I.O.O.F. Building
58 Main Street South, Seaforth, Ontario
( Year built: 1874 )
The International Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) were the first, in 1874, to build on this lot fronting Main Street. The first business in the store was William Logan and Robert Jamieson’s “Sign of the Golden Lion” dry goods store. The November 6, 1874 issue of The Huron Expositor noted: “The Oddfellows’ building is being proceeded with rapidly and will soon be ready for occupation. Messrs. Logan & Jamieson have leased the store, and will occupy it as soon as it is completed.” They contin-ued in business here until the end of 1896.
The I.O.O.F. Society has owned the building, and occupied the hall upstairs, since its inaugural meeting February 5, 1875. The Edelweiss Rebekah Lodge also held meetings here since 1912, and the Order of the Eastern Star since its organization in 1946.
Advertisement Left: Appeared in The Huron Expositor September 21, 1887.
The Huron Expositor kept its readers informed about business changes over the years. On February 14, 1896 they reported: “Mr. J.F. Clark, who has been carrying on business in the Golden Lion Store during the past year, has decided to close his business in town and go to Port Hope.” Clark had taken over the business late in 1893. The next week, on February 21, 1896, it was reported: “Mr. J.L. Smith has purchased the stock of Mr. J.F. Clark, Golden Lion Store, and is now remarking the stock and intends opening soon.” And, on December 18, 1896: “New Furniture & Undertaking Store – Leatherdale & Landsborough – opened up in the old Golden Lion Store formerly occupied by R. Jamieson – Leatherdale having taken his diploma at the Champion College of Embalming.” Leatherdale & Landsborough had a Furniture Emporium where they sold the New Williams sewing machine and operated a funeral department. John Landsborough was in business here until 1901.
Valentine Knechtel and Alexander McKenzie took over the Furniture & Undertaking business. They advertised upholstery as a specialty and also made parlour suites, and odd and fancy chairs to order. They also sold sewing machines.
J.C. Grieg was the next merchant in business here by 1906. In the March 23, 1906 Huron Expositor The Greig Clothing Co. advertised for “2 first-class coat makers, 1 vest maker, 2 first-class trouser mak-ers, and 3 asssistants” for their tailoring department. They paid the “highest price for butter and eggs.”
Right Photo: Robert Jamieson’s “Sign of the Golden Lion” store in c. 1885. Jamieson was in business here from 1877-1892.
By 1914, there was again an undertaking business in this store. Samuel T. Holmes, a funeral director and licensed embalmer who had worked for Broadfoot & Box, set up his own business here.
John A. Baldwin had a hardware store here from 1948 through the 1950s. Irwin Trewartha took over and operated Irwin's Hardware throughout the 1960s. By 1975, Seaforth Automotive & Industrial Supply, under the United Auto Parts banner, opened for business here.
The building has Italianate features in its brickwork and windows. The upper façade of three window bays is divided by projecting brick piers and surmounted by a decorative brick and wood frieze with wood brackets. The arched windows have decorative upper sections.
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