THE HEART OF THE CITY

ROBERT DUNCAN & CO.

18 King Street EastIMAGE: Duncan's Bookstore 1970's (33007 bytes)

IMAGE: button(490 bytes)CURRENT STATUS (1999)
Present Owner: Adele Sager and Simon Molka
Present Use: Financial offices, retail stores, various tenants
Heritage Status: Listed on the City's Inventory of Buildings of Architectural and / or Historical Interest
Locally Significant Date: Pre-Confederation

IMAGE: button(490 bytes)BUILDING INFORMATION
Date Built: 1840s
Original Owner: Archibald & Thomas C. Kerr, dry goods merchants
Original Use: Wholesale dry goods business to 1906
Subsequent Uses: Wholesale shoes and leather goods (John Lennox & Co., 1910-1922); financial offices; Honey Dew Coffee Shop (1942-70); various retail stores (including Minden's Jewellery Store)
Previous Building on Site: Unknown, probably none

IMAGE: button(490 bytes)ARCHITECTURE
Size: Three-storeys
Design and Style: Neoclassical
Architect, Builder: William Thomas, architect
Construction Materials: Brick masonry with limestone front
Architectural Integrity: Moderate (upper facades largely intact, except for replacement of all but four original windows)
Architectural Features: Austere but well proportioned ashlar facade with a continuous lintel under the third storey windows and flat voussoir arches over the windows; decorative stone cornice; eyebrow dormers

IMAGE: Robert Duncan and Co. (14121 bytes)Robert Duncan & Co. is Hamilton’s oldest established book and stationary business. In fact, as far as can be ascertained, it is the oldest bookstore in Canada.

Mr. George Barnes founded the business in 1853. He moved the store to the corner of James Street and Market Square in 1868. The following year, Robert Duncan and John C. Stuart acquired the business after Barnes passed away. Robert had previously been a clerk in a book and stationary store. The two men created Duncan, Stuart & Co. In 1878, Robert Duncan became the sole owner. On April 1, 1893, Mr. Robertson and Mr. Turnbull purchased the business, but by 1931, Turnbull had sole ownership and had the business incorporated as a limited company.

The company was devastated by two fires. In 1912, a fire caused $50,000 worth of damage. Another fire in 1947 left the owner with $100,000 in estimated damages. Fortunately, business was able to continue even after these losses. Robert Duncan & Co.stayed at its location at 18 King Street East until 1979.


REFERENCES:
Clipping File – Hamilton – Office Supplies – Duncan, Robert and Co.  Special Collections, HPL.
Fires in Hamilton Scrapbook. Volume 2. Special Collections, HPL.
LACAC Research Files.  Planning Department, City Hall.
McCullough. Famous People, Landmarks and Events. Volume 2. Special Collections, HPL.
Times Scrapbook. Volume F2. Special Collections, HPL.

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