Little Bros. Block
438 Turnberry Street, Brussels, Ont.
( Built: 1878 )
Thomas Knox owned part of Lot 10 in 1867 and acquired the rest in 1868. He is listed as one of the general store merchants in the village of Ainleyville in 1870. Thomas Hall, to whom Knox sold part of the lot in 1871, is listed in the same item as one of five hotel keepers. “Mr Thomas Hall, of the Marksman’s Hotel, has been making quite an addition and sundry improvements to his hotel. He has put up an addition 18x30, and has repainted the exterior of the building.” (Huron Expositor Aug. 9, 1872)
In March 1874, Hall sold his hotel to a Mr Simpson from near Exeter, for $2,500. Simpson had the hotel up for sale in July but did not dispose of it until 1875. “Mr Simpson has sold his hotel to Messrs Neil and Alexander McLaughlan for the sum of $2,500.” (Huron Expositor Apr. 2, 1875)
In May 1878 fire started in the rear of Little Bros Bookstore owned by James Knox. Little Bros lost $2,000 in stock and were insured for just $500. Thomas Fletcher and Little Bros quickly resumed business in the store just south of the American Hotel. James Knox sold 20 feet off his property to A Mills for $550 and Mills re-sold to Little Bros for $600. They “commenced the foundation for a brick store, two stories high and 20x30 feet.” Little Brothers, of the Dominion Telegraph office and bookstore, moved into their new brick store in December 1878.
Some time between 1880 when the Little brothers took out a second mortgage, and 1883, the Little brothers ran into financial difficulty. Samuel M Laird assumed the mortgage and acquired the property. At this time the bookstore became a grocery store operated by John Grewar. By 1885, George Thomson had purchased the property and had the store renovated in preparation for taking over the space himself.
Photo Below: This picture shows the Little Bros. Store, the dark red brick building with white detailing which was built in 1878, and the Holmes Block to the south (left in photo) built in 1891.
The Brussels Post described George Thomson’s grocery store in 1886: “Mr. Thomson’s store is conspicuous for its decidedly neat, clean and attractive appearance. The aim is to keep on hand as fine an assortment of groceries, glassware, crockery, flour and feed, &c. as the markets afford. His line of confectionery is quite large and very fine. His bakery business is well known tot eh public for the general superior quality of everything manufactured. His specialties for the holiday season, as fruit, &c., are well selected. Mr. Thomson, we are informed, buys in all cases for cash and taking advantage of cash discounts is enabled to give to his customers bargains that cannot be beaten.” In September 1887 Thomson, baker and grocer, purchased “a fancy delivery wagon painted by Messrs. Smith & Ross.” New awnings were added in April 1888 and electric lights in December 1890.
In 1891 Thomson built a brick storehouse, 20x30 feet, to the rear of his store (Brussels Post Apr. 17, 1891) He advertised in 1898 for “a boy to learn the baking business.” WA Crich sold his own bakery business in Brussels in 1899 and went to work for Mr. Thomson. In 1905, Thomson hired Will Elliott, who had “recently been attending the Business College at Stratford,” to take up the grocery business and run the delivery van. (Brussels Post Apr. 6, 1905) Thomson ran a successful grocery for 39 years, here and earlier at another location in town, from 1883 until his sudden death in 1922.
Advertisement Above: shown in the Brussels Post 1893, Lower Left: Brussels Post 1935, and Lower Right: appeared in the Brussels Post October 11, 1950 issue.
The store remained a grocery for several years. Verne Huntley was in business here from 1922 to 1925. John Leitch had the store from 1926 to 1927. Lorne Eckmier took over in 1928 and was in business until 1950.
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