High Level Pumping Station (The Annex)

The Yorkville Water Works and pond, on the long-ago buried Castle Frank Brook stream, stood on Poplar Plains road, just north of Dupont and the railway tracks. It was rebuilt in 1906 and renamed the Toronto High Level Pumping Station (or High Level PS, or just WS-9). As Toronto and the demand for water grew, so did the waterworks with construction through 1916. It was further expanded in 1953, and features different architectural styles including Second Empire, Edwardian Classical and Style Moderne. It continues to operate today and is now the oldest pumping station in Toronto, complete with an original steam engine from 1909.

List of all subjects. You can also see all the historic photos for a given neighbourhood. We also have a list of all the photos arranged by date.

And you can also go up a level to see the other photos we've put under the category of Other_Historic_Toronto_Buildings photos.

1900 Historic photo from 1900 - Pond outside the original Yorkville Waterworks? in Republic of RathnellyPond outside the original Yorkville Waterworks?
125 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - 1900
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1906 Historic photo from 1906 - Initial part of the High Level Pumping Station in Republic of RathnellyInitial part of the High Level Pumping Station
119 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - 1906
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1906 Historic photo from 1906 - Looking across the pond to the old square chimney at the High Level Pumping Station in Republic of RathnellyLooking across the pond to the old square chimney at the High Level Pumping Station
119 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - 1906
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912 Historic photo from Saturday, February 3, 1912 - Tracing of the Toronto high level pumping station in Republic of RathnellyTracing of the Toronto high level pumping station
113 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Saturday, February 3, 1912
Max temp: -7.2°C - Min temp: -15.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912 Historic photo from Saturday, February 3, 1912 - Pump valves tracing diagram - High Level Pumping station in Republic of RathnellyPump valves tracing diagram - High Level Pumping station
113 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Saturday, February 3, 1912
Max temp: -7.2°C - Min temp: -15.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1913 Historic photo from Friday, October 17, 1913 - Impeller and drive shaft -Toronto High level pumping station in Republic of RathnellyImpeller and drive shaft -Toronto High level pumping station
112 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Friday, October 17, 1913
Max temp: 13.9°C - Min temp: 10.6°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1913 Historic photo from Friday, November 21, 1913 - Interior of the Toronto high level pumping station in the Annex in Republic of RathnellyInterior of the Toronto high level pumping station in the Annex
112 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Friday, November 21, 1913
Max temp: 8.3°C - Min temp: 5.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1914 Historic photo from Thursday, October 8, 1914 - Temporary wooden supports for the rounded windows of the HLPS in Republic of RathnellyTemporary wooden supports for the rounded windows of the HLPS
111 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Thursday, October 8, 1914
Max temp: 22.2°C - Min temp: 8.3°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1914 Historic photo from Saturday, October 24, 1914 - Building the chimney and new wing of the Toronto High level pumping station in Republic of RathnellyBuilding the chimney and new wing of the Toronto High level pumping station
111 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Saturday, October 24, 1914
Max temp: 12.2°C - Min temp: 5.6°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1914 Historic photo from Friday, November 6, 1914 - Construction progress at the High level pumping station - smoke stack partially complete in Republic of RathnellyConstruction progress at the High level pumping station - smoke stack partially complete
111 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Friday, November 6, 1914
Max temp: 8.3°C - Min temp: 2.8°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1914 Historic photo from Wednesday, May 20, 1914 - Exterior of the High Level Pumping Station in 1914 in Republic of RathnellyExterior of the High Level Pumping Station in 1914
111 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Wednesday, May 20, 1914
Max temp: 28.3°C - Min temp: 10.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1914 Historic photo from Saturday, October 17, 1914 - Scaffolding around the construction of the High level pumping station in Republic of RathnellyScaffolding around the construction of the High level pumping station
111 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Saturday, October 17, 1914
Max temp: 18.9°C - Min temp: 11.1°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1914 Historic photo from Saturday, October 31, 1914 - Building the rounded windows of the High level pumpng station in Republic of RathnellyBuilding the rounded windows of the High level pumpng station
111 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Saturday, October 31, 1914
Max temp: 15.0°C - Min temp: 0.6°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1914 Historic photo from Saturday, November 21, 1914 - Exterior of the High level pumping station under construction in Republic of RathnellyExterior of the High level pumping station under construction
111 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Saturday, November 21, 1914
Max temp: 1.1°C - Min temp: -5.6°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1915 Historic photo from Saturday, November 20, 1915 - Exterior of the High level waterworks pumping station in Republic of RathnellyExterior of the High level waterworks pumping station
110 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Saturday, November 20, 1915
Max temp: 5.6°C - Min temp: 1.1°C - 0.5cm of snowfall (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1915 Historic photo from Friday, February 19, 1915 - Interior of the High level Pumping Station during construction in Republic of RathnellyInterior of the High level Pumping Station during construction
110 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Friday, February 19, 1915
Max temp: 1.1°C - Min temp: -7.8°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1915 Historic photo from Wednesday, January 20, 1915 - Toronto Civic guard - High level Pumping Station in the winter in Republic of RathnellyToronto Civic guard - High level Pumping Station in the winter
110 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Wednesday, January 20, 1915
Max temp: -1.1°C - Min temp: -8.3°C - 0.5cm of snowfall (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1915 Historic photo from Friday, February 19, 1915 - Standing in the High level Pumping Station in Republic of RathnellyStanding in the High level Pumping Station
110 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Friday, February 19, 1915
Max temp: 1.1°C - Min temp: -7.8°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1925 Historic photo from Monday, December 28, 1925 - M.G. DeLaval turbine pump at the HLPS in Republic of RathnellyM.G. DeLaval turbine pump at the HLPS
100 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Monday, December 28, 1925
Max temp: -5.0°C - Min temp: -11.1°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1915 Historic photo from Thursday, October 28, 1915 - Two men posing next to machinery in the High Level Pumping Station in Republic of RathnellyTwo men posing next to machinery in the High Level Pumping Station
110 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Thursday, October 28, 1915
Max temp: 17.2°C - Min temp: 2.2°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1933 Historic photo from Friday, September 22, 1933 - High level pumping station - under Gallery north side in Republic of RathnellyHigh level pumping station - under Gallery north side
92 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Friday, September 22, 1933
Max temp: 18.3°C - Min temp: 10.6°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1933 Historic photo from Friday, September 22, 1933 - Switchboard (rear) - High level pumping station in Republic of RathnellySwitchboard (rear) - High level pumping station
92 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Friday, September 22, 1933
Max temp: 18.3°C - Min temp: 10.6°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1933 Historic photo from Friday, September 22, 1933 - Switchboard at the High level pumping station in Republic of RathnellySwitchboard at the High level pumping station
92 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Friday, September 22, 1933
Max temp: 18.3°C - Min temp: 10.6°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1955 Historic photo from Thursday, May 12, 1955 - Waterworks, Poplar Plains Road, e. side, betw. Macpherson Ave. & Cottingham St.; looking n. at eastern end in Republic of RathnellyWaterworks, Poplar Plains Road, e. side, betw. Macpherson Ave. & Cottingham St.; looking n. at eastern end
70 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Thursday, May 12, 1955
Max temp: 21.7°C - Min temp: 9.4°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
2014 Historic photo from Saturday, May 24, 2014 - Looking up at the High Level Pumping Station in Republic of RathnellyLooking up at the High Level Pumping Station
11 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Saturday, May 24, 2014
Max temp: 0.0°C - Min temp: 0.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location
2014 Historic photo from Saturday, May 24, 2014 - John Inglis Revolution Counter from the Toronto High Level waterworks in Republic of RathnellyJohn Inglis Revolution Counter from the Toronto High Level waterworks
11 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Saturday, May 24, 2014
Max temp: 0.0°C - Min temp: 0.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location
2014 Historic photo from Saturday, May 24, 2014 - High Level Schaffer and Budenberg gauge in Republic of RathnellyHigh Level Schaffer and Budenberg gauge
11 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Saturday, May 24, 2014
Max temp: 0.0°C - Min temp: 0.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location
2014 Historic photo from Saturday, May 24, 2014 - Another John Inglis gauge - High Level Pumping Station in Republic of RathnellyAnother John Inglis gauge - High Level Pumping Station
11 years ago - Republic of Rathnelly - Saturday, May 24, 2014
Max temp: 0.0°C - Min temp: 0.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location