THE HEART OF THE CITY
YOUNG DRIVERS
28 King Street East
CURRENT STATUS (1999)
Present Owner: Adele Sager and Simon Molka, Toronto
Present Use: South Side men's clothing store; Bailey School of Dance
Heritage Status: Listed on the City's Inventory of Buildings of Architectural and / or Historical Interest
Locally Significant Date: High Victorian
Date Built: 1874
Original Owner: William H. Glassco, merchant
Original Use: W.H. Glassco & Sons, wholesale / retail fur garment business
Subsequent Uses: Succession of furriers (up to 1974); then various retail / service businesses
Previous Building on Site: Three-storey building (possibly incorporated into present structure)
Size: Four-storeys
Design and Style: High Victorian
Architect, Builder: Unknown
Construction Materials: Brick masonry with stone front (now painted) sheet-metal cornice
Architectural Integrity: Good (upper facade virtually intact)
Architectural Features: Window bays divided by pilasters; projecting horizontal mouldings incorporating pilaster bases and capitals; widely projecting bracketed cornice; original sash windows on second and third floors
Young Drivers of Canada, a national driver training company moved their main office from Toronto to Hamilton in 1980. It was said that the main reason for the move was to save money as rental fees were two-thirds higher in Toronto. Peter Christianson, the current president of the company, stresses the importance of teaching young drivers defensive driving techniques in order to drive properly and safely. The Young Driver’s program is the second largest in the world. The Hamilton branch of the school is located at 28 King Street East.
REFERENCES:
Clipping File - Hamilton - Companies - Young
Drivers of Canada. Special Collections, HPL.
LACAC Research Files. Planning Department, City Hall.
