Serpentine Street
The view from Granite Street (now Godfrey Drive) looking north-east... The Canadian Copper Company General Office in 1892. City of Greater Sudbury Heritage Museums Collection Photograph
The photo (below) of Serpentine Street about 1898 was taken from the location of the General Office, which stood in front of where the Copper Cliff Hospital was built (now Copper Cliff Manor).
This picture of Serpentine Street at Copper CIiff is from the collection of F. P. Bemhard. retired comptroller of the Company. The Inco Triangle October 1953
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The business district established along Serpentine Street grew as the Copper Cliff settlement developed. The company leased land to individuals who wished to start businesses, and in this way it controlled the type and number of businesses which were permitted to operate in the village. Until 1889 many of the leases were verbal agreements and the terms were simple. The sale of liquor was forbidden and the lease could only be transferred to parties acceptable to the company. The first option on buildings for sale had to be offered to the company. If the company had no use for it the lessee could then sell his lease to some other acceptable person. A Corporate View of Housing and Community
in a Company Town: Copper Cliff, 1886-1920 |
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The first building on the left was the Yellow Club on the site now occupied by the Bank of Toronto. See 'Places' 'Boarding Houses and Clubhouses' for information on the Yellow Club.
Next to it was the general store of Hamilton Bros. In December of 1901 J. G. Henry received the contract to erect a store for Hamilton Brothers, 37 by 70 feet, two storeys high and having a basement. He had erected 36 buildings in Copper Cliff during the previous three months. John Matthew Hamilton was born December 5, 1864 in Alice Township, Renfrew County. He married Margaret Carmichael in 1890. In the 1901 Census of Sudbury, McCormick Ward were John M. Hamilton, age 36, his wife Margaret [Carmichael], age 32, and their children Anna Edna, age 9, Lyla May, age 7, Hubert Weldon, age 6, James Nelson age 4, and Margorie, age 1. John’s occupation was listed as butcher. Other children of John and Margaret were Clifford Gordon, born in 1902 (Clifford was a twin with Leonard and died at 2 months of age), Leonard Earl, born 1902 and John Matthew, born 1905 in Copper Cliff. In the 1911 Census the family were living in Copper Cliff. The Hamilton Store later became Oliver's Hardware Store. The third building was the Boarding House and Restaurant of Frederick Smith, which was continued after his death by his widow and daughters. Frederick Smith was born in Oxford County, England in 1856. In the 1880 Census of Wales, he, his wife and two children (Susanah and David) were living in Carmarthenshire, Wales. Frederick was a labourer. The Smith's emigrated to Canada in 1887. Frederick died September 26, 1900 in Copper Cliff, his occupation was listed as miner. From the 1901 Census of McKim Township, Margaret [Evans] Smith, born in England, age 46, immigrated in 1887, widow, occupation ‘Restaurant’, and children David, age 21, Margaretta ‘Maggie’, age 20, Agnes, age 17, Beatrice, age 15, Minnie May, age 13, born in Copper Cliff, Frederick Anderson, age 10, born in Copper Cliff, and Violet Gertrude, age 3, born in Copper Cliff. Minnie May, died in Copper Cliff in 1906, housekeeper, age 18 of typhoid. From the 1911 Census of Granite Street, Copper Cliff, Margaret Smith, born in Llandilo, Wales in 1854, Welsh origin, son Frederick Anderson, age 19, fireman with the Canadian Copper Company, daughter Gertrude Violet, age 13 and lodger William Hughess, age 34, born in England, scale clerk at the Scale House. Bill Kilpatrick's Store and the Post Office were next up the street. From the 1891 Census William Kilpatrick was a Railway Engineer living in McKim Chisolm Township. By 1911 William Cunningham Kilpatrick was 52 years old, born in Ontario, Scottish origin, Postmaster of Copper Cliff, living at 14 Serpentine Street with his wife Margaret Hannah [Fraser] Kilpatrick, age 52; sons Harold Nicol, age 25, Inspector; Norman Craig, age 20, Clerk; Thomas Melodie, age 17; Eric, age 15, and Robert Reginald Pringle, age 7. See also 'Places - Serpentine Street - Postmasters' |
On the right the site of the present Macintosh Block was vacant but there was a small cottage on the back of this lot, not shown in the picture, which was occupied as a residence by Bob Wiseman, the barn boss.
From the 1901 Census of McKim Township, Robert Wiseman, age 38, born in Ontario, Irish origin, machinist, employed for 12 months earning $600., his wife Mary, age 30, born in Ontario, and their children Hugh, age 10, Annie, age 8, John, age 6, Leonard, age 4 and lodger Leonard Yohand, age 26, carpenter. The first building shown on the right was Boyle's boarding house and the second one Boyd's boarding house. See 'Places' 'Boarding Houses and Clubhouses' for information on the Boyle, Boyd and Pitt Boarding Houses. 
Copper Cliff Bakery 1902
Copper Cliff Kilpatrick's General Store and Post Office 1902
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1901
Advertisement in The Sudbury Journal April 4, 1901.
From The Sudbury Journal September 26, 1901 "Miss Howitt is showing a very fine display of winter millinery and a great variety of fancy trimmings in floss malines, brocaded silks, stamped mirror velvets and silk velours with polka dot. Also a beautiful assortment of fancy feathers, ostrich plumes, etc. Tailor made suits a specialty."
The original McIntosh block was a wooden structure built in 1898 and named after Henry P. McIntosh, one of the original founders of the Canadian Copper Company. The first tenant was the Bank of Toronto.
From The Sudbury Journal October 31, 1901 "Mr. A. P. Turner is having erected a fine block of stores on the corner of Granite and Serpentine streets. The Bank of Toronto will occupy part of the building. Mr. John Price is building a fine large store on Serpentine street north. Miss Howitt and her assistant are very busy preparing for the fall opening. The Gainsborough is to be the leading shape, velvet and feathers the favorite trimming."
A young fellow working for R. H. Jupp, of Orillia. came to Sudbury in 1894. He became a big jewelry name in Sudbury - J. S. Gill. He bought out Beath (note the name in the header photograph) with the assistance of Dr. Struthers, and in February of 1899 opened a store at Copper Cliff, with Bill Dorsett in charge.
In a building at Copper Cliff owned by J. S. Gill and Dr. R. B Struthers, a fire broke out in February of 1901, damaging the jewelry store and millinery store of Miss Howitt. Bill Dorsett and W. A James slept in a room at the rear of the jewelry store. Upstairs slept Mr. Andrews and two children. Needless to say, all were awakened.
Bill Dorsett was captain and goal for the Copper Cliff lacrosse team in 1900. He became the official Canadian Pacific Railway watch inspector in 1909.
"Bill Dorsett recalled memories in the Gill store at Copper Cliff. The store was located just east of the McIntosh Block corner at Serpentine and Granite streets. The Gill store had a cherished customer in Thomas Edison, who had a watch repaired there while he was up in this district with an exploration party. The .store was burned in 1902, and Bill returned to the Sudbury store."
J. S. Gill was a master of Nickel Lodge No. 427 AF & AM in 1901. He became mayor of Sudbury from 1924 to 1925. He died at age 80 in 1947.
The original McIntosh block was a wooden structure built in 1898 and named after Henry P. McIntosh, one of the original founders of the Canadian Copper Company. The first tenant was the Bank of Toronto.
From The Sudbury Journal October 31, 1901 "Mr. A. P. Turner is having erected a fine block of stores on the corner of Granite and Serpentine streets. The Bank of Toronto will occupy part of the building. Mr. John Price is building a fine large store on Serpentine street north. Miss Howitt and her assistant are very busy preparing for the fall opening. The Gainsborough is to be the leading shape, velvet and feathers the favorite trimming."
A young fellow working for R. H. Jupp, of Orillia. came to Sudbury in 1894. He became a big jewelry name in Sudbury - J. S. Gill. He bought out Beath (note the name in the header photograph) with the assistance of Dr. Struthers, and in February of 1899 opened a store at Copper Cliff, with Bill Dorsett in charge.
In a building at Copper Cliff owned by J. S. Gill and Dr. R. B Struthers, a fire broke out in February of 1901, damaging the jewelry store and millinery store of Miss Howitt. Bill Dorsett and W. A James slept in a room at the rear of the jewelry store. Upstairs slept Mr. Andrews and two children. Needless to say, all were awakened.
Bill Dorsett was captain and goal for the Copper Cliff lacrosse team in 1900. He became the official Canadian Pacific Railway watch inspector in 1909.
"Bill Dorsett recalled memories in the Gill store at Copper Cliff. The store was located just east of the McIntosh Block corner at Serpentine and Granite streets. The Gill store had a cherished customer in Thomas Edison, who had a watch repaired there while he was up in this district with an exploration party. The .store was burned in 1902, and Bill returned to the Sudbury store."
J. S. Gill was a master of Nickel Lodge No. 427 AF & AM in 1901. He became mayor of Sudbury from 1924 to 1925. He died at age 80 in 1947.
1903William McRae came from Glengarry, Scotland in 1902. He was handling dry goods, millinery, boots, shoes and groceries. Hamilton Brothers were handling confectionery.
The Copper Cliff Bakery was managed by Adam Lawson, who was local agent also for Leitch Brothers’ flour, as well as agent for lumber firms. Thomas Oliver’s hardware store established in 1900 was beside the Courier office in the same frame building. There was another hardware store operated by Horne and Hardy. Freer and Fields’ general store just started Jason Field handled the groceries and Freer, the dry goods in that firm. From the 1901 Census Ontario, Nipissing District, sub-district Sudbury Town, Fournier Ward, George Freer male, single, age 33, born July 13, 1867 in Ontario, lodger, English, Presbyterian, Occupation Dry Goods Clerk, living at a boarding house. His business partner Jason Fields died October 15, 1906 in Copper Cliff, at age 28, of typhoid fever. His occupation was listed as merchant. A. R. French had a restaurant in the Kilpatrick Block. William Mulligan MD had a drugstore there and W. C. Kilpatrick, a gents furnishing store. William E. Burritt, was barrister and solicitor. 1908 William Chalmers, who had a business in Sudbury also had a store in Copper Cliff selling furniture and handling the duties of an undertaker. B. H. Benson and Company were in the grocery business. A. R. McDonald had the Copper Cliff Meat Market. |
Freer and Fields General Store
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William Chalmers storefront. Photo Private Collection Lynn Gainer
1911
Bank of Toronto located in the McIntosh Block.
Numbering of the buildings on Serpentine Street in 1911 started on the south side of the street, turned and progressed back down the north side of the street.
In the McIntosh Block were the following businesses and residences:
5 W. C. Boyd, Boarding House
8 J. J. Sharkey, Pool Room
9 William Fergus, Crane Operator
10 W. C. Boyd, Furniture Dealer and Undertaker
11 Paul Giambottista, Tailor (north side of Serpentine Street)
12 C. H. Parry & Co. General Store, F. J. Wilson, Drugs, and residence of C. H. Perry
13 Robert. C. Archibald, Confectionery, House at 326 Orford Street
14 Post Office, and residence of William C. Kilpatrick, Postmaster
14 John. R. McKinnon & Son, General Store, House 250 Balsam Street
17 Yellow Club
In the McIntosh Block were the following businesses and residences:
- 2 T. A. Craig, Men’s Furnishings [Clothing]
- 8 Edwin Gill, Machinist
- 9 Earl C. Lambert, Clerk Canadian Copper Company
- 9 John. H. Allen, Clerk Canadian Copper Company
- 10 T. A. Craig
- 11 John McBeth
- 12 Rev. C. Elmer Kenny, Pastor Methodist Church
- 14 George Miller, General Foreman Cobalt Plant
- 15 Frank Kirby, Carpenter
- 15 Geo F. Pettit, Manager W. C. Boyd
- John A. Darrach, Manager T. A. Craig
- James C. Chalmers, Jeweller, Optician, also issued Marriage Licenses
- Bank of Toronto
- John McBeth, Tailor
- John Anderson, Confectionery (See People - John Anderson)
5 W. C. Boyd, Boarding House
8 J. J. Sharkey, Pool Room
9 William Fergus, Crane Operator
10 W. C. Boyd, Furniture Dealer and Undertaker
11 Paul Giambottista, Tailor (north side of Serpentine Street)
12 C. H. Parry & Co. General Store, F. J. Wilson, Drugs, and residence of C. H. Perry
13 Robert. C. Archibald, Confectionery, House at 326 Orford Street
14 Post Office, and residence of William C. Kilpatrick, Postmaster
14 John. R. McKinnon & Son, General Store, House 250 Balsam Street
17 Yellow Club
1913
In May of 1913, F. J. Wilson, of Copper Cliff had his drug store redecorated and a soda fountain installed. Miss Bell operated the soda syphon.
In July of 1913, C. H. Parry and Company, of Copper Cliff, were organized as a limited stock company, with a capital of $50,000. They planned to have branches in Frood Mine and other Northern Ontario communities.
In August of 1913, a brick butcher store with apartments above was being erected at the corner of Gribble and Serpentine Streets.
In July of 1913, C. H. Parry and Company, of Copper Cliff, were organized as a limited stock company, with a capital of $50,000. They planned to have branches in Frood Mine and other Northern Ontario communities.
In August of 1913, a brick butcher store with apartments above was being erected at the corner of Gribble and Serpentine Streets.
1914 |
Image off of a Darrach's shirt box. Supplied by Marty Neva.
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Numbering and businesses had changed by 1914.
North Side 2 Bank of Toronto 4 Cochrane Hardware, Ltd. 6 John Hogan, Barber and Billiards 6a Custom House 6b J. R. McKinnon & Son, Department Store 8 Post Office and residence of W. C. Kilpatrick, Postmaster 10 F. J. Wilson, Drugs 12 C. H. Parry and Co., Dry Goods, Boots and Shoes, Clothing 14 P. Giambattista, Clothes Cleaner 16 S. D. Boyd, Furniture 18 Thomas. Cox, Labourer September 1902... At a meeting of the Barbers’ Union of Sudbury and Copper Cliff, the following scale of rates was adopted; Shaving 10 cents; 11 tickets for a dollar; Hair cutting 25 cents; Beard trimming 15 cents; Hair cutting of children under 12, 15 cents; Hair tonic, 10 cents; Shampoo, 25 cents; Sea foam 14 cents; Moustache dyed 25 cents, Hair singed 15 cents, Razor honed 25 cents, and Clipping off whiskers and shaving 15 cents.
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South Side
1 J. A. Darrach, Men's Clothing 3-5 McIntosh Block
11 Geo Millen Boarding House (formerly W. C. Boyd's) 13 John J. Sharkey, Billiards |
May 9th, 1914 ‘Dollar Days’ Mr. J. C. Chalmers, our progressive local jeweller is going to initiate Copper Cliff into the mysteries of Dollar Day on Mat 15th and 16th. Every article in his window on these two days will be priced $1.00. Each article will have a string attached to it. All you have to do is to walk into the store, pay your dollar and pull the string. Every article is guaranteed to be worth not less than One Dollar and some, or course, will be worth as much as ten and more.
May 16th “Mr. J. C. Chalmers certainly did a roaring business with his Dollar Window on Friday and Saturday. All day long crowds were gathered round the window and at night the store resembled T. Eaton’s on a bargain day. Good advertising combined with good values will bring people all the time and Mr. Chalmers being an up-to-date merchant is wise to that fact”
May 16th “Mr. J. C. Chalmers certainly did a roaring business with his Dollar Window on Friday and Saturday. All day long crowds were gathered round the window and at night the store resembled T. Eaton’s on a bargain day. Good advertising combined with good values will bring people all the time and Mr. Chalmers being an up-to-date merchant is wise to that fact”
In June of 1914, Mrs. W. H. Maltby opened the New Ontario Café in Copper Cliff on the premises of W. Kilpatrick.
In December 1914, the Copper Cliff General Supply Company sold coal, wood and ice. They had no office, but orders were taken at J. A. Darrach’s men’s store.
On December 19, 1914, the Bank of Toronto at Copper Cliff was formally opened. Gustian and Ceccetto were the contractors for that $25,000 building. It had a steel-lined vault built by J. J. Taylor and Company. Bank fittings were put in by H. R. Hughes and Company. The interior was of quartered oak. Reg Meggs was Manager, and Tim Eaton, Teller. See also 'Places - Buildings of Note'.
In December 1914, the Copper Cliff General Supply Company sold coal, wood and ice. They had no office, but orders were taken at J. A. Darrach’s men’s store.
On December 19, 1914, the Bank of Toronto at Copper Cliff was formally opened. Gustian and Ceccetto were the contractors for that $25,000 building. It had a steel-lined vault built by J. J. Taylor and Company. Bank fittings were put in by H. R. Hughes and Company. The interior was of quartered oak. Reg Meggs was Manager, and Tim Eaton, Teller. See also 'Places - Buildings of Note'.
City of Greater Sudbury Heritage Museums Collection.
In June of 1916, Mr. J. G. Henry, purchased the business of S. D. Boyd. Mr. Boyd took a position travelling for a Toronto firm.
October 1916... Work was commenced on a new business block on Serpentine Street, Copper Cliff by the Dickie Construction Company. It was to be a 50 by 50 feet brick veneer structure, to contain two stores. One was to be for W. J. Wilson, butcher, and the other for Wood’s bakery. The Canadian Copper Company were the owners. That was the second brick block to be built in the smelter town.
October 1916... Work was commenced on a new business block on Serpentine Street, Copper Cliff by the Dickie Construction Company. It was to be a 50 by 50 feet brick veneer structure, to contain two stores. One was to be for W. J. Wilson, butcher, and the other for Wood’s bakery. The Canadian Copper Company were the owners. That was the second brick block to be built in the smelter town.
