Posted 11 years ago
jjackson
(11 items)
So here is the reason I haven't been around here too much! The previous owner's grandfather purchased this building in 1951 and their family has operated an auto parts and engine machine shop business out of the commercial space. They opened their auto parts store in 1927 in another building on the same street. It was chalked full of old auto parts and oil signage but a local collector has pretty much cleaned most of the signage out ( http://kenmcgeeautobooks.com/page/4 ) . This is where to go though to find parts for your old cars from the thirty's and forties! So I'm into a long term relationship with this relic! :)
.... not sure what the category this should be in.
Oh dear lord.... This building is yours? It's my absolute dream to someday own a building like this. I love everything about it. What will you be doing with it? Are you living in it now?
Yes, it is mine... because I love old things. I might live in it. I have one of the apartments gutted right now and it looks incredible with some newly exposed brick! There is some debate about the commercial space. Many in town want to see an authentic Irish/English style pub... I see an old time toy shoppe. The previous owner has three more years to wind down his business... 33.5 months to be exact! :)
Wow... that's absolutely fantastic. Congratulations for owning a piece of real estate history. I LOVE it. Please keep us posted on it as you create new spaces. DID I MENTION I LOVE THIS?
Thanks for the loves! Now y'all can throw on your work clothes and come on down here and help me make this place look like it did 171 years ago! lol :)
Oh yes, I forgot to add you can follow progress at:
https://www.facebook.com/53.Hamilton.st.Goderich.ON
Thanks!
Lucky you! What a grand old building. Nice that you have some timeline pics.
Yes pops the pictures have taken some digging around in old papers and such. An F3 tornado blazed it's way through the town center/square 2 years ago and we lost half a dozen old town commercial structures. Only a couple have been rebuilt so far. It has been a bit of a power struggle between Insurance, building dept., heritage committee and property owners. At any rate this old girl was still standing and we want to make sure it still stands for many and put the 'GRAND' back into it! Thanks
The storefronts look remarkably intact, as does everything else except the cornice. Does it have historic landmark designation? Could be some tax credits available if you were to pursue designation.
No it is not designated. Although the town is looking at designating the area. There isn't much benefit in this town to have the designation. It is on a list of historically significant sites so it is an application away from the historical designation. The town has a facade restoration fund that I will apply for next year (designation is not necessary). It is first come first served until the money is gone for the years budget.
Yes, not much has been done to it in it's lifetime. It stayed in the builder's family from 1855 - 1945 when it was sold to another individual 1945- 1951 when it was sold to the Bradley's 1951-2013. I would love to put the brick fretwork back on but that will be a couple years. All the verandas where removed from the commercial buildings in the 1920's when a couple of them collapsed from snow load. The town made a decision to have them all taken off. The store fronts are pretty much intact some of the detail trim around the bottom has been replaced with plywood. I am in the process of locating pictures to give me a better idea what the details looked like exactly as I plan to rebuild them. It is a big job and most days I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed! Thanks for the loves and comments!
I'll move in when you say the word!
Perfect I have a tenant moving out this week end!
SWEEEEET!