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Historic McLaurin General Store to be saved from demolition (3 Photos)

The building near the Kam River is one of the oldest brick structures in Thunder Bay.

THUNDER BAY — One of the oldest commercial buildings in Thunder Bay will avoid demolition, much to the satisfaction of the city's Heritage Advisory Committee.

Barely two years ago, it appeared the 19th-century building on New Vickers Street near the Kam River would be torn down.

It once housed the McLaurin General Store, and eventually came to be used as offices for the Ogilvie elevator.

In 2001, the structure escaped destruction when fire ripped through the mill which had recently operated as Riverside Grain Products.

Infrastructure Ontario, the arm of the provincial government which now owns the property, was looking to demolish all the remaining buildings on the property.

On Wednesday, however, it was announced that the former store will be exempted.

Larry Hebert, a member of the Heritage Advisory Committee, says it's an important decision because the building played a unique role in Lakehead history.

"It was the first store in Thunder Bay that wasn't part of the Hudson Bay Company or the North West Company, so it was the first independent. And John McLaurin was quite the entrepreneur," Hebert said in an interview at the site.

Hebert said the committee felt the building was worth preserving, even though there are "significant problems" with its condition. 

His group is glad, he said, that the government and the consultants hired by the province "did their homework" and took the committee's feedback in deciding not to demolish the old store.

"This location was a real hub because the railway was so important back then. It's right on the rail tracks. Downtown Fort William back then didn't comprise much...people came across from the island to shop here. It was very vibrant. It's great to be able to preserve this."

Experts believe the building may be the oldest brick structure in the city.

 




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