Belmont House
Encyclopedia
Belmont House is a charitable, non-profit, Christian
home for seniors
that offering long term care, retirement living
and apartments in Downtown Toronto
.
to meet the needs of women released from prison
. So the church women rented a house on downtown
Richmond Street, in what turned out to be the first step in the development of a private, charitable institution for the care of the elderly. By 1860, more space was required. So a larger house was rented on the site of the present Belmont House. In 1873, a new house was built and named the Magdalen Asylum and Industrial House of Refuge.
By 1883, an increase in the numbers of homeless women made it necessary to set aside a part of the House of Refuge for the permanent care of aged women. Eight years later, a fortunate legacy made possible construction of a second building, freeing up room in the House of Refuge for elderly men. But by 1890, both houses were so crowded that another expansion was needed. Belmont House, an aged women's home, was opened.
As the city grew, other facilities began to take over some of the social needs of the community. The government established training schools, and the House of Refuge was closed. Major changes came in 1940, with three changes of name for the Belmont group of homes. The original home (built in 1873) was renamed “Ewart House”, a home for aged women. The Aged Women’s Home (1891), which subsequently had become a home for elderly men, was renamed “Tweedsmuir House”. Including Belmont House, the total capacity was now 250 residents, men and women ranging in age from 65 to 90 plus.
Towards the end of 1966, Toronto newspapers announced a new era for "the three old grey buildings on Belmont Street known as the Belmont Home". They were to be demolished and replaced by a large, modern brick and concrete structure overlooking McMurrich and McAlpine Streets, fronting on Belmont and Davenport. Built around a courtyard
, with spacious lawns, it would house up to 250 residents, boast modern amenities hitherto unavailable, and be known as Belmont House.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
home for seniors
Old age
Old age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle...
that offering long term care, retirement living
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
and apartments in Downtown Toronto
Downtown Toronto
Downtown Toronto is the central business district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is approximately bounded by Bloor Street to the north, Lake Ontario to the south, the Don River to the east, and Bathurst Street to the west...
.
History
In the year 1852, there were no facilities in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
to meet the needs of women released from prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
. So the church women rented a house on downtown
Downtown Toronto
Downtown Toronto is the central business district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is approximately bounded by Bloor Street to the north, Lake Ontario to the south, the Don River to the east, and Bathurst Street to the west...
Richmond Street, in what turned out to be the first step in the development of a private, charitable institution for the care of the elderly. By 1860, more space was required. So a larger house was rented on the site of the present Belmont House. In 1873, a new house was built and named the Magdalen Asylum and Industrial House of Refuge.
By 1883, an increase in the numbers of homeless women made it necessary to set aside a part of the House of Refuge for the permanent care of aged women. Eight years later, a fortunate legacy made possible construction of a second building, freeing up room in the House of Refuge for elderly men. But by 1890, both houses were so crowded that another expansion was needed. Belmont House, an aged women's home, was opened.
As the city grew, other facilities began to take over some of the social needs of the community. The government established training schools, and the House of Refuge was closed. Major changes came in 1940, with three changes of name for the Belmont group of homes. The original home (built in 1873) was renamed “Ewart House”, a home for aged women. The Aged Women’s Home (1891), which subsequently had become a home for elderly men, was renamed “Tweedsmuir House”. Including Belmont House, the total capacity was now 250 residents, men and women ranging in age from 65 to 90 plus.
Towards the end of 1966, Toronto newspapers announced a new era for "the three old grey buildings on Belmont Street known as the Belmont Home". They were to be demolished and replaced by a large, modern brick and concrete structure overlooking McMurrich and McAlpine Streets, fronting on Belmont and Davenport. Built around a courtyard
Courtyard
A court or courtyard is an enclosed area, often a space enclosed by a building that is open to the sky. These areas in inns and public buildings were often the primary meeting places for some purposes, leading to the other meanings of court....
, with spacious lawns, it would house up to 250 residents, boast modern amenities hitherto unavailable, and be known as Belmont House.