Finding Facts: Exploring Historical Kitchener

The Geospatial Centre team has been geocoding historical city directories of Kitchener, and have highlighted some fun facts discovered. We have created an online scavenger hunt for you to work through. Using Google Maps Streetview, we’d like you to virtually visit locations and unearth the following quests:

1. Find the Walper Hotel. What establishment is on the main floor (corner of Queen and King)?

Answer:

Did you know:

In 1901, the Walper House charged up to $2.00/night. This was double the amount of all other 12 hotels at the time. In 1955 most hotels were charging $3.50+/night.
The Vernon City Directory lists business and residential information, including occupations and place of employment. Take a look at how many people were employed by the Walper Hotel in the early 1900s. We can easily map where they lived as well.

2. In the early 1900s, the Berlin Shirt & Collar Company used to manufacture shirts at the current location of 61 King Street E. What establishment is there now?

Answer (hint: modern version of this store):

Did you know:

In the 1940s it was Woolworth’s. See our historical map for neighbouring business information.
Many street numbers changed in Kitchener after 1924. The Berlin Shirt & Collar Company’s original street address was 35 King St E. The Geospatial team used historical fire insurance plans to transcribe the historical addresses.

3. Dietrich's Bakery has a long history in Kitchener. For decades it had sold its rich butter-nut bread. Once located where currently The Record is (43.4487, -80.48652), it was sold to another bakery in the 40s, and to this day makes the area around 560 Victoria Street N smell delicious. Which bakery is it?

Answer:

4. In 1929, the Warwick Café (37-39 King St W) offered Dinner for 40c. With apartments above the store front, the first floor remains currently vacant. What restaurant is to the right of this building (45 King St W)?

Answer:

Did you know:

Although the Warwick Café was under new management in 1929, it didn’t last long. The Empire Tea Company moved in from 1930-1933, and then the Kabel family sold clothing there for 60 years!
The other half of the building, where the Warwick Café once was (39 King St W) had seen lots of business turnover. If you use the historical imagery feature within Streetview, you will see that the building had a fire in 2017.
- (note-use the ‘person’ icon to get into Streetview and then on the left side of your screen you’ll see your historical options).

5. Speaking of 45 King St W and historical Streetview imagery, what was the name of the restaurant that was there in 2009?

Answer:

Did you know: 45 King St W was the home of a hardware store for over 70 years!

6. So many historical buildings have been demolished, making space for modern homes, high rises, and transportation networks. If you’ve taken the ION train down King Street, you may have noticed some buildings are not there anymore. 904 King St W is home of a GRT transformer station. What is the name of the establishment that resided there between 2009 and 2014?

Answer:

Did you know:

This former century-old white building had longtime owners, Mr David E. Turner and his wife, Elizabeth (1920-1962). David was a salesman and sales manager for the Globe Furniture Factory (manufacturers of church and school furniture) until he passed away in the mid-50s.
From the mid 1960s – 1980, the main floor of the house was transformed into a business – the Colorama Art Agency. From 1981 – 2008, Belair Studio ran a photography business.
Even when demolished and replaced, our city directories help us remember those who lived their lives within the four walls. One example is a century-old grocery store at 91 Samuel Street. Here today, gone tomorrow.

7. You may have passed this intriguing looking "castle" many times and wondered, what’s with that? Despite its historical name, 1508 King St E has been a restaurant for several decades. According to Google Streetview imagery, what restaurant is there now?

Answer:

Did you know: Google Streetview does a super job preserving the history of a streetscape. Looking at this 2017 chairs, taken after a change in ownership, do you think these chairs are original?

8. Pearl Laundry Company is a well known name in Kitchener. Even after a fire broke out in 2013, the building to this day looks immaculate. After decades of laundering out of 90 Queen St S, Pearl Laundry was purchased by another company that has several locations in the Region of Waterloo. Which company purchased Pearl Laundry? (Jonathan Walford wrote a blog about this history of this company).

Answer:

9. Since 1903, 51 Breithaupt St housed the Merchants Rubber Factory. Which large company occupies the building now?

Answer:

Did you know:

Kitchener had a large manufacturing sector. By 1917, there were 9 button factories, 1 carriage maker, 20 furniture makers, 3 glove manufacturers, 7 shirt & collar makers, 4 rubber manufacturers.
There were also many small businesses – 17 butchers, 11 candy and ice cream shops, 11 dress makers, 20 music teachers, 15 shoe repairers, 6 restaurants, 12 tobacconists, 12 dentists, 4 vet surgeons.

10. In 1935, The Ontario Ocean Grill served fish and chips, and eggs and chips for 15c. Located on Ontario street, it is now home to The Two Goblets. Before 1923, Ontario Street used to be called something else. What was it?

Answer:

Did you know: Before the Ontario Ocean Grill, that location was a hat shop, a florist and a shoe shop, to just name a few!

Solve the Phrase

Solve the phrase puzzle using your answers from the 10 questions above.

Sixth Letter of #5 ___
Last Letter of #2 ___
Ninth Letter of #3 ___
Second Letter of #8 ___
Ninth Letter of #10 ___
Tenth Letter of #5 ___
Sixth Letter of #5 ___
Last Letter of #9 ___
First Letter of #10 ___
Tenth Letter of #7 ___
Sixth Letter of #10 ___
Sixth Letter of #7 ___
Third Letter of #6 ___
Eighth Letter of #1 ___

Phrase:_________________________________

We hope that you enjoyed learning a bit about the history of Kitchener while utilizing some of the great research tools in Google Maps. All facts we shared with you was using the Vernon City Directories, a resource that the Kitchener Public Library, Waterloo Historical Society and Rych Mills have digitized and made available to us for geospatial processing. We are currently working on creating a web map that will offer 100 years of business and residential information in order to connect people and their places. Stay tuned!

Learn more about this project

What more fun? Try out our Globe Trotting hunt!