John S. Porter Store
36 & 40 Main Street South, Seaforth, Ontario
( Year original building built: circa 1865 )
There were two frame build-ings on this lot in the 1860s. John S. Porter, a merchant who bought and sold skins, furs and wool, had an office in the north store. He also advertised himself, in 1874, as a “one-horse banker” and exchange broker. R.N. Brett, a leather dealer, had a shop in the north store from 1878-85. By 1886, the store was divided. James Dobie had a barbershop in part of it and E.J. Vanstone, Merchant, had a business in the other half. Albert Milburn was in part of this store from 1887-90 and John Laird from 1891-98, while a succession of businesses – a barbershop, a general merchant’s shop and a bakery – were in the other part.
By 1899, the north part of the north store was a saddle and harnessmaking shop first run by John Ward and later by Andrew Oke. The south part of the building housed John Bulger’s jewellery store.
By 1914, the Canadian Express Telegraph office and Charles Consigney’s shoe repair shop were in the north building. A barbershop was again one of the businesses in the building by 1918 and through to 1940. Leonard Bolton was the barber for many years. He was joined by John Pullman in 1934 and Pullman continued on until 1940. The other part of this building housed a variety of businesses through-out the 1920s. It was again a repair shop in 1928, run by Michael Brown for one year and then by George Seip until 1934. The last incarnation of this building was into a restaurant run first by Willard Elliott from 1929 to 1958 and then by James E. Elliott until the early 1970s. It was the Hessen Haus restaurant when the building burned in 1982.
Left Photo: 1914 Old Boys parade east Main Street with Charles Consigney’s shoe repair shop in the north store under the sign of the boot; Broadfoot & Box Co. in the south store.
John Kidd had a tinsmith shop next door, to the south of Porter’s shop, by 1863. Kidd later added building supplies and hardware to his business mix. J.D. Fee took over in 1866, but by 1868, it was home to Johnson Bros. Hardware under the “Sign of the Mammoth Stove.”
In 1872, Matthew Robertson moved his furniture and undertaking business into Johnson Bros.’ old stand. Earlier, in the 1860s, Robertson had two frame buildings just south of the railway tracks where he employed George Soole to make coffins, as well as furniture. At his new location Robertson advertised “the cheapest furniture in town.” An 1875 advertisement advised patrons of his new “steam cabinet factory” where he made furniture of “thoroughly seasoned lumber” as well as “coffins, caskets, and burial robes of all sizes.”
Above Photo: Matthew Robertson was the first official undertaker in Seaforth. In 1872, he moved his furniture-making and undertaking business north to this store on the east side of Main Street. John S. Porter, and then Broadfoot & Box Co., carried on in the same business at this location, into the 1940s.
In 1877, John S. Porter, who was by now in the hardware and furniture trade, bought Robertson’s business and buildings. In September 1881, Porter advertised six highly finished chairs for the low sum of $2.00. A native of Brandon, Suffolk, England, Porter came to Canada in 1857. He was a successful businessman in Seaforth for 33 years. The notice of his death, in the January 27, 1899 issue of The Huron Expositor, called Porter “one of Seaforth’s oldest and most successful business men” who “possessed, in a high degree, the confidence of his partons, and was the business confident and advisor of many of the older settlers.” Porter sold his business to John H. Broadfoot and William T. Box in 1894.
Broadfoot & Box Co. had their furniture store here until 1940. The building was torn down. The land was used for salvage storage for three years and then E.L. Box used it for storage for his coal business until 1953.
Advertisement Above Left: Is from the July 12, 1889 issue of The Huron Expositor. Below Left: The advertisement is from the March 2, 1900 issue of The Huron Expositor.
In 1955, James J. Cleary built a cement block building on the site. The Huron Expositor of December 16, 1955 announced to its readers: “32 Years in Seaforth – Cleary Opens IGA Market.” Cleary had been in business in town since returning home from the west in 1923. He bought the grocery business operated by the United Farmers of Ontario, in the building a few doors to the north. Cleary managed the IGA grocery into the early 1960s. Joseph J. Wilkinson then took over the business and was here for about 10 years. He was followed by Bruce Hoelscher. The building was demolished in the early 1990s.
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