Featured Historic Duncan Building For March 2016 – the Cowichan Merchants Building

The Cowichan Merchants Building is a landmark structure with frontage on Station Street, Craig Street and Government Street in downtown Duncan. The Cowichan Merchants Building was built in 1912 to replace an earlier structure, built in 1910, which burned down in a major downtown fire on 25 September 1911. The original design for this building was by Victoria architect Alexander Maxwell Muir.

The Cowichan Merchants Building was designed as a department store and was used for that purpose until 1995, after which it was renovated into its current configuration as offices on the second and third floors with stores on the main floor.

The Cowichan Merchants Building has undergone several exterior renovations over the years. In the 1950s, the T. Eaton Company completed a very unsympathetic exterior renovation by covering the entire exterior in stucco and concrete and reducing the size of the exterior windows. Following the T. Eaton Company’s bankruptcy in the late 1990’s, the building was renovated to its current appearance, which is based on the building’s original 1912 exterior design.

Some History of the Cowichan Merchants Building

Here is some historical background to the Cowichan Merchants Building taken from various sources. Source material is in quotes.

Cowichan Merchants Ltd. was a partnership formed in 1910 between Duncan business leaders Thomas Pitt, Andrew Hans Peterson and William Penn Jaynes.

Prior to this 1910 partnership, Thomas Pitt and Andrew H. Peterson had been operating a general store under the name Pitt & Peterson across the street in the Duncan Emporium building (demolished in 2015).

The new Cowichan Merchants became the largest department store on Vancouver island north of Victoria.

Here are some newspaper reports from the Cowichan Leader detailing some significant events in the Cowichan Merchants Building’s history:

December 1910:

“Business House In New Home
————–

This morning [8 December 1910] at 9:30 when the doors of the new home of Cowichan Merchants, Ltd. are thrown open to the public, one of the finest buildings of its kind west of Winnipeg will be in use as a general store.

The actual commencement of the mercantile business in Cowichan district dates back to 1879, when Mr. W.P. Jaynes first opened a business house here. On July 1st, 1899 the house which was destined to become the strongest mercantile firm in the district was founded by Mr. Harry Smith, who carried on business in the I.O.O.F. block until 1901, when he removed to the corner of Station and Craig Streets now being vacated by the Cowichan Merchants Ltd. [note: Harry Smith‘s former building was demolished in 2015]

In February 1902, Mr. A. Peterson, who had been with Mr. Smith from the inception of the ‘Duncan Emporium’ formed a partnership with Mr. Thomas Pitt, purchased the business from its originator and by foresight and good management this firm has built up what is conceded to be the most extensive  general merchandise business on Vancouver Island.

Last year the business which Mr. W.P. Jaynes had carried on successfully for many years was amalgamated with that of the Duncan Emporium, and the two houses, when the merger was complete, became known as the Cowichan Merchants, Limited, with Mr. A. Peterson as managing director……..”

The original Cowichan Merchants Building was destroyed, along with several other buildings, by a major downtown fire on 25 September 1911. The present Cowichan Merchants Building was built in 1912 to replace the original 1910 building.

February 1912:

“Big Building for Cowichan Merchants

The work of preparation for the Cowichan Merchants, Ltd., on the site of their old building is being pushed forward with all possible speed.

The building is to be considerably larger than the former structure. The full length will be 190 feet by a width of 60 feet. The front will face on Station Street and the rear will face on Government Street. The basement will be extended under the new addition. There will be two entrances on Craig Street and one on Station Street and the height will be the same as in the former structure.

The space occupied by the old store will be divided into four departments. The Grocery Department and shipping room will be located in the rear portion of the building, and a gallery will be built round the interior within the former building. The building will be faced with white silica brick.

When completed the new store will be the largest and most up to date store in the Province outside of Victoria and Vancouver.”

June 1912:

“The Cowichan Merchants are now engaged in moving into their magnificent new premises. Three departments – Dry Goods, Boots and Shoes, and Furniture – have already been transferred and it is expected that the official opening will take place shortly.”

January 1919

“AFTER SEVENTEEN YEARS
—-
Mr. Thomas Pitt Severs Connection With Well Known Firm
—

Mr. T. Pitt has severed his connection with the Cowichan Merchants Ltd., having disposed of his interests to Mr. A.H. Peterson. Thus the associations of some seventeen years are broken.

Mr. Pitt started business in partnership with Mr. Peterson, trading under both names in the building at the corner of Craig and Station Streets, Duncan. It boards still show the old sign under certain weather conditions.

Subsequently the firm of Pitt and Peterson amalgamated with Mr. W.P. Jaynes and thus the Cowichan Merchants Ltd was brought into being.

Mr. Pitt was the recipient of a handsome case of pipes on New Year’s eve at the store, presented on behalf of the employees by Mr. T.J. Reeves. For the patronage extended to him by the public during the past seventeen years Mr. Pitt proffers his sincere thanks and appreciation.”

March 1947

In 1947, Cowichan Merchants Ltd. was purchased by David Spencer Ltd., which was a leading B.C. department store chain at the time.

“To our many friends in Duncan and surrounding district we wish to announce that the name under which this Store has been known for so many years – Cowichan Merchants Limited – will from this date be changed to David Spencer (Duncan) Limited.”

December 1948

In December 1948, the T. Eaton Company, a national department store chain with headquarters in Toronto, purchased David Spencer Ltd. and converted the Cowichan Merchants Building into an Eatons department store.

“T. Eaton Co. takes over David Spencer Stores…..[this building thus became an Eaton’s department store]”

September 1949

“Complete Modernizing of Eaton Building, In And Out, Is Under Way

Complete modernization of the large store building of the T. Eaton Co. Ltd. at Duncan, both inside and out, is under way and is expected to be completed within three months. ……

With a complete new face, new canopies, and extensive alterations to windows and entrance doors, the former “merchants” building will present an entirely new and up-to-date appearance outside….

Change in the appearance of the exterior face of the building will be effected by the application of sand-finish stucco. Second and third floor windows are to be of fluted glass.

The old cornices on the building will be removed and replaced by cornices of a more modern design…..”

Looking at the above photo of the Cowichan Merchants Building as an Eatons department store, circa 1983, we can’t help thinking the building looks like a bunker.

February 1995

Eatons ran into financial difficulties in the 1990’s which ultimately led to Eatons declaring bankruptcy.

“Eaton’s closing Duncan store due to…”a conclusion that it would cost too much to renovate the building to modern construction and retail standards.”

After Eatons closed its Duncan operations in 1995, the Cowichan Merchants Building was renovated into its current use as offices and shops. Among other things, these renovations removed the bunker-like appearance Eatons had imposed on the building in its 1949 renovation.

(note: historical information from Cowichan Valley Museum and Archives collections)

After Eatons closed its Duncan operations in 1995, the Cowichan Merchants Building was renovated into its current use as an office building with stores on the street level. The very dated, bunker-like, exterior which Eatons had placed on the building in 1949-50 was removed and the exterior was changed to its current appearance, which is more in keeping with Alexander Maxwell Muir’s original 1910 design.