T. Gilmour & Co. Building Wholesale Grocers
224 King St W.
Built about 1870 for William & Thomas Gilmour
Built in Brockville This created, along with the previously existing stone buildings on the property, a very large grocery store and warehouse. It developed into a successful and far-ranging wholesale source for many Eastern Ontario merchants. Thomas Gilmour, along with his three brothers, William A., James, and Albert, carried on the thriving business for many years after their father died in 1886. Their mother, Nancy (McNish) Gilmour retained ownership of the property until her death. Some available business directories show that the business continued to be listed at this location until at least 1956. For a period of years in the 1960s, the plumbing and heating branch of SMART’S HARDWARE used this building. After this, the Smart’s Toyland and Hobby Supplies operated in the building, as well. It is also remembered that in the 1970s and ‘80s Sam Zigman owed the building and ran his RITEWAY APPLIANCE SALES at this site. It has been owned by Sheridan Furniture Store in later years, but is now the home of RELIABLE HOME FURNITURE.
The present RELIABLE HOME FURNITURE store is located in the large stone Gilmour Building, which has existed on the main street of Brockville for almost 140 years. It became the headquarters for the T. GILMOUR & CO. wholesale grocery business which could trace it’s history back to the 1840s.
This lot, on the north side of King St. W., between Perth St. and John St., was purchased in 1864 by William Gilmour (1819-1886). He was an established Brockville businessman who, previous to that date, had kept a tavern and ran a small grocery business until about 1852. His store was located at the south-west corner of King and John Sts., the former site of the COGECO CABLE CO. building. The property across the street at 224 King St. W. contained some stone buildings erected by a previous owner, William Doak, the step-son of Daniel Jones Sr. About 1860, William Gilmour had a large home built on the west side of Clarissa St. Later, the TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH was erected to the north. The Gilmour home eventually became the funeral home of Reburn Scott, and then of Bruce Davy. It suffered a serious fire in the 1970s which damaged it severely, and it was torn down. In April 1865, William Gilmour and his eldest son Thomas, entered into partnership and re-established the family grocery business. It was named T. GILMOUR & CO. and operated on a much larger scale than before. Set up costs were provided by the father, but the business was managed by Thomas Gilmour. They erected, about 1870, a new store fronting on King St. It is this present cut-stone three-storey building at 224 King St. West.
This is an older photograph of the building when operating as the T. GILMOUR & CO., as the signs show. The building has remained very much like this on the street facade, with the exception of a more modern front entrance. © Copyright, Doug Grant, December 2009
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