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

Ferguson Block

— North Bay Heritage Site —

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 30, 2022

1. Ferguson Block Marker

Inscription.

Ferguson Block. . , Scottish born John Ferguson (1861-1946), a nephew of Canadian Pacific Railroad vice-president Duncan McIntyre, arrived here with CPR steel in 1882. Credited with being a key founder of North Bay, Ferguson, whose vocation was described as "real estate, builder and capitalist", purchased 288 acres of land for a dollar an acre and his lot #20 was the first cleared for a town site. He became a postmaster, reeve, member of the Board of Trade, council member, magistrate and was four-term mayor starting in 1919. Contemporaries described Ferguson as "a hustler, an animated steam engine in trousers.", John Ferguson had two large buildings constructed at this site which was his flagship property, located as it was close to the railroad station, and both suffered the same fate , destruction by fire., In the mid 1880's, the first large edifice featured twin towers; it burned to the ground in December 1904 with the town books and various public records being consumed in the blaze. Tenants at the time included the Torrance and Parks Grocery, coal and wood dealers McCluskey and Lindsay, Judge H.D. Leask and ironically Ferguson's own real estate office. , With very little delay, Ferguson had another building constructed on the same site (corner of Main and Oak). This was of a flatiron design which had significant precedents in larger cities during this era. The upper stories of the three-storey building had a rusticated brick exterior with regularly spaced arched upper windows using coloured voussoirs to emphasize the classic design. The lower floor was a commercial space with larger storefront windows along the sidewalks. The building was crowned with a prominent cornice supported by brackets in an Italianate style. This burned to the ground in February 1964 as a result of "an explosion in the boiler room." , Tenants in 1964 included Canadian National Telecommunications, and the popular A and B Record Bar along with over 25 offices and apartments., The monetary loss was significant for the time and the owner, J.H. Prisco, decided not to rebuild. The property served as a parking lot until the mid-1980s when it was sold to the city and the present parkette was created. , [photo captions] , . Ferguson Block looking southeast. Circa 1910. , . Old Home Week Parade, August 1925

Scottish born John Ferguson (1861-1946), a nephew of Canadian Pacific Railroad vice-president Duncan McIntyre, arrived here with CPR steel in 1882. Credited with being a key founder of North Bay, Ferguson, whose vocation was described as "real estate, builder and capitalist", purchased 288 acres of land for a dollar an acre and his lot #20 was the first cleared for a town site. He became a postmaster, reeve, member of the Board of Trade, council member, magistrate and was four-term mayor starting in 1919. Contemporaries described Ferguson as "a hustler, an animated steam engine in trousers."

John Ferguson had two large buildings constructed at this site which was his flagship property, located as it was close to the railroad station, and both suffered the same fate — destruction by fire.

In the mid 1880's, the first large edifice featured twin towers; it burned to the ground in December 1904 with the town books and various public records being consumed in the blaze. Tenants at the time included the Torrance & Parks Grocery, coal and wood dealers McCluskey & Lindsay, Judge H.D. Leask and ironically Ferguson's own real estate office.

With very little delay, Ferguson had another building constructed on the same site (corner of Main and Oak). This was of a flatiron design which had significant precedents

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in larger cities during this era. The upper stories of the three-storey building had a rusticated brick exterior with regularly spaced arched upper windows using coloured voussoirs to emphasize the classic design. The lower floor was a commercial space with larger storefront windows along the sidewalks. The building was crowned with a prominent cornice supported by brackets in an Italianate style. This burned to the ground in February 1964 as a result of "an explosion in the boiler room."

Tenants in 1964 included Canadian National Telecommunications, and the popular A & B Record Bar along with over 25 offices and apartments.

The monetary loss was significant for the time and the owner, J.H. Prisco, decided not to rebuild. The property served as a parking lot until the mid-1980s when it was sold to the city and the present parkette was created.

[photo captions]
• Ferguson Block looking southeast. Circa 1910.
• Old Home Week Parade, August 1925

Erected by Municipal Heritage Committee — Historic Site Recognition Project. (Marker Number P4.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1882.

Location. 46° 18.745′ N, 79°

Marker detail: Original Ferguson Building, circa 1890 image. Click for full size.

Discovery North Bay Museum Collection

2. Marker detail: Original Ferguson Building, circa 1890

27.957′ W. Marker is in North Bay, Ontario, in Nipissing District. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street West and Algonquin Avenue, on the left when traveling north on Main Street West. Marker is located near the north end of the triangular plaza bounded by Main Street, Algonquin Avenue and Fraser Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: North Bay ON P1B 2T7, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Old Post Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Royal Theatre (within shouting distance of this marker); Cormack Block (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Barry Building Explosion (about 240 meters away); Mackey House (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Old Town Hall (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Jack Burrows Place (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Reverend Silas Huntington (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North Bay.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. North Bay Heritage Sites

Also see . . . North Bay's founder: John Ferguson.

Documentary on North Bay Ontario's founding pioneer: John Ferguson, as well as his wife Jeannie. With the help of historian Jeff Fournier, we take a look at John's life and how his family began North Bay history.

(Submitted on February 9, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 30, 2022

3. Ferguson Block Marker

(looking south • West Main Street on left • Fraser Street in backgound)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 14, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 8, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 111 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 9, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.