Thorold in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Schwaller Block

Welland House Hotel c. 1866-1873

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 7, 2024

1. Schwaller Block Marker

Inscription. This block was part of the reconstruction of Front St. South after the fire of 1866. Amantus Schwaller was born in France in 1810. He came to Canada at the age of 20, became a prosperous entrepreneur, a member of Municipal council and was on the committee to oversee construction of Holy Rosary Church in 1837. He owned what became known as The Welland House Hotel and many other Thorold properties. He dealt in groceries, hardware and liquors, and rented out storefronts to many businessmen.

Erected by Heritage Thorold.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.

Location. 43° 7.427′ N, 79° 12.038′ W. Marker is in Thorold, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is on Front Street South 0.1 kilometers north of Clairmont Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 48 Front Street South, Thorold ON L2V 1W9, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe

and in Niagara Canada.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North

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America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and 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: Thorold NS&T Station (within shouting distance of this marker); Carr-Millar McMillan Block c. 1868 (within shouting distance of this marker); Quebec Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); The Quebec Bank 1875 (within shouting distance of this marker); Macartney Drug Store c. 1872 (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Macartney Drug Store (about 90 meters away); The Stone Store c. 1853 (about 90 meters away); Arthur S. Whelan (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Thorold.

More about this marker. For clarity: in nearby St. Catharines, there used to be a historic building named the Welland House Hotel - built 1853, but destroyed by fire 2021.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 7, 2024

2. Schwaller Block Marker

Front Street, Thorold, ca 1930s image. Click for full size.

3. Front Street, Thorold, ca 1930s

Schwaller Block is visible on the right Source: Thorold Today (public domain)

Front Street, Thorold, 2024 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 7, 2024

4. Front Street, Thorold, 2024

Including former Schwaller Block

Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 116 times since then and 17 times this year. Last updated on August 5, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 11, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.