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"WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2000 - 1 'Memorial by J. Peter Hvidsten Weekend Star ~ The name Thomas Foster may have faded quick- ly after his death, despite serving as Mayor of Toronto from 1925-28, had he not built a magnifi- cent monument as a memorial to his wife and deceased daughter just north of Uxbridge. Thomas Foster was born near Leaskdale in 1852, and moved to Toronto when he was a young man to follow in his father's footsteps as a butcher. wm Over the years, through hard work in his butcher busi- ness, but more by investing in real estate, he amassed a large fortune. After serving three years as Mayor of Toronto, he set out to explore the world. Throughout the early 1930s he travelled the globe, taking in China, Egypt, India, Palestine and Japan. It was during these travels that he fell in love the the Taj Mahal in India. Unhappy with the jungle- like condition of the small cemetery north of Uxbridge, where his parents were buried, Mr. Foster decided to build a memorial for his family. Using the Taj Mahal as his inspiration, he hired two respected architects, James Craig and H.H. Madill to design the memorial. When completed, the Foster Memorial was said to be one of the finest examples of Byzantine archi- tecture erected on the North American continent. It is estimated that the building, which cost more than $200,000 to build in 1936, would cost more than $5 million to build today. The Foster Memorial was dedicated at a special service in the temple on October 25, 1936 when Mr. Foster was 84 years of age. He passed away in 1945 at the age of 93, leaving no family to inherit his estate. Following is a partial description of the building THOMAS FOSTER The dome in the Foster Memorial is circled by 12 stained glass leaded windows and circled below the dome in rich blue and gold mosaics taken from "The Thomas Foster Memorial" pam- phlet, which was printed on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the building in 1936: The structure is 55' in width and 60' in length and is built up in stages of verti- cal wall, semi- dome drum and a great central dome to a height of 60 feet. The inside diame- ter of the central dome is 23 feet and is pierced by : 12 stained glass, leaded windows, that in the east exterior and interior of the building. Fortunately, being in the form of a gold cross on a rich blue the care and stewardship of the memorial was over background. Circling the lower part of the dome, the Township of Uxbridge, and work has already above the great arches in gold lettering on a field of begun on restoration of this unique building. graded blue mosaic, is the inscription: Take this my The Foster Memorial is reported to be the only body for it is done and | have gained a new life, glorious and pyilding of its kind on the North American conti- eternal." nent. The memorial is open to the public the first Facing west, and providing the entrance motif, two Sundays of each month, 1p.m. to 4 p.m., until the portico, resting upon three arches, supported Thanksgiving. Proceeds from a small admission fee by monolithic columns, enriched with incised carv- js ysed for the ongoing restoration and mainte- ings. \ nance of the temple. Weighted butrasses capped with bronze, rein- The Foster Memorial will also be one of the fea- force the flanks of the portico. The roof surfaces are tyred stops on the Durham Region Countryside of copper tile, chemically treated to produce a per- Adventure which takes place next Saturday and manent green surface. The entrance doors, window synday, Sept. 16 and 17, 2000. Don't miss this tracery and all metal parts are of bronze. The win- opportunity to see one of the region's most unique dows, the work of Yvonne Williams, are of hand- and beautiful structures. painted, fired and leaded glass, the colours and You will find the Foster Memorial, 5 km north of designs are harmonious and are distributed so as to the town of Uxbridge on Durham Regional Road I. flood the interior with soft, colourful light. The floors are rich coloured terrazzo and marble mosaics, wrought in symbolic designs. Upon entering, one crosses the River of Death, on which floats water lilies and lily pads. There are 16 marble columns, four to each screen supporting three arches with pierced mar- ble tympanum above. The columns are vari-coloured Italia .marbles with carved Devon stone capitals and desserets. The southern transept con- tains three family sarcophagi, containing the remains of Thomas Foster, his wife and their daughter. For many years after the death of Thomas Foster, the moseleum was left in the hands of a trust to maintain and over- see the building. After years of neglect, and poor maintenance, consider- able damage occurred to the E ce i 8 . y : 3 PP « ' +, py + } i 3 i, | The interior of the Foster Memorial is finished with an elaborate display of arches, marble pillars with cared stone capitals, mosaics and stained glass. Nl RL A RA UN HR VA AT AW