OLD BANK OF HAMILTON/CIBC

Architect Name: WILLIAM NICHOLS
Architectural Style:
Builder Name: W.H. CROWIE & SONS
Designated: No

Historical Notes

IT WAS THE FIRST LARGE COMMERCIAL BLOCK TO BE ERECTED ON THE BUSY QUEEN STREET-ERIE AVENUE AXIS. ITS GROUND FLOOR HOUSED BRANCHES OF THE BANK OF HAMILTON (1902-24), BANK OF COMMERCE (1924-61) AND THE CIBC (1961-85). THE SECOND FLOOR HELD THE OFFICE OF THE NIAGARA FALLS CITY SOLICITOR FROM 1914-1968.

Architectural Notes

THIS FIVE-SIDED BLOCK EXEMPLIFIES THE TRANSITIONAL COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE OF THE 1890'S. ITS FACADE BLENDS VICTORIAN ITALIANATE STYLING WITH MORE MODERN FORMS SUCH AS PRONOUNCED STRUCTURAL BAYS AND LARGE WINDOW OPENINGS. THE GROUND FLOOR WAS RENOVATED IN THE 1920'S DURING EXPANSION OF THE BANKING OFFICES AND AGAIN IN THE LATE 1980'S.