Exterior view of the Caldwell Block, 2004
Photo: City of Nanaimo, Christine Meutzner, 2004
- Built
- 1908
- Recognized
- 2002
- By
- Local government
The register’s text, word for word
Description
The Caldwell Block is a two-storey, Edwardian style commercial building on the main downtown thoroughfare in Nanaimo. The historic place is confined to the building footprint.
Heritage value
The Caldwell Block is an integral part of a continuous line of largely intact, similarly scaled buildings located on the west side of Commercial Street.
Built in 1908, the Caldwell Block is a good example of a modest, vernacular Edwardian Commercial style building. The original brick façade is obscured by stucco but some of its features, including a cornice with brackets and moulded fascia, are still visible. Traces of the painted Caldwell's Clothing House sign are visible on the building's east side. Despite alterations, the building has maintained its character and reinforces the Edwardian era appearance of the west side of Commercial Street.
SourceCity of Nanaimo, Development Services Department, file #6800-20-H01-02/35 Commercial Street
Character‑defining elements
Character-defining elements of the Caldwell Block include:
-All of the elements of the Edwardian commercial style including the simple, restrained appearance, brick construction and cornice.
-The location of the building in the middle of a city block of largely intact period buildings.
End of the register’s text
Location
35 Commercial Street, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9R, Canada
49.16500° N, 123.93700° W
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From the Canadian Register of Historic Places, as last updated on December 12, 2025. The register’s text is shown word for word.