Grand Central Hotel

In the 1992, the Grand Central Hotel on the South side of Broadway was demolished, along with McMillan's Garage and gas station, but this 1950's photo captured its stunning details.

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Location

Photo Negative Envelope

Hidden for decardes behind the fireplace mantle at 3 Third Ave. in Orangeville, this envelope was found during 2014 renovations, complete with photo negatives inside.

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Location

Broadway

This postcard shows Broadway from John St. looking East. Many of the buildings pictured here are still standing, including the firehall (no longer used as a fire hall) on the right.

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Location

$899,900

199 Broadway as it looked in the 1930's

Built by Mary Ketchum - Originally constructed in the same style as 195-189, this was a retail location run by Kent and Gilchrist In 1880 Marshall Green & Company ran a dry goods store. William Marshall Green bought the property in 1904 for $5000 and changed the name to Green, McBride & Co. Subsequently divided into two stores, it was leased to Lawson Boots & Shoes and William Erskine,

Druggist. Dr. Frederick Lewis, who became a MPP in 1904, had his large medical practice on the upper floors.

By 1930 the property was leased to the A&P Company (as seen in this photo).

This section of the block was removed in 1951 by the Bank of Toronto, the owners at that time. The reason for the renovation was due to the policy banks had prohibiting upper level apartments for security reasons.

Built in 1875

Historical photo courtesy of the Dufferin County Museum & Archives. Photo Number P-1013

Sarah Says:

Love this photo!

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Tags

1930's, Broadway

Location

Boris Parkinson

Boris T. Parkinson, for whom the Parkinson Centennial Public School (1968) is named, was the chairman of the Upper Grand School Board. He went to school for law which he practiced in Orangeville, which can be seen in this photo in front of his office at 143-145 Broadway. Boris passed away at the age of 83 in January 1991.

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Location

Post Office Post Card

This post card shows the former Orangeville post office which was demolished in 1963. This photo was taken before the town's symbolic marble clock (which was later placed atop the Town Hall, and is now at home in the Broadway median) was placed on top.

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Location

$1,249,900

2 First St. - CIBC

Between 1904-1910 a three-storey building was constructed at the corner of First St. (formerly Prince of Wales Rd.) and Broadway, which originally housed Chisholm's General Store and then the Bank of Hamilton. The building later became home to the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). The building stood until approximately 1984 when it was demolished to make room for the modern building which we see there today, still home to Orangeville's CIBC. In the background of this photo you can see the Uptown Theatre as well as the steeple from Westminster United Church on Broadway.

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Tags

First St., 1900's, Broadway

Location

Christmas Card

Fallen behind the fireplace mantle and lost for decades, this beautifully coloured Christmas card was found during renovations at 3 Third Ave. in Orangeville.

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Tags

Third Ave.

Location

Broadway Ave 1962

This is a great picture of the north side of Broadway Ave from 1962. Shows 191, 189, 185, 183/177, and 175 Broadway.

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Location

$679,000

Town Hall

Orangeville's town hall was built originally in 1875. One side housed the coucil's chambers while the other was a market (the market wing of the building has steer heads on the walls, as this was the only place in town that you would be allowed to buy meat between 1876-1890). In 1993 the building was renovated, however the original structure and style is still present and visible.

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Location

Hughes Clothing Store

This photo shows the interior of Hughes Clothing Store located at 165 Broadway in Orangeville.

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Location

Former Post Office

Orangeville's original post office, located on Broadway, can be seen in this photo as patrons enter through the West door and their horses patiently wait out front on Broadway. The large, marble clock which now calls the Broadway median home sat for a time at the top of the post office. The building was demolished in 1963.

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Location

$2,200

The Grigg Co., Junior Department Store

In the 1920's Alvin Grigg opened The Grigg Co, a department store created to mimic Woolworths and Kresges, offering affordable prices during war time at 139 Broadway. The building is now home to The Black Wolf Smokehouse.

Jim Aijala Says:

Ross, I enjoy these snapshots of Orangeville. We have opened the Seconds Count Thrift Store at 127 Broadway and wonder if you have any history on this location. We have been asking customers as they come in and are trying to work backwards. Thanks, Jim

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Orangeville High School

Orangeville High School opened its doors in 1884, a proud, brick building, state-of-the-art in it's time, and the first high school built between Owen Sound to the North and Brampton to the South. Alexander Steele, of 11 Zina Street, was the first headmaster and continued as such until 1915. After 64 years, and hundreds of students, the school caught fire on the night of February 1, 1948. For the next three years, students were split up according to their grades and sent to churches throughout Orangeville where they would attend class. In 1951 a new school was built, which we presently know as Orangeville District Secondary School.

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Location

The 36th Battalion Assembling on Broadway

In 1865 a number of local men were drafted for active service during the threat of the Fenian Invasion, in which the Irish Republican Brotherhood in the United States tried to pressure Britian to withdraw from Ireland. By Spring of 1866 it seemed things had started to settle until rumours spread that "The Fenians would cross at Fort Erie" into Canada. In the photo below (credit: Dufferin County Archives), the 36th Battalion assembled on Broadway before heading to the American border to stave off the Fenians. Leading the Orangeville company were Lieutenant Orange Lawrence, Captain Thomas Jull, and Ensign William Parsons.

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Tags

1800's

Location

$1,275,000

Orangeville 1960

This photo shows Broadway in 1960, with 143 - 147 Broadway in the background. Notice that the upper levels of the buildings have no yet been constructed.

Name:

Email:

Comment: