May 24, 1910 IOOF Trenton Band in Marmora (Notice Donnelly's Barber shop in the background. and royal hotel on the right.

McGILL STREET

A lot of businesses were located on the east side of McGill Street. The above photo gives us a hint as to the view heading north of Madoc Street in 1910.

The tall building opposite the Royal hotel housed Donnelly’s Barber Shop and Pringles tobacco store, was completely destroyed by fire in 1914.

Marmora Herald March 29, 1906 “Mr. P.J. Anderson is circulating a petition to transfer his shop licence for a tavern licence at the old Pringle House. The petition is being largely signed and there is every prospect that the board will consider it favorably. If it is granted a new building will be erected at once.

On March 21 of 1907, the Herald reported that "Mr. Arthur Moffatt is learning the barber trade in the Pringle shop"

May 21, 1908 - Marmora Herald Mr. W.F. Bleecker, who for the past number of months has been engaged at M. Hugh Wiggin' grocery, has vacated his position and opened an insurance office in the Pringle block on Madoc St.

The Marmora Herald reported on August 16, 1914 "David Simmons has been awarded the contract for the erection of Mrs. Pringle's new brick block on the corner of Madoc and McGill Streets."

On Sept. 14, 1914 the Herald reported:

Mrs Pringle's new store & residence is being rushed to completion and will present a fine appearance when completed "

Mrs. Pringles new store became a meat market run by Fred Eastwood with an apartment upstairs. In 1915, she sold the business to Casha Boyd, who continued the grocery business in the west end andhe moved his gents' furnishing stock to the east end. At the same time, the Herald reported Miss Edith McWilliams opened an ice cream parlour. However, in Sept. of 1916, the Herald reported that Casha Boyd had accepted a good position with his uncle at Denver Colorado. "Meantime, he is selling out his stock in rush in order to leave for the west on Sept. 15th."

On August 23, 1917, the Herald reported "Mr. Casha Boyd is busily engaged preparing to start business again in Mrs. Pringle's store which he formerly occupied.

To the north of the corner building was located lots 2,3 and 4 (now municipally known as 4, 6 and 8 McGill Street) originally owned by the Marmora Foundry company. Lots 3 & 4 ( 6 & 8 McGill Street) were sold off on Feb 25, 1850 to James Seagriff for 25 pounds.

As he was listed as a hotelier, it is safe to assume that this was the location of the Seagriff hotel, once mentioned as a meeting place for the town council.

In May 11, 1854, the location was sold to Susannah Higgins for 50 pounds, who in turn sold it to Wellington McWilliams in 1863. The 1868 Business Directory advertises the W. McWilliam Hotel:

“This house has recently been rebuilt and large additions made to it and is as comfortably arranged as any hotel in the county. Choice Wines, Liquors and Cigars. Good stabling and sheds.”

By 1879 the property at 6 and 8 McGill was known as Pringle House, with a Pringle Retail outlet located at 6 McGill, eventually housing “Neal’s Dairy” (Pringle House in turn became the home of Verna and Cecil Neal.)

Ads for Pringle Hotel, north at 8 McGill St. dated 1879.

Madoc and McGill Street 1914

Thanks to Vince Lynch, we now have this photo of the intersection after the 1914 fire, showing the newly built Pringle Corner Store. He writes:

“This photo, taken circa 1914, shows the new Royal Hotel on the right (after the fire). The next building at the corner of McGill and Madoc Streets was a retail outlet that was later converted, in 1942, to the office of the Marmora Herald. The Sabine family lived overhead and produced the weekly newspaper.

Another view looking east, up Madoc Street from Main street. Visible on the lower edge is Sweets bakery, which burned down in 1920, the back of 1 Main street and Pringle’s corner store on McGill St. Also visible on McGill Street are the Pringle outlet store, Pringle House and the original Marmora herald building.

The third building is the Pringle Retail Outlet and apartment, at 6 McGill Street, where the Neal’s Dairy was installed in 1946. It was later upgraded in 1954.

The Pringle (House) Hotel is not visible in this picture. It was setback at 8 McGill Street, where the current house stand, that William Flynn built, following the hotel fire in 1914.

The last building (10 McGill) was the original location of the Marmora Herald, as evidenced by the later “Herald” sign on the side. In 1942, the building was converted to an apartment building, the sign removed and the side steps remained as seen, when Verna and Cecil Neal lived next door. The apartment building was destroyed by fire circa 2005 and replaced with a less impressive apartment building, set back from the road”

MORE ON TWO McGILL STREET

Marmora Herald Dec. 3, 1936 : Mr. Samuel A. Stephens, who has conducted a shoe store and repair shop, has moved his business to the north east corner of Madoc and McGill streets, across from the Royal Hotel.

Nov. 25, 1937 - This week, Samuel Stephens is moving his Boot and Shoe Store, Men's Clothing and Repair Shop to the Bleecker Building just south of Wm. Sweet and Son's Grocery. Mr. G. Aboud of Havelock will open a ready-to-wear store in the premises just vacated by Mr. Stephens.

In 1944, the Marmora Herald moved into the old Pringle Building, owned by the Sabine family who ran the Herald for nearly 57 years.

The 70's saw Jack and Sheila Golden establish Tri County Printing in this building, followed by Sherri Smith's hairdressing parlour, known as the "Cutting Corner. Sherri moved the Cutting Corner to the old hydro building in July of 1999.

Sheila and Jack Golden - Tri County Printing

In the year 2000, Jane McCoy opened her artisan shop showcasing local artists and crafters. Judy Backus of the Community Press wrote at the time,

".....An added dimension to the shop is the presence of a studio which will provide a location for artisans to teach others the intricacies of their crafts. Already, plans are in 'place for classes to begin once the new year rolls around, in such areas as folk art, cut and pierced lampshades, stained glass, knitting and crocheting with more likely to follow.
As Jane says, "If someone has something they'd like to teach, the space is there." Jane, for the past 16years a folk art painter and crafter, has met a lot of exceptional artisans within the area. Wanting to cut down on the amount of travel involved with attending craft shows, and with support from her fellow craftspeople, she made the decision to open a shop, saying with a grin, "Age wise, this was a significant year for me and it was either do it now or not at all. It is something I've wanted to do for a long time." In reference to the artisans who supply the shop she mentions, "If we can all be under one roof and still do' what we love, and pass it on to other generations... " The encouragement of her fellow crafters has made the move possible, for as she states, "I couldn't have done it on my own. They can keep the store full and I can concentrate on teaching."