This ongoing series from Barrie Historical Archive curator Deb Exel shows old photos from the collection and one from the present day, as well as the story behind them.
The Ross Block
Even before this building became a popular hangout for a certain BarrieToday reporter, the Ross Block at 89-97 Dunlop St. E., was a happening place.
Built in 1891 by Charles Hamilton Ross on the site of the old Fraser’s Exchange hotel, the building provided new professional office space for businesses. C.H. Ross along with Thomas D. McConkey have been credited with doing much to build commerce and a strong community in downtown Barrie.
Ross — businessman, former mayor and police magistrate — also built the beautiful Maple Hill at the corner of Wellington and Toronto streets.
In 1927, the Ross Block’s offices were mostly occupied by professionals: barristers D.F. McCuaig (No. 89) Gordon Longman (No. 91), H.H. Creswicke (No. 95), Lorine Low (No. 91), public stenographer and brokers such as Gordon Stevenson (No. 89) and London Life Insurance Company (No. 91).
Other businesses, such as Mickle, Dyment and Son Lumber Company (No. 93), Scott Brothers Cartage (No. 97), J.G. Scott Coal (No. 97) and Blair-Gowanda Silver Mines (No. 91), had offices in the Ross Block as well. There were even some government tenants: the Ontario Department of Agriculture (No. 91) and the Ontario Provincial Police (No. 91).
Ten years later, a few of the same occupants were still in residence in the Ross Block, plus a few new ones: A.E. Flynn, grain merchant (No. 89), J.C. Graham, auto licence issuer (No. 91), G.A. Fitzpatrick, optician (No. 93), Cameron and Ellis Coal Office (No. 95) and the CPR ticket office, also in No. 95.
McCuaig, Stevenson, the Scotts and the OPP division court clerk continued to operate out of the Ross Block.
Are you surprised that the OPP had a downtown presence? We mostly think of them as being located near the highway and many are familiar with their old station on Rose Street.
And while most of us think of May 31 as the day of the tornado, in 1940 that date represented the first big wave of soldiers from Base Borden, who were in town to party for the weekend.
The Barrie Examiner reported that the town was "besieged by troops from Camp Borden" during that payday weekend. Apparently thousands of soldiers hit the streets Friday through Sunday, resulting in such record-breaking drinking crowds at the outset of the weekend that the hotel keepers of Barrie’s six beverage rooms (are you trying to name those six bars right now?) quickly met and jointly decided to close at 11 p.m. on Saturdays and all paydays going forward!
The local police had their hands full with the usual drunk-and-disorderly incidents and a few Barrie residents experienced the influx of military personnel in other ways. One person came home to find a soldier asleep on his couch (the door had been left open for a family member). Another businessman’s truck had been requisitioned to take soldiers back to the base (the soldier did make it back, but not in that truck!). And finally, a touching moment was observed when two boys in uniform laid flowers at the base of the cenotaph about 8:15 p.m. on the Saturday night, snapping salutes to honour those who had fallen in the First World War.
Episodes of theft, assaults, vandalism, drunkenness and other offences were reported more and more as 1940 drew on. In September, when additional support in the form of an increased OPP presence was offered, Barrie council said yes.
The next five years saw some expansion of the local police force and fleet to address the additional crime and the needs of a growing population. Police hirings and resignations followed along with the implementation of a police commission to run the department.
But in 1946, council was seeking to claw back administrative control of the police force and explore other efficiencies. They found they could save money by disbanding the local police force and contracting the work to the OPP, and so, on July 1, 1946, the OPP assumed policing of Barrie.
Back on the Ross Block, in 1950, A.E. Flynn and G.M. Stevenson and Company insurance brokers were still in the building. The Ontario Department of Agriculture had been joined by the Dominion Department of Agriculture (Fruit Branch), two new barristers (H.E. Smith and J.G. Currie), two optometrists (M.E. and R.J. Barre) and F.K. Machinery and Mill Supply had also moved in.
The OPP was no longer listed as a tenant. They had relocated to 8 Collier St. The agreement between the Town of Barrie and the OPP had expired at the end of 1949 and the OPP’s new rate, effective 1950, now reflected an increase of $10,000 for their services.
Even so, the OPP continued to provide policing to the Town of Barrie until midnight on Dec. 31, 1955.
Back on Dunlop Street, by 1960, references to 89-97 Dunlop St. E. as the Ross Block were beginning to fade and disappear.
