The Blue and White: A Record of Fifty Years of Athletic Endeavour and the University of Toronto 9781487575366

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THE UNIVERS ITY COLOUR

The Blue and White A RECORD OF FIFTY YEARS of

ATHLETIC ENDEAVOUR at the

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

Compiled by

T. A. REED Secretary to the Athletic Association

TORONTO THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PRESS 1944

COPYRIGHT

1945

BY THOMAS ARTHUR REED ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO

PART OF THIS

BOOK MAY BE REPRODUCED

IN ANY FORM WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PROPRIETOR OF COPYRIGHT.

PRINTED IN CANADA

Reprinted in 2018 ISBN 978-1-4875-7256-3 (paper)

DEDICATION IN AFFECTIONATE AND GRATEFUL MEMORY OF DR. JoHN A. McCoLLUM

0BIIT

1944,

Foreword WHEN this volume was nearly ready for the printer a number of graduates, many of whom were members of the Advisory Board and all of whom knew the worth of the service that the author had given to the University and also knew his instinct for self effacement, insisted that a foreword in reference to Mr. Reed himself should be added to this publication. T. A. Reed entered the service of the University in 1906 as a clerk in the office of the Bursar. At the reorganization of the Athletic Association in 1914, he was appointed Secretary with the added duty of financial manager. This position he still retains after thirty strenuous years; during this time his duties have multiplied and expanded enormously. His efficiency, combined with his sympathetic understanding of student difficulties and his intimate knowledge of the details involved in the conduct of athletics, has gained for him such a standing in his office that to undergraduates and graduates alike the Athletic Association is represented by Mr. Reed. That our athletic activities have been free from abuses which might have crept in and have also been an outstanding financial success, is largely due to his firmness of character and to his unvarying common sense. Never an athlete himself he has always been a sportsman, in that sense of the word which has made it a synonym for gentleman.

H.J.

CODY

President of the University of Toronto

Table of Contents FOREWORD

V

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

IX

INTRODUCTION

XI

CHAPTER I

II

THE EARLY DAYS-BEFORE 1893

I

Moss HALL-A DIGRESSION

3

THE ATHLETIC AssocIATION 1893 to 1900

III

REORGANIZATION AND EXPANSION 1900-1907

IV

A

PHYSICAL DIRECTOR AND DEVELOPMENT 1907-1914

V VI

34

THE FIRST GREAT WAR 1914-1918

-

IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX

47

A DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS AND EXTENSION 1932-1944

VIII

43

HART HousE AND FuRTHER GROWTH 19191932

VII

15

26

-

THE ATHLETIC ADVISORY BoARD THE PLAYING FIELDS RuGBY FooTBALL

57 63 67 77

Assoc1ATION FooTBALL

-

128

ENGLISH RuGBY FooTBALL

142

TRACK AND FIELD AND HARRIER

1 47

TENNIS

176

GoLF

183

HocKEY

187

BASKETBALL

211

BoxING, WRESTLING AND FENCING

224

GYMNASTICS

-

2 35

Sw1MMING AND WATER PoLo

2 44

Vil

TABLE OF CONTENTS

V111

XXI XXII

BASEBALL

XXIV

LACROSSE

XXVI XXVII

266

CRICKET

XXIII

XXV

2 57

ROWING -

-

VOLLEYBALL

-

SKIING INTRAMURAL ATHLETICS

-

APPENDIX I II

MEMBERS OF. THE ADVISORY BOARD ExEcunvE OFFICERS OF THE ATHLETIC Assoc1ATION 1893 TO 1944

III

299

-

302

LIFE MEMBERS OF THE ATHLETIC Assoc1ATION 1893 to 1944

SUBJECT INDEX INDEX OF NAMES

303

-

3o5 308

List of Illustrattons THE UNIVERSITY COLOUR .. .. . . .. .. ... ... . . ..... . .. . .. . .. . . . .. . Frontispiece THE PRESIDENTS OF THE AssocIATION 1893-1900. . .... . . .. ... . . ... Opp. p. 1 THE FIRST GYMNASIUM 1866 .... .. .. . .... . . . .. .. . . .... . ..... .. .. . .. . . . 2 Moss HALL- THE SECOND GYMNASIUM-1880-1888. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Moss HALL-GROUND FLOOR PLAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 THE FIRST GYMNASIUM COMMITTEE 1891....... .. .. . . ... ... . ... ..... . . . 9 THE THIRD GYMNASIUM 1893-1912-EXTERIOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 THE GYMNASIUM 1893-INTERIOR .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 THE FIRST ATHLETIC DIRECTORATE 1893........ .. .. ... . ..... .. . . .. .... 16 GEORGE HARE, THE FIRST CARETAKER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 A. C. WILLIAMS, THE FIRST INSTRUCTOR... . .. . ... . .. .. . . . . . . .. . . .... .. . 17 THE ATHLETIC DIRECTORATE 1899-1900 . .. . . .... . . . .............. .. . . . . 22 THE PRESIDENTS OF THE AssocIATION 1900-1944... ... . . . ... . . .. ..... .. . 25 THE ATHLETIC DIRECTORATE 1900-01 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 THE ATHLETIC DIRECTORATE 1907-08. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 THE FOURTH GYMNASIUM (TEMPORARY) 1912-19 . ... . ..... . . . . . .. . ....... 41 THE GYMNASIUM ENTRANCE-HART HousE .... ..... . .. .. .. . . ... ...... .. 48 THE GYMNASIUM WING AND SOLDIERS' TOWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 THE GYMNASIUM-HART HOUSE. ... ......... . ... . . .... . . . . .. .. . .... .. . 50 THE SWIMMING PooL-HART HousE.. ....... . . ........ .. . . .. .. . . ... . .. 51 THE VARSITY STADIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 THE VARSITY HocKEY ARENA... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 THE VARSITY ARENA-a "PROM" CONCERT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 THE ATHLETIC DIRECTORATE 1932-33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 THE ATHLETIC DIRECTORATE 1943-44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 THE UNIVERSITY DooRWAY... ... . .. . . . . . ..... .. . .. .. .. .... . . ....... . . 62 KING'S COLLEGE BUILDING 1842 . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 THE CRICKET FIELD 1870. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 THE "TADDLE" AND POND 1870 .... . ... . . .... .. ... .. . . . .. .. ... .. . . . ... 72 THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM 1870. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 THE RUGBY TEAM 1885. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 THE RUGBY TEAM 1895. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 THE RUGBY TEAM 1897 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 THE RUGBY TEAM 1898. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 THE RUGBY TEAM 1905 . .... .. . .. ... . .. .... . ... .... . . . . ... . . .. . . . . .. . 102 THE RUGBY TEAM 1910 . . ... ...... . . .. . . . . . .. . . ... .. ... . . ... .. . ... ... 104 THE RUGBY TEAM 1914 . ... . . .. .. .. . .. . ... . .... ... .. ... . . . ... .. . .... . 107 THE RUGBY TEAM 1920 ..... ... . . .. .. .. .. .. ... .... . ..... . . .. . .. .. .... 109 THE RUGBY TEAM 1926 .. . .. . . .... ... ..... . .. . . .... . . ....... ... .. . .. . 113 THE RUGBY TEAM 1932 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 A RUGBY GAME IN A BLIZZARD 1933 .. ... . ... ... ..... . . . ..... ... . ..... 119 fHE RuGBY TEAM 1936 . ••. .. .. .. .... .... ...... ... .. ... .. . . . . .. . .. . .. 120 VARSITY-QUEEN ' S GAME 1936 .. .. . .... . . . . ...... .... . . .. ... . .. . ... . . . . 122 IX

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

X

1938 .. . . . . .. .... . . .. ... . . ....... .. .. ... . .. . ... 1891 .. . . .. ... . .. . ........ . . .. . . . ... THE ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL TEAM 1910 .. ... .. .. . ... . .. ... . ... . ....... THE ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL TEAM 1914 ..... . . . .. . .. . .. ..... .. . . ... . . . THE AssocIATION FooTBALL TEAM 1939 . . . . ..... .. . .. ... .... .... ... . . . THE ENGLISH RUGBY TEAM 1921 . . . .... .... . .. . ..... .... . . . . .. ........ THE ENGLISH RUGBY TEAM 1938 .. ... . . ...... .. . .. . . . . . .... . .. .. .. ... "OFF TO THE RACES" AT ROSEDALE 1895 . .. .. . . . . .. . . . . .. .. . . . . .. .. . .. THE TRACK MEET 1904 . . . .... .. .. . . .... .. . ... . . . .. .. .. .. . . . . ... . ... . THE TRACK TEAM 1907 .. . . ... . . .. . . . . . ... .. . .. . ... . .... . . . . .. ... . ... THE TRACK TEAM 1910 . ..... . .. .... . . .. . . ... . . . . .... ....... . . ..... . . THE TRACK TEAM 1912 . . . . . . . . ..... . ... .. . . . . . . . .. . . ...... .. .. . ... .. THE TRACK TEAM 1927 .... .. .... . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . ... .. .. . . . . . . . THE TRACK TEAM 1937 .. . .. . ..... . . .. ... . .. ... . . . . ... . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . VARSITY-McGILL GAME

THE ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL TEAM

"THE BIG FouR" ON THE TRACK .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .•• .. . . . . . .. ... ... . . .

1928 .. . ... .. . .. ....... . . . . ... . . . . . ..... ... .. . .. . .. 1939 .... . . . . ... . . .. ...... . ..... ..... .......... .. . . THE UNIVERSITY GoLF CouRsE 1900 . . ... ... . .. . . . . .. . ... . .. .. . .. .. ... Tf!E GOLF TEAM 1939 . ... . .. . .. .. .. . . .. . ...... ... . . . .. .. ... . .. . ...... THE HocKEY TEAM 1908 .... . .. . . .. . .. . . ... . . .. .. . . . . . .. ... .. .. .. . . .. THE HOCKEY TEAM 1920 ... ... . . ... .... . . . ..... ... .. ... . .. . . . .. ... ... THE HOCKEY TEAM 1921 . .. . . . .. . . . . ....... . .. . . ..... .. .. .. .. .... . .. . "BRINGING HOME THE ALLAN Cup" 1921 . ..... . . ... . . .. . . . .... ....... ... THE HOCKEY TEAM 1926 .... . .. .... .. .... .. .... . . . . .. .... .... . ...... . THE "GRADs"---OLYMPic CHAMPIONS 1928 ... .. ...... . ... . . . .... ... .. . . . THE HocKEY TEAM 1940 . . .. . . . . ... . . . . . .. .... .. . . . ...... . ...... . ... . THE BASKETBALL TEAM 1911 . .. . . .. .. . ... . .. .. . . . ... . .... . ...... .. .. . THE BASKETBALL TEAM 1929 .... .. .. .. ... . .. .. . .... . . ...... ... . ..... . THE BASKETBALL TEAM 1937 .. .... ..... ....... . . .... . . ... . . . . .. ...... THE BASKETBALL TEAM 1939 . ..... .... . ..... . .. ... . . ... . . ... . ..... ... THE BOXING, WRESTLING AND FENCING TEAM 1924 . . . .... ... .... . .. . ... THE BOXING, WRESTLING AND FENCING TEAM 1940 ... . . . ...... . . . ...... THE TENNIS TEAM

THE TENNIS TEAM

A

BOXING CLASS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1903 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1910 .. ... . ... . .. . . . .. .... .... . .. . . ... .. ... . ... TEAM 1940 .. . . ... .. . . .. . ... . . . .. . . ..... . . .. .... . . .. .

THE GYMNASIUM CLUB

THE GYMNASTIC TEAM THE GYMNASTIC A

GYMNASTIC CLASS .. . . .. .. .. .. . •.. .. . . . .. .. . .. ... . . ... . . . . ... . . . ...

1922. . ... . .. ... .... . .... ... . ..... . . .. . ....... 1937 ... ..... . ... . ... ...... . . .. . . . . .. . . . ........ WATER PoLO TEAM 1935 . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . .. . ... . .. .. .. ... . ..... . . WATER PoLO TEAM 1940 .. . . . . . . .. . . . . ... ..... .. . ... .... ....... . FouR-OAR CREW 1897 ... ... ... .... . ... .. . . . .... ....... . . ... . .. .. ROWING CLUB 1920 .... . . . . . .. . . . . ... . ..... .. .. ... . .. ........... Ro~ING CREW-OLYMPICS 1924 . .. . . .. .... .... ..... . ... .. .... . ... INTERCOLLEGIATE BOAT RACE 1933 ... ... ... .... .... . . . . .. .. ...... LACROSSE TEAM-INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS 1897 .. .. . . .... . .... .. LACROSSE TEAM 1920 ........ . ........ ... . . . ... . ............ . ....

THE SWIMMING TEAM THE SWIMMING TEAM THE THE THE THE THE THE THE THE

LACROSSE IN THE

GYMNASIUM . .. ... . .... . .. .. . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. .. .. ... . . .

THE SKI TRAILS NEAR AURORA . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. . . . ... . • . . . . . THE INTRAMURAL SPORTS COMMITTEE

1943-4 . ... ... . . .... . . . .. .... ... ..

123 132 136 138 140 143 145 152 156 158 160 162 164 167 169 178 180 183 185 195 197 199 200 202 204 207 215 218 219 221 228 231 232 236 238 240 241 246 248 251 253 258 260 262 264 277 280 281 285 295

THE

Introduction

University of Toronto Athletic Association was formed in the spring of 1893 succeeding the original Gymnasium Committee of 1891-2, through whose energy and initiative the Gymnasium was built. On October 7, 1893, the first meeting was held in that building which stood on the site of the present Gymnasium. On October 27, 1943, the completion of its fiftieth year was marked by an anniversary dinner to which were invited all those who had been members of the Directorate during that period. Many of the originals had passed on but special recognition was made to four of the "charter" members, viz., Dr. A. T. DeLury, '90, Professor emeritus; James G. Merrick, '96, Wm. A. MacKinnon, '97 and Dr. D. Bruce Macdonald, '95, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the University. The presence of Sir Robert Falconer, Honorary President of the Association from 1907 until his retirement in 1932, Dr. H. J. Cody, Honorary President since 1932 and Professor M. A. Mackenzie, President from 1916 to 1932 added greatly to the significance of the occasion. The Chairman on that occasion was Dr. John A. McCollum, President of the Association from 1932 until the present year. He had been closely identified with athletics in the University since he entered the Faculty of Medicine in 1897. He was an outstanding athlete in his student days, a member of the Athletic Advisory Board for thirty-five years and a representative of that body on the Athletic Directorate since 1924. It was a matter of pride and satisfaction for him to be able to report that the last payment of the Arena loan had been made and that the Association was now free from debt. The Athletic Association is the oldest student organization XI

Xll

INTRODUCTION

in the University with the possible exception of the University College Literary and Scientific Society, which was organized by the late Dr. Daniel Wilson in 18 54 when the University occupied the old Parliament Buildings on Front Street. But the "Lit" changed its name in 1921 when it ceased to be "Scientific" and became the U.C. Literary and Athletic Society. In reviewing the past fifty years one cannot fail to be impressed by the confidence reposed in the Association by the University Trustees and the Board of Governors. This was largely due to the successive University Presidents, viz., Dr. James Loudon (1892-1906) for his active interest in all that pertained to the physical welfare of the students and his insistence that the students themselves must assume and share in the responsibilities of the organization; to ActingPresident Dr. Maurice Hutton (1906-1907) whose influence and foresight secured the playing fields for the use of the undergraduates when that security was threatened; to Sir Robert Falconer (1907-1932) for his wise counsel and encouragement in the administration of athletics during the period of expansion which distinguished the first decade of his regime and the difficult days of the War and the post-war period, and to the present President, Dr. H . J. Cody for his enthusiastic support and personal interest not only in the Association as a whole but in the individual teams and the members of them . It is also a striking fact and yet not a surprising one that so many of our athletes have attained prominent places in the public life of the country. To list them all would be difficult if not impossible. But eight of them are or have been members of the Board of Governors of the University; Dr. Bruce Macdonald, Dr. John J. Gibson, R. A. Bryce, Wing Co~_mander Chas. F. W. Burns, Fred. K. Morrow, the late Eric Armour, K.C., the late W. K. George and the late Dr. T. A. Russell. To the latter the Association is indebted for the admirable Constitution and By-Laws drawn up when he was Secretary-Treasurer, 1898-1900, in collaboration with his successor in that office, 1900-01, Dr. Velyien E . Henderson.

INTRODUCTION

XIII

Many of its members have become prominent in the legal profession, some attaining judgeships; others have been leaders in in the Church, education, in medicine, and in business life; some have occupied high positions in Government and diplomatic circles and many, a great many have served the Empire in two great wars, filling positions of great responsibility. Many of the latter have laid down their lives in the cause of freedom . To those who had vision for the foture, to graduates, staff and undergraduates, who gave of their best and "builded better than they knew," the University owes a debt that can never be repaid . May those who come after take these men for their ensamples and uphold, as they have done, the honour of the Blue and White.

T.A.R.

University of Toronto Ist September, I944.

The Blue and White

·-pres ident s

( Undergraduate)

of the

;\th)etic}ssociation 1893 -190 0

CHAPTER I

The Early Days - before z893

THE history of the University of Toronto Athletic Associ-

ation begins with the organized efforts of a few students to secure a gymnasium. Prior to 1879 there had been occasional efforts towards this end but the students were few in number and their interests varied, "their principal business, study; their recreation, walking." 1 About the year 1865, Mr. James Loudon, the newly appointed Dean of Residence, recent graduate of University College, was instrumental in getting the authorities to erect a building where the men of residence, and other students who so desired, might exercise in inclement weather. It was a frame structure, little better than a shed, erected in the Steward's garden (now the back campus) about 100 feet north of the University College Dining Hall. It is said the steward, Frank Somers, thought so little of it that he built a lean-to alongside to house the pig that he was raising as winter food for the students in residence. But the erection of this building marks two things. It was the beginning of a movement which today affects a very large percentage of the student body and it marks the first practical interest of a member of the staff who recognized "the importance of physical exercise as contributory to harmonious educational development." A great deal of the work of James Loudon from the time he entered the university in 1858 until he retired as President in 1906 has been lost sight of. He graduated in 1862 as Gold Medallist in Classics and immediately became a member of the staff, first in Classics and then in Mathematics and Physics until he attained the Presidency in 1892. 1

Loudon, W.

J., B.A. '80,

Studies of Student Life (Toronto, 1926), Vol. III, p. 261. 1

2

THE BLUE AND WHITE

In his reminiscences on the occasion of a dinner in his own house which he gave in honour of the Varsity Football Team on winning the Ontario Championship in 1895, he spoke of those early days and how he had stressed the value of athletics for the undergraduates. He said he had come of athletic stock and in his own student days had taken an active interest in cricket, rowing and football, being a member of one of the first football teams to bear the University name. The needs of the undergraduate in the sixties were not great. For active athletics they had their annual Track and

THE FIRST GYMNASIUM,

1866

Courtesy W.

J. Loudon

and Field sports, a Cricket Club and a club which promoted a game somewhat similar to Association Football. Competition was mainly among the students themselves with occasional games with Upper Canada College or a city team. The modest building erected behind University College gave opportunity for further physical activities. It housed a limited amount of equipment such as horizontal bars, a vaulting horse, flying rings and other appliances usually found in a gymnasium. It served its purpose for a time, fell in to disuse, and, to quote President Loudon, "gradually disappeared, plank by plank," un ti) razed to the ground. About the year 1879 Professor Loudon again encouraged the students to approach the authorities to provide a place for exercise and indoor training and the necessary gymnasium

THE EARLY DAYS- BEFORE 1893

3

equipment. A petition was presented to the Senate, which he supported with his usual forcefulness, asking for an appropriation to establish such a gymnasium and recommending that a fee of one dollar be added to the tuition fees to provide for the maintenance. This was approved by the Senate which made a grant of $200.00. This, with fees amounting to '1,200.00, it was estimated, would meet the expenses. In a paper which was the forerunner of The Varsity, The White and Blue, of October 18, 1879, we read, "There is some prospect of having a Gymnasium. A place in the Society's (The Lit.) Building has been found and it is understood that the College Council will furnish half the cost provided the students take the initiative and make good the other half." In the fall of 1880 an energetic Committee was formed to manage the affairs of the proposed Gymnasium. Mr. R. F. Ruttan, '81 was appointed President, Graham Campbell, '82, Secretary, and W. Hume Blake, '82, Treasurer. Also on the Committee were E. :W. H. Blake, '84, John Caven, '82, A. H. Campbell, '83 'a nd W. K. George, '82. Through their efforts some rooms in the ,Old Medical Building which had been appropriated for the purposes of a Students' Union and named Moss Hall in honour of the Hon. Thomas Moss, the ViceChancellor,2 were fitted up with suitable apparatus. This arrangement proved satisfactory until the building was demolished in 1888 to make way for the Biological Building. Athletics were again without a home until 1893. 3

Moss Hall-a digression GRADUATES of the eighties of the last century, in recalling old times, frequently wearied their hearers, particularly the undergraduates, by their references to those halcyon days when students had but one small building for those actiyities not strictly academic. That building, known as Moss Hall 2 Thomas Moss (1836-1881), RA. '58, Registrar 1861-73, \'ice-Chancellor 18751881, Chief Justice of Ontario 1878-1881. 3 The University of Toronto and its Colleges 1827-1906 (Toronto 1906), page 215.

THE EARLY DAYS- BEFORE 1893

3

equipment. A petition was presented to the Senate, which he supported with his usual forcefulness, asking for an appropriation to establish such a gymnasium and recommending that a fee of one dollar be added to the tuition fees to provide for the maintenance. This was approved by the Senate which made a grant of $200.00. This, with fees amounting to '1,200.00, it was estimated, would meet the expenses. In a paper which was the forerunner of The Varsity, The White and Blue, of October 18, 1879, we read, "There is some prospect of having a Gymnasium. A place in the Society's (The Lit.) Building has been found and it is understood that the College Council will furnish half the cost provided the students take the initiative and make good the other half." In the fall of 1880 an energetic Committee was formed to manage the affairs of the proposed Gymnasium. Mr. R. F. Ruttan, '81 was appointed President, Graham Campbell, '82, Secretary, and W. Hume Blake, '82, Treasurer. Also on the Committee were E. :W. H. Blake, '84, John Caven, '82, A. H. Campbell, '83 'a nd W. K. George, '82. Through their efforts some rooms in the ,Old Medical Building which had been appropriated for the purposes of a Students' Union and named Moss Hall in honour of the Hon. Thomas Moss, the ViceChancellor,2 were fitted up with suitable apparatus. This arrangement proved satisfactory until the building was demolished in 1888 to make way for the Biological Building. Athletics were again without a home until 1893. 3

Moss Hall-a digression GRADUATES of the eighties of the last century, in recalling old times, frequently wearied their hearers, particularly the undergraduates, by their references to those halcyon days when students had but one small building for those actiyities not strictly academic. That building, known as Moss Hall 2 Thomas Moss (1836-1881), RA. '58, Registrar 1861-73, \'ice-Chancellor 18751881, Chief Justice of Ontario 1878-1881. 3 The University of Toronto and its Colleges 1827-1906 (Toronto 1906), page 215.

Photograph by Notman

MOSS HALL-THE SECOND GYMNASIUM

A

Courtesy of Professor E. /V. Banting.

VIEW (s.E . ) FROM THE TOWER OF UNIVERSITY COLLEGE ABOUT

1859

In the right foreground the house of the Director of the Observatory, Professor Kingston, now site of the Medical Building; next, "in a pine grove," the old Medical School, afterwards Moss Hall; to the left the temporary additions (see page 6); beyond, to the right, the Caer Howell Inn. In the distance, the City, showing on the skyline the twin towers of the Church of the Holy Trinity, the spire of Knox Church on Queen Street opposite the present City Hall, Jennings' Church (United Presbyterian), and Zion Church on Bay Street.

5

MOSS HALL

from 1879 until 1888, was demolished to make way for the new Biological Building. It was erected about the year 1850 for the Medical Faculty, from designs by Thos. Young, the architect of the original King's College building which stood where the Parliament Buildings are to-day. King's College was a white stone structure built in 1842 and this Medical Building was of white brick, to correspond with it in style. It stood well back from College Street, then a sequestered lane or avenue, hidden in

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Moss

HALL-GROUND FLOOR PLAN

From the Recollections of A.H. Young '87 and

Del. W. E. Carswell

J. D. M. Spence '89.

a pine grove adjacent to the classic "Taddle", a stream famous in college history. The Medical Building has been described as a gloomy old structure of two storeys with a "cottage" roof, its floor dimensions (being about 80 feet by 51 feet. The basement at the west end contained apartments for the resident porter. The ground floor had rooms for the professors, the porter's room, a dissecting room and a theatre, the two latter, on the north side being the entire height of the building.

6

THE BLUE AND WHITE

The teaching of medicine was discontinued in 1853, but later, about 1855-6, frame additions were made to the building to provide accommodation for the Arts classes of the University until the completion of the handsome Norman building in 1859. From then until about 1875 the buildings were leased to the Toronto School of Medicine, an off-shoot of Dr. Rolph's School of the same name. In 1879, through the influence of Professor James Loudon, it was acquired by the University College Literary and Scientific Society for the purposes of a Students' Union. At the first meeting of the Society in October of that year it was proposed by W. J. Loudon, '80, and Angus MacMurchy, '82, that the name of the building be Moss Hall in honour of the Hon. Thomas Moss, B.A. '58, the Vice-Chancellor of the University from 1873 until his untimely death in 1881. Here were held the Literary Society's elections which sometimes assumed riotous proportions. Strong:..arm, or '; brute force" squads on both sides strove to keep the voters from entering the building. Many climbed a ladder to the second storey to enter the polling booth. Dozens of graduates were routed from their beds to come and vote and it was frequently daylight before the election was over. A particularly bitter election was that of 1880 when the candidates for President were Fred F . Manley, '74, afterwards Principal of Jarvis Collegiate Institute and W. N. Ponton, '77, Manley being eiected. Sir Allen Aylesworth, '74, and W. J. Loudon, '80, now Professor emeritus, are among the remaining few of the graduates who voted on that memorable night. Here too were held meetings of the Glee Club, the Modern Language Club, the Y.M.C.A. and other student organizations. In 18,84 a room on the ground floor was appropriated for the editorial quarters of The Varsity which, since its foundation in 1880, had been housed in various rooms in the residence wing of University College. And here in 1880, two or three rooms were set aside for the purposes of a Gymnasium. To quote the late Dr. A. H . Young) '87. "The equipment was elementary and quite inadequate for a student body of 300 men. It consisted of a

MOSS HALL

7

horizontal ladder, a horizontal bar, a vaulting horse, punching bags, boxing gloves, fencing foils and dumb-bells; where the lockers were situated, I don't remember-probably in the east end of the basement, near the furnace. Fortunately the ceiling of the Gym was fairly lofty." (The two rooms allotted to it were the original dissecting room and theatre mentioned above). "As a rule," Dr. Young said, "men who played rugby, tennis and cricket and those who took part in the annual sports changed in their rooms in Residence, the west wing of University College. And the soccer men, who came from Knox or McMaster changed in thei'r respective residence, if not in the open." The late J . D. M. Spence, '89, in an article in The Unir•ersity of Toronto 11/onthly some years ago said, "I do not wonder that new comers look rather bored when Moss Hall is mentioned, but it was the centre of student life in former days. A commonplace front, bleary lighting, creaking wooden chairs, plain benches, nothing inspiring or attractive-no coats-of-arms; nor gargoyled buttresses, nor Miltonic inscriptions; no theatre, common-room, swimming pool or squash courts. But it was the scene of great conflicts, high hopes and high revels and its disappearance was not the least significant of the changes which came to the University about the beginning of the last decade of the nineteenth century." When it was demolished in 1888, The Varsity of Nov. J, said "Moss Hall, the abode of the Literary Society and the Varsity, has been swept away and Science has again shouldered Literature to the wall."

In a letter to The Varsity, December 4, 1886, John S. MacLean, '87, a prominent football player, had submitted a draft constitution for an Athletic Association, which would bind the students closer together and foster sport around the University. Athletics were increasing in popularity and it was obvious that sooner or later a responsible controlling body would be necessary. This letter was followed by others and it is evident that there was dissatisfaction with the athletic situation generally. The matter was finally brought to a

8

THE BLUE AND WHITE

head by an editorial in The Varsity, November 26, 1887, when a definite proposition was made that the six existing clubs, Rugby, Association Football, Cricket and Baseball, the "Games" Committee and the Gymnasium Committee, should unite and form an Association which would take up the problem involved in securing a new Gymnasium building. It was suggested that a contribution of $2.00 from each of the 400 students, plus a fee of 25 cents if a student wished to join any one of the clubs, would ensure the sum of $900.00 which would cover the maintenance of the Gymnasium and the salary of an Instructor. The result of this agitation was that a meeting of the club representatives was held in Moss Hall on February 24, 1888, to form an organization to control the finances of all departments of athletics. It is worth noting who these rep res en ta ti ves were: From the Rugby Club-J. H. Moss, '90 and Lawrence Boyd, (1886-88); from Association Football-W. P . Thomson, '90, J. Strachan Johnston, '89; from the "Games" Committee -S. D . Schultz, '88, A. N . Garrett; from the Baseball ClubJ. F. Snetsinger, '89, and from the Cricket Club-E. G . Rykert, '89. Following this a Committee was formed on March 26, 1888, to raise the amount necessary to build the new Gymnasium but it was a large undertaking and progress was necessarily slow. Then the disastrous fire of February 14, 1890, when the beautiful University Building was destroyed, still further delayed matters. Notwithstanding these discouragements another move was made the next year (The Varsity, March 10, 1891) when a constitution for an Athletic Association was again submitted. This, however, did not meet with the approval of the Rugby Club as it gave the controlling power to the Literary and Scientific Society. Later in 1891 a Gymnasium Committee was formed under the auspices of the Literary and Scientific Society and at a mass meeting of the students on March 9, 1892, plans were discussed. The Committee consisted of the following: Faculty members-Mr. A. T . DeLury, President, Professors James Loudon and Alfred Baker. Arts students-Ralph Hooper,

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO GYMNASIUM COMMITTEE, 1891 A. A. Shepard, A. R . Goldie, J.C. Breckenridge, J. G. Merrick, J. D. Webster, N. J. McArthur, N. McDougall, R. E. Hooper W. P. Thomson, A. T. DeLury, B.A., Professor Jas. Loudon, J. W. McIntosh, Alfred Baker, M.A., E . B. Horne E. Gillis, J. L. McDougall, W. A. MacKinnon W. McDonald, H . Rolph, W. B. Hendry, G. W. Orton,

10

THE BLUE AND WHITE

'92, J.C. Breckenridge, '93, Neil McDougall, '93, E. B. Horne, '93, Secretary, Geo. W. Orton, '93, J. Lorne McDougall, '93, J. D. Webster, '94, Treasurer, A. A. Shepard, '94, N . J. McArthur, '95, W. B. Hendry, '95, Ed. Gillis, '95, J. G. Merrick, '96, W. A. MacKinnon, '96. Medical Students-Walter P. Thomson, '92, J. W. McIntosh, '94, W. McDonald, '96. School of Practical Science students-A. W. Goldie, '93,

H. Rolph, '94This committee waited upon the Senate, then the governing body of the University, and were promised a grant of $25,000. This was made on the understanding that a committee elected by the students would undertake the management of the building when erected and also raise the funds necessary to equip the Gymnasium. At a mass meeting of the students called to hear a report of the Gymnasium Committee soon after the opening of the fall term with the President in the chair, Professors Hutton, Chapman, Alexander and Baker, and the Dean of Medicine, Dr. R. A. Reeve, all spoke in favour of the project. A unanimous vote of thanks was tendered to the members of the Faculty and especially to President Loudon for their active part in furthering the interests of the students. It is appropriate at this point to speak of Professor DeLury's interest in athletics both during and after the establishment of the first Gymnasium. He was a brilliant graduate of the University, B.A. '90 and returned to the University as Lecturer in Mathematics and Dean of Residence in 1892. From then until his retirement from the teaching staff in 1934 he never ceased to take an active interest in the welfare of the student body. He was a member of the Athletic Directorate from 1906 to 1912 and of the Athletic Advisory Board down to the present time. He also represented Toronto on the Board of Reference of the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union from 1906 to 1919. What The Varsity once said of him is equally true today: "While perhaps the most brilliant mathematician that ever entered our halls he also read widely in other fields. Taking an active part in every question of student interest he wielded

THE EARLY DAYS- BEFORE 1893

11

an influence for good as probably few men have done before . ,, or smce . A serious error was obviated by the vigilance of this committee. On returning to College in the fall of 1892, the students were surprised to find that excavations for the new building had already been made in the centre of the field now called the back campus, and the foundations commenced. Realizing that this would mean the loss of a good playing field, the committee appealed to the University Council to have the location changed to a position further east and immediately south of the new Wycliffe College, approximately the site of the present Gymnasium. This was agreed to on the understanding that the members of the Gymnasium Committee would bear the expense of the removal and the filling-in of the excavation. The cost of this change amounting to $907.00 was assumed by the Gymnasium Committee, most of the manual labour being done by the students. The work was then pushed forward as speedily as possible and the Gymnasium was ready for occupation by the spring of 1893. In the following year the front part, or Students' Union, was added and the whole building completed. The Gymnasium Committee had carried out the work of construction so ably that The Varsity in reviewing their efforts said, "too much cannot be said for the business capacity and faithfulness of these men who brought to completion the most ambitious and extensive undertaking ever planned by the students of the University." While the whole Gymnasium Committee did yeoman service, several were deserving of special mention for their work and indefatigable enthusiasm. They were J. D. Webster, '94, Med. '98, J. C. Breckenridge, '93, VV. B. Hendry, '95, (Med '04) Walter P. Thomson, '90, Med '92, Ed. Gillis, '95, J. G. Merrick, '96, Lorne Macdougall, '93, Ralph Hooper, '92, Med '98, Geo. W. Orton, '93, W. A. MacKinnon, '96 and D. Bruce Macdonald, '95, M.A. '97. As the building was approaching completion an attempt was made by the Literary Society to obtain control of the administration of the Gymnasium. Under the leadership of J. D. v\'ebster and \V. P. Thomson the support of a large

12

THE BLUE AND WHITE

majority of the student body was enlisted in securing the control of athletics by a separate Athletic Association. A constitution was adopted in January 1893, providing proportionate representation from each of the years in Arts, Medicine and the School of Practical Science. In The Varsity of January 25 we read in part, The Committee appointed to draft the constitution recommended that,

THE GYMNASIUM,

1893-1912

All undergraduates in the Faculties of Arts and Medicine and in the School of Science shall be members. The officers shall be a President, Vice-President and Secretary, selected, except the Secretary, from a Board of twenty Directors, ten of whom !are to be elected by the students in Arts, six by the Medicos and four by the members of the School. Each year, except the first, shall, during the month of January, elect the representatives apportioned to it, which are: 4th yr. Arts . .. .. .4 4th yr. Meds ..... 2 4th yr. School. . . 1 3rd yr. Arts . .. .. . 3 3rd yr. Meds ... . . 2 3rd yr. School. . .. . 1 2nd yr. Arts ...... 2 2nd yr. Meds . . . .. 1 2nd yr. School. . . . . 1 1st yr. Arts . . .. . . 1 1st yr. Meds . . .. . 1 1st yr. School. ... . 1 The Directors shall elect at their first meeting a President and Vice-

THE EARLY DAYS-BEFORE 1893

13

President from the fourth year representatives, but not both from the same Faculty. No members shall be admitted to any of the privileges under the control of the Association until after payment of a fee attached to such privilege. The Association shall have full control of all grounds and shall retain one-third of the gross receipts from matches played on the grounds.

The Varsity, commenting editorially on the proposed Constitution said,

THE GYMNASIUM,

1893-1912

The Committee have done their work to the best of their ability, but it is possible that some important considerations have been overlooked, and it was with a view to bringing to bear on such matters, the united wisdom of the undergraduate body, that a summary of the important articles were recently published in The Varsity. Beginning with a wide variety of opinion on most important matters, the committee had the satisfaction to find, on the conclusion of their report, that no single point had been settled, except by the unanimous concurrence of the members. The work of the committee was greatly facilitated by the fact that the members were, without exception, resolved to place before all sectional consideration, the general welfare of the members of the Association, and it is hardly necessary to remark, that it is only by the

14

THE BLUE AND WHITE

election of officers, who will consider it their duty to subordinate all such considerations to the general interest, that any successful issue to their initial action can be fairly expected. In electing Mr. J. D. Webster as President of the new Athletic Association, the Directors paid a just tribute to his zealous efforts to promote the organization and have secured besides an able and impartial chairman.

CHAPTER II

The Athletic Association z893-z900

THE first University of Toronto Athletic Directorate con-

sisted of the following:Honorary President, President James Loudon President, J. D. Webster, Arts '94, Med '98 Vice-President, D. M. Duncan, Arts '94 Secretary-Treasurer, J. C. Breckenridge, Arts '93 . Committee: From the Faculty of Arts: A. A. Shepard, '94, W. E. Lingelbach, '94, R. A. A. Shore, '95, W. B. Hendry, '95, W. A. MacKinnon, '96, J. G. Merrick, '96, F. D. Woodworth, '98, W. S. Burns. From the Faculty of Medicine: R. B. Wells, '94, J. I. Pratt, '95, S. H. Westman, '96, W. Goldie, '96, G. I. Campbell, '97, W. S. McKay, '96. From the School of Practical Science: A. L. McAllister, '94, A. E. Blackwood, '95, J. D. Shields, '95., with one to be added from the First Years in Arts, Medicine and the School of Practical Science. The first meeting of the Athletic Directorate was held on Saturday morning, October 7, 1893. The Directorate, when it assumed office, succeeded to the functions of the former Gymnasium Committee, taking full charge of the Gymnasium as well as the general supervision of athletics in the University. At its second business meeting, rules for the control and management of the Gymnasium were drafted, the membership fees fixed at $4-00, life members $25.00. The rules, while not onerous, were to be strictly enforced, the wearing of rubbersoled shoes on the gymnasium floor was insisted upon and smoking prohibited. The Bowling Alley hours were from 9.00 a.m. to I 2.00 and from I .oo to 6.oo p.m. During the first year of office, money was raised, mainly by the student 15

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THE FIRST ATHLETIC DIRECTORATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, 1893

J.

D. Shields, W. E. Burns, W. Goldie, S. H. Westman, R. B. Wells, R. A. A. Shore,

W. S. McKay,

J.

J.

G. Merrick, F. D. Woodworth, G. I. Campbell D. Webster, A. T. DeLury, B.A., President J. Loudon, D. M. Duncan, J.C. Breckenridge, A. L. McAllister, A. E. Blackwood W. A. MacKinnon, J. I. Pratt, W. B. Hendry, A. A. Shepard, W. E. Linglebach

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THE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 1893 - 1900

17

body, for equipment and for the fitting up of the locker rooms. An instructor, nominated by the Directorate at its meeting on October II, was appointed by the University Council in the person of Sgt. Instructor Alfred ("Casey") Williams, known to all succeeding generations of undergraduates as "Prof." From October 1893 until his death in 1922 he did excellent work in organizing classes in physical training, gymnastics, boxing, fencing and wrestling, and bayonet fighting. Until a Physical Director was appointed he trained the Rugby and Hockey teams by getting them in good physical condition, organized the annual Assault-at-Arms and was generally the mainspring of athletic efforts. 4

GEORGE HARE

A. C.

WILLIAMS

4 Sgt.-Instructor Williams came to Toronto from East India where for eleven year~ he had been Gymnastic and Fencing Instructor in the 2nd Somersetshire Light Infantry. He was also Sgt.-Instructor of Gymnastics in the 48th Highlanders and in 1897 took a te am to England where his pupil Stewart won the Individual Bayonet Championship of the British Empire, defeating teams from the Life Guards and British Volunteer Regiments. In The Varlj./~ \"f) \ '! 1 .,

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