The Legislative Building at Queen’s Park was built between 1886 and 1893. While adding an extension 1909, workers accidentally set fire to the roof of the west wing. The fire spread quickly. MPPs and staff formed a bucket brigade to save the Legislative Chamber, but sadly the damage included the Legislative Library. With the ensuing repairs, the new wing wasn’t completed until 1913—the 100,000 or so books and public records that were lost in that fire leave a hole in our history to this day.

Creator: Unknown
Date: 1909
Identifier: X 64-385
Format: Ephemera
Rights: Public domain
Courtesy: Toronto Public Library.
More information: (view details and larger image)

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