Municipal Heritage Designation (Part IV)

Gribbin (McMaster) Building

City of Orillia, Ontario

Also known as McMaster & Co., John Northway & Co.

Front facade showing side wall, 2002.

Front facade showing side wall, 2002.

Photo: Su Murdoch, 2002

Built
1874
Recognized
2003
By
Local government

The register’s text, word for word

Description

This is a 3-storey, brick, commercial building on the main street of the city of Orillia. It was built in 1874 as the general store of Francis J. Gribbin. It is the only structure within the property designated by City of Orillia Bylaw 2003-26.

Heritage value

This building is an important component of Orillia's historic commerical district along Mississaga Street, and is associated with locally prominent businessman, Francis J. Gribbin. It is one of a few that have a finished side wall visible from an laneway that originally led to stables at the rear.

The Gribbin building is among the first erected following a fire in 1872 that destroyed most of the south side of Mississaga Street East. It has been in continuous retail use since constructed in 1874 as Gribbin's general store. Other significant merchant-owners have included William McMaster (c1883-c1888) and John Northway (1891-1960).

The form, massing, decoration, and architectural elements are representative of commercial buildings constructed in Orillia and many towns in Ontario in the third quarter to end of the 19th century. The storefront (ground level) has typically been altered to suit the needs of successive owners.

SourceCity of Orillia bylaw 2003-26 and accompanying research report.

Character‑defining elements

The heritage value of the Gribbin building is represented in the following key elements:

  • form and massing as a 3-storey, rectangular structure with a short street facade and flat roof
  • unpainted red-orange brick with buff-yellow brick accents
  • segmental and round headed window and door openings with multipaned sashes
  • moulded roof cornice
  • finished sidewall (east)
  • limestone trim at roof edges

End of the register’s text

Location

45 Mississaga Street East, City of Orillia, Ontario, L3V, Canada

44.60873° N, 79.41858° 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.