Awarded the 181 Annual National Award of Honour -- Heritage Canada
Named Canada’s Best Town Hall – Today Magazine, Canada’s largest Circulation Magazine June 27, 1981
A PROGRESS REPORT
Interested organizations and individuals will be glad to know that great progress in restoration has been made since the Hall was closed as unsafe in 1971-72. By early 1977, portions of the restored building were back into public use. Today, about three-quarters of this huge building is open to the public and in regular, though limited, use by a variety of cultural, civic, com- munity, provincial groups and thousands of visitors from across Canada and abroad who enjoy the intrinsic and practical values of this beautiful structure and its facilities.
The Art Gallery (a regional gallery with National Exhibition status), the replica of Britain's Old Bailey deep-well Court House (with its ancient mural of the original Canadian Coat of Arms), Family Courts, Judges' Chambers, Grand Foyer, the towering old four-faced exquisite clock tower. Mayor's Suite, various Town offices, sweeping staircases. Town Council Chambers and committee rooms for community and civic purposes are in regular use. Victoria Hall has again become a "people place" not merely a national treasure or museum.
Victoria Hall will fill an increasingly meaningful role in life, not only of the regional community, but Canada. People from near and far enjoy the restored intrinsic splendor along with the modem facilities of this multi-purpose Victorian edifice and it adds much to the quality of life for all. Said by architectural and heritage leaders to be unsurpassed in Canada, Victoria Hall stands as a practical, yet cultural tribute to our imaginative forefathers.
Partial views of some of the restored areas now in use.
Upper Right: The Cobourg Town Council Chambers.
Lower Right: The Art Gallery of Cobourg --
A National Exhibition Centre
Upper Left: The Grand Foyer
Lower Left: The replica of Britain's "Old Bailey" Court House
• GRAND CONCERT HALL (multi-use)
• HISTORIC GREAT FOYER
• THE ART GALLERY OF COBOURG
• PUBLIC ARCHIVES and HALL OF FAME
• CITIZEN'S FORUM -- MEETING ROOM
• A HISTORIC UNIQUE "OLD BAILEY" PROVINCIAL COURT
• JUDGES'S CHAMBERS
• COURT OFFICES
• CIVIC OFFICES AND COUNCIL CHAMBER
• CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
• OTHER HISTORIC COMMITTEE AND PUBLIC ROOMS
• GRAND CONCERT HALL (multi-use)
• HISTORIC GREAT FOYER
• THE ART GALLERY OF COBOURG
• PUBLIC ARCHIVES and HALL OF FAME
• CITIZEN'S FORUM -- MEETING ROOM
• A HISTORIC UNIQUE "OLD BAILEY"
Restoration Needed to Complete Project With over three-quarters of national heritage Victoria Hall in general use, our current aim is to soon complete the project. The "heart" of this unique civic- community building is the huge, beautiful and historic Grand Hall (sometimes known as the Opera House, Concert Hall or Grand Ballroom) and the adjoining West and East Wings. The completion of these extensive facilities will provide space for a broad variety of events: cultural, performing and visual arts, educational-training, social and civic affairs, along with National, regional, community and a "Citizens' Forum" -- a community meeting place and auxiliary Art Gallery, Archives (Hall of Fame), historic offices of the Hon. James Cockburn, Father of Confederation, first Solicitor-General of the United Canadas and first Speaker of the House (to be a historical site and public committee room) and other areas open to the public and for use by community and civic organizations.
Thousands of donors, large and small, corporations, Foundations, merchants, service clubs, companies and citizens, along with governments at all levels, enabled us to save this unique one-of-a-kind mid-19th century building. Despite lengthy delays in reaching this final Phase III, the Society's administrative-operational costs have been extremely low as a percentage of donations and restoration costs due to the efforts of hundreds of volunteer workers.
We thank you warmly for past support and are confident that together we will soon complete final restoration of this living and working national treasure.
The Society's final objective in the private sector financial drive is $150,000.00 to be used entirely for public-use, historic-cultural areas. The finished landscaping, refurbishing of some ornate stonework, and exterior cleaning of the building is also to be completed.
The Federal government (Ministry of Environment and Parks Canada), the government of Ontario (Ministry of Culture and Recreation and the Ontario Heritage Foundation) and the Corporation of the Town of Cobourg are currently negotiating on final plans, specifications and funding with a view to commencement of Phase III final restoration. It is anticipated that such funding at the three levels of government (including Town funds now in reserve), when coupled with donations on hand and being sought by The Society for the Restoration of Victoria Hall, will assure that the entire building including the Grand Hall are brought into wide community use during 1982.
Donors to this important heritage project are recognized, in perpetuity, in several ways:
"Friends of Victoria Hall" -- for donations of $100.00 or more, will be recorded in a custom designed, leather bound hand-lettered register. "Benefactors" --for donations of $1,000.00 or more, these names will appear on attractive pilasters to be affixed to the foyer walls. (In addition, a donor of $1,000.00 or more may subscribe for a separate commemoration marker on one of Victoria Hall's windows.)
"Grand Patrons" --for donations of $25,000.00 or more. These two major categories will be recorded on a specially designed pilaster, centrally located in the commemorative display in Victoria Hall, and, in addition, donors in these categories may also select certain areas of the building for separate commemorative markers.
Participate in this landmark project if only with a limited donation. Share in the pride and pleasure that the final restoration and grand opening will bring.
The Society for the Restoration of Victoria Hall is a registered Canadian
charitable institution. Donations are tax deductible under our Canadian
License No.0392134-52-12 and for U.S. Internal Revenue Code section 501(0(3).
(Full financial data and all other particulars including detailed cost of specific area or equipment available for sponsorship supplied upon request.)
Lithographed by Haynes Printing, Cobourg, Ontario Published -- Revised September 1981
Victoria Hall has Hosted many royal Visitors
H.R.H., Edward, Prince of Wales, 1860, The Earl and Countess of Dufferin, 1874, The Marquis of Lone and The Princess Louise, 1879 The Duke and Duchess of Connaught, 1913, The duke and duchess of Devonshire, 1919, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 1973
Kivas Tully 1820-1905
Victoria Hall is considered to be the masterwork of the famous Irish born architect, Kivas Tully. His earlier commissions had included the original Trinity College on Queen Street, near Shaw, in Toronto, and his plans for Victoria Hall won the competition for a Cobourg Town Hall design. The cornerstone was laid on 30th December, 1856, and the building was opened on 7th September, 1860
The historic Town of Cobourg, on the shores of Lake Ontario, was established in 1798. At that time, some 70 miles to the west, a small settlement was also being built around Fort York -- and the communities of Cobourg and York were to vie with each other during the next few decades. Prominent early families of Upper Canada, such as the Boultons, established homes in each centre and the towns grew steadily and confidently in the first half of the 19th century.
In 1834, York changed its name to Toronto and in 1851 their grand civic building, St. Lawrence Hall was opened. Cobourg meanwhile was involved with the construction of the Cobourg-Peterborough Rail- way, a pioneering feat of great proportions in which the area gentry invested heavily. One of the earliest railways in Canada, the line was opened in 1854 and two years later Cobourg laid the cornerstone of their Victoria Hall - a building which would surpass Toronto's St. Lawrence Hall. The opening celebra- tions were held on 7 September, 1860 when the Prince of Wales joined the Cobourg citizenry at a grand ball which lasted into the small hours of the morning.
In the years that followed, changing patterns of trade and commerce developed Toronto into the metrop- olis that it is today while Cobourg has remained as a regional centre.
Nonetheless, the Town of Cobourg proudly claims a remarkable share in Ontario's heritage and con- tinuing growth.
The Town reflects much of Canada's history and the lives of many famous figures.
Many events of the College (including the literary debates), took place in Victoria Hall.
WILLIAM WELLER , Operator of Canada's foremost stagecoach lines, conducted his business from Cobourg, Ontario.
PAUL KANE, one of Canada's famous 19th century artists, lived and worked in Cobourg for many years.
THE HON. JAMES COCKBURN, M.P. , Father of Confederation, first Speaker of the House of Commons, Solicitor-General of Canada, conducted a law practice in Cobourg and knew Victoria Hall well.
THE HON. SIDNEY SMITH, Postmaster General of the United Provinces of Canada and resident of Cobourg, was host to the Prince of Wales during his visit in 1860.
THE RT. HON. SIR JOHN A. MacDONALD, was, in earlier days, articled to the law firm of Geo. S. Boulton in Cobourg.
Cobourg proudly claims three of the most renowned ladies of the stage:
KATHARINE CORNELL, summer resident in her younger years, married to Guthrie McClintock in 1922 at her aunt's home on Queen Street.
BEATRICE LILLIE, resident of Cobourg, appeared in many performances in Victoria Hall in her early years; and,
MARIE DRESSLER. born in Cobourg, began her career in amateur shows in her native town.
The oldest weekly newspaper in Ontario is the Cobourg Star. First published in 1831, it now appears daily.
The cornerstone of Victoria Hall was laid on 30 December, 1856, by SIR ALLAN NAPIER MACNAB, Prime Minister of the United Provinces of Canada.
The restoration of Victoria Hall was inaugurated by the HON. WM. DAVIS, Premier of Ontario at a cornerstone ceremony on 6 June, 1972. "The restoration' of Victoria Hall is an important manifestation in preserving the cultural life of this country." Premier Wm. Davis
VICTORIA COLLEGE, founded in Cobourg in 1832, was a vital part of the Town, under the direction of REV. EGERTON RYERSON, CHANCELLOR NELLES, & CHANCELLOR BURWASH
