Port Perry in Durham Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Aaron Ross & William Brock Block

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 2, 2024

1. Aaron Ross & William Brock Block Marker

Inscription.
Aaron Ross purchased this site in 1871 and built an elegant three story brick building. In the western half he had a general store and leased the eastern half to the Ontario Bank. After being destroyed by fire, Ross rebuilt the present two storey brick structure in 1885.

In 1911 Ross sold his business to William Brock, who had opened a general store in 1881 at the corner of Queen and Perry Streets.

After William Brock died in 1915, his three sons Harry, Fred and Harold took over. The store later became the property of Fred and his wife Sophie who bought back the bank building to the east in 1925. Fred and Sophie's son Arthur took over the business and it became the A. W. Brock Department Store in 1955.

Arthur Brock died in 1988, leaving the business to his son William (Bill) and his wife Claudette. Their eldest daughter Marina assumed management in 1993. Under her guidance, the store was considerably expanded to the west. Marina Brock was joined by her sister Juliana in 1996. The building and business has been owned and operated by members of the Brock family for more than a century.

Topics. This historical marker

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is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1871.

Location. 44° 6.304′ N, 78° 56.587′ W. Marker is in Port Perry, Ontario, in Durham Region. It is on Queen Street just west of Water Street, on the left when traveling west. The marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, at west/right edge of the front facade. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 174 Queen Street, Port Perry ON L9L 1B8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto,

specifically on the Golden Horseshoe,

in the York, Durham and Headwaters Area,

and in the Toronto Metropolitan Area.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

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: The Laing & Meharry Block (here,

Marker detail: A. Ross & Sons store & Ontario Bank 1877 image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: A. Ross & Sons store & Ontario Bank 1877

next to this marker); Canadian Bank of Commerce (within shouting distance of this marker); The Allison Block (within shouting distance of this marker); The Ackerman Block (within shouting distance of this marker); The Blong Block (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Charles Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); Port Perry Post Office (within shouting distance of this marker); The McCaw Block (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Perry.

Also see . . . Brock's Department Store History.

Excerpt:
• First Generation in 1881, William Brock
• 2nd Generation - Frederick Brock
• 3rd Generation – Arthur Brock
• 4th Generation – William (Bill) and Claudette Brock
• 5th Generation – Marina and Juliana Brock
• 6th Generation...
The next generation are already learning the ropes! Juliana and Marina's 3 daughters, in university and college, help out as sales associates, with computer projects and Tent Sale prep while Julie's two younger daughters currently work in ladies wear and help in receiving. The other two Brock siblings, Michael and Peter, help out the family

3. Marker detail: William Brock
at events and offer up the services of their kids - the 5 Brock cousins - to help at Tent Sale and to carry cartons of shoes upstairs. It is truly a family affair!
During the 6th generation, Brock's underwent a restoration project in May of 2018 to restore its parapets and finials on top of the building. This restoration was based on a photograph from 1911 that showed the building with 2 peaked parapets at the roofline and stone finials adorning the rooftop.

(Submitted on November 21, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: Aaron Ross image. Click for full size.

4. Marker detail: Aaron Ross

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 2, 2024

5. Aaron Ross & William Brock Block Marker

Marker is at the west/right edge of the front façade. It is partially obscured from this angle by a hanging flowerpot.

Aaron Ross & William Brock Block (<i>northwest elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 2, 2024

6. Aaron Ross & William Brock Block (northwest elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 232 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 21, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.