Townsman, 1992-03, Page 15St. Marys Presbyterian Church was
built and has been in use since 1881.
There are 10 congregations repre-
sented in St. Marys and visitors can
admire the splendid stone work of
many of these impressive edifices.
hall, one of the most impressive
municipal buildings in Canada. It was
built in 1891 of local limestone and
trimmed with imported red sandstone.
Most visitors are attracted to the exte-
rior work of the Scottish stone masons
who built the building, but there is
much to see inside as well including
the auditorium. The local Kinsmen
club refinished the floor of the roomy
auditorium some years ago and it used
used by the St. Marys Community
Players on a regular basis.
Guy Lombardo and his Royal Cana-
dians played for dances there in the
early 1920's and the big room is used
today on many occasions.
Visitors are always welcome and
most of the time someone is ready to
show them around and answer ques-
tions.
Behind it, on Church St., is the pub-
lic library, built in 1904 through the
generosity of Andrew Carnegie .
In years gone by, visitors might
have stayed at the Garnett House,
located across the street from the
library. It was built in 1871 from
smooth -faced limestone, which was in
fashion at the time, and operated as a
hotel for many years. Now it is an
apartment building.
Also on Church St. is the refur-
bished bridge. One of the very few
double -arched stone bridges left in
Ontario, the 80 -foot span was com-
pleted in 1884 at a cost of $3,800.
Total cost of the 1979 refurbishing
was $175,000.
Turning back you will head toward
the heart of the business section. This
section is comprised of Victorian
brick structures. A highlight is the
Andrews building built in 1884. The
variety of detail in the facade and the
Mansard roof and clock tower stand in
striking contrast to the other limestone
blocks which dominate the remainder
of Queen St..
The next leg of the tour takes you
west across Wellington St, where you
will see more excellent examples of
limestone and red brick buildings.
On the north-east corner of Queen
and Water is the L.A. Ball block, built
for Edward Long as a general store.
The projecting keystones over each
window provide a visual accent. Over
the central window of the third storey
can be found the date of construction -
1863.
Cross Water St. to MacPherson's
Craft Store. In a log building on this
site, John Ingersoll opened the first
store in Little Falls, the original name
of St. Marys. In 1855, Lauriston Crut-
tenden built for William Veal Hutton
a stone commercial block which
incorporated four stores and was
known as the Toronto House.
In 1884 John Chalmers added the
Mansard roof with its pedimental
dormers. The well-preserved facade,
giving an indication of a 19th century
store -front, makes this one of the
more remarkable buildings on Queen
St. It has the distinction of being the
first privately owned building in town
to be designated by Heritage St.
Marys under the Ontario Heritage
Act.
Victoria Bridge was built in 1865. A
few steps north on Water St. at the
new floodwall walkay, you will have
an unimpeded view of the bridge's
arches which were completely rebuilt
in 1983. The view includes the dam,
built in 1907 and the Sarnia railway
bridge, built in 1858.
Turning south you will see the for-
mer Opera House, the social and cul-
tural centre of Stonetown a century
ago. Here Sir John A. Macdonald
spoke, Scottish soprano Jessie
McLaughlin sang, and Nora Clench,
one of St. Marys most famous natives,
played the viiolin.
The building was erected in 1879.
The style was Gothic Revival and
although the central gable was razed
in 1920 when the building was con-
verted to a flour mill, the Opera
House and the two Hutton Blocks
which flank it., form a fine stone row.
Across the street is another stone
row. The smooth -faced stone at 19
Water St. built in 1868 stands in con-
trast to the rough faced stone of the
former post office, now Sir Joe
Restaurant, built in 1907.
These are an example of the chang-
ing architectural trends.
Coming back to Queen St. and turn-
ing easterly you will see a stone block
of buildings constructed in and around
1855 by T.B. Guest, the first reeve.
Across Wellington St., arc several
structures built for Guest in 1868.
The Coach House, originally the
Grand Central Hotel, was also erected
for Guest in the early 1870's at a time
when there were at least a dozen
hotels in St. Marys. In 1987, the
A
This statue of the Right Honourable
Arthur Meighen, Prime Minister from
1920-21 gained notoriety when his
family made it known they disliked it.
Mr. Meighen was born near St. Marys
and attended school there. The statue
is located at the corner of Church and
Jones Streets.
TOWNSMAN/MARCH-APRIL 1992 13