Ontario Community Newspapers

Acton Free Press (Acton, ON), April 30, 1975, p. 27

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Wed Apr I 30 1975 House on the Hill r and extravagance oaken beams Share in a unique experience that has been enjoyed by millions visit Canada famous Casa Loma less than an hour drive from North Hal ton Imaginea room medieval style castle in the heart of Toronto Canadas Famous Castle By Roy Downs TORONTO S CASA with its bold turrets and grounds sits high on a hill in the centre of Toronto It s worth a visit this summer the whole family will enjoy roaming through it This magnificent landmark was built Between and by a famous Canadian- Sir Henry Midler fin and industrialist Sir Henry was an incurable romantic who had lifeIons Interest In the casteles or medieval times It was not surprising that he decided to use some of his amassed for tune to build a castle his own He spent several years studying Old World Castles and gathering materials and furnishings He brought mar ble glass and panelling from Europe teak from Asia and oak and walnut from prime areas of North America Scott stonemasons were brought bu Id the massive wall that surrounds the six acre The enchantment of th famous landmirk re flects the mag art of the owner the and the many led en who helped become a real II be the splendor that dent The Ion elegant bronze doors I nock Allcv copied nil nan Ml after the tt laslle Sow worth million The castle cost Sir Henry about Today ft could not be duplicated or SO times that figure Its rooms include three bowling alleys bathrooms fireplaces telephones an indoor marble swimming pool se veral secret passages and two lowers offering a of the city The grounds are beautifully landscaped One description calls the castle a mixture of cen Scottish Baronial and Century Fox S Henry might have liked that description for he was flamboyant millionaire th an air for showmanship His dream was to one day royalty in Casa He gave parties for mo people at a time but the ill never came known as the r Henry was a the Toronto 1 Company He made of money developing s Canada the latter I of the 1800s and a fortune on CPR stock saw the I power from Ma a Falls and was Id in pow on the Canad inside he floated a England that on th in formed the Co pan II 1 pate in King Edward crowning ceremonies in one of the flamboyant acts for which he was famous dec Id to take an entire military band along at his own per sonal expense Then in he took members of the Queen Own to British army paying all the transportation costs plus maintenance of the regiment for several weeks Today the regiment uses part of Sir Henry castle for a museum of Queen s Own memorabilia Casa Incorporated all the latest for that day in electrical equipment had an electric elevator for his wife a semi Invalid A refrigeration ays tern kept the 1 bottles of wine In his unique wine cellar at the correct temperature City takes over By the 1920s taxes were Sr Henry and a servant had developed too costing too much In 1924 he left the castle and moved to his farm at King His pos sessions were sold for at a fashionable auction The city of Toronto took over his castle for tax arrears Henry died In 1B39 stilt rich at the age of BO In 1937 the Club of West Toronto restored Loma as a tourist attraction The club uses Its share of the proceeds to support many worthwhile community pro jectsyouth programs as sistance for the disabled and retarded music festivals and assistance for the needy Casa is located at 1 Austin Terrace and it open to dally There Is a cafe teria and gift shop in the low level You can see It in an hour or spend a whole day exploring Loma IT lull 1 I ic lieu not If 1 if

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