Petrolia - Canada's Victorian Oil Town

Downtown Facade Program

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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IF YOU WANT TO DESIGNATE YOUR HOME CLICK ON THE LINK TO FORMS
FORM #1 BLANK pdf form
FORM #2 with instructions pdf form

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If you have a Designated property and want to enjoy the Petrolia Heritage Designated 10% Tax Rebate "click on Tax rebate form below"
TAX REBATE FORM

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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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Veronica & Garry Myers chat with Mr.Mayor John & Mrs McCharles

Coucilors Mary Pat Gleeson & Helen Havlic looking quite posh at the Levee

Charlie Fairbank looking through the impressive Leo & Jean Bradshaw postcard collection& to Charlie's right is Katarina Gilespie

David Hext chatting with Pat Davidson MP.

Gord Tully talks with Heidi McNabb & councillor Liz Welsh

editor's note
The August 2004 fire pics have been removed however I still have them upon request.

These 2 pics are from the late ca.1960s showing the Blue Castle Lounge just after the Gyurky family aquired it. It is now known as Streets. The next pic is the same building showing the IGA which later became Pro Hardware which is now Home Hardeware. Many thanks to Louis Gyurky who loaned me these slides that I scanned for your pleasure.
Bradshaw From the East looking West	Bradshaw A rare Eastern downtown,North view. Ca.1904
A great shot showing the Railroad as it went by the High School (upper left). Remnants of the old railroad still exist behind the back streets near the High School.	Downtown south side looking east, the Mckay Block
Iroquois Hotel This is a Pesha photo that shows the Iroquois Hotel where Shoppers Drug Mart now stands. Also a rare inside pic of the kitchen. editor's collection	Former Boges Hardware Store looking east towards the Library Not sure where this is, but it is an interesting pic. Note Shabsove Billiard on the sign. Don Gibson brought this one over to make copies. We will find out the location soon. Possibly ca.1920s ?
editor's collection A very interesting look behind the United Church. Notice the Livery Stables. My Great Grandmother talked about there being numerous places around Town to keep your horses and you would ring over or send someone to get your horse and carriage brought to your home. Apparently some folks would keep their wagon or carriage at home and keep their horse at one of the downtown Liverys.	Here is a ca.1908 Old Boys Reunion parade. Note the buildings with balconies and the Livery right on the Main Street.
Post Office looking west editor's collection	This is an interesting view looking west from the east end towards the Downtown. editor's collection
Scarsbrook Grocer and Shoe Store ca.1910s Elvin Earl HOPPER left in apron (MORE ON HOPPER ): Elvin Hopper and his folks and siblings (Emerson, Lloyd and Iva) were all Petrolia people and I used to visit my great-uncle Lloyd Hopper there when he ran Hopper's hardware, which he inherited from his father Ed Hopper. Ed was married to Maggie Brownlee, daughter of Robert Brownlee. Lloyd couldn't wait for Canada to get into WW I so he paid his own passage to England and joined the British army. They sent him into France as an ambulance driver - dreadfully dangerous job. editor's collection	Gibson Grocery Store editor's collection
This is a grocery store East of the TD bank. ca.1890s Formerly Tony's Restaurant editor's collection	An early pic that shows the former Hymes building with iron cresting and huge windows.Also note some interesting characters on the street.
Dan McPherson and Alex Cowan in front of Cowan Taxi and gas bar. To the right is Herb Saunders clothing store. Looks to be ca. 1930s.This pic was sent in by Jane Teskey Alex's grand daughter.	An interesting look at the Iroquois Theater.The movie listed on the marquee came out in 1955. Here is a bit of trivia from the making of that movie. During the filming of a scene in which Jack Palance strangles Shelley Winters, Jack actually cut off Shelley's air and she passed out. The director and cast all thought everyone was acting, only her then boyfriend, later husband, Tony Franciosa, noticed the difference and was able to break the scene and save her life.........

These four shots are of the R.Stirrett Department store exterior and interior ca. 1900. It was located at the corner of King and Main.
editor's collection

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

All of these pics below show the downtown buildings as they appear today and were shot by Steve Berry. Some of these facades benefited from the town facade program. Below you will find before and after shots of some of these facades. I have removed the link pics for these downtown shots in the interest of economy.


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	This building was recently built on the former site of the Iroquois Hotel. On the second floor you can notice the half moon stained-glass windows recycled above the new windows. The owners {Louis & Wendy Bratanek} have done an impressive job of building new and yet retaining the Victorian theme of the down town in their facade. The architect was Maxine Shabsove.http://www.msarchitect.ca/














BEFORE	AFTER

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These 3 buildings utilized the Petrolia Downtown Facade Program. As you can see the results are dramatic and there are more owners again this year wanting to take advantage of this program. There are other before and after pics but for now these are what I have because some of the after shots are not very clear. Several more will be included in the near future.

If you would like to become a contributor, I just need a few minutes to scan what you have.Also on this page there are numerous pics with no text. Many people ask me when I am going to insert more text with these pics and I say when you send it to me.
Email Martin at martyd@ebtech.net