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WHffy FREE PREss, wEDNESDAY, 8EM~MR 19,1990, PAGk; 21 Consortilum: 130 years of bul ding history By Grog MacNel From 'The Chronicle te, the Consortium, the building at 173 Brock St. N. lias a colorful history spanning almostl130 ya ,The two.storybrick truture lisretained its céharacter and resemiblance well into its second century -- amazing, considering the many and varied tenants its has housed. It was constructed in 1862 by John Ham Periy, son of Peter Perr,,fora cost of $1,600. Perry, wh eved as Whitby mayor aad warden of Ontario- County, was responsible for the construction cf several commercial buildings in downàtown Wbitby, of which the Chronicle building was one. The firet occupant was the Whitby Chronicle. Although it's not known exactly how long The Chronicle operated fr-om the building, it's believed to have been there nntil arouad the turn of the century. Although* the Chronicle building has survived te this day, the biggest threat came in just its tenth- year when the original Royal Hotel, inimediately te, the south, was destroyed by fire. The Chronicle building- sustaine7d sorne damage, but the newspaper was able to continue publishing. The Chronicle changed hands many times during t eistence. One. ownier inith mid-1880s figured muore roomn was needed for the '.flourishing. publishing business, su an addition was built on the north side of the building. It was the first of several additions the structure would see over the years. By 1900, 'The, Chronicle was acquired by the rival Whitby Gazette. It's believed The Chronicle was moved to the Gazette office at Dundas and Byron streets, ' where both newspapers continued to be published under different mastheads for about six years. When The Chronicle moved out of 173 Brock'St. N., a lothing manufacturer moved in. The stay was short, though. The factory most likely made overalis for farniing -and industry, but by 1901, the operation shut down affer business didnt grow as expected. Neit came a windmill, water pump and plumbing contractor. That stayed until 1910, when the neighboring Royal Hotel purchased the building. it was this era. that is memorable to a generation of %hiby esidets theY new onr put a large addition on the back of the Chronicle building and opened a movie theatre called, naturally, the Royal Theatre,, after the Royal Hotel next door. Although Whitby already had one or two other movie houses, only the one in the Chronicle building survived.- The silent flicks were accompanied by a pao>or villa and cost movie. buf five or ten cents for admission. The next few years of the theatre's history are fuzzy, changing hands ai couple of times. In 1931 the, first talking picture, 'Whoopee,' starring Eddie Cantor, made its Whitby debut. The Royal Thieatre was again sold in 1934. The new owners, frei Toron~to, made extensive renovatiens to the 200-seat faility and renamed it the Brock Theatre. Wanting larger capacity, a new 400-seat movie house was built a few doors te the south, and the Brock Theater moved in 1937. It stood vacant fd-r a few years, but bv 1941 a new tenant took over. Known as- Conimunity Frosted Locker Service'Limited, the unique company allowed residents to have mat, poultry, fr-uit and vegetables processed and frozen in individual lockers. It was a service that was of "great benefit at a time when home refrigeration w-as »stili not universal. In 1960 the building was sold to another food-oriented company called Nutriproducta Iàmited. It sold processed food to hotels and restaurants in Canada and the United States. The -company's transport trucks proudlly read: 'Nutriproducts Ltd. New York, Montreal, Whitby." That company stuck around for about 13 years before cloing its doors in 1973. The Chronicle buifding tlien stood vacant for a number of years before the ]Royal Hôtel came bak into the pcture. In 1977 the hotells owners again pýurcbased the* building.. Two years later Cedrickes Banquet Hall was opened, and served as a restaurant and. entertairnent facility until 1988. It was during this period that white paint that covered the original brickwork was, removed. The summer of 1980 saw a plaque installed on the north side ofthe buiding in recognition of the flrst occupant, the' Whitby Chronicle. SEE PAGE 23 _____ WHITBYI M ODEB 1ependble !LERYSIE- SALES SERVICE,' 209 Dundas St. W. 200 Dundas St. W. & 200 Dundas St. W. 430-8100' 686-1642 (AJAX uine) ~WITBY vIROQUOTS SOC"CER; CLUB Applications for Representative Team Coac hes are being accepted until.1 September 22nd, 1990 for the upcoming season. Telephone Jack- Methven, 668-20091 for information and application forms. WBITBYCHROMOCLE building and staff in photo taken in October, 1862. Whitby Archives photo BATTING CAGES- GO KART RIDES WITH'NEW OVER & UNDER PASS- MINIATURE GOLF ALL NEW KIDDY LAND- KIDDY KART RIDES e -VIDEO SHUTTLE. ' Hi JGE ARCADE - WORM - GROUP RATES AVAILABLE *With the purchase of same. One coupon per - I customer per day(Mon.-Sat.). Net vaîidon * Sundays or Holidays. Coupon Expires Sept. 25th, 1990/i Not ta be combîned wîth any oiher coupon. Whitty Fre3ss - - - ---- -- - ---- -. CONSORIUM STAFF, 1990 ,, V ~-) y.;.. ~ AA.J~tIII<'flC( - ip