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Hatley's butcher shop was once a downtown mainstay

After coming to Canada in 1868, James Hatley built the 'Hatley Block' — the first block in Orillia to be finished with brick
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James J. Hatley operated his butcher shop in downtown Orillia in what became known as the Hatley Block at 143-149 Mississaga St. E.

Postcard Memories is a weekly series of historic postcard views and photos submitted by Marcel Rousseau.

Some were previously published by the Orillia Museum of Art and History and in the book Postcard Memories Orillia.

James J. Hatley came to Canada in 1868 and within two years had married and opened his own butcher shop in downtown Orillia. His butcher and poultry business grew and prospered with the addition of groceries and by 1890 Mr. Hatley built the “Hatley Block,” a double-front store at 143-149 Mississaga St. E. (Jack & Maddy’s is currently at 143 Mississaga St. E.)

It was the first block in Orillia finished with brick. Behind his two large stores facing Mississaga Street, he built a large steam packing house, cold storage and refrigerator sheds that extended to Colborne Street. 

He supplied not only local customers but lumber and mining camps to the north as well as the tourist, hotel and steamer trade.  

In 1895, J. J. Hatley employed 16 hands with his workers receiving an average of $6 a week.  That year, his purchases amounted to $60,000, mostly from area farmers, including 1,000 cows and 3,000 hogs, along with other products.  For close to 80 years the Hatley family carried on this prosperous business in downtown Orillia until selling to Mr. Ralph Frayne in 1947. Mr Frayne continued to operate under the Hatley name until closing in 1956.

 


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