Elora in Centre Wellington in Wellington County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Liquor Store

J.J. Kirby

— 1878 —

Liquor Store Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 24, 2025

1. Liquor Store Marker

Inscription. James J. Kirby, an Irish immigrant and grocery clerk, constructed this building in 1877-1876 and opened a wholesale and retail liquor: store here, the first in Elora. Before this, liquor had been sold as a sideline in grocery stores. Later, Kirby added groceries and feed to his stock. He sold the store in 1909.

Subsequent uses included a tinsmith shop, a service station, an appliance business, and a donut shop.

Resa Lent renovated the building for the Desert Rose Café in 1995.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.

Location. 43° 40.967′ N, 80° 25.824′ W. Marker is in Centre Wellington, Ontario, in Wellington County. It is in Elora. It is at the intersection of Metcalfe Street and James Street, on the right when traveling south on Metcalfe Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 130 Metcalfe Street, Centre Wellington ON N0B 1S0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Huron-Perth-Waterloo-Wellington Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally,

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it is in North 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: Upper Metcalfe Street (a few steps from this marker); Elora Cenotaph (within shouting distance of this marker); The Founder of Elora (within shouting distance of this marker); The Village Centre (within shouting distance of this marker); Lower Geddes Street (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Lower Metcalfe Street (about 90 meters away); Charles Clarke 1826-1909 (about 90 meters away); The Village Drinking Fountain (about 90 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Centre Wellington.

J.J. Kirby Liquor Store Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 24, 2025

2. J.J. Kirby Liquor Store Marker

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 24, 2025

3. J.J. Kirby Liquor Store Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 29, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 34 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 29, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.