Asylum Patient Built Walls

CAMH Historic Patient Built Walls

What can be more exciting than a gallery full of just brick walls!! Well at least there's some great history here.

On January 26, 1850 the Provincial Lunatic Asylum first opened its doors. A wood fence and trench surrounded the site until 1860 when masonry walls were built. This started off as a 50-acre property but was reduced in 1888 after the government's sale of 23-acres for development. The east and west walls were then moved and rebuilt with the original materials to its current location during 1888-89. This was all done by unpaid patient labour.

Study the walls and you will find dates, patient names and messages scratched onto them. Unfortunately there are also recent writings and surely Jim Morrison didn't spend time here as indicated.

In 1976 the original asylum building was demolished as was the north wall. Two buildings from 1888 at the south end of the property still remain today, the carpentry shop to the west and storage shed to the east. Both of these along with the walls were designated heritage status in 1997.

In 2010 nine historical plaques were unveiled around the perimeter. Begin with the first plaque located at the southwest corner of Queen & Shaw and follow them around. Make sure to find the only remaining evidence of the railroad by plaque 6. The south wall contains a single wooden window sill embedded in the wall.

I've included a link for more history of the asylum and walls and a few historic photos. Thought this was worthy of a location. CAMH is an active facility but there is no problem walking around outside on the property.