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83 Hurontario Street
- S. Pt. Lot 11 Plan 282, By-law No. 87-70
The remaining portion of the Grand Central Hotel was built originally in 1875 of local red pressed brick. The building comprises of a three storey red brick structure comprising the southern half of the former Central Hotel building. It was known locally as a “First Class House.”
The hotel was known for its up-to-date features such as running water and electric lights throughout. A favourite of American visitors using Collingwood as “points west” post via luxury lake boats popular during that era.
A functional design, the hotel was adorned with cherry and maple floors throughout but did boast a large billiard parlour for patrons. The hotel was also known for its fine food.
The fenestration of the upper floors is not symmetrical however the brickwork comprises of hood moulds of projected brick over segmental window arches with ornamental red and white material.
An elaborate cornice and parapet of corbelled dentil and panels set in low relief caps the building. A vestige of the south pilaster cap remains minus any final treatment. The pilaster is not present on the north edge which suggest the composition may have been mirrored on the demolished north portion of the hotel building. The present two storey entrance has been cut down to match the bank structure build in 1918.
The north corner portion was destroyed by fire in 1918 and subsequently was severed and sold as building lots; the salvaged portion was converted to mercantile operations and since conversion, has housed a variety of businesses.