Alonzo Strong’s Red Block
60 – 64 Main Street South, Seaforth, Ontario
( Year built: 1893 )
Frame stores and shops lined this part of the east side of Main Street until 1892. In May of 1892, some of the buildings were destroyed by fire. Afterward, the adjoining buildings were torn down to make way for Strong’s three-store red brick block and the new Town Hall.
The Huron Expositor of May 27, 1892 reported that the fire was caused by a hanging lamp in W.G. Glen’s restaurant. John Ward, Saddler, was the occupant of the second store and the CPR Telegraph Office adjoined Glen’s restaurant. The article went on to say:
We understand that Mrs. A. Strong intends rebuilding on her property on Main Street recently destroyed by fire. The remains of the old buildings, as well as those to the south, are going to be pulled down and three handsome brick stores erected in their stead. This will add very much to the appearance of Main Street and we are sure that there will be no lack of tenants as this is one of the best stands in town and has never yet been idle. We are convinced that the investment will be a good paying one and return a handsome dividend.
The first tenants of the new block were Matthew Robertson, Cabinetmaker, and James Stewart, a Grocer and Restaurateur. In the 1860s, James Hatt owned this lot and the one-storey building on it. By 1869, John Logan had his “Manchester House” here, a dry goods and grocery store. Logan was in business until August 1872 when William Logan and Robert Jamieson bought his bankrupt stock. Logan & Jamieson had the Golden Lion store on the northwest corner.
Advertisements Above Left: Appeared in The Huron Expositor October 21, 1870 Below Right: The Huron Expositor May 28, 1875.
In the late 1860s to the early 1880s, this part of Main Street was a hub for the harnessmaking, wag-onmaking, and shoemak-ing trades. William Grassie had ar wagonmaking shop next door to Logan’s Manchester House, to the south, from 1867-70. Syl-vester Steeple took over making wagons here in 1871. At the same time, Alex Stewart had a blacksmith shop in this area from 1867-71. William Oliver had a saddlemaking shop from 1879-82, on part of this property at this time owned by the Currie brothers, David and John.
The next shop to the south was McIntyre & Willis’ shoe store. John McIntyre and Robert Willis made boots and shoes here from 1870 to 1883. John McIntyre was the sole proprietor from 1880-84. Edward Latimer took over from him and continued in business here until 1886. The Hamilton Bros., later Hamilton & McGinnis, had Red Front Shoes here from 1887 to 1889.
In the north part of the next store was John Campbell’s “Sign of the Golden Collar” saddler shop. At the same time, Thomas Bell had a furniture and undertaking business in the south part. Both took advantage of their location across the street from a prominent merchant, advertising their businesses as “opposite Kidd & McMulkins.”
Campbell and Bell were succeeded by a number of other saddlers throughout the 1870s – James Wilson, W.H. Oliver, and Thomas McDonald. By 1873, Thomas Bell has purchased land and moved his business. James Wilson owned the south part of this lot, Lot 18, and was in business from 1870 to 1889. Oliver and McDonald may have occupied space vacated by Bell.
Above Left Photo: Grieg & McDonald's Clothier store next to Jamieson's Golden Lion store circa 1900. Below Photo: The interior of the Grieg & McDonald store taken at the same time.
After Logan’s “Manchester House” went out of business in January 1873, George Redmond had a business here for one year and W.H. May for one year after Redmond. Then, George E. Henderson, a Saddler, replaced May and was here until 1892.
Eliot Grieve had a shoemaking shop in part of Henderson’s store from 1878-79. The Misses Wright had a fancy store before him, from 1876-77. Three different barbers, James McMullen, Joseph Klinkhammer, and Robert Abraham, had barbershops here in the 1880s. Klinkhammer advertised his Palace Barbershop in 1884 “between Jamieson’s & Henderson’s” and offered “shaving, hair cutting, shampooing, and dyeing in all styles.” Richard Deem, a tailor, was the last tenant, in 1887.
Next door, in the late 1880s, was George Ewing, a butcher. He owned this piece of property by 1890. Duncan McCuaig, a grocer, was here in 1891.
Further south, next to James Wilson’s saddlery, was another butcher, or victualler, James Thomas, who plied his trade here from 1879-82. There were two shops here by 1885. James Burgess opened his City Restaurant, and confectionery, in 1881 and he served his customers here until 1890. In the north part, Donald McIntyre had a shoe store from 1885-89. Then, C.L. Papst had a jewellery store in this part from 1890-91 and John M. Best’s law office was in the south part.
This section of east Main Street changed after the fire that destroyed some of the frame buildings here in 1892. Mrs. Alonzo Strong, the property owner, had a three-store, red brick block built. The property to the south was sold to the Town of Seaforth for its new town hall.
In 1894, J.C. Greig and R.J. McDonald were the proprietors of Grieg & McDonald Clothiers in the first store, in the north part of Stong’s red-brick block. They were in business here from 1895 to 1903. The business then became Greig & Stewart and moved to Johnson Bros. old stand. In 1905, the Greig Clothing Co. occupied the Golden Lion store.
After Greig & McDonald left the first store, the Bright Bros. moved from their store, north in William Campbell’s Block, to this store where they were in business for the next 14 years. They also had a workshop on the second floor.
Right Photo: Oscar Neil's Oyster Restaurant and the Seaforth Sun newspaper office. The building's original architecture details are clear in this photograph taken in 1900.
The middle store was, for many years (1900-23), Oscar Neil’s restaurant where oysters, ice cream and sodas were featured delectables. Before Neil, James Stewart had a restaurant in space formerly occupied by Hamilton & McGinnis, from 1889 to 1899. The middle store space continued to be a restaurant into the early 1930s.
Next to Neil’s restaurant, in the south store, the Seaforth Sun was published by Fred G. Neelin from 1896 to 1899. W.J. Westcott succeeded him, then came L.M. Appleford, W.R. Vale, and R.D. Croft. James F., Donald and Cyril Snowdon published the Seaforth News here from in 1916 into the early 1930s.
The John Case family bought Strong’s Block in 1907. In the 1920s, the south stores, and the second floor above, were used as a dance hall. Large chaperoned dances and private dance parties were held in the Case Hall. Part of the space was also used for drill practice. The children’s demonstrations of their skills were a popular local entertainment.
Advertisements Above Right: Shown in the July 18, 1884 issue of The Huron Expositor. Below Left: The Huron Expositor August 27, 1869.
In 1932, the Regent Theatre, with a seating capacity of 300, opened in the middle and south store spaces. Herb and Florence Sutherland of St. Marys had purchased the building; they were the owners of a chain of Huron County theatres. Movies such as “Rebecca” starring Olivier and Fontaine, “His Girl Friday” starring Grant and Russell, “The Singing Dude” in technicolor, Deanna Durbin’s “First Love” and “A Girl, A Guy, and a Gob” with Lucille Ball, played here into the late 1950s when dwindling audiences led to the theatre’s closure. In its heyday, two movies were shown every night except Sunday, as well as a Saturday matinee for kids. A ticket for the Saturday matinee cost 15¢, adults paid 65¢. The matinee movies were usually the same ones which entertained the adult audiences in the evening, there being no “restricted” or “adult only” movies shown in these days.
In the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, the south store became the Carol Lyn dress shop run by Dolena McQuaid and Mrs. Walker Hart. The Toronto Dominion Bank was here briefly, while its new building was being constructed. Gordon Tyndall had his barbershop here in the late 1960s and 1970s. Later tenants, in the 1980s and 1990s, were Don’s Shoe Place and Weurth Shoes.
Lee Learn bought the block in May of 1959 and that fall began remodelling the building. Apartments replaced what had once been a dance hall in the upper floor. In 1960, Learn equipped a dairy room at the back of what was then Sid Pullman’s barbershop, to be used by The Maple Leaf Dairy.
By the late 1960s, the McConnell Stewart Law Office occupied the north part of the building. Deloitte & Touche Accountants, the current occupants, were here by 1989.
Above Left Photo: Shows the Strong Block when it housed the Regent Theatre. Advertisements Above Right: Is from the January 28, 1916 issue of The Huron Expositor. Below: Appeared in the July 24, 1940 issue of The Huron Expositor.
Advertisements Below Left: Appeared in The Huron Expositor October 28, 1870 issue. Below Right: Appeared in the July 12, 1889 issue of the Huron Expositor.
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