Linborough Property Corp., August 29, 2024
Linborough Property Corp. strives to create and foster connections with tenants and the surrounding community with the goal of leaving a legacy that transcends generations. In this spirit, Linborough acquired the 19 Cambridge Street South building to revitalize the land and the broader downtown community. Rich with history, 19 Cambridge Street South awaited the right owner to honour it while fostering a vibrant and resilient community.
This article aims to demonstrate not only the significance of 19 Cambridge Street South throughout Lindsay’s development but also the crucial role it continues to play in the Lindsay community and the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Disclaimer: The information uncovered during the research of 19 Cambridge Street South’s history contradicts some information provided through various community sources. The pictures retrieved of 19 Cambridge during its original time as a livery are dated around the late 19th century and early 20th century. Based on our research, 19 Cambridge Street South was purchased by Sir Sam Hughes on September 29, 1887, as the new office of the Victoria Warder Newspaper. As a result, we assume that all pictures of the livery were taken prior to September 29, 1887.
Lindsay & Trottery Livery Hacks
The 19 Cambridge Street South building was built as a stable and livery in the Town of Lindsay. It was at least one of five operating liveries in the community in the last quarter of the 19th century. The photo below is of the building’s west side, showing it to have been half its current length. Between ca. 1850 and 1887, the building’s length was expanded from 42 feet to 81 feet.
The building’s original construction included stall windows for horses on the north and south sides. These stalls controlled the heat and humidity inside the building. Horses, being intelligent animals, helped keep their morale high. Following the building’s floor space expansion, fourteen stall windows were added, seven on the north and seven on the south sides. The added window stalls and the expanded floor space allowed for a significantly increased occupancy load.
The date the building was constructed is unknown. However, Engineer Bernard Finney of M.B. Finney Limited notes that the building stood before the Great Fire of Lindsay’s Downtown on July 5, 1861. Finney explains that by the way 19 Cambridge Street South was constructed, the building did not suffer from the fire. The original brick is local Fox Brick however, the brick is of an age when Fox did not yet have its name on the bricks. Following the fire, Downtown Lindsay required so much rebuilding that Fox Brick had trouble meeting the demand.
Victoria Warder Newspaper
Sir Samuel Hughes acquired the 19 Cambridge Street South property, legally Lot 12, from Charles W. Silver for $700 on September 29, 1887, for the new home of the Victoria Warder Newspaper.
On September 30, 1887, Hughes announced in the Victoria Warder that the Warder office moved to Cambridge Street South, writing that “Some additions will be made in the course of a week or two when THE WARDER will both in respect of the building and outfit be among the best equipped in Canada.” Hughes highlights the new press and cost one thousand five hundred and fifty dollars, costing “an enormous outlay of money.”
In 1899, Hughes purchased more land from Charles W. Silver on Lot 11. This was most likely because the Victoria Warder merged with the Watchman Warder in 1899, which would require an expansion of the print shop. Trent University provides a guide to the history of Lindsay and Victoria County Newspapers. Click here to learn more.
Also, note that the second floor of 19 Cambridge has been raised by 2 feet since it was a livery. When comparing pictures from the building’s time as a livery to now, the second-floor and second-floor windows have been raised. This most likely occurred when the building was purchased by Hughes in 1887 for the new printing press. See the picture below.
Bus Terminal
Following the Victoria Warder, 19 Cambridge Street South was owned by Ed DeNure where Denure Coach Terminal operated. Ed and his four brothers each worked in the transportation industry in the Lindsay area. Ray DeNure, the current owner of DeNure Tours, explained that DeNure Tours was founded separately from the DeNure Coach Terminal. Ed, Ray’s great uncle, shared that Ed is remembered for his charisma and thoughtfulness. In memory of Ed, a Peterborough street is named DeNure Drive.
Bernard remembers being driven by his father in a Ford Ranchero to 19 Cambridge at the age of twelve to get two boxed lunches. Bernard described the building, noting that the bus terminal was located on the west side, while the lunch counter was on the east side (Cambridge Street side). The lunch counter had seven stools and three tables, and the lunch area was not very big. Bernard chuckled as he detailed that the boxed lunches weren’t in a box but in a paper bag.
On the bus terminal side of the building, comic books and newspapers were sold in addition to the food and transportation services.
Restaurants
Following the departure of the Denure Coach Terminal, the building served as a restaurant for several years. Although the operation dates are unknown, some restaurants include Coach House restaurant and Joel’s Restaurant. Joel’s restaurant has operated for over 20 years and has kept a photo of the livery in the lobby. This homage to the building’s history was then passed along to Linborough Property Corp. and played a crucial role in piecing its history together.
Kawartha Lakes Centre of Hope
In circa 2011, the Kawartha Lakes Centre of Hope moved into 19 Cambridge Street South, where it functioned for seven years. In 2018 or 2019, the Centre moved into its current location at 104 Lindsay Street South. The Centre offers food, clothing, and household goods to those in need in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Linborough Property Corp. & Kawartha Art Gallery
After the lot stood vacant for five years, Linborough Property Corp. acquired 19 Cambridge Street South in February 2023. On August 7, 2024, it was announced that the building would be the new home of the Kawartha Art Gallery. To read the official press release, click here. The collaboration between Kawartha Art Gallery and Linborough Property Corp. continues to honour Ken Found’s legacy, as outlined through the Ken Found Art Fund.
The building is undergoing significant renovations to honour its heritage. This revitalization project aims to honour the building’s origins as a stable and livery. Features include barn door style entrances, reinstallation of the stall windows, and siding resembling the original red brick. As a part of this process, Linborough Property Corp. has been collaborating with various community stakeholders to learn about and share the history of this building, as demonstrated through this article.
Linborough Property Corp. President Wesley Found explains the revitalization project as a rewarding yet arduous learning curve. Found hopes that the community is equally as excited about the revitalization’s end result. He outlines the beauty in the thought that a building’s history, once taken for granted, will be pieced together once its significance is appreciated over time.