In downtown Stoney Creek Ont. there is a block of abandoned buildings awaiting demolition. Over the last year I have been attempting to and exploring them as I find them open. On my first visit nearly a year ago, I explored an industrial cleaning business on the block (@terrywayne/abandoned-century-old-family-business). Then after several unsuccessful tries of the other buildings I was able to explore the barber shop nearly 6 months ago (@terrywayne/abandoned-old-school-barber-shop).
The age of those two businesses had me very curious about the rest and I started to research more. In that research I found out that the building on the corner was the first building to conduct business in the town, dating back to 1820! The towns first post office was opened in the building in 1832 and the local freemason lodge held it's first meetings in it as well. In 1903 it was purchased and turned into Millen's general store.
Photo of Millen's Store in the 1950s.
The store operated in the building for more than 100 years and after it closed it had several businesses in it (a restaurant and thrift store) until it was vacated in 2019.
The history in this building made it the "crown jewel" of the block to me and I tried countless times to explore it over the last 6 months. Now the demolition fence has started to be put up and time is running out! So I checked it and to my surprise some one had knocked out a small hole in the wall under the window.
Full of excitement I climbed through and was shocked to see mostly plain white walls.
I started to get worried that all historic features had been removed or covered with drywall! Then I saw the stairs to the basement and had some hope.
The original stone walls and foundation looked incredible and in a little side room I found a monster of a furnace. I remember thinking wow that's an old one! But I had no idea just how old, until I got home. This is a more than 200 year old furnace that is original the the building!
Old broken glass jars and hand-hewn beams with square nails added to the history found in the basement.
The basement really made this explore! And made me wonder about what is underneath all of that drywall on the main floor!
It seems insane to me that this building is being demolished and replaced with cookie cutter condos. I would have thought the people in the town would have cared more about such a historic building in the community.