McCallum_Panel_proof3 Peter McCallum 1805-1892 In 1831 Peter McCallum, a recent Scottish immigrant, established a small store in Cobourg. By the time of his death it was one of the largest dry goods and millinery businesses in the area. The family business graced Cobourg's main street for 98 years. A shrewd businessman and a Cobourg-builder Who he was: In 1844 McCallum built a large three storey brick store. A shrewd businessman, he could foresee economic opportunities. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he bought up all of one wholesaler's stock of "grey cotton." It �lled the entire basement of his Cobourg store. Over the course of the Civil War the price of cotton soared and the canny merchant made a small fortune on cotton alone. When his original store was destroyed by �re, McCallum immediately replaced it in 1871 with a large elegant building at 23-29 King Street West. The �rst �oor was the "goods room," the second housed �oor carpets, oil cloths and millinery. The third �oor was storage and the basement housed up to 20 tailoresses who worked to produce goods and special orders. What he did here: PROMINENT FAMILIES OF THE PERIOD Invoice from McCallum & Sons Store McCallum & Sons Store (middle of photo)