James Dickson Store
33 Main Street South, Seaforth, Ontario
( Year built: 1863 )
This is the first brick store built in Seaforth. It was built by James Dickson and his son, Archibald, was the first tenant, and the village’s postmaster. The store housed the post office from 1863 until 1869. Samuel Dickson took over as postmaster in 1865 when Archibald was appointed postmaster of Goderich. Dr. Campbell MD had offices above the store from 1870-72.
Gray, Young & Sparling opened a store here some time in 1874. After that, Thomas Waddell & Co. had a dry goods store here for two years from 1877-78. The photograph of Main Street taken in 1878 shows his store, identified by a large over-the-street sign.
John Logan operated a successful grocery store here throughout the 1880s. Then, the Sept. 5, 1890 issue of the Huron Expositor noted a business change:
Hamilton & McGinnis – removed to John Logan’s old stand corner of Main and John Streets, first door north of MR Counter’s Jewelry Establishment.
Above Photo: This 1878 photograph of the West side of Main Street shows Thomas Waddell & Co.’s large over-the-street sign.
Hamilton & McGinnis soon became Richardson & McGinnis in late 1891, and continued in the boot and shoe business here until 1896. In a notice of the business change printed in the Nov. 20, 1891 issue of the Huron Expositor, William Hamilton is described as “a shrewd, energetic business man [who] took an active interest in everything calculated to advance the interest of the town, and was rapidly working his way to the front as one of our most enterprising and leading citizens.” He moved to Stratford to take up the large retail business he had purchased from his brother. His successor, Mr. Richardson, is described as “a young man of good business ability, steady habits, and a favorite with all who know him.” In 1896, Richardson & McGinnis moved across the street to the corner store of the Whitney Block. Above their first store, Dr. F.W. Tweddle had a dentist’s office from 1891-99.
In 1899, the store again became the site of a grocery, The Maple Leaf Grocery, run by Peter Dill until 1907. Dill placed this ad in the Nov. 21, 1902 issue of The Huron Expositor:
New Christmas fruits just received. A fresh stock of crystallized cherries, peaches, apricots, pineapples and green gages. If you want high class goods you will get them at the Maple Leaf Store.
Dr. R.R. Ross had the dentist’s office above, and later had an office at the John Street side. Dr. J.A. Munn purchased the dental practice of Dr. R.R. Ross in 1925. In 1927 Dr. W.C. Sproat, a young medical doctor aged 26, rented office space here.
For many decades the building was occupied by a drug store. Charles Aberhart’s Pharmacy was here for 30 years from 1908 to 1938, run by Charles Sr., and later by his son, Charles Aberhart Jr. The Aberhart name became a well-known one in the 1930s when a brother, William, a radio evangelist popularly known as “Bible Bill” was elected leader of the Alberta Social Credit Party.
In 1939, Charles Aberhart’s drug store gave way to RR McKindsey’s. McKindsey was here almost as long – for 27 years until 1966.
Above Left: Huron Expositor, November 6, 1891; Above Right:: Huron Expositor, July 24, 1940 Carnival Issue.
Photo Below: Peter Dill’s Maple Leaf Grocery is shown here in a photograph taken about 1900. A small sign between two upper windows advertises Dr. R.R. Ross’ dental office.
In 1996 the store went back to its roots, in a way, becoming a modern-day version of the old dry goods store, a variety store. Bob & Betty’s Variety was in business here until 199?. At that time Nifty Korners, a giftwares and electronics store, was started by Danica and Jim McNichol. The building is yellow brick. Note the wide band of decorative brickwork and the curve of the roof line. The main floor has been renovated, but the heavy protruding cornice with Italianate brackets and dentils is much the same as when the store was built. The detailed window labels and label stops, along with the sills, are made of concrete. A unique feature of the building today is the angled entrance at the northeast corner. In the early photographs you can see that both original doorways face Main Street. The doorways, particularly the one leading to the second floor, are in the Canada West Classical Revival style with rectangular sidelights and transom.
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