Municipality of Huron East Presented by Jan Hawley Economic Development Officer

Historic Main Street SeaforthHeritage Conservation District Designated 1984

The downtown business section in Seaforth is situated on Main Street between George Street to the south and Goderich Street to the north. The plan to the left and the general view to the right, shows a remarkably compact building composition of predominantly late nineteenth century two storey commercial blocks.

The upper facades are distinguished by a subtle, but rich variation of brick and continuous rhythm of tall windows. The streetscape is revived by the towers of the Cardno Opera Hall, Post Office and Town Hall, which create an exciting visual show.

For purposes of this exercise, an examination of the

buildings spanning the west side of Main Street between John and Market Streets has

been undertaken.

33 Main Street SouthJames Dickson Store

Year Built: 1863

Features:

•First brick store built in Seaforth

•Upper façade consists of three windows set into a bay, framed by projecting brick piers and surmounted by a series of decorative brick friezes.

•The main floor has been renovated but the heavy protruding cornice with Italianate brackets and dentils is much the same as originally build.

•The original doorways which both faced Main Street, in particular the one leading to the second floor are in the Canada West Classical Revival

Unique feature of today is the angled entrance at the north-west corner.

Uses of the property through the years:

Main Floor1863 to 1869 Post Office Dry Goods StoreGrocery StoreBoot & Shoe BusinessDrugstoreVariety StoreCurrently, upscale home accessory store

Upper Floor:Medical DoctorDentistCurrently, apartment

35 – 37 Main Street SouthMoses R. Counter StoreYear Built: 1874-1875

Features:

Upper façade is divided by four narrow pilasters with imitation braces to the entablature above. Inset between the pilasters are three sets of narrow rectangular windows with flat, gauged labels. The main floor cornice is still in place supported by many small brackets. Beneath the main floor cornice are two small decorative grills placed in from either end of the façade. At either end of the façade are huge wooden brackets, taking up the top third of the main floor height at this point. Round metal pillars frame either side of the inset centre doorway. At the south end of the façade is the doorway to the second floor. Its transom lights have been closed in.

Uses of the property through the years:

Main FloorStore Jewellery & Fancy GoodsCentral Hardware Store & TinsmithClothing & Dry Goods StoreGrocery StoreBarbershop - North Store SpaceInsurance Broker – South Store SpaceKnitter’s Loft ShopCommercial PrintersToday, the space is vacant.

Upper Floor:In 1874, the Britannia Masonic Lodge No. 170 rented the hall above the store for $100 per year. Today, the Masonic Lodge owns and still occupies the space.

39 – 47 Main Street SouthCardno BlockBuilt in 1877

Soon after the fire of 1876 had destroyed much of Seaforth’s business district, Alexander Cardno built the ‘Cardno Block.’, a complete and unbroken brick row of stores.

Cardno Block is the largest block on its Main Street built in a Second Empire and Italianate style . The central part is surmounted by a beautiful tower of rectangular superficies, with a truncated roof in two courses. The upper one has circular openings for a clock-dial, which is crowned by a wrought iron crest resting on an ornate cornice.

During construction, Mr. Cardno placed a public clock in the tower. The works, purchased from a celebrated Boston manufacturer, cost $2,000.00, including installation. The block, in its entirety, cost over $30,000 and was lighted at the time, with gas manufactured on the premises.”

39 – 47 Main Street SouthCardno BlockBuilt in 1877

~ OPERA HOUSE ~

Although the Cardno Music Hall held its grand opening on the eve of December 15, 1877, it continues to command the attention of a public audience from its lofty perch atop the Cardno Block on Main Street.

The large main ballroom designed with a 23’ ceiling, a stage at one end and a balcony at the other, has hosted such featured entertainment, as “a grand dramatic comedy,” a vaudeville show, an opera company performance, a dance & lectures. One Sunday in January 1878, the Hall was “crowded to excess on the occasion of the ex-Monk preaching. Every available seat, including the steps to the stage, was occupied”.

Will Clarke, a scenic artist from Clipper, New York, was hired to handpaint the stage curtain with a central scene of a fisherman and a castle, bordered by advertisements for local businesses. The curtain continues to hang there today. The hall, with all its rich adornment and documented history, has been shared over the years with the public, through Doors Open events and individual public tours. The Cardno family of Seaforth, Ontario, now in its six generation, continues to own and maintain the property.

September 2008Representatives from the University of Waterloo Heritage Resource Centre and the Canadian Historic Places Initiative along with Ken Cardno (Owner of the Cardno Block) visited the Opera Hall.

Left to right: Ken Cardno, Kayla Jonas, Martha Fallis , Paul Dubniak

39 – 47 Main Street SouthCardno BlockBuilt in 1877

~ OPERA HOUSE ~

49 Main Street

39 – 47 Main Street South

Cardno Block

35-37 Main Street

39 – 47 Main Street SouthCardno BlockBuilt in 1877

Pre-dates fire of 1876Looking south along the west side of Main Street

Starting at the corner of Goderich Street (HWY 8) & Main Street

49 Main Street SouthAlexander Cardno Store

Built in 1874 or 1877

51 Main Street SouthC. H. Cull Stores

Built in 1872

1900

2006

The gable and finial of the centre section is now missing, however the upper façade is still much as it once was.

John Hickson Block55 – 57 Main Street South

Built: 1869

Ludwig Meyer Block59 – 61 Main Street South

Year built: 1872

Ludwig Meyer Block59 – 61 Main Street South

Year built: 1872

Pre 1905

2006

Robert Scott Block63 - 65 Main Street South

Built: 1869

2006

Robert Scott Block63 - 65 Main Street South

Built: 1869

November 7, 2008

Thomas Kidd Block67 - 69 Main Street South

Built: 1869