Brock Theatre, Buell Street. About 1910
Capitol Theatre, King Street. About 1951
Below is a sample section from my new book that will feature the stories of the families that ran small businesses in Brockville. The book will concentrate on the period from roughly 1900 until the Depression.
This is the submission that I have recently sent for publishing in the "Brock Talk" section of the Recorder and Times. It pretty much says everything.
Brockville native Ian Roberts, now living in Oxford Mills, is currently researching a book that will tell the stories of those who toiled away day after day in the small "mom and pop" businesses that met the daily needs of the residents and in doing so also making huge contributions to this community. The focus will be from the late 1800s through to the Depression years.
Roberts, whose mother's family owned and operated the Brock and Capitol Theatres for more than 50 years, says that he believes people would be interested in knowing things like why the Hotel Strathcona was never rebuilt after it burned in 1911 and the stories behind the families that ran businesses such as Tait's Bakery, Craig's, Steacy's, Percival Furniture and Dover's. He plans on producing something more than just an encyclopedia of names and dates. He wants the book to be a compilation of stories about the families that built the town by those families and also wants to include as many photos of the period as possible.
He hopes many people will want to contribute their stories and copies of family photos. He encourages anyone with something to share to contact him by e-mail at ianroberts@xplornet.com or in writing at 2249 McGovern Rd W., Oxford Mills, ON K0G 1S0.
Published in Section A, page 3 in the Wednesday, May 31, 2006 edition of the Brockville Recorder & Times.
Posted 4:30:24 PM Wednesday, May 31, 2006.
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Brock Theatre, Buell Street. About 1910 |
Capitol Theatre, King Street. About 1951 |
John Michael McLennan
along with a number of partners including son-in-law Bert Soper built the first
Brock Theatre early 1910. The
facility was basically used as a Vaudeville house and nickelodeon and was
situated on the southwest corner of Buell and George Streets opposite the
Brockville Public Library. According
to research by Peter Smith in an article published in the newsletter of the
Brockville and District Historical Society, the “Elegant Brock” was well
built with a distinctive façade and was well heated in winter and well
ventilated in summer with raked seating for 525 on the orchestra floor and
another 150 on the gallery floor. By 1912, the business was thriving and they
were on the lookout for larger premises. The
partners eventually purchased the property on the corner of King and Home
Streets occupied by the Hotel Strathcona that had burned down on December 27,
1911. Construction on the new Brock Theatre started in May 1913 and
it opened that December. After the
opening of the “New Brock”, the lot on Buell Street became the Phillips
& Soper Garage. For some time
now, it has been a parking lot serving the downtown core.
By the 1950s, The
Brock Theatre had been renamed the Capitol and converted from a dual-purpose
facility into a dedicated motion picture theatre although, at the time of its
demolition, a full stage still existed behind the movie screen.
During this period as well, control passed to Famous Players although the
family continued to own the property and manage the theatre.
In 1965, the family sold the property but the Capitol Theatre continued
to operate until 1983 when it owners, The Ontario Theatre Group, demolished the
building and sold the property.
Throughout the bulk of
their existence, both theatres stayed within the McLennan family.
John Michael, as noted, built both businesses and operated them until his
death in 1921 but he did not start off in Brockville in the theatre business.
His entrepreneurial career actually started in Cornwall where he
originally owned a confection business. He
also spent a few years working in Buffalo, New York as a carpenter with brother
George. When he arrived first in
Brockville in 1901, he opened the Brockville Steam Laundry on King Street West.
J.M. later established the McLennan Steam Laundry on Buell Street
adjacent to the original Brock Theatre. He
also opened the Rideau Theatre in Smith’s Falls in 1915 and from 1917 until
his death he leased the “New Theatre” (now the Brockville Arts Centre) from
the Brockville Opera House Co. for the purposes of showing traveling
performances.
John was married twice in his life. He first married Elizabeth DeRochie of Cornwall who died in 1899. After coming to Brockville, he married Edith Bridge, a Home Child working as a servant in Brockville but originally from Milkwall, Wales. According to the 1911 Census, the family was living at 325 King Street West, a property that he later sold to help finance the building of the new Brock Theatre on King Street. With Elizabeth, they had four children and later another three with Edith, the last being premature and dying just two days after his birth.
According to J.M.’s obituary, “he always strove to give full value for moneys expended by the amusement-seeking public, and the ever-steady patronage given his theatrical and moving picture enterprises was an indication that he succeeded in his efforts. Always maintaining a cheerful and optimistic view of life, regardless of business care or worries, 'Mr. Mac.' as he was familiarly known to scores of Brock and New Theatre patrons, had a smile and a friendly word for all and he will be greatly missed.
"The late Mr. McLennan maintained a keen
interest in the welfare of the community and its citizens and at all times was
charitably inclined, when calls were made for the assistance of the needy.
During the war years the facilities he possessed at the Brock Theatre
were frequently given over to the use of patriotic bodies in which he maintained
a sympathetic interest at all times.”
With the death of the elder Mr. McLennan
in 1921, operation of the theatre past to his oldest son, Frederick Henry
McLennan. He was manager for 19
years until his own passing in 1940. Fred,
who was married to Ida Fitzpatrick of Buffalo New York, worked closely with his
father throughout his life. In
1901, he was in the printing trade in Cornwall.
By 1911, he and his family had come to Brockville and were living at 331
King Street West. At this point,
Fred was assisted in the operation of the laundry businesses and he then
followed his father into the theatre business working first as an usher.
Throughout his career, he was considered cheerful and jovial, keys to
success in a business that requires constant contact with the public.
After having worked as
a projectionist for much of his life up to this point, Jack remained in charge
until his death in November 1965. Throughout
this period, Jack oversaw many changes and renovations, particularly after WWII
with the most significant being in 1948. Included
was the removal of the side balconies, improved ceiling and screen for better
sound quality and picture, improved seating that decreased capacity from 1052 to
about 850, a new marquee with traveling lights, new lounge and improved box
office facilities. At its
reopening, a telegram was received from Hollywood stars Jane Powell and Wallace
Berry wishing Jack and the new theatre success and thanking them for choosing
their MGM picture, “A Date With Judy” as the first movie to present in the
newly remodelled theatre.
Jack, who married the
former LouEdna Barrington in 1926, was very active in the community.
He was an alderman, ran once for mayor and was a long serving member of
the Public Utilities Commission including one year as Chairman before retiring
for health reasons. Jack was often outspoken in his public life not always
winning friends along the way but always displayed his deep concern for the
community. During WWII, Jack also
held the rank of Flight Lieutenant with the Air Cadet training facility of the
RCAF in Brockville. He also made
headlines in 1948 when the Herb Wright’s Restaurant burned. According to the story in the Recorder and Times
“one of our local fire engines was racing along King Street, and standing on
the machine’s rear platform was a huge fur-bearing animal furiously ringing
the alarm bell”. The article
closed by saying that, “ the monstrous beast was none other and no more
terrifying than one of our town fathers, Jack McLennan, muffled to the top of
his head in the familiar McLennan coonskins”.
Following Jack’s death in 1965, the management of the theatre went to long-time employee Noella Desjardin before it was eventually resold, closed and demolished.
The McLennan family has not disappeared from Brockville however. The family is still well represented in Brockville commercial circles by Robert “Bob” McLennan, grandson of Fred. He chose to stay close to the “film” business but in the “still” variety. He has been owner of The Camera Centre since 1979.
Descendants of John Michael McLennan
1. John Michael2 McLennan
(Roderick M.1) was born May 15, 1858 in Cornwall, Ontario, and
died July 08, 1921 in Brockville, Ontario.
He married (1) Elizabeth DeRochie Bef. 1879, daughter of Joseph
DeRochie and Bridget Kinsella. She
was born February 20, 1857 in Flanagan's Point, Ontario, and died 1899 in
Cornwall, Ontario. He married (2) Edith Rhoda Bridge Bet. 1899 - 1903 in
Brockville, Ontario, daughter of James Bridge and Annie Tripp.
She was born December 17, 1875 in Westbury-on-Severn District,
Gloucestershire, and died October 26, 1956 in Brockville, Ontario.
More About John
McLennan and Elizabeth DeRochie: Marriage: Bef. 1879
More About John
McLennan and Edith Bridge: Marriage: Bet. 1899 - 1903, Brockville, Ontario
Children of John
McLennan and Elizabeth DeRochie are:
2
i. Frederick Henry3
McLennan, born September 03, 1879 in Cornwall, Ontario; died September 23, 1940
in Brockville, Ontario. He married
Rose Ida Fitzpatrick; born November 27, 1879 in Buffalo, New York; died October
07, 1948 in Brockville, Ontario.
3
ii. Florence
McLennan, born September 09, 1882 in Cornwall, Ontario; died January 16, 1935 in
Smiths Falls, Ontario. She married
H. Berthal Soper June 23, 1908 in Brockville, Ontario; born February 1883 in
Canada.
More About H. Soper
and Florence McLennan: Marriage: June 23, 1908, Brockville, Ontario
4
iii. Mary Viola
McLennan, born April 26, 1892 in Cornwall, Ontario; died August 1919.
She married Hugh Kippen.
5
iv. Mabel Irene
McLennan, born September 02, 1896 in Cornwall, Ontario; died January 19, 1991 in
Smith Falls, Ontario. She married
O. C. Pat Connerty; died 1947 in Smith Falls, Ontario.
6
i. John Robert3
McLennan, born July 31, 1903 in Brockville, Ontario; died November 17, 1965 in
Brockville, Ontario. He married
LouEdna Marguerite Barrington March 22, 1926 in Brockville, Ontario; born
December 21, 1903 in Elizabethtown Township, Ontario; died December 22, 1996 in
Brockville, Ontario.
More About John
McLennan and LouEdna Barrington: Marriage: March 22, 1926, Brockville, Ontario
7
ii. Gladys Hilda
McLennan, born August 25, 1904 in Brockville, Ontario; died September 08, 1967
in Ottawa, Ontario. She married
John Alexander Mabee June 10, 1929; born September 11, 1901 in Brockville,
Ontario; died August 10, 1969 in Ottawa, Ontario.
More About John
Mabee and Gladys McLennan: Marriage: June 10, 1929
8
iii. Roderick
McLennan, born December 10, 1913 in Brockville, Ontario; died December 12, 1913
in Brockville, Ontario.