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It was a time when horse and buggies dominated the downtown

On our weekly trip down memory lane, we get a glimpse into a bygone era in Orillia's bustling downtown
62 Mississaga Street for May 18
This is a view, circa 1908, looking east down Orillia's 'main drag' when the horse and buggy was the most popular means of travel.

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.

You can take a trip down memory lane with us each Saturday morning!

This postcard provides an early view looking east in downtown Orillia when the horse and buggy was still the most popular means of travel.

On the left is the Orillia House hotel with its three floors of balconies overlooking the street. Men and women would sit on the first-floor balcony and speak to nearly everyone walking by on the street.

Past the hotel is the Gilpin Hardware store.

In the book, Monty Leigh Remembers, we are told Tom Hill had his first ice cream and lunch counter in a narrow place next to Gilpins Hardware. Next is the Perry and Alport store. They sold groceries and shoes with an archway through to the next building, fordry goods.

On the right is the Kane and Kane grocery store.


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