T. Gilmour & Co.

Building
Wholesale Grocers
224 King St W. Built in Brockville
Built about 1870 for William & Thomas Gilmour

This created, along with the previously existing stone

buildings on the property, a very large grocery store and
warehouse. It developed into a successful and far-ranging
wholesale source for many Eastern Ontario merchants.
Thomas Gilmour, along with his three brothers,
William A., James, and Albert, carried on the thriving
business for many years after their father died in 1886.
Their mother, Nancy (McNish) Gilmour retained
ownership of the property until her death.
Some available business directories show that the
business continued to be listed at this location until at least
1956. For a period of years in the 1960s, the plumbing and
heating branch of SMART’S HARDWARE used this building.
After this, the Smart’s Toyland and Hobby Supplies
operated in the building, as well.
It is also remembered that in the 1970s and ‘80s Sam
Zigman owed the building and ran his RITEWAY APPLIANCE
SALES at this site. It has been owned by Sheridan Furniture
Store in later years, but is now the home of RELIABLE HOME
FURNITURE.
The present RELIABLE HOME FURNITURE store is located in the
large stone Gilmour Building, which has existed on the main
street of Brockville for almost 140 years. It became the
headquarters for the T. GILMOUR & CO. wholesale grocery
business which could trace it’s history back to the 1840s.

This lot, on the north side of King St. W., between Perth
St. and John St., was purchased in 1864 by William
Gilmour (1819-1886).
He was an established Brockville businessman who,
previous to that date, had kept a tavern and ran a small
grocery business until about 1852. His store was located at
the south-west corner of King and John Sts., the former site
of the COGECO CABLE CO. building.
The property across the street at 224 King St. W.
contained some stone buildings erected by a previous
owner, William Doak, the step-son of Daniel Jones Sr.
About 1860, William Gilmour had a large home built on
the west side of Clarissa St. Later, the TRINITY ANGLICAN
CHURCH was erected to the north. The Gilmour home
eventually became the funeral home of Reburn Scott, and
then of Bruce Davy. It suffered a serious fire in the 1970s
which damaged it severely, and it was torn down.
In April 1865, William Gilmour and his eldest son
Thomas, entered into partnership and re-established the
family grocery business. It was named T. GILMOUR & CO.
and operated on a much larger scale than before. Set up This is an older photograph of the building when operating
costs were provided by the father, but the business was as the T. GILMOUR & CO., as the signs show. The building
managed by Thomas Gilmour. has remained very much like this on the street facade, with
the exception of a more modern front entrance.
They erected, about 1870, a new store fronting on King
St. It is this present cut-stone three-storey building at 224
King St. West. © Copyright, Doug Grant, December 2009 doug-grant.weebly.com