This ongoing series from Barrie Historical Archive curator Deb Exel shows old photos from the collection and one from the present day.
80 Dunlop Street East
In 1896, Alexander Scott, the former publisher of Richmond Hill’s newspaper, the York Herald, opened a book store in the Bothwell Block on Dunlop Street in Barrie.
The Bothwell Block had been built in the early 1880s by business man and Barrie Mayor John MacDonald Bothwell.
An advertisement from the year the store opened, proclaimed:
The Latest Novelties in Fancy Goods
THE “NORTHERN BOOK DEPOSITORY”
Bothwell’s Block
DUNLOP STREET, - BARRIE
ALEX. SCOTT
IMPORTER OF AND DEALER IN
Books, Stationary, Wallpaper
AND FANCY GOODS
Miscellaneous Books and the Poets. Suitable
for presents
SCHOOL STATIONARY AT LOW PRICES
Full Stock of School and College Text Books
The eastern half of the Bothwell Block has had many tenants over the years and some tragedy as well in the form of fires. The most devastating was the Pied Piper Fire on Jan. 18, 1964 which resulted in the loss of one adult and four children’s lives.
Another fire on Jan. 22, 1979 gutted the upper floor.
These days, the building is enjoying a bit of a renaissance … with the opening of the popular Homestead Bakery, the old mosaic floor tiles, brick walls and other interesting millwork and details from 80 Dunlop’s past have been revealed.
