J. Wilkinson Building (1855-1981)

J. Wilkinson Building (1855-1981). . , The J. Wilkinson Building was part of the commercial centre in the historic downtown of Whitby following its 1852 designation as the administrative centre for the County of Ontario. Built in 1855 by John Wilkinson as a three-storey brick structure, the "Wilkinson Block", as it was known, was one of the three properties constructed at the same time on this town block (see key map). It accommodated stores on the ground floor and apartments on the second and third levels., George Young Smith, Wilkinson's son-in-law became a subsequent owner of the building and he was a notable figure throughout Ontario County. Beginning in 1886, he was elected and served as the Deputy-Reeve, Reeve and Mayor of Whitby for several terms. Later in 1899, Smith was appointed Judge of the Surrogate Court of Ontario County. In addition to serving on the school board, he was a president of the Ontario Ladies' College, Whitby., The building was altered in 1909 to house the Gem Theatre which was Whitby's first moving-picture theatre. The Gem Theatre incorporated a decorative wood facade composed of semi-circular arches and a detailed frieze with a dentillated cornice. The movie house stayed open for only a year, and was closed in 1910 at which time Perrin's theatre was opened on Dundas Street. Further modifications to the building were made in 1938 when two ground-floor retail units were converted to residential apartments. The Wilkinson Building was demolished in 1981.