Provincial Lunatic Asylum J. Johnston? 1849? Lithograph. 9.8 x 18.1 cm. TPL (TRL) B 8-60f The Provincial Lunatic Asylum was the largest building in Upper Canada. The top of its tin-domed roof was visible from Oakville, 20 miles away. Designed by architect John G. Howard, it was constructed in 1846. Before that time families were responsible for caring for their own relatives, while the violently insane were put into jail. The Asylum had both central heating and running water. The dome contained a large reservoir to supply water to the hospital. The water was pumped up from the Lake by a steam engine and heated by 16 furnaces fuelled by coal. The water was then circulated throughout the building via small pipes to heat the rooms. This building was torn down in the 1970s.