Community History Project c/o Ed Janiszewski edjan@teksavvy.com.
Described Location: Bound by: Bloor, Bathurst, London, and Markham Streets. Runs: east from Markham Street and dead ends at a parking area behind commercial buildings on Bathurst St.
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| At Markham Looking East | At 3301 looking East at 3302 |
Referenced in Landmarks of Toronto 1894-1914, Vol.6, by John Ross Robertson, pp.43-4, with an etching on pg. 45, and the Poulter name listed among the "other well-known family names of those days.", pg.47.
See also: The Face of Early Toronto: An Archival Record 1797 - 1936, by Lucy Booth Martyn, 1982. On page 77, a photo reproduction shows the Pioneer Hotel c. 1849 "...a rough-cast hotel called 'Poulter's' on the north-west corner of Bloor and Bathurst streets. In the 1880s and 90s it was owned by Robert Irvine, who called it the 'Pioneer'. By 1910 it was called St. Alban's Hotel. When it was demolished a brick building housing Ferrah's Drug Store was erected on the site".
Records with the Community History Project show the following History: In 1856 it was called "The Old Countryman's Home Hotel", Proprietor James Farrell. In 1864, 1866, 1870, 1873, John Poulter was the proprietor of the now named, "Royal Union Hotel". (In 1876, John Poulter lived at Bloor and Hope Streets, now Manning Ave.). In 1876, it was called the "Fox and Hound's Hotel" run by Henry Hopcroft. In 1885, it was named the "Pioneer Hotel" and run by Robert Irving.
As a longtime prominent resident and proprietor of the Hotel, it is suggested that the lane take the Poulter designation. The name is unique to Toronto streets. "Place" can be defined as a regular place of business, as opposed to residences.
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