William Thomson Sr. built here in 1886 and his son-in-law Albert and brother-in-law R.C. Dobie set up a general store in the north side of the building. Walter Barrett set up his store in the south side. Later Mr. Dobie decided to go into business on his own and rented a part of the building to start a ladies wear store. The middle part of the building was McEwans Shoe Store at the time, which later became a restaurant and later Abe Ansara's Candy Store.
The building saw many changes in ownership and occupation including being home to the C.P. Rail Express office, Thomas Bird's butcher shop, People's Market (a full scale grocers) operated by Sid Jones and his family.
Later when Jones moved to another site, it housed a furniture store, a mens' wear, and a pharmacy. It has been a two unit building and a three unit building as it was originally in the late 1800's. Currently there is only one commercial tenant - Sutton Realty and there are apartments on the upper floor.
The buildings behind the people show the Bluebird Restaurant in the middle (two story), Skoogs Shoe Repair to the left (one story), then Sesher's Pool Room, Fullerton's Funeral Home to the right (two story) and then the Thomson building which is now a vacant lot.
The Blue Bird Restaurant was built and owned by Mrs. Lawrence and then by Evelyn MacKenzie when it burned in 1950. Since it was around the time of the building of Raynor Dam the Blue Bird was a very busy place before the fire. Mrs. MacKenzie can remember using 35 loaves of bread a day and baking about 40 pies in the morning and not having a single piece left at night.
Next to the barber shop was Sesher's or St. John's Pool Room. When it was first started by Johnny St. John, it was situated just down the street where the Blue Bird Restaurant was later located. He built the brick building beside the barber shop and moved his business. Copeland Photography used the upstairs for their office. Alec St. John, Wilfred St. John's father, took over running the business from his father.
Later Bill Rothera and Stan Sudds had their electrical store there when the building burned with Stewart's Taxi, the Blue Bird Restaurant and Fullerton's Studio in December of 1950.
The lot was originally the site of A. Boyd’s Furniture and Undertaking Parlour in the early 1900’s. He sold to John Fullerton who continued the business. He was burned out in 1950 in the fire that destroyed several businesses on the block and he rebuilt on the same lot. He built the building that became Western Tire. Maylon Thomas purchased the building from Mr. Fullerton.
The Empire Theatre was built in 1915 and Hugh Penfold was the first projectionist. The first movie shown was Charlie Chapman's "Tilley's Punctured Romance" and it was a silent movie.
The Theatre was built by Dan Sandie who sold it to Jack Lobben who then sold it to Bill Howell. Mr. Sandie bought it back around 1931 and by this time movies had sound. The Theatre continued to go through ownership changes and it was Jerry King, who played "the last picture show" as the saying goes.
It was a Dirty Harry film and a total of three people attended in 1973. The theatre was eventually torn down due to structural issues.
The empty lot beside the Mason's building is where the Empire Theatre once stood.
The Dyment Masonic Lodge – Thessalon had their new lodge dedicated as of November 25, 19?? Their new building is currently located at the corner of Main and Huron Street and the dedication was performed by Archbishop W.L. Wright.
The first Masonic Lodge was located on the corner of Huron and Main until the building was damaged by fire, forcing a move to space over Burke’s garage at the corner of Main and Genelle Street. Fire forced a move from this building too. The lodge went back to its original location and renting lodge rooms until December 31, 1959.
When CIBC took over their new building, the Masons rented space to the Town for office space. Fire destroyed the building again on May 4, 1963. While there was debate about moving the location it was decided against as Mr. Dyment was a Thessalon native.
This chart shows the location and changes in the businesses located along this block.
