Thunder Bay in Thunder Bay District, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

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. 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. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Ontario

and specifically in Northwest Ontario.

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is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Great North Woods,

on Lake Superior’s North Shore,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

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); Port Arthur and its Harbour (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Tourist Pagoda (about 150 meters away); Thunder Bay Tourist Pagoda (about 150 meters away); Port Arthur (about 180 meters away); The Railway (about 210 meters away); Red River Road (about 210 meters away); 17 Court Street N. (about 210 meters 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).

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

2. Whalen Building Marker

Featured marker is the left one on the corner.

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 404 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 19, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.