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*APRIL.OB/S2pages.indd 80 The former L ry St. is ry premier photographers plied their trade for more than 90 years. It ntly Yi ic provide 1 is curre! Work on former photographer’s studio uncovers gallery skylights Dan Stone had no idea when he started renovating the family buildings along Queen and Perry St., that he would uncover a piece of Port Perry’s history. . Stone is renovating the second floor of his building with plans to open the Piano Inn 1884 above the Piano Cafe. The inn will provide two rooms for rent by the day or week, but could expand to eight units depending on the demand. But long before the Stone’s owned the buildings, this downtown property was owned by Joseph Bigelow. He later sold to local pho- tographer James Leonard. Mr. Leonard was Port Perry’s most well known photographer for more than 30 years. He started his business in the late 1850s and in September 1874 erected a new building on Perry St, near the corner of Queen St., where he operated his photography gallery for the remainder of his life. Following Mr. Leonard’s death in 1884 he passed his photogra- phy business over to his son William H. Leonard. William learned his trade from his father well and is responsible for many of the pictures of personalities, families and town scenes from the early part of the century which can be Dan Stone is seen here in front of a large skylight which he located while igh eonard photography gallery during the later part of the 1800s and early 1900s. Early photographers James and William Leonard photographed the families, homes and scenes of Port Perry The business of photography during Port Perry's formative years may not have seemed like an important one, compared to that of mill operators, builders, and general merchandise businesses... but his- torically, it is probably second only in importance to the newspapers. It was these two businesses that provided us with much of the knowl- edge we have today about our important past. Port Perry and Prince Albert were fortunate to have a number of photographers ply their trades during their formative years. One of the first to set up shop in Reach Twp. was B.F. Bradley, who began his practice from a mobile studio in Prince Albert. Known as Ambrotype & Photography Gallery, Mr. Bradley guaran- teed his clients a perfect likeness, or they did not have to pay. Cost of a portrait ranged from 50¢ and up. In May 1861, he found in the local museum. 7 announced he had moved into a large studio with a A few months after his father’s death, the block | PH ( TQ G R A PHS Seaton sgl onidie eeaaredl Rear afi lows was destroyed by fire. William rebuilt on his Perry St. lot and later purchased the buildings adjoining his to the south. The entire building then became known as the Leonard Block. He maintained his gallery in the original Leonard building. It was in this former photo gallery that Dan recently uncovered the large skylight facing east. The skylight, sloping along the east side of a 14’ vaulted ceiling, is about 10’ x 12’ in size and is made up of 35 overlapping glass panes. Asecond, identical skylight is located in anoth- IPVAKEN in all the an ap- ie 81 pe SIRI (OE aera a century. red and framed, specimens before going clee- | until dhandetina James was only 51 when he passed old and tiie Electroplating done to at the corner of King and Simcoe St., Prince Albert. While not wanting to diminish the work of the nu- merous photographers that set up practice in the area, there is no doubt that James Leonard and his son William were Port Perry's most well known pho- tographers. The two men recorded the people, buildings and the events taking place in the Port Perry area for almost Both James and William worked right up away, but yo fe a long productive life, living to er section of the building facing the north. order tn good at an amazing 92 yé “Tvenever seen anything like it,” Dan exclaimed J. A LEion, aeeDs chanis' tothe vatetorrenit skills, many of the wrt ' at an about the unique skylight with painted panes. irene Bt eae S we By]. Peter Hvidsten 30 FOCUS - APRIL 2008 focus@observerpub.ca 824108 8:12:54 AM |