Preston Villa (Earlscourt Park)

Earlscourt Park, one of Toronto's busiest parks, was originally home to the Cooper family who lived there as far back as the 1830's, then sold to the Royce family. The house, Preston Villa, was built around 1854, and included many classical details with a distinctive regency awning (at least until 1934). It stood on a slight rise just north of Davenport, east of Caledonia Road. In 1920 Colonel George Cooper Royce sold the house and the 32-acre (13-hectare) estate to the City of Toronto for a park, which had its official opening on on Saturday, October 23, 1920. Preston Villa served as a community clubhouse and park superintendent's home over the next 35 years, before it was eventually demolished in 1955. 
 

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1854		Preston Villa - Cooper/Royce Home - Earlscourt Park 169 years ago - Little Italy (St. Clair) - 1854 Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1893		Coloured version of 1893 sketch of Preston Villa (now Earlscourt Park) Davenport and Lansdowne Ave. 130 years ago - Little Italy (St. Clair) - 1893 Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1934		Sideview of the deteriorating Earlscourt Park Clubhouse verandah (originally Preston Villa) 89 years ago - Little Italy (St. Clair) - Friday, April 13, 1934 Max temp: 3.3°C - Min temp: -2.2°C - 0.3cm of snowfall (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1934		Preston Villa, Cooper/Royce Home and future park clubhouse 89 years ago - Little Italy (St. Clair) - Friday, April 13, 1934 Max temp: 3.3°C - Min temp: -2.2°C - 0.3cm of snowfall (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1934		Close-up of the side of Preston Villa (then the park clubhouse) 89 years ago - Little Italy (St. Clair) - Friday, April 13, 1934 Max temp: 3.3°C - Min temp: -2.2°C - 0.3cm of snowfall (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1955		Preston Villa - George Cooper house - Davenport Road, n.w. cor. Lansdowne Ave 68 years ago - Little Italy (St. Clair) - Saturday, April 9, 1955 Max temp: 22.8°C - Min temp: 3.3°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)