been completed. 399:
style, the cathedral-like structure remains one of Toronto's most admired buildings. It is, however, little known to outsiders. The interiors are just as opulent with marble entryways and vast halls filled with pools of water and filtration equipment. The plant has thus earned the nickname
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The land was once owned by Peter Patterson and was a popular spot for picnickers who nicknamed it "Yellowbanks" for the colour of the bluffs In 1878, Patterson leased the property to businessmen John Irwin, Bob Davies, and P.G. Close who hired John Boyle to develop and operate it as an
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Despite its age, the plant is still fully functional, providing approximately 30% of Toronto's water supply. The intakes are located over 2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi) from shore in 15 metres (49 ft) of water, running through two pipes under the bed of the lake. Water is also
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Construction for a water treatment plant began on the site in 1932 and the building became operational on November 1, 1941. The building, unlike most modern engineering structures, was also created to make an architectural statement. Fashioned in the
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which the TRC also operated. In 1906, the park was purchased by Henry Eckardt in a foreclosure sale after Davies had been unable to keep up the mortgage payments. Eckardt closed the park in 1906, the same year that nearby
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The video was filmed at RC Harris water treatment plant, Valley explains "we were looking for a sense of brutalism mixed with beauty for this video and a lot of open space because the song feels very empty yet
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With an early 20th-century Toronto plagued with water shortages and unclean drinking water, public health advocates such as George Nasmith and Toronto's Medical Officer of Health,
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for boys from 1917 until 1927. In 1927, the City of Toronto purchased the property for $ 370,000 in order to build the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant.
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lines to the park, allowing for ferry service to be discontinued. In 1899, the Toronto Railway Company took over the lease allowing it to continue as a
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The facility grounds have been made available to the public. Despite some concerns of vulnerability to an attack on the water supply since the
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The R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant has been used in dozens of films and television series as a prison, clinic, or headquarters.
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The office of Richard Jenkins' character, Ezra Grindle, a factory executive with a dark past, in Guillermo Del Toro’s
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In 1992, the R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant was named a national historic civil engineering site by the
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The Royal Canadian Institute for the Mentally Insane (next door to Elsinore Brewery) in the 1983 film
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in the plant and then pumped to various reservoirs throughout the City of Toronto and York Region.
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Roland Allen Harris was a member of the Queen's Own Rifles. Harris is buried in family plot at
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A prison in the Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal episode "Solitary Confinement."
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It has been the location for a number of film productions, the best known being
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Waterfront Railway Viaduct built from 1925 to 1934 to bring rail lines into
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The Mellonville Maximum Security Prison, as seen in an SCTV episode (1982).
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in 2011, in a series showcasing five notable Art Deco buildings in Canada.
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RC Harris Water Treatment Plant - Filtration Building - South Elevation
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R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant - Service Building - South Elevation
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From 1912 to 1932 part of the property was used for Victoria Park
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Music video for "When You Know Someone" by the band Valley
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Harris was born in Lansing on May 26, 1875 in what is now
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A Children’s Hospital in Guillermo Del Toro’s 1997 film
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His son 245:expansion of the streetcar network of the 205: 1024: 428: 378: 370: 366: 827: 766: 734: 732: 730: 1485: 880:"New stamps emphasize Art Deco design" 877: 707:"Distillery District Heritage Website" 686: 615:"Ekart County Jail" in the 2015 movie 409:Canadian Society for Civil Engineering 998: 800: 738: 534:corporation in the television series 457: 727: 603:episode "A Different Kind of Death." 348:is named after the amusement park. 181:neighbourhood in the former city of 828:Mannell, Steven (January 1, 2002). 530:Base of operations for Genomex, an 13: 606:A prison in the closing scenes of 584:"Lake District Federal Prison" in 433:Water pumps at the treatment plant 155:R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant 24:R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant 14: 1519: 976: 801:Filey, Mike (October 27, 2008). 291: 29: 1493:Art Deco architecture in Canada 942: 904: 871: 286: 1498:Municipal buildings in Toronto 1216:Royal Agricultural Winter Fair 847: 821: 794: 713: 699: 680: 666: 411:. It was designated under the 1: 1238:Scarboro Beach Amusement Park 1224:Hanlan's Point Amusement Park 878:Rochon, Lisa (June 8, 2011). 807:. Dundurn Press. p. 44. 781:Coaster Enthusiasts of Canada 745:. Dundurn Press. p. 11. 687:Lorinc, John (May 18, 2012). 659: 359:also used the property for a 340:Scarboro Beach Amusement Park 309:to bring picnickers from the 1390:Ontario Legislative Building 1211:Canadian National Exhibition 1123:Canadian Broadcasting Centre 739:Filey, Mike (October 1996). 7: 926:. June 2011. Archived from 18:Building in Ontario, Canada 10: 1524: 1508:Water treatment facilities 1196:Centreville Amusement Park 517:"The Centre," a nefarious 402:The Palace of Purification 281:St. John's Norway Cemetery 231:to be built decades later. 1470: 1415: 1363: 1345:Rouge National Urban Park 1305: 1254: 1188: 1105: 1036: 597:A prison building in the 521:in the television series 445: 133: 125: 117: 78: 57: 49: 44: 40: 28: 23: 1292:Yorkdale Shopping Centre 1245:Sunnyside Amusement Park 1106:Cultural and educational 912:"Architecture: Art Déco" 804:Toronto: The Way We Were 35:Exterior of the building 1428:National Historic Sites 511:In the Mouth of Madness 319:Toronto Railway Company 305:was built to allow for 102:43.673222°N 79.278819°W 1333:Nathan Phillips Square 1148:Ontario Science Centre 1113:Art Gallery of Ontario 1055:Hanlan's Point Stadium 954:Universal Music Canada 916:Canada's Stamp Details 721:"Harris, Roland Allen" 434: 424: 384: 376: 247:Toronto Civic Railways 219:Crawford Street Bridge 206:Roland Caldwell Harris 139:; 82 years ago 1118:Canada's Walk of Fame 473:In the Skin of a Lion 432: 382: 374: 367:Water treatment plant 225:Prince Edward Viaduct 137:November 1, 1941 107:43.673222; -79.278819 1373:Billy Bishop Airport 1163:Royal Ontario Museum 1143:Italian Walk of Fame 990:. November 17, 2017. 742:I Remember Sunnyside 452:September 11 attacks 414:Ontario Heritage Act 357:The T. Eaton Company 346:Victoria Park Avenue 171:Victoria Park Avenue 126:Construction started 1355:Yonge–Dundas Square 1282:St. Lawrence Market 1138:Hockey Hall of Fame 1133:Harbourfront Centre 1076:Mutual Street Arena 855:"2701 Queen St. E." 559:Robocop: The Series 355:during the summer. 236:Mount Pleasant Road 229:Bloor Danforth line 212:North York, Ontario 173:along the shore of 169:and at the foot of 98: /  45:General information 1366:and infrastructure 1328:Leslie Street Spit 1097:Woodbine Racetrack 1069:Maple Leaf Stadium 1062:Maple Leaf Gardens 1049:Coca-Cola Coliseum 930:on August 10, 2011 885:The Globe and Mail 834:Canadian Architect 693:The Globe and Mail 651:Mayor of Kingstown 649:Women's Prison in 482:Undercover Brother 458:In popular culture 435: 385: 377: 329:along with nearby 277:Lieutenant Colonel 249:from 1912 to 1915. 1480: 1479: 1403: 1306:Parks and squares 1272:Kensington Market 1153:Ripley's Aquarium 723:. April 24, 2021. 265:Queen Street West 261:University Avenue 151: 150: 63:Queen Street East 1515: 1450:Shopping centres 1433:Oldest buildings 1397: 1206:Exhibition Place 1087:Scotiabank Arena 1019: 1012: 1005: 996: 995: 991: 970: 969: 963: 961: 946: 940: 939: 937: 935: 908: 902: 901: 899: 897: 892:on June 11, 2011 888:. 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Harris 15: 1455:Skyscrapers 1400:Mississauga 1180:Toronto Zoo 924:Canada Post 786:January 29, 626:The Expanse 507:horror film 440:chlorinated 419:Canada Post 361:summer camp 200:Dave Thomas 183:Scarborough 105: / 80:Coordinates 53:Operational 1487:Categories 1318:Guild Park 660:References 618:Regression 600:Conviction 573:Just a Man 568:Flashpoint 554:Henry Ford 519:think tank 495:Half Baked 336:Munro Park 331:Munro Park 307:steamships 144:1941-11-01 93:79°16′44″W 90:43°40′24″N 1378:City Hall 1323:High Park 1297:Yorkville 1262:Chinatown 1189:Amusement 1168:The Tenor 1128:Casa Loma 1044:BMO Field 1026:Landmarks 758:August 5, 323:streetcar 321:extended 263:south of 238:north to 118:Named for 1460:CN Tower 1287:The WELL 1255:Shopping 1201:CN Tower 967:scenic." 934:July 26, 896:July 26, 863:July 26, 839:July 19, 537:Mutant X 397:Art Deco 271:in 1931. 74:, Canada 1473:Italics 1423:Museums 1416:By type 1030:Toronto 960:July 3, 587:Between 492:comedy 179:Beaches 177:in the 163:Ontario 159:Toronto 142: ( 72:Ontario 68:Toronto 58:Address 811:  749:  503:asylum 446:Access 134:Opened 50:Status 1440:Parks 922:(2). 634:Mimic 303:wharf 61:2701 1398:(in 962:2024 936:2011 898:2011 865:2011 841:2010 809:ISBN 788:2020 760:2024 747:ISBN 552:The 490:1998 198:and 153:The 129:1932 1028:in 501:An 470:'s 425:Use 267:to 157:in 1489:: 986:. 964:. 952:. 920:XX 918:. 914:. 882:. 832:. 779:. 768:^ 729:^ 691:. 404:. 283:. 202:. 185:. 161:, 70:, 1402:) 1018:e 1011:t 1004:v 938:. 900:. 867:. 843:. 817:. 790:. 762:. 709:. 695:. 676:. 646:. 637:. 628:. 621:. 594:. 575:. 562:. 549:. 540:. 527:. 514:. 498:. 485:. 476:. 256:. 146:) 65:,

Index


Queen Street East
Toronto
Ontario
Coordinates
43°40′24″N 79°16′44″W / 43.673222°N 79.278819°W / 43.673222; -79.278819
Toronto
Ontario
Queen Street
Victoria Park Avenue
Lake Ontario
Beaches
Scarborough
Strange Brew
Rick Moranis
Dave Thomas
North York, Ontario
Crawford Street Bridge
Prince Edward Viaduct
Bloor Danforth line
Mount Pleasant Road
Lawrence Avenue
Toronto Civic Railways
Union Station
University Avenue
Queen Street West
Front Street
Lieutenant Colonel
St. John's Norway Cemetery
amusement park

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