The Northfield House

"Northfield House", Havergal College circa 1900

 
 

The Story

The Northfield House is now part of the National Ballet School at 400 Jarvis Street in Toronto.  It has been re-named The Lozinski House to honour Joan & Jerry Lozinski for their outstanding support for the National Ballet School.

Sir Oliver Mowat, one of the Fathers of Confederation, built this Georgian-style house in 1856 on land that was originally owned by Samuel Peters Jarvis.  Mowat was also the great-great-uncle of Canadian author, the late Farley Mowat.

In 1861 Mowat sold the house to Edward Rutherford, the president of Consumers Gas Company.  Havergal College bought "Northfield" in 1913, but there seems to be scant information on whether or not it was purchased from the Rutherford estate.  Rutherford is acknowledged as a previous owner but not necessarily the previous owner.

This map (on the left) shows the progression of the school from the original 350 Jarvis building (1894) to the larger 'Main House' School at 354 Jarvis 
(1898) through the various extensions up to 1912.  Rutherford House is shown in the lower right corner.  Northfield House was called Rutherford House in this drawing.

Havergal College continued at this location until 1932 when the school moved to its present location on Avenue Road.

Northfield House then became a barracks and training facility for the Women's Division of the RCAF for the duration of the Second World War.

In 1946 the house became the Ontario Region Headquarters for the CBC and in 2005 it became part of the campus of the National Ballet School.

From Jim's Notes

I had one piece of wood that would be suitable for the History in the Making project and in order to maximize the yield, I measured twice and cut once.  Doing this I was able to get a platter blank that was considerably larger than double the width of the original piece.

The wood is pine and quite soft so I had to turn and sand the piece carefully.

"A House on Jarvis Street" Pine

The piece has now been signed and dated.  I called it "A House on Jarvis Street".

I have made a second piece from the wood from Northfield House.  It is smaller, more like a large plate.  I called it "Inside the Art is Heart".

"Inside the Art is Heart"

The wood for this plate came from the dumb waiter in the house.  The rim of the plate has the original surface showing.  

This piece was donated by Hopson Grace and myself to Project Sunshine for auction at their fund-raising ball.

"This is a great cause.  Project Sunshine Canada is a non-profit organization that provides free social, educational and recreational programs to children and families living with medical challenges.  Volunteers who donate their time deliver all of Project Sunshine’s services; they provide literacy programs, arts and crafts and wellness events. These highly anticipated programs would not be possible without the funds raised at the annual gala."

This is quoted from a letter sent to me by Claire Kilgour Hervey, Sunshine Ball Co-Chair, 2015

 

Careful laminating to make a bigger blank.

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