1926
Yaxley, Chas, wks Sanitary Dairy, h 151 Pleasant av

1928
Yaxley, Chas (Catherine E), prop St Catharines House, h 36 James

1930
Yaxley, Chas (Catherine E), prop St Cath House, h 68 James
Yaxley, Chas, slsmn Sanitary Daire, James

1933
Yaxley, Chas (Catherine), prop St Catharines House, h 70 James

1934
Yaxley, Chas (Catherine), drvr Sanitary Dairy, h 151 Pleasant av

The St. Catharines House is listed at being at 68 James Street in 1930,1933, 1934
It is listed at being at 36 James in 1926 and 1928

Please let us know if you need anything else.

Sandra Enskat
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“The Harding Hotel, James at King,”
“Yesterday and Today,” January 24, 2009 – courtesy of Dennis Gannon

The building in the photo above left was called the Harding Hotel. It formerly stood on James Street, corner of King Street.

For much of the 19th century, going back at least as far as 1844, the property was connected with the Bradt family of Louth Township. An 1852 map of St. Catharines shows a tavern on that corner, on property then owned by David Bradt, while the property immediately to the north was owned by a W. Bradt. (Bradts continued to own that corner property until at least 1891.)

The footprint of the tavern building on that 1852 map pretty well matches the building we see in the old photo. Over the years, the tavern became a hotel, and over time bore a number of names – the Commercial Hotel in 1863, the St. Catharines House from 1865 until 1935, then the New Statler hotel for a decade or so, and finally the Harding House or Harding Hotel from 1949 until the building’s demise in 1987.

The photo above left shows the original 1852 tavern building at the corner, and next to it two smaller buildings that were added to the facility during the subsequent century and a half. The section at the far left bears a sign saying “Harding Coffee Shop.”

The old Harding Hotel was torn down in February 1987 and replaced the following year by the two storey office building that occupies that corner today (photo above right). Designed by the architectural firm of Macdonald, Zuberec and Kamada, the new building was originally called the Royal Trust City Centre, with Royal Trust moving its local branch over there from Queen Street.

Royal Trust long ago moved on from that location. For the past several years, the new building has housed on its first floor a convenience store as well as our beloved downtown Tim Hortons.

[341 words]

Dennis Gannon is a member of the Historical Society of St. Catharines. He may be reached at gannond2002@yahoo.com

“YESTERDAY” PHOTO SOURCE:

“Special Collections Room, St. Catharines Public Library.”

Special Collections – St. Catharines Public Library

Thanks,
Vicki; Hello,
I have ben doing some reading about St. Catharines and I read that it was once called Shippmans Corners. Is there any truth to that? If so, where can I find more information in that regard?

Thanks,
Vicki;;

Thanks,
Vicki

My wife is descended from Robert McLaren who owned the McLaren & Co dept store with his brother Alex. The store used to be on St.Pauls Street. Robert’s last known address at his death in 1917 was Bleak House, 78 Yates St. I have contacted the St.Catharine’s library who are kindly supplying some material they have on the McLarens, but I would be pleased if anyone could provide additional information ot point me in further research directions,

Regards, Simon Green