50 Silver St.
Special thanks to The Cobalt Historical Society for their incredible existing archives, which helped us find all the historical photos and info we put together to give you a journey through 50 Silver St. and its occupants; from the “Coniagas Shaft House #4” in 1915 to “The Lavender Fox” in 2023. Special thanks also to Reiner Mielke, manager of, “The Heritage Silver Trail”, for his previous posting online of the timeline of 50 Silver St.
-
The Coniagas Shaft House #4
1915-1924
- The Coniagas Shaft House #4 1915-1924
In 1914, Cobalt agreed to let the Coniagas Mining Company erect a trestle over Silver Street from its shaft on vacant Lot 287. The trestle was to be at least 19 feet high and its sides sheathed for the protection of those below. Coniagas accepted the proposal as long as the town did not interfere with its mining operations. The town also required Coniagas to sound an alarm in downtown Cobalt when blasting would occur. The first ore passed above Silver Street in July 1915. Three years later, the Coniagas Shaft #4 reached a depth of 110 meters (360 feet).
By 1924, the company ceased operations. Local businessman, Anthony Giachino then purchased the shaft house and converted it into a grocery and meat market. He utilized the rising cold air in the shaft to cool the meat and vegetables and to air-condition the store. People came from all around to see the famous mine-shaft refrigerator. In 1948, Mr. Giachino sold the shop and since then it has taken on many owners and iterations; from other subsequent grocery stores to Cobalt’s first flower shop, to the town Reclamation Office, to restaurants, a town newspaper, a museum, a bookstore, and now “The Lavender Fox Tea Room”.
The Royal Exchange Block (Later the Fraser Hotel) contained the Canadian Explosives Office, the General Electric Office, the Bank of Toronto, the Ontario Surveyor’s Office, the Northern Miner Press, a drinking parlour, a restaurant, as well as the Stock Exchange. As the silver mining boom took off in Cobalt, the stock exchange was relocated to Toronto. This photo is from around 1910 and showcases the empty lot of the soon-to-be-built Coniagas Shaft House #4.
The Coniagas Mine is named for the elements CO-cobalt, Ni-nickel, Ag-silver, and As-arsenic which were found in the ore at the mine. Coniagas was one of the first mines discovered in the Cobalt Mining Camp. Up until 1968, it produced almost 40 million troy ounces of silver.
An early photo looking down Silver St. The Coniagas Shaft House #4 sits on the right with its trestle extending out.
A look up Prospect Ave. in 1919. The headframe (up on the right) now sports some false-front walls around it, with various ads and information.
The Prince of Wales visited Cobalt in 1919 on his cross-country tour. This postcard of his arrival showcases the headframe on the right with the Coniagas mine dumpings next door.
-
Gianchino's Meats & Groceries
- 1924-1947
- Gianchino's Meats & Groceries - 1924-1947
*50 Silver Street in all its “Gianchino” glory at top
SEE THIS WORLD BEFORE THE NEXT! 50 Silver St. used to have two extra buildings attached on either side of the main front. Sometime after, Mr. Giachino’s purchase of the building, and before he sold it, he had an outside window box attached to the front of the right side and operated a travel agency next to his grocery store.
A late 1920’s look down Prospect Ave. with the headframe down on the left.
A closer look down Prospect Ave. around the same time; on the other side of the headframe a false-front has been put up and filled with various ads.
This photo from 1932 shows that a tea room was operating at the back of our building! Meant to be (tea). The Drummond Tea Room only operated for a year until 1933 and was operated by Mrs. Scanlon. While no documentation confirms this; the tea room was probably named after famed poet William Henry Drummond. (Born in Mohill, Ireland in 1854 & died in Cobalt, Ontario in 1907)
Another look down Prospect Ave.; probably after The Drummond Tea Room closed in 1933.
A 1950 North Bay Nugget profile on Mr. Giachino is below.
THOMPSON’S FOOD STORE - 1948-1950 | j.f. cRAGG’S gROCERY sTORE - 1951-1952
A look above in the Gianchino article shows Thompson’s Food Store.
Ida Morissette's Central Grocery
- 1953 -
Ida Morissette's Central Grocery - 1953 -
Red Despres' Central Cash Market
- 1954-1968 -
Red Despres' Central Cash Market - 1954-1968 -
The next look at 50 Silver St. doesn’t come until this 1963 photo, showcasing Red Despres’ Central Cash Market. The building attached to the right still exists, with its extended window box, but the building that connected on the left and contained the backhouse tea room has since been demolished and a newer (separate) building is in its place. The outside of the building has also undergone renovations; both in texture and the removal of many of the shop windows around the building.
bUILDING NOT OCCUPIED - 1969-1970 | eDDY’S wIG sHOP - 1970
Red's Confectionary
- 1971-1970? -
Red's Confectionary - 1971-1970? -
Red is back! Red Despres takes occupation of 50 Silver St. again and opens his “confectionary”.
At some point, the outside of the building also sports a tourist information booth.
FINDINGS nEEDLEWORK - 1977-1978
The Cobalt Reclamation Office
- 1977-1978 -
The Cobalt Reclamation Office - 1977-1978 -
In 1975 it was announced that the town of Cobalt was going to be opening a reclamation office; it’s mission was to revamp downtown, Cobalt. With $140,000 of funding, renovations were put into 50 Silver St., along with a few other places in town. The new reclamation office would be located in the old Giachino building. These articles from the North Bay Nugget show the proposed plans for the reclamation office, and then the ribbon-cutting opening. At the time the office was in use, the space was also being shared by a needlework company.
Articles from the Cobalt Nugget announcing the proposal of the Cobalt Reclamation Office, and then its later opening. (With accompanying shots of Cobalt history)
The Flower Nook
- 1979-1980 -
The Flower Nook - 1979-1980 -
COBALT’S FIRST FLOWER SHOP! Taking space in the former Reclamation Office, The Flower Nook was opened by Mrs. Karen Conroy, and operated for one year. The articles below showcase the opening of the flower shop, and then an AD for the business. Inspired by The Flower Nook, The Lavender Fox has lace curtains back in that same front window draped in the same fashion,
UNKNOWN OCCUPENT 1981-1987
Knox Matrin Ketch Engineers 1988-1990
Cobalt firefighter’s museum 1992-1993
Cobalt home support 1994
Timiskaming Home Support 1995-1996
Highgrader Magazine
- 1996 -
Highgrader Magazine - 1996 -
In 1996, newly located residents of Cobalt, Charlie Angus & Brit Griffin started “Highgrader Magazine” and ran it out of a section of 50 Silver St. Charlie and Brit are, of course, Lola’s parents; so it’s awfully fitting that Lola now owns 50 Silver St. and has opened “The Lavender Fox”. Below you’ll see a picture of 50 Silver St. at the time “Highgrader Magazine“ occupied part of it, and then an accompanying article in the North Bay Nugget about Charlie & Brit moving North and starting the magazine.
Blackstone Development
- 1997-2000 -
Blackstone Development - 1997-2000 -
Our next good look at 50 Silver St. comes to us from the occupancy of Blackstone Development (around 1997). Long gone is the attached side building which once housed “Gianchino’s Travel Agency”, but the front wrap-around windows have been restored.
The Silver St. Café
- 2001-2005 -
The Silver St. Café - 2001-2005 -
The year is 2001, 50 Silver St. is now occupied by The Silver St. Café, owned and operated by Perry Wuest, and his partner at the time, Rochelle Schwartz. They too saw the appeal and charm of old Cobalt, moving up from downtown, Toronto. The town of Cobalt celebrated its 100th anniversary (2003) while they resided at 50 Silver St., and below you can see an accompanying article and photos from that time.
Despite going through many changes and renovations over the years, 50 Silver St. still draws people in with its unique history.
The Silver St. Café sports its "Heritage Silver Trail" designation and also has a little patio set up on the vacant side lot.
A look up Prospect Ave. during the 100th-anniversary parade in Cobalt.
Cornmeals Restaurant
- 2007-2009 -
Cornmeals Restaurant - 2007-2009 -
This look of 50 Silver St. comes not long after “The Silver St. Café” occupied the space. “Cornmeals Restaurant” has now set up shop and will remain there until 2009.
Building Vacant 2010-2013
White Mountain Publications
- 2014-2022 -
White Mountain Publications - 2014-2022 -
One of the great fixtures of the Cobalt community for the past number of years has been, “White Mountain Publications”, run by, Deborah Ranchuk. They have been a great source of books for those in town, and those who visit from all across the North. Below you can see “White Mountain Publications” during its time at 50 Silver St. The building has undergone outside renovations since, “Cornmeals Restaurant”. During the time “White Mountain Publications” occupied 50 Silver St., the historical 350-foot mineshaft was filled in with concrete due to safety concerns.
“White Mountain Publications” may not be at 50 Silver St. anymore, but it is very much still in town. Be sure to visit them in their new location at 8 Prospect Ave.!
The Lavender Fox
- 2023-To Be Continued -
The Lavender Fox - 2023-To Be Continued -
“The Lavender Fox”, run by tea sommelier, pastry chef, and Cobalter, Lola Angus. Inspired by the old-world whimsy of the original Giachino building, “The Lavender Fox” looks to continue the rich history of 50 Silver St. It has been renovated inside & out, ready for its next chapter.
50 Silver St. Art Through the Years -
50 Silver St. Art Through the Years -
Many artists have come to paint in Cobalt over the years, including the famed “Group of Seven”, Here are a couple of the looks at 50 Silver St. through the eyes of artists.
From the archives of The Cobalt Historical Society: "One of E. Gilmour Smith's sons shared with us a picture of his father's painting of the Coniagas #4 headframe in one of its many iterations. Smith was in Cobalt in the 1930s, but this was painted in 1973. We are uncertain which enterprise was occupying the site as depicted here, but there is a good chance this is Smith's interpretation of Giachino's".
From the archives of The Cobalt Historical Society: "This is a watercolour by Jean Stoughton, date unknown, from a series of images shared with us by Ian and Val MacPherson."
If you or anyone you know has any more historical info, stories, or photos of 50 Silver St., (inside or out) please let us know. We’d love to fill in more of this history. In particular, we don’t have any photos of what the shop looked like inside, especially through the 20’s-70’s. Thank you for supporting 50 Silver St. & “The Lavender Fox”!