From the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library archive:
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A Picture of Luxury at Wellington and Pim
When the Wellington Square Townhouses, located at the corner of Pim and Wellington Streets were built in 1913 they were the picture of luxury.
Erected by W. J. Hesson these townhouses included the latest ideas in heating and plumbing.
An up-to-date block of five houses, some townhouses had as many as seven bedrooms and a fireplace on the main floor in each unit, a hot water heating system and indoor plumbing.
There were oak hardwood floors on the main level and an open oak staircase leading to the second level.
There were even some stained glass windows installed in parts of the new building.
These features indicated the wealth that someone would have needed in order to own one.
The original cost of the building is estimated at $16,000 and was financed by Lake Superior Paper Company, specifically as housing for their executives.
Unfortunately, during the takeover of the Lake Superior Paper Company by Abitibi, all records pertaining to its construction were lost.
Using early city directories it is interesting to note that about half of the original residents worked for the Lake Superior Paper Company and many were managers, engineers and foremen.
Throughout the years many people have lived in these townhouses including Fred Lloyd the principal of Central and Campbell Schools, I.L Robertson the local Chief of Police.
C. M Reynette the manager of Bell Telephone Company of Canada Ltd. and D. Warner-Smith the Director for Music for the Sault Ste. Marie Public Board of Education.
Wellington Square was truly the first of its’ kind in terms of size, luxury and the fact that it was built with three full floors and a basement providing maximum living space.
The top floor, under the mansard roof was able to be utilized as accommodations for household help.
One unique feature that stood out for people was the fact that the units were not built in a row but on a rounded corner.
These townhouses do not seem to conform to any one specific architectural style but are a combination of several.
Being a collection of various styles one would think the design would be disjointed and confusing, but this is far from the case.
The structure of the building, the porches and the windows all work together to create wonderful symmetry and balance.
By the 1970’s, the townhouses started to show their age and the local municipal heritage committee (LACAC) after examining the property decided that the unique features needed to be preserved before they fell into complete disrepair.
On February 28, 1983, the townhouses were designated as a heritage property and over the years each unit has been gutted and restored to its’ original glory.
The Wellington Square Townhouses continue to be truly one of a kind for Sault Ste. Marie firmly cementing its status as a Municipal Heritage Property.
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Each week, the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library and its Archives provides SooToday readers with a glimpse of the city’s past.
Find out more of what the Public Library has to offer at www.ssmpl.ca and look for more Remember This? columns here.