Gow Block

‘The Gow Block’, is a two storey, wood frame structure completed in 1911 by realtor Walter Gow in an area associated with the early commercial development of the independent village which grew around the Interurban stop at East 18th Avenue and Commercial Street.

It was originally home to the Bank of Hamilton between 1910 and 1934, and until 1934 to the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce which had merged with the bank of Hamilton. Once the bank closed, the corner location was taken over for the next 60 years by a corner grocery store, the linchpin in many neighbourhoods in the city. Ernie’s Grocery was there for almost 40 years between 1960-1996.

The building is valued for its historic importance to the neighbourhood and its continued use as a mixed use building serving the Cedar Cottage community.

Gow Block was painted a historical colour scheme in 2008 with the assistance of a VHF True Colours grant.

Gow Block was a stop on VHF’s 2012 Heritage House Tour.

Source

VHF Files, VHF 2012 Heritage House Tour Brochure, https://www.heritagesitefinder.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Final-Copy-Gow-Thursday-August-15th.pdf

More information

https://www.heritagesitefinder.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/120416-Guidebook-FINAL.pdf https://www.heritagesitefinder.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Final-Copy-Gow-Thursday-August-15th.pdf