1952 – Looking northwest from Jarvis St towards the Lombard Street Fire Hall. The building was constructed between 1886 and 1887 and served as a fire station until 1970 (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-2190 – James Victor Salmon photographer)
The former Lombard Street Fire Hall, now the College of Makeup Art & Design, is located at 110 Lombard St (just west of Jarvis St) in the St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto.
Originally, the Central Fire Hall
Constructed between 1886 and 1887, the red brick building was originally known as the Central Fire Hall, or Fire Station No. 5. It was designed by architect David Roberts Jr. in the Romanesque Revival style, featuring brownstone trimmings, arched entrances, and windows, in addition to intricately carved stone finials. The structure includes a square hose drying tower that rises 30.5 meters (100 feet), topped with arched openings and wrought iron enclosures. The fire hall was officially opened for service in the summer of 1887 and was said to be “the finest building of its kind in the Dominion.”
The basement held the steam heating apparatus, while the ground floor was divided into a single and double hall. The horses were stabled at the back of the halls. The second floor was a sleeping area and offices, while the top floor was for recreation, bathrooms, and a room for the new automatic (no operators) fire alarm telegraph system.
An expansion of the building was completed in 1895.
The Last of Toronto’s Fire Horses
The Lombard Street Fire Hall was home to the city’s last team of fire horses, Mickey and Prince, who pulled the water-tower wagon, guided by their driver, Joseph Fleming. Every evening at 9 pm (except Sunday), neighbourhood children would gather in front of the fire hall and wait for the automatic doors to swing open. The well-trained steeds would dash to their positions in front of the wagons to be harnessed, a sight that captivated the onlookers for years.
In 1931, the sound of horses thundering hooves along the street was replaced by the hum of motorized trucks. The stable area was remodelled to accommodate the modern vehicles. However, the brackets where the horse harnesses once hung remained, serving as a reminder of when the fire services relied on the noble creatures to respond to blazes quickly.
The Fire Hall Closes
In 1970, the Lombard Street and Berkeley Street fire stations closed and relocated to a newly constructed station at the southeast corner of Front St E and Princess St, today known as Toronto Fire Station 333.
The Second City & Gilda’s Club
1991 – The old fire hall on Lombard St was home to The Second City comedy club from 1973 until 1997 (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Series 1465, File 650, Item 72 – Urban Design photographs)
The building underwent a transformation into a restaurant-theatre in the early 1970s, initially as The Fire Hall Restaurant & Tavern, before becoming the home to Toronto’s branch of The Second City, a comedy theatre troupe in 1973. Some original cast members and comedic legends that performed at The Old Firehall Theatre included John Candy, Katherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Rosemary Radcliffe and Joe Flaherty.
The renowned sketch comedy-improv institution based in Chicago humorously adopted the snide name Second City from the title of a travelogue series (and later a book) called “Chicago: The Second City” by A.J. Liebling, a native of New York City. The bitting articles depicted Chicago as a city that couldn’t live up to Liebling’s cherished hometown.
When Second City moved to the Entertainment District in 1997, the old fire hall became a branch of Gilda’s Club, a support community for those affected by cancer. The organization was named in honour of Gilda Radner (1946-1989), an alumna of Second City and Saturday Night Live, who passed away from cancer. Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto moved to a new location in 2011.
The Old Fire Hall Today
2024 – The old Lombard Street Fire Hall, today home to the College of Makeup Art & Design at 110 Lombard St in the Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto
Since 2012, the historic Lombard Street Fire Hall has been home to the College of Makeup Art & Design. In its state-of-the-art facilities, the college teaches aspiring artists for careers in theatre, fashion, film, television, digital media, and special effects. Additionally, the college’s store sells high-quality makeup supplies to professionals, students, and those eager to master the art of makeup.
Did You Know?
Mr Roberts, the fire hall’s architect, also designed several homes and structures in Toronto, including the Gooderham Building.
When the Central Fire Hall (Lombard St) opened in 1887, firefighters from the former Police Court and Fire Hall on Court St moved to this location. The entire Toronto Fire Department consisted of 81 firefighters. A by-law enacted that same year stipulated that new hires could not exceed 26 years of age, must weigh no less than 135 lbs, and should be at least 5 ft 7 inches tall.
In 1966, when Alderman June Marks learned that the firefighters at the Lombard Street station had to shoo away rodents before sliding down the pole, she gave them a gift-wrapped box of rat poison, complete with a red bow on top.
The building was given heritage status by the city in 1986.
In 1997, Andrew Alexander, chief executive and co-owner of The Second City, said a spirit may lurk in the old fire hall. In the weeks before they moved out of the building, the lights began flickering, and all the computers shut off for no apparent reason.
Just a few doors west at 86 Lombard St is a notable building that was previously the city’s property—the Lombard Street City Morgue. The facility opened in 1908 and closed in 1975. Presently, there’s a proposal to develop the site into a mixed-use project called 100 Lombard. As part of this development, the historic morgue building is planned to be relocated directly next to the former fire hall.
Lombard Street in Toronto was named after the historic financial thoroughfare in London, England.
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Lombard Street Fire Hall Photos
1909 – Postcard of the Lombard Street Fire Hall at 110 Lombard St in the Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto. The postcard depicts two teams of fire horses at the ready to transport firefighters and equipment. The Lombard Street Fire Hall was home to the city’s last team of fire horses, Mickey and Prince, who retired in 1931 (Toronto Public Library PC1074 – Baldwin Collection of Canadiana)1952 – Looking northwest from Jarvis St towards the Lombard Street Fire Hall. The building was constructed between 1886 and 1887 and served as a fire station until 1970 (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-2190 – James Victor Salmon photographer) August 10, 2024 – Looking northwest towards the former Lombard Street Fire Hall No. 5 from Jarvis St. The 30.5 m or 100 ft tower was originally used to dry the fire hoses. After serving as a fire hall from 1887 until 1970, it was later home to The Second City then Gilda’s Club and today it’s the College of Makeup Art & DesignMarch 6, 1955 – Firefighters on a fire truck just outside the doors of the Lombard Street station. Notice the “T. F. D. High Pressure Monitor No. 2” on the side of the truck (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-2191 – James Victor Salmon photographer) August 10, 2024 – These doors at the former Lombard Street Fire Hall were once where horse-drawn wagons and later motorized vehicles exited to transport firefighters and equipment to battle fires in the area. Today, 110 Lombard St is home to the College of Makeup Art & DesignMarch 6, 1955 – A Toronto Fire Department Aerial truck heading west on Lombard St. A glimpse of the fire hall is visible in the photo with Jarvis St in the distance (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-1853 – James Victor Salmon photographer) April 1970 – Looking northwest towards the former Lombard Street Fire Hall, the year the building ceased to be a fire station. Both the Lombard Street and Berkeley Street fire stations closed and relocated to a newly constructed station at the southeast corner of Front St E and Princess St, today known as Fire Station 333 (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 2, Item 92)April 1970 – The arched Romanesque Revival style windows along the original name and year construction began “Central Fire Hall 1886.” The building served as a fire station from 1887 until 1970, the year this photo was taken (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 2, Item 93)April 22, 1971 – Looking northeast towards the former Lombard Street Fire Hall. The station closed the year prior. Notice the signs painted on the neighbouring Jarvis St building advertising Lavoris, Dominion Duplicators Ltd and George Shepard Printing (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 61, Item 55) 1972 – Looking northwest from Jarvis St and Lombard St in Toronto. The old fire hall and tower are visible in the centre-left. It was soon to be transformed into a restaurant-theatre, initially as The Fire Hall Restaurant & Tavern, before becoming the home to Toronto’s branch of The Second City, a comedy theatre troupe (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 22, Item 18)August 10, 2024 – Looking northwest at the corner of Jarvis St and Lombard St in the Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto. The old fire hall’s tower is visible in the left backgroundJune 4, 1979 – The red front doors of The Old Firehall when it was home to The Second City comedy club. The sign is promoting the show “For Whom the Bell Hops” (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 61, Item 60) 1991 – The old fire hall on Lombard St was home to The Second City comedy club from 1973 until 1997. The sign is advertising “Shopping Off to Buffalo” and “Dinner Show Packages as low as $27.95 PP” (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Series 1465, File 650, Item 72 – Urban Design photographs)August 10, 2024 – Looking northwest on Lombard St, just west of Jarvis St, towards the College of Makeup Art & Design. While the building has been home to the college since 2012, it served as one of the city’s fire stations for over 80 years, from 1887 until 19702024 – The old Lombard Street Fire Hall, today home to the College of Makeup Art & Design at 110 Lombard St in the Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto. The beautiful building received heritage designation in 1986January 26, 2020 – The historic former fire station at 110 Lombard St features a round stone plate with the inscription “Central Fire Hall 1886”. The station opened for service in the summer of 1887 and later became known as the Lombard Street Fire HallFebruary 29, 2020 – The top of the former Lombard Street Fire Hall’s 30.5 m hose-drying tower is finished with rock-faced stone and features arched openings and wrought iron enclosuresJanuary 26, 2020 – A both rough and intricately carved brown sandstone finial and a round-arched window at the old Lombard Street Fire HallApril 22, 2022 – Central Fire Station Ln street sign next to the old fire hall on Lombard St. The name is a nod to the station’s original name – the Central Fire HallApril 17, 2022 – The back of the old Lombard Street Fire Hall, located just west of Jarvis StJanuary 26, 2020 – Looking up at the Romanesque Revival style elements on the old fire hall, including arched and flat head openings. Notice the windows extend into the gableJanuary 26, 2020 – The entrance to the College of Makeup Art & Design at 110 Lombard St. Originally a fire hall, this was one of three doors that firefighters exited from by horse-drawn wagons and later motorized trucksNovember 20, 2021 – Looking northwest towards the former Lombard Street Fire Hall, today home to the College of Makeup Art & Design. The building was designed by architect David Roberts Jr in the Romanesque Revival style and was initially known as the Central Fire Hall. It served as a fire station from 1887 until 1970May 24, 2025 – The John Candy Box Theatre, located at The Second City comedy venue on 1 York St, includes a piece of the original stage from The Old Firehall Theatre on Lombard St. This historic artifact held comedy legends such as John Candy, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Martin Short, Dan Aykroyd, and Mike Myers. This photo was taken during Doors Open TorontoBetween 1887 and 1896 – A sketch of the Central Fire Hall on Lombard St in Toronto. When the station opened for service in 1887, it was said to “the finest building of its kind in the Dominion” (Landmarks of Toronto Volume 2 by J Ross Robertson – 1896)1890 – Goads Map showing the location of the Central Fire Hall (Toronto Public Library)1972 – Looking towards Fire Station No. 5, today Toronto Fire Station 333, at the southeast corner of Front St E and Princess St in the Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood. In 1970, the Lombard Street and Berkeley Street fire stations closed and relocated to this newly constructed station (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 18, Item 13)
Vintage Map: Atlas of the City of Toronto 1890 by Chas E Goad courtesy of Toronto Public Library
6 COMMENTS
One evening after consuming a bit too much Cabernet, I took it upon myself to ride the slide down the glimmering brass fire pole from the dining room to the theater to see The Saturday Night Crew. It was a very hot, sultry night. I was wearing a cotton dress and no panty hose. Needless to say I squeaked rather loudly and brought the chef running g from the kitchen and a few guests from the dining room to seek out the rather obscene noise they were hearing. I never actually realized how tall the pole was until I started my descent. An evening at the theater I will never forget. Catherine and Andrea were right about level with me as I had a stage side seat. The two ladies were into a skit when they took a gulp of their drink and ended up spitting ice cubes all over me. Yes Catherine & Andrea were quite the pair along with John Candy & Eugene Levy. Much later I heard the entrance to the top of the pole was plexiglass glasses. Oh my! I was 25 at the time.
Hi Valerie, What a great story!! You made me laugh, and I appreciate you sharing it. It sounds like you had a fun night, along with seeing those comedy legends, too!
Yes, it was quite the night. So much fun. That night will remain etched in my memory until I am six feet under. Hopefully not soon. I am in Mexico right now with my husband. We are unable to fly home for at least 3 months due to serious injuries my husband sustained in February in a quad bike accident. Such is life… C’est La Vie
The passing of Catherine O’Hara was very sad. May Catherine forever Rest In Peace.
Sincerely,
Valerie
One evening after consuming a bit too much Cabernet, I took it upon myself to ride the slide down the glimmering brass fire pole from the dining room to the theater to see The Saturday Night Crew. It was a very hot, sultry night. I was wearing a cotton dress and no panty hose. Needless to say I squeaked rather loudly and brought the chef running g from the kitchen and a few guests from the dining room to seek out the rather obscene noise they were hearing. I never actually realized how tall the pole was until I started my descent. An evening at the theater I will never forget. Catherine and Andrea were right about level with me as I had a stage side seat. The two ladies were into a skit when they took a gulp of their drink and ended up spitting ice cubes all over me. Yes Catherine & Andrea were quite the pair along with John Candy & Eugene Levy. Much later I heard the entrance to the top of the pole was plexiglass glasses. Oh my! I was 25 at the time.
Hi Valerie, What a great story!! You made me laugh, and I appreciate you sharing it. It sounds like you had a fun night, along with seeing those comedy legends, too!
The OLD CITY FIRE HALL 1970S SATURDAY NIGHT LIVe . SECOND CITY
Yes, it was quite the night. So much fun. That night will remain etched in my memory until I am six feet under. Hopefully not soon. I am in Mexico right now with my husband. We are unable to fly home for at least 3 months due to serious injuries my husband sustained in February in a quad bike accident. Such is life… C’est La Vie
The passing of Catherine O’Hara was very sad. May Catherine forever Rest In Peace.
Sincerely,
Valerie
Hi Valerie, I’m very sorry to hear about your husband’s accident, and I hope he’s recovering well.
Excuse my errors but my index digits have gone on vacation one going east, the other west. Happens when you are older. They are my main typing digits.