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R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant

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383: 42: 441: 391: 176:, Canada, is both a crucial piece of infrastructure and an architecturally acclaimed historic building named after the longtime commissioner of Toronto's public works Roland Caldwell Harris. The plant's architect was Thomas C. Pomphrey with engineers H.G. Acres and William Gore. It is located in the east of the city at the eastern end of 465:, the grounds have remained open to the public, but security has been increased. In the summer of 2007, construction began on the installation of an underground Residual Management Facility allowing processed waste to be removed before discharging into the lake. This construction has since been completed. 410:
style, the cathedral-like structure remains one of Toronto's most admired buildings. It is, however, little known to outsiders. The interiors are just as opulent with marble entryways and vast halls filled with pools of water and filtration equipment. The plant has thus earned the nickname
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The land was once owned by Peter Patterson and was a popular spot for picnickers who nicknamed it "Yellowbanks" for the colour of the bluffs In 1878, Patterson leased the property to businessmen John Irwin, Bob Davies, and P.G. Close who hired John Boyle to develop and operate it as an
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Despite its age, the plant is still fully functional, providing approximately 30% of Toronto's water supply. The intakes are located over 2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi) from shore in 15 metres (49 ft) of water, running through two pipes under the bed of the lake. Water is also
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Construction for a water treatment plant began on the site in 1932 and the building became operational on November 1, 1941. The building, unlike most modern engineering structures, was also created to make an architectural statement. Fashioned in the
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which the TRC also operated. In 1906, the park was purchased by Henry Eckardt in a foreclosure sale after Davies had been unable to keep up the mortgage payments. Eckardt closed the park in 1906, the same year that nearby
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The video was filmed at RC Harris water treatment plant, Valley explains "we were looking for a sense of brutalism mixed with beauty for this video and a lot of open space because the song feels very empty yet
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With an early 20th-century Toronto plagued with water shortages and unclean drinking water, public health advocates such as George Nasmith and Toronto's Medical Officer of Health,
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for boys from 1917 until 1927. In 1927, the City of Toronto purchased the property for $ 370,000 in order to build the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant.
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lines to the park, allowing for ferry service to be discontinued. In 1899, the Toronto Railway Company took over the lease allowing it to continue as a
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The facility grounds have been made available to the public. Despite some concerns of vulnerability to an attack on the water supply since the
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The R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant has been used in dozens of films and television series as a prison, clinic, or headquarters.
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The office of Richard Jenkins' character, Ezra Grindle, a factory executive with a dark past, in Guillermo Del Toro’s
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In 1992, the R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant was named a national historic civil engineering site by the
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The Royal Canadian Institute for the Mentally Insane (next door to Elsinore Brewery) in the 1983 film
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in the plant and then pumped to various reservoirs throughout the City of Toronto and York Region.
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Roland Allen Harris was a member of the Queen's Own Rifles. Harris is buried in family plot at
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A prison in the Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal episode "Solitary Confinement."
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It has been the location for a number of film productions, the best known being
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Waterfront Railway Viaduct built from 1925 to 1934 to bring rail lines into
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The Mellonville Maximum Security Prison, as seen in an SCTV episode (1982).
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in 2011, in a series showcasing five notable Art Deco buildings in Canada.
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RC Harris Water Treatment Plant - Filtration Building - South Elevation
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R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant - Service Building - South Elevation
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From 1912 to 1932 part of the property was used for Victoria Park
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Music video for "When You Know Someone" by the band Valley
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Harris was born in Lansing on May 26, 1875 in what is now
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A Children’s Hospital in Guillermo Del Toro’s 1997 film
788:"Closed Canadian Parks - Victoria Park (Scarborough)" 402:, campaigned for a modern water purification system. 995:"Fast Facts about the City's Water Treatment Plants" 1426: 1374: 1316: 1265: 1199: 1116: 1047: 232:, 1914-1915, with design heavy influenced by Harris 144: 136: 128: 89: 68: 60: 55: 34: 576:The Langstaff Maximum Security Prison, as seen in 477:The building of the plant is vividly recounted in 428:in 1998. The plant appeared on a stamp issued by 245:Mount Pleasant bridge as part of the extension of 490:The headquarters of "The Man" in the 2002 comedy 1514:Buildings and structures in Scarborough, Ontario 869:City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties 1486:indicate structures now defunct or demolished. 700:"Meet the man who shaped 20th-century Toronto" 353:which opened in 1907 and operated until 1925. 1021: 685:"R. C. Harris Filtration Plant – CSCE / SCGC" 567:Centre for the Criminally Insane, as seen in 8: 349:closed. The traditions of both continued at 1028: 1014: 1006: 782: 780: 286:Harris died on September 3, 1945. His son 256:expansion of the streetcar network of the 31: 745: 743: 741: 676: 891:"New stamps emphasize Art Deco design" 718:"Distillery District Heritage Website" 626:"Ekart County Jail" in the 2015 movie 420:Canadian Society for Civil Engineering 545:corporation in the television series 7: 614:episode "A Different Kind of Death." 359:is named after the amusement park. 192:neighbourhood in the former city of 839:Mannell, Steven (January 1, 2002). 541:Base of operations for Genomex, an 617:A prison in the closing scenes of 595:"Lake District Federal Prison" in 444:Water pumps at the treatment plant 166:R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant 35:R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant 25: 18:R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant 812:Filey, Mike (October 27, 2008). 40: 1504:Art Deco architecture in Canada 1509:Municipal buildings in Toronto 1227:Royal Agricultural Winter Fair 422:. It was designated under the 1: 1249:Scarboro Beach Amusement Park 1235:Hanlan's Point Amusement Park 889:Rochon, Lisa (June 8, 2011). 818:. Dundurn Press. p. 44. 792:Coaster Enthusiasts of Canada 756:. Dundurn Press. p. 11. 698:Lorinc, John (May 18, 2012). 370:also used the property for a 351:Scarboro Beach Amusement Park 320:to bring picnickers from the 1401:Ontario Legislative Building 1222:Canadian National Exhibition 1134:Canadian Broadcasting Centre 750:Filey, Mike (October 1996). 937:. June 2011. Archived from 29:Building in Ontario, Canada 1535: 1519:Water treatment facilities 1207:Centreville Amusement Park 528:"The Centre," a nefarious 413:The Palace of Purification 292:St. John's Norway Cemetery 242:to be built decades later. 1481: 1356:Rouge National Urban Park 608:A prison building in the 532:in the television series 51: 39: 1303:Yorkdale Shopping Centre 1256:Sunnyside Amusement Park 1117:Cultural and educational 923:"Architecture: Art Déco" 815:Toronto: The Way We Were 46:Exterior of the building 1439:National Historic Sites 522:In the Mouth of Madness 330:Toronto Railway Company 316:was built to allow for 113:43.673222°N 79.278819°W 1344:Nathan Phillips Square 1159:Ontario Science Centre 1124:Art Gallery of Ontario 1066:Hanlan's Point Stadium 965:Universal Music Canada 927:Canada's Stamp Details 732:"Harris, Roland Allen" 445: 395: 387: 258:Toronto Civic Railways 230:Crawford Street Bridge 217:Roland Caldwell Harris 150:; 82 years ago 1129:Canada's Walk of Fame 484:In the Skin of a Lion 443: 393: 385: 378:Water treatment plant 236:Prince Edward Viaduct 148:November 1, 1941 118:43.673222; -79.278819 1384:Billy Bishop Airport 1174:Royal Ontario Museum 1154:Italian Walk of Fame 1001:. November 17, 2017. 753:I Remember Sunnyside 463:September 11 attacks 425:Ontario Heritage Act 368:The T. Eaton Company 357:Victoria Park Avenue 182:Victoria Park Avenue 137:Construction started 1366:Yonge–Dundas Square 1293:St. Lawrence Market 1149:Hockey Hall of Fame 1144:Harbourfront Centre 1087:Mutual Street Arena 866:"2701 Queen St. E." 570:Robocop: The Series 366:during the summer. 247:Mount Pleasant Road 240:Bloor Danforth line 223:North York, Ontario 184:along the shore of 180:and at the foot of 109: /  56:General information 1377:and infrastructure 1339:Leslie Street Spit 1108:Woodbine Racetrack 1080:Maple Leaf Stadium 1073:Maple Leaf Gardens 1060:Coca-Cola Coliseum 941:on August 10, 2011 896:The Globe and Mail 845:Canadian Architect 704:The Globe and Mail 662:Mayor of Kingstown 660:Women's Prison in 493:Undercover Brother 469:In popular culture 446: 396: 388: 340:along with nearby 288:Lieutenant Colonel 260:from 1912 to 1915. 1491: 1490: 1414: 1317:Parks and squares 1283:Kensington Market 1164:Ripley's Aquarium 734:. 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Index

R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant

Queen Street East
Toronto
Ontario
Coordinates
43°40′24″N 79°16′44″W / 43.673222°N 79.278819°W / 43.673222; -79.278819
Toronto
Ontario
Queen Street
Victoria Park Avenue
Lake Ontario
Beaches
Scarborough
Strange Brew
Rick Moranis
Dave Thomas
North York, Ontario
Crawford Street Bridge
Prince Edward Viaduct
Bloor Danforth line
Mount Pleasant Road
Lawrence Avenue
Toronto Civic Railways
Union Station
University Avenue
Queen Street West
Front Street
Lieutenant Colonel
St. John's Norway Cemetery

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