Doors Open Highlights 2010: Inside Antiquities

Doors Open also provided a chance to look inside the Antiquities Building. I had the shock of my life in there. This simple frame building from 1872 has an almost posh interior. Magnificent wainscoting, corner closets in upstairs bedrooms, a back staircase for the maids, wallpapered ceilings. But with horsehair insulation, no central heating and a crumbling foundation, much will have to be done to this building to bring it to modern standards. I'm just glad I had a chance to see it the way it is now, truly a monument to another time.

Red "Antiquities" Building Finds New Owner

2010

The "Red Antiquities Building" has been saved from demolition, partly because over 200 Londoners have been willing to contribute money to preserve it. An agreement has been reached between Heritage London Foundation and The Pathways Skill Development and Placement Centre to restore the building for Pathways' use. The stabilization of the foundation will begin shortly.

Pathways is an organization that provides skills training for the unemployed or underemployed in London. In other words, they're not a heritage organization. That's okay. That means we have a ground-breaking initiative here. Two organizations - one heritage and one not - have come together to save an interesting part of London's past. This is the kind of partnership we need to see more of in the future. Adaptive reuse here we come!

Update, March 23, 2011 - Renovations have now begun on this historic building. Two chimneys have been removed and soon the entire structure will be moved off its rotting foundation so a new one can be poured.

Update, June 14, 2012 - The building is finally ready for Pathways to move in. An open house was held this evening so community members could check out this new old building. Great work!

Update, January 6, 2021 - The "Antiquities Building," as some of us still call it, has recently been sold and rumour has it that a new business will soon be moving in. Congratulations to the new owner! It's a busy location with about 30,000 vehicles driving past a day. It's always great to learn that one of our historical treasurers has found a new purpose.

2021 - Wellington Street view

2021 - Hill Street view