Politics and comedy add to home’s aura

By Michael Mastromatteo  

This is the second in a series of columns speculating on the lived history of various houses in the Annex.  Imagine that the “walls” of these homes secretly absorb some of the actions and experiences of those living within. If we accept that the “listening walls” witness the lives and actions of its occupants, we can ruminate about the stories they might tell. 

It’s a big house on the east side of Palmerston Boulevard, just a little north of College Street. Befitting its big size, 351 Palmerston also has a big history.

The apex-style three-storey house has been home to two iconic figures in the history of the Annex, and in turn, all of Toronto.

Between 1910 and 1930, the home was the residence—and probably the campaign headquarters—of Sam McBride (1866-1936), the 41st and 45th mayor of Toronto (1928-29, and 1936). Centre Island habitués might have also noticed that the esteemed early 20th-century municipal leader has a ferry boat named after him.

For 20 years the walls of this impressive and expansive residence no doubt reverberated with many social engagements and political strategy sessions. McBride or his house lieutenant placed several help wanted ads over the years. In September 1912 someone at 351 Palmerston advertised for “a competent general,” and eight years later, the household advertised for “a cook general – no washing.”

However, it wasn’t always housework and drudgery. A Toronto Daily Star news item on June 8, 1920, described an evening of frivolity: “Mr. and Mrs. McBride held a reception at their home at 351 Palmerston Blvd., where white lilies and snowball decorated the pretty room. Mrs. McBride was wearing black kitten’s ear car crepe and carrickmacross lace, a black mohair hat with bird of paradise and a bouquet of orchids and sweetheart roses.” It’s interesting to note what passed for news in the Toronto dailies in the early 1920s.

The walls and atmosphere in the home might have taken on a more sombre note on New Year’s Day 1930. Again, the Toronto Daily Star reported that “His Worship [McBride] received the [municipal election] returns at his home, 351 Palmerstone Blvd. Surrounded by his friends and relatives, he listened with some stoicism to the returns as they came in by both telephone and radio.” McBride alas lost that mayoralty race to the unfortunately named Bert Wemp.

While the McBride era at 351 Palmerston may have ended on a sullen note, the new occupants turned the place into a house of mirth. Garment industry worker Charles Weingarten owned the home from 1931 until 1948. One of his sons, John Lewis Weingarten—later to become Johnny Wayne—was 13 years old when his family moved into their new home. Shortly afterward, Wayne met fellow Harbord Collegiate classmate Frank Shuster, and an iconic Canadian comedy partnership came into being. 

If we accept that Wayne developed and refined some of his comic skills while living at 351 Palmerston, we can speculate that the walls within echoed with a lot of good gags—and perhaps a few clunkers.

There’s no need to rehash the comedic accomplishments of Wayne and Shuster, but there’s no doubt their success over the next several decades created an atmosphere of pride and contentment at 351 Palmerston.

Wayne’s son Michael Wayne, an author and history professor at the University of Toronto, told the Gleaner that his late father was tight-lipped about his time at 351 Palmerston. “I’m afraid my dad never said a word about 351 Palmerston to me,” Michael Wayne said. ”All I know is that he was born on McCaul Street in 1918, so they moved to Palmerston some time after that.”

Another academic with special interest in the Weingarten homestead is Robert Vipond, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Toronto. In 2019, Vipond and the Palmerston Area Residents’ Association were instrumental in having an unassuming path running north-south behind several Palmerston Blvd. homes renamed Wayne and Shuster Laneway. The laneway renaming project was their way of honouring individuals, families, or institutions that were important to the neighbourhood’s development. 

While Vipond has no particular insights into the zeitgeist at 351 Palmerston during the Wiengarten era, he can visualize a likely scenario. “Johnny Wayne’s house at 351 Palmerston Blvd. backed onto this laneway, and my fantasy—based on nothing but my imagination—is that he and Frank Shuster would have walked to and from Harbord Collegiate along this laneway, dreaming up skits as they went.”

In 1949, the Weingarten/Wayne family sold the house to Fred Zahrebelny, owner of the neighbourhood butcher shop. Municipal records indicate that Zehrebelny resided at 351 Palmerston until about 1951, after which the house was sold to a Sam Engelhardt, who may have been employed as a travel agent. It was during Engelhardt’s ownership that parts of the house were rented out to various roomers.  A Toronto Daily Star classified ad from May 11, 1953, offered two rooms to let at number 351. Other ads would follow.

Walking by the house today, one notices four separate letter boxes affixed to the front porch indicating that this stately home—as with many of its Annex neighbours—is moving into the future as a rooming house. It’s yet to be determined if any present-day occupants can detect the spirits of McBride, Wayne, or other souls who lived out their time within this space.

READ MORE:

• HISTORY: If these walls could talk (Sept. 2025)