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J. J. PATTERSON & SONS TO ERECT NEW STORE BLOCK
It Will Replace One of The Historic Buildings of Welland
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 28 June 1921]
The contract was signed yesterday for the erection of a modern two storey building for J.J. Patterson & Sons on East Main Street. The new building will measure 27 by 86 feet. It will be on the same style as Stewart’s Block which it will adjoin. The present building will be torn down, starting this week, but business will be carried on at the same time as the rear section will be razed first and when it is completed the stock will be moved back and the front finished. The entrance to the store will be on the side touching Stewart’s Block and the show window will measure about twenty feet. The downstairs will contain a show room in front and in the rear there will be the office, casket room, morgue and workshop. Upstairs will all be open floor space for display of furniture in a most accessible manner. The work will be done by A.G. Petit.
To the old timers at least this present building is a very familiar spot. From Geo. Cronmiller, East Main Street we are able to give a brief history of the building. The original frame was erected by Mr. Cronmiller in 1874, which was 37 years ago. He brought the timber from his farm after buying the property from D.D. Hoover for the sum of $700.-It could not be bought for $7000 today. Chas, Stewart bought the piece he owns now for $500. The property was originally a farm belonging to Mr. Hellems.
Since being built many trades and occupations have been carried on there until Patterson’s took it over. Chesley’s Hotel flourished for a while, later a blacksmith’s shop was carried on, and still later P. McMurray had a tinsmith’s shop there.
On the same street there are now only a few buildings which were there when it was erected,, McCaw’s Shoe Store is one of the few. The year after Mr. Cronmiller built this he erected the fire hall. The passing of this structure removes another of Welland’s historic land marks which are fast disappearing.
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