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Located north of Don Mills and York Mills roads is the historic Graydon House built in 1936.

The large home and sprawling grounds were built for Saskatchewan born stockbroker, Henry Rupert Bain. Bain commissioned well known architectural firm, George and Moorhouse to build a spectacular home that would be a showpiece for him and his family. Graydon House fit in well in this area, surrounded by numerous estates that were built around the same time for Toronto's rich and famous.

Graydon Hall was built of variegated fieldstone featuring terraces, garden walls, and an adjacent lodge. Limestone was used for the window trim, fountain and porte cochere. Inside were 29 rooms created by interior designer, Marcum Slimon.

On the outside, Bain spared no expense. In fact, he wanted to create a "sportsman's paradise" that would include a race track, a park, stables, a 9 hole golf course, and a kennel among many other elements. Surrounding his paradise were exquisitely landscaped grounds that cascaded down into the valley. A striking feature was a fountain outside the house featuring a woman kneeling down holding up a bowl as seen in this 1950s photograph.

Today, Graydon House is a social and corporate events facility known as Graydon Hall Manor located on a street of the same name, Graydon Hall Drive. The picturesque wide open area that Bain once looked out onto has now evolved into a North York residential community.

Research by Maya Bilbao
Photo Research by Gary Switzer of MOD Developments