Then: Eaton's Department Store - mid-1960s

Beginning in the 1920s, Victoria Avenue began to change from a mainly residential street to a commercial thoroughfare. By far the largest retail operation to locate on Victoria Avenue was Eaton's, which opened its store in 1929 on the southeast corner of Morrison and Victoria Avenue. Originally called the Canadian Department Store, it became known as Eaton's starting in the 1950s.The picture above shows that landmark building as it looked in the mid-1960s. Originally called the Canadian Department Store, it became known as Eaton's starting in the 1950s.

The picture above shows that landmark building as it looked in the mid-1960s.

Before Eaton's constructed their store, this site was occupied by a large home known as Hunter's Lodge. It had been built in 1841 by Hermanus Crysler, a prominent citizen and businessman in Niagara Falls. Both Crysler and his wife died in 1884, but the house remained standing until 1929 when it was taken down for the Eaton's development. This property is now the home of the Main Branch of the Niagara Falls Public Library, which opened in 1974.

Now: Niagara Falls Public Library

The Niagara Falls Public Library traces its origins to 1878, from the collections of the Clifton, Drummondville, and Stamford Mechanics Institutes, which were educational centres for working men and women. In 1895 these Institutes became public libraries.

The first main library of the new city opened in 1910 at Armoury Street and Victoria Avenue, and was expanded in 1954.

Planning began for the construction of a new 4,400 square metre (47,365 square foot) library at Morrison Street and Victoria Avenue, on the site of the old T. Eaton Store. The result was the stunningly beautiful building which opened November 23rd, 1974. Dorothy Van Slyke, the Chief Librarian at the time, said "The building was designed with nature as its central theme. The hundreds of plants throughout, water running in the fountains and pools, and the rustic walkways give the feeling you are strolling through a garden".

- Bruha, 2020

Bruha. 2020. Niagara Falls Public Library. https://www.bruha.com/organization/245

Niagara Falls Public Library. 2016. Niagara Falls - Then & Now: A Photographic Journey Through The Years. Eaton's Department Store / Niagara Falls Public Library.

Niagara Falls Then and Now
A collaborative project
Niagara Falls Museums - Niagara Falls Public Library - Dept. of Geography and Tourism Studies,Brock University.
Original newspaper series by Sherman Zavitz, Official Historian for the City of Niagara Falls from 1994 - 2019.

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Copyright for all content remains with original creators.