Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1995 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
Photograph
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Name of creator
Biographical history
Name of creator
Biographical history
Name of creator
Biographical history
Name of creator
Biographical history
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Sutherland’s Grocery Store was once found at 12 Holland St. West (site of Karen’s and Tina’s Flowers in this 1995 photo). Alec Sutherland was a baker. He had a bakeshop on the south side of Simcoe St. that was run for many years by his daughter Jessie and sister Mrs. Bessie Ryan (and her daughter Betty). They eventually retired and moved to St. Catherine’s. There were living quarters upstairs. William Compton and his wife bought the store and ran it as an IGA grocery store. Gord and Marilyn Compton later took over the store. They built a new store on John St. (where Frank Kilkenny’s house had been). The Comptons’ store eventually moved to what was known as the IGA plaza (located at the corner of Collings Ave. and Holland St. West). As of 2014, 12 Holland St. West is the site of The Holland Bloom florist shop. (1, 2)
The two-storey, commercial, ‘row’ building located mid-block on the south side at 16 Holland St. West was built around 1872-1899 in the Ontario Vernacular style. The second floor had space for offices or living quarters. Whimster and Wilcox operated a clothing and garment store at this location many years ago. Charles Wilson worked for them. John McDowall moved to the area from Midland and ran a clothing store there sometime in the 1930’s or 1940’s. He had three children (Norrie, Jack and Pat). They lived in quarters above the Bank of Commerce and later moved to the apartment over the store.
The building has a wide, rectangular plan with a symmetrical organization. ‘Main street’ frontage with a typical, storefront façade is located at the street line. The symmetrical, three-bay façade originally had a high, articulated cornice of corbelled and dentilled brick (typical of rich detailing). Its ground floor was characterized by the rhythm of flat pilasters along the street edge. The existing doors and storefront are not original. Three, large window openings with segmented arch openings and concrete lug sills at the second-floor level have been partially filled. The windows are also not original. Built-up tar and gravel covers the flat roof. Masonry construction with brick cladding has been considerably altered in appearance. It is also no longer the site of Carmen’s Backyard Restaurant, as seen in this photo from 1995. (1, 2, 3)
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
HW 12 Karen's HW 16 Carmen's
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Store
- Store » Grocery Store
- Business » Sutherland's Grocery Store
- Building » Apartment
- Florist
- Karen's and Tina's Flowers
- Business » The Holland Bloom Florist Shop
- Office
- Store » Whimster & Wilcox
- Store » Clothing Store
- Business » Restaurant
- Business » Restaurant » Carmen's Backyard Restaurant
- Business
- Store » Grocery Store » Compton's IGA
- I.G.A.
Place access points
Name access points
- William Compton (Subject)
- Marilyn Compton (Subject)
- James Whimster (Subject)
- Charles Wilson (Subject)
- John McDowell (Subject)
- Norrie McDowell (Subject)
- Jack McDowell (Subject)
- Pat McDowell (Subject)
- Alec Sutherland (Subject)
- Jessie Sutherland (Subject)
- Bessie Ryan (Subject)
- Betty Ryan (Subject)