Rotary Club of Vermilion
May 23, 2019
7:00am – Craig’s Cornerstone
Call to order
O Canada
Rotary Grace
Four Way Test
Guests: Cindi Plant and Linda Emmott
Tolland shared with us stories, history, the architecture, and renovations made to Craig’s. With his knowledge and passion for the project, it was a very enjoyable and engaging tour.
It began with an idea when Tolland heard that Rita wanted to do some renovations at the mall. He approached her with a different vision-Craig’s Cornerstone. A retail destination-with the right retailers and business atmosphere that could draw a customer base. Communities need business entrepreneurs for a healthy community.
Tolland did some work for John Stewart about 10-15 years ago and saw the brickwork behind the outside tin façade. The windows were also metalled over. The original building was built in 1905 of wood and burned down in the great fire of 1918, the town rebuilt with brick. Craig’s Cornerstone is actually three different buildings. On the third floor of the original building they are looking for just the right retailer. The 100 year old fir floors have been refinished and windows exposed. Originally the upstairs was the ladies department with the draperies in the back room and the old elevator in the back corner. On the main level, there are purposeful bits where the brick is exposed, old window and other details that showcase the historic building. In the basement they pulled back the lath and plaster to expose the rock foundation. The foundation is from 1905-there are still rocks with the soot from the fire visible. The removal of a corner of the main floor at the front (below the corner windows) lets light gets to the basement. In the middle section, now Harbrook & Paisley, the original builder was happy because the other two building were built first so all he had to put a front, back and roof on. One of the architectural discoveries was the timber grids in the second building. They have been exposed and accentuated. They have pulled in many historical features to make it a very beautiful old building. It was not just the amazing renovations but the sharing of the history of the building, the people & the community of Vermilion.
One thing that influenced Tolland’s passion for community and business is growing up in Islay from grade 2-12. In that time he saw the decline in that community. We live, work, buy significant purchases, like homes in our community; we need to keep Vermilion alive and businesses are a key to a healthy community. It was a real privilege to have Tolland, Rita, and Tanis show us around.