Toronto City Cab

After Thornton Blackburn arriving in Canada as a freed slave, not only did he use his house (see 1^st post) to establish “The Underground Railway” to help other slaves travel to Canada become free men, he also established himself commercially.

Inspired by the Montreal cab companies, Blackburn worked with Paul Bishop, who helped him built the 1^st Toronto city cab. Their cabs were painted red, which then inspired and is now used by the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission).

The Paul Bishop House is one of the few remaining Georgian houses in Downtown Toronto. It is unique in two ways; one being a semi detached Georgian Townhouse, quite a rare occasion.

Secondly, its beauty lies in its contrast with the modern development around it.

Toronto has moved on, while this house remained the same on 363-365 Adelaide Street East.

Toronto has “moved” on, precisely because of this old house’s role in the city cab and TTC. That is its most unique charm.