Before the fire of 1909, the oak floors and cast iron pillars still present today in the east wing extended all the way into the west wing. The chandelier is the same – originally lit with a combination of gas and electricity, it has been retrofitted to be fully electric.

The c. 1890 photo was taken by Josiah Bruce. Before setting up his own photography studio, Bruce worked for William Notman, an internationally-renowned photographer who created the first four MPP composite photographs for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.