Taylor’s Store – 85 River St
The commercial history of this corner dates back to 1870, when Henry Conlon removed a shed and stable from the property and a general store was built on the site.
Around 1900, Matthew Taylor established his general store here at the southwest corner of Albert and River streets. The business remained in the Taylor family for three generations, passing from Matthew to his son Albert and eventually to his grandson Lorne Taylor and Lorne’s wife, Margaret Doble.
For more than half a century, Taylor’s Store supplied Sunderland residents with groceries, dry goods and other everyday necessities. Neddy Thompson worked for many years as a clerk in the store. The Taylor family continued operating the business until Lorne and Margaret retired in 1957.
The Home Bank
Part of the building also had an association with banking. By 1911, Sunderland had a branch of the Home Bank located here. The bank later moved across River Street. The Home Bank of Canada failed in 1923 following financial difficulties that included losses from declining real estate values and loans associated with Sir Henry Pellatt, the financier best known for building Casa Loma in Toronto.
The building survived Sunderland’s devastating 1949 fire, which destroyed the McDermott Block across the street. After the Taylor era, William Snowball was operating a business here by 1959, according to the Sunderland telephone directory.
Over the following decades, the building accommodated a succession of businesses. At various times it housed a shoe store, a bulk food store, an antique store, restaurants and other commercial enterprises. In 1987, Judy Bliers operated a bulk food store selling snacks, candy and baking supplies, while a 1989 photograph shows the property during the period it was owned by Peter Lawrenson and housed a bakery and restaurant.
Through more than 150 years of changing businesses, this corner has remained part of Sunderland’s commercial centre, with the long-running Taylor family general store forming one of the most significant chapters in its history.
2. Saint Andrews United Church – 10 Church St N
3. Sunderland Town Hall – 120 River St
4. Dr. Joseph Henry Oliver Home – 128 River St
5. St. Mary’s Anglican Church – 134 River St
6. Dr. James McDermott Home – 160 River St
7. The Fogg House – 198 River St
8. The Blacksmith Shop – 135 River St
9. The Nipissing House Hotel – 123 River St
10. Stop 4 Variety – 111 River St
11. The Old Drug Store – 108 River St
12. The Gigantic Hand Saw, Guardian Pharmacy – 103 River St
13. Fresh Mart – 97 River St
14. The Beall Block – 93 River St
15. The Harness Shop – 89 River St
16. Taylor’s Store – 85 River St
17. The William Doble Home – 32 Albert St
18. The Sunderland Presbyterian Church – 5 Albert St
19. Doyle’s General Store – 3 Albert St
20. The McDermott Block – 1 Albert Street S
21. The Sunderland Telephone Company. – 63 River St
22. James Doble Home – 3 Cedar St S
23. William Nassau Doble Home – 12 River St
24. Thomas Welsh Home – 20 River St
25. Robert Doble Home – 48 River St
26. The Bank – River Street (CIBC) – 74 River St
27. The Brock House Hotel – 82 River St
28. The Hardware Store – 92 River St
29. The Early Undertaker – 96 River St
30. The Printing Shop – 98 River St
31. The Magic Door – 100 River St
32. The Sunderland Legion – 104 River St
33. 108 River Street – 108 River Street
34. “Old” Fire Hall – 5 Church St N
35. The Sunderland Memorial Arena – 20 Park St