The Granite Block is a stretch of well-preserved mid-19th century stone commercial buildings on the south side of Main Street. The first section of the block was built in 1851 and shortly afterwards survived a huge fire that destroyed its remaining early-1800s wood frame neighbours. After the fire, the remaining portions of the block were completed by 1862. The 4-storey section (4th storey added decades later) was home to Walker's, an early department store, for more than 50 years, closing in 1976. After languishing for a few decades during the boom of malls and power centers, the block underwent a major rebirth under the current ownership a few years back. The long, unbroken facade of pre-Confederation buildings has been a major attraction for Hollywood film crews more recently.
The Granite Block is a stretch of well-preserved mid-19th century stone commercial buildings on the south side of Main Street.
The first section of the block was built in 1851 and shortly afterwards survived a huge fire that destroyed its remaining early-1800s wood frame neighbours.
After the fire, the remaining portions of the block were completed by 1862.
The 4-storey section (4th storey added decades later) was home to Walker's, an early department store, for more than 50 years, closing in 1976.
After languishing for a few decades during the boom of malls and power centers, the block underwent a major rebirth under the current ownership a few years back. The long, unbroken facade of pre-Confederation buildings has been a major attraction for Hollywood film crews more recently.