519 Jarvis Street: Charles Massey House

Historical Name: Chester D. Massey House
Construction Date: 1883

Architect: E. J. Lennox

Charles Albert Massey (1848-1884) engaged Toronto architect, Edward James Lennox (1854-1933), to design his house. During the construction of the house at 519 Jarvis Street, Charles Massey died of typhoid fever at age 36. As a memorial to his son, an enthusiastic amateur musician, Hart Massey presented the City of Toronto with the Massey Music Hall (now Massey Hall) in 1894.

Following the demise of Charles Massey, his younger brother, Chester Daniel Massey (1850-1926), acquired the Jarvis Street house.
Chester D. Massey eventually succeeded another brother, Edward Hart Massey (1864-1901), as the
president of the Massey-Harris Company. As Hart Massey’s only surviving son, Chester D. Massey
administered his father’s will, overseeing the establishment of the Massey Foundation in 1918.
Among their philanthropic works, the Massey Foundation funded and donated Massey College (1961-
1963) to the University of Toronto.

The latter addition incorporated a basement gymnasium and billiards room and, on the main floor, a study and a picture gallery where Chester D. Massey displayed his impressive collection, including works by Maris, Corot, Boudin, Fantin-Latour, and Israels (part of the collection was donated to the National Gallery of Canada). The German-born artist, Gustav Hahn (1866-1962), was commissioned to paint a mural in the picture gallery.

Chester D. Massey and his first wife, Anna Vincent (died 1903), raised their sons, Vincent
(1887-1967) and Raymond (1896-1983), in the Jarvis Street house. While Vincent Massey served
as president of Massey-Harris, he relinquished control of the company in 1925 to embark on a
diplomatic career. His lifelong role as a patron of the arts evolved from his service as a trustee of the
National Gallery of Canada in the 1920s to his position as chairman of the Massey Commission in
1949 that led to the creation of the Canada Council. In 1950, Vincent Massey (via the Massey
Foundation) and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada jointly established the Massey Medals
for Architecture. Following stints as Canada’s ambassador to the United States and as High
Commissioner in London, England, Vincent Massey was appointed the first Canadian-born Governor
General in 1952. His younger brother, Raymond Massey, became a popular actor on Broadway and
in Hollywood.

Following Chester D. Massey’s death in 1926, the property at 519 Jarvis Street was initially used as
an annex for Ryan’s Art Galleries. Founded by Toronto sportsman Thomas Ryan, the inventor of
five-pin bowling, the Galleries occupied the neighbouring Euclid Hall. In 1930, Glaser Vaughan
Radio Limited began a lengthy tenancy; their alterations to the property included the addition of a
recording studio in the basement. During the last part of the 20th century, the house was used for
residential and commercial space.

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