Guild Inn Fire Part Three – The Studio Before the Fire
The following pictures were taken last summer within the Studio building. I will provide some additional commentary below.
Studio Building, Summer 2008
Studio Building, Christmas 2008
Staircase within Studio, Summer 2008
Fireplace, Summer 2008
Dance Hall, Summer 2008
Kitchen Shelf, Summer 2008
Kitchen, Summer 2008
Candles, Summer 2008
Telephone Booth, Summer 2008
Unknown, Summer 2008
Photos by Jeanette Mahon, Guildwood Resident
I am going to start by saying I am grateful to the individual who sent me these pictures and shared with me the significance of the Guild Inn to their life. The Guild Inn stories of Guildwood residents are always deeply touching and demonstrate a bond between a place and the lives of those it touches that is rarely found in our City. The Guild Inn is undeniably a magic place that has touched many thousands of lives and seen it’s share of fascinating guests. We live with a sense of nostalgia for how the Guild once was, and a desire that it should return to it’s glory. In my previous post, I very clearly outlined the disconnect between the desires of Guildwood residents and the City of Toronto. The pictures above make that disconnect even more clear.
Residents think about the Guild regularly, visit the site often and anxiously wait the never ending re-development plans all the while worrying quietly about accidents like the one on Christmas morning. The Guild Inn has a place in the heart of Guildwood’s residents, and the City’s maintenance of the property demonstrates their lack of desire to act on the site. I can’t help by wonder how much better the old City of Scarborough could have dealt with this issue.
Take a look at the internal state of the Studio as it was this past summer. and remember that it is a listed heritage building that the City intended to restore. Boarded up, paint peeling, thick dust throughout, furniture piled up, dishes, candle holders and other stuff left in the kitchen. It is clear when worker’s closed up the Guild Inn after their last shift in 2001 and locked the doors, the City felt it’s responsibility ended. They did not close the Guild Inn, they’ve abandoned it. Residents have paid the price ever since, and have now begun losing their history before their eyes.
Tags: David Soknacki, Guild Inn, Guild Inn Fire, Guild Inn Redevelopment, Guild Inn Studio, Paul Ainslie, Ward 43
December 27th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
John, I wish you every success in any campaign you undertake, and I’ll be ready to support in any way I can.