1

Virtually untouched by fire, the next block of Josephine Street East contains some very impressive buildings.

Some of these buildings are known not only to the residents past and present of Wingham, but also to any readers of Alice Munro's short stories.

This stroll along the eastern side of Josephine Street begins at the Queen's Hotel on the corner of John Street

The hotel began in the humble log home of one of Wingham's first pioneers, John Cornyn. He took in other pioneers, settlers and travellers, offering a bed and food.

2

The Queen's Hotel
1900
238 Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario, Canada

3

In 1865, Cornyn tore down his crowded cabin and built a hotel to temporarily house Wingham's settlers and sellers. He called it the King William.

But Cornyn was more interested in the mill business so he sold the hotel. That was the first of many ownership changes.

4

In 1875, the hotel was rebuilt.
1900
238 Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario, Canada

5

Each owner put their own stamp on the hotel. The business has gone by many names - the King William - Swarts House - The Queen's Hotel - The Manor and more recently the Northern Nights.

6

The letterheads from the Brunswick Hotel, the Queen's Hotel, and the Exchange Hotel.
1890
On display at the North Huron Museum, 273 Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario, Canada

7

Each new owner added a little to the hotel - be it more rooms or some outbuildings.

The stables reputed to house 150 horses were converted into stores, then later a garage and car lot (Huron Motors) when cars became more popular than horses.

The second floor verandah that ran the length of the building on Josephine and John Street, was reduced. The verandah on Josephine Street was removed because it was said to be on town property.

1903 saw the addition of the John Street brick wing. In 1912, the roof on the northern section was removed and the walls extended to the level as the rest of the building.

In 1921, the bar room was made into a corner store with plate glass windows that fronted on John and Josephine Streets.

8

Queen's Hotel 1982
1982
238 Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario, Canada

9

When temperance took hold and the sale of liquor was banned in Wingham in 1914, the hotel had to look elsewhere for revenue.

The Queen's hotel generated revenue by turning its barroom into stores and its dining room into a restaurant.

The corner store of the hotel has been its most visible and enduring storefront. A hardware shop, a few groceries stores, a book and card shop, a video game store and most recently a women's fitness gym have served the area residents.

10

This area of the Queen's Hotel was once the insurance office of Abner Cosens.
2004
238 Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario, Canada

11

This area of the building was Abner Cosen's insurance office from 1933 to 1945. Cosen was known for his weekly column in the local paper, written in an Irish dialect. His weekly reporting was both witty and sharp, especially his observations about those not of the same political following.

He also published a book of War Rhymes that he wrote at the time of the first World War.

12

The Queen's Hotel in 2004.
2004
238 Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario, Canada

13

Large hotels like the Queen's Hotel, or Northern Nights Bar & Grill as it was known in 2004, sit majestically on the main crossroads in most small town and village in this area. They are rich with stories and legends.

At the Queen's Hotel, there have been murder investigations, collapsing floors, loud political speeches, questionable residents, many bar room fights and much celebrating, with and without liquor. There have been disappearances and thefts.

But the building has gone silent. Its last owners closed its doors and left in late 2004. Now it awaits quietly for its next transformation.

14

In the background to the left, is the MacDonald block, built in 1893.
1913
250 Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario, Canada