Thunder Bay in Thunder Bay District, Ontario — Central Canada

Whalen Building

34 Cumberland Street North

— Designated Heritage Property —

Whalen Building Marker image. Click for full size.

cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), August 6, 2017

1. Whalen Building Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Built in 1913, this magnificent eight story "skyscraper" was commissioned by James Whalen and designed by Brown and Valance of Montreal to resemble the Chicago Style and promote the City of Port Arthur as the "Chicago of the North." The exterior cladding of of glazed terra-cotta panels forms a curtain wall graced with elaborate carved statues, lions, shields, floral ornaments and human faces. The lobby depicts scenes of northern trade and commerce and community life.
Ontario Heritage Act (1990)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.

Location. 48° 26.151′ N, 89° 13.11′ W. Marker is in Thunder Bay, Ontario, in Thunder Bay District. Marker is at the intersection of Van Norman Street and Cumberland Street North, on the right when traveling north on Van Norman Street. Marker is at the southwest corner of the building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 34 Cumberland St N, Thunder Bay ON P7A 4L5, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Sir William C. Van Horne (within shouting distance of this marker); Thunder Bay Tourist Pagoda (about 150

cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), August 6, 2017

2. Whalen Building Marker

Featured marker is the left one on the corner.

Click or scan to see
this page online

meters away, measured in a direct line); Port Arthur (about 180 meters away); The Reverend Richard Baxter, S.J., 1821-1904 (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Connaught Square (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Central School (approx. half a kilometer away); Trinity Centennial (approx. half a kilometer away); C.D. Howe (approx. half a kilometer away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Thunder Bay.

Also see . . .
1. City Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Whalen Building. News article by Thunder Bay Business, posted Dec. 5, 2013. (Submitted on April 19, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. James Whalen (businessman). Wikipedia entry on the Canadian businessman and entrepreneur. (Submitted on April 19, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

James Whalen (1869-1929) image. Click for full size.

From Who's Who in Canada, Vols. 6-7 (public domain), 1914

3. James Whalen (1869-1929)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 19, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 98 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 19, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.