Mill Street on the Grand

Mill Street on the Grand. . Shops along Mill Street began to compete with Elora's older business district, across the Grand River on Victoria Street, in the late 1850s. New buildings near Victoria Bridge here, mainly constructed of limestone from the riverbank, first appeared in 1860 and by the end of the decade lined both sides of the street. The wood frame version of the Elora Mill burned down in 1859 and was replaced by a magnificent 5-story stone edifice. It acted as the western bookend on the edge of this bustling new business centre while at the eastern end stood the imposing Commercial Hotel. In the 19th century, the hotel stretched all the way to Metcalfe Street. Boasting the largest dining room in Elora, the Commercial hosted village council meetings for many years. Robert Mitchell and Walter Newman built fine limestone structures on either side of the bridge on Mill Street. Hugging the riverbank, near what is now Metcalfe Street bridge, Thomas Connon set up Elora's first photography studio in 1859. Together with wife Jean and son John, they documented the growth of the village and the many picturesque river sites nearby. Two decades later, David Boyle's museum, which had become a huge tourist attraction, relocated to Mill Street. The draw to this thriving new commercial area was so powerful that Mundell's Furniture Factory, Elora's largest employer at the time, followed suit in 1880. Mill Street was eventually eclipsed by a new business centre at the top, of Metcalfe Street and it looked quite forlorn until the newcomers of the 1970s revitalized the scene with specialty shops, stylish restaurants and pubs.