1918 – Merchants Bank of Canada, Niagara, Ontario

Architect: Shepard & Calvin

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Still extant today but empty.

“The elevations as well as the interior work, are so designed as to allow of taking over all or part of the shop space into the Banking Boom, when desired, with a minimum of disturbance. Upstairs are two staff bedrooms and a bathroom, the rest being laid out as offices for rental. In the basement is the usual mechanical equipment; heating is by low pressure steam.


The exterior is of dark buff rough textured brick, upon a base of dressed Queenston limestone, the cut-stone work is buff’ Indiana limestone. Under the upper cornice are two courses of enamelled brick, green and brown, which give an effective touch of colour, especially at night. The main floor is fireproof, long-span combination hollow tile and concrete. In the bank entrance vestibule the finished floor and base are pink Lepanto Marble; in the public space, terrazzo with marble mosaic border and verde antique base. The working space is covered with linoleum. The Bank walls are stucco plaster, left untinted because of the warm colour effect resulting from the local reddish sand. The counters, fittings and furniture are mahogany. Provision is made for customers having safety deposit boxes in the Bank’s vaults.


The upper floor is wood joist, maple floor, the trim is birch stained mahogany. The entrance to offices, from side street has terrazzo floor, with pink Lepanto marble border and base. The building with equipment cost about 42 cents per cubic foot.”
Construction, December 1919

Published March 24, 2026

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