Ontario Abandoned Places will be rebranded as Ominous Abandoned Places

Bank of Canada Pillar Ruins

Historic Location Foundations in St. Catharines, Ontario

Nov 04 2023

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Historic remains of the Greek architectural stonework from the original Toronto-Dominion bank, built in 1874 on Queen Street. The bank was demolished and replaced with the boxy, "modern", glass-fronted building that remains to this day. For some strange, unknown reason, the stonework was transported about one kilometre away and dumped into Canal Valley, where it can still be found in an overgrown margin of Pierpoint Park. The entablature fragments look to be a perfect match for the corners over the front entrance in the first vintage photo. I've been meaning to return to find evidence of the ionic-shaped capitals, but the area is currently populated with an extensive homeless encampment. The ruins themselves are surrounded with garbage and drug paraphernalia. If you go here, remember the warnings from the locals at the Slaughtered Lamb: "Stick to the road... Keep clear of the moors.... Beware the moon!"

Bank of Canada Pillar Ruins - 001a.jpg
I really want to find evidence of those four ionic-shaped capitals at the top of each column. In the meantime though, check out the yellow highlight. It looks possible that it is the ruin in the next photo.
Bank of Canada Pillar Ruins - 001b.jpg
Note the crack that runs vertically a few inches in from the corner. Look back at the previous photo and that crack appears as though it was present when the building was first constructed.
Bank of Canada Pillar Ruins - 010.jpg
The new branch that was built in its place in 1966. Progress!... ???

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