Petrolia’s downtown has  been admired and appreciated by generations of its residents. At the turn of the century, the town boasted one of the finest Department Stores anywhere, run by R.Stirrett. The Iroquois Hotel with its magnificent turrets burned down but is remembered as one of the finest examples of Victorian architecture  in the town. Some of Petrolia’s buildings are the classic Chicago style of architecture with cast pillars. These examples and the fact that the majority of the downtown buildings are brick and  many are three stories, is a testament to the incredible wealth that existed here. I have tried to include as many pictures as possible to reflect the good fortune that black gold brought to “Canada's Victorian Oil Town”
For more Info on Facade Grants click below on Bob Sager
-also look at the bottom of this page for some before and after pics

If you are considering doing work through the Facade Program or having some work done on anything you should consider the 2 links below.
Hiring a Contractor
Hiring a Contractor

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The Petrolia New Years LEVEE.
January 1/08 1PM to 3PM

The Levee was a complete success & special thanx  to Petrolia's mayor & council,the amazing Jean&Leo Bradshaw, and Jimmy Maitland and the 75 folks that came to Victoria Hall . Thanx to Heidi McNabb for catering the event & the rest of Petrolia Heritage for helping. See everyone again
 next year!

The crowd seems to enjoy your Editor's Steam Gauges

A wild bunch chat & enjoy some refreshments

A look at Heidi's goodies table.

What is a Levee?
 The first recorded levee in what is now Canada was hosted by the Governor of New France,
Charles Huault de Montmagny, in 1646. This custom originated in Europe, where formal
morning assemblies were held by princes or persons of distinction. The word levée derives from
French and means rising (as from bed).
In Canada, levees are traditionally hosted by representatives of the Crown. During the French
regime, governors greeted citizens at their residence, the Château Saint-Louis in Quebec City,
to wish them a happy new year. This custom of hosting levees at vice-regal residences was
continued by British governors, and later by Canada’s Governor General and provincial
lieutenant governors. In recent years, many mayors and military commanders have hosted
levees, on or after January 1st.
The first vice-regal levee to be held outside a capital was hosted by then Governor General
Roland Michener in Charlottetown in 1973. Subsequent governors general have hosted levees
at Quebec City and in cities such as St John’s and Winnipeg. The past Governor General (the
Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson) hosted levees across the country on various occasions. Several
lieutenant governors are now moving their levees outside their provincial capitals as well.
In keeping with this trend, the Hon. James K. Bartleman holds his New Year’s Levee in regional
centres outside of Toronto in alternating years. In 2003 he held the levee in Barrie and in 2005
in Thunder Bay. His predecessor, the Hon. Hilary M. Weston, held the 2001 levee in London,
and the 1999 levee in Kingston.
For many years levees were only for invited gentlemen and members of the military and
uniformed services. In Ontario, the Hon. John Keiller MacKay (Lieutenant Governor 1957-63)
invited the public for the first time. The Hon. Pauline McGibbon (Lieutenant Governor 1974-80),
the first female representative of The Queen in the Commonwealth, began the practice of
inviting women in 1976, at the same time as then Governor General Jules Léger.
Over the years the traditional levee has evolved into a popular public event, attended by men,
women and children from many backgrounds and locales. Yet its essence has remained
unchanged. For over 350 years, the New Year’s Levee has offered people a unique opportunity
to meet Canada’s vice-regal representatives in a festive setting to welcome in the new year.

Over the last several years in Petrolia the Heritage Committee has taken New Years Day as an opportunity to host a reception in honor of the Mayor and Council  along with the public to wish all the best in this New Year. However this year being an election year  you will have  an opportunity  to meet a new Petrolia Municipal Government. Below are some pics from the 2007 Levee.
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East of the Library. Bill Jackson's Pool Hall. I don't think this building lasted very long but notice the Coke signs and the Petrolia Topic office left. built ca.1890s, this group late ca.1930s. Beside today's Godfather Pizza

Here is a  gift card and token for Bills
editor's collection