QUEENS AND RICHMOND; BANK OF MONTREAL

Datec. 1875

Credit LineGift of Mr. William Robertson, London, Ontario, 1961

Object number1961.127.009

Label TextThis is the Bank of British North America, situated on the south-east corner of Richmond Street and Queens Avenue. It later became the Bank of Montreal. About this building, "London Free Press" journalist, James Stewart Reaney, wrote, in April 2015: "My London has recently been reminded about the beauties of old bank buildings. The long-vanished Bank of British North America building, seen in two views here, was a strong presence at the southeast corner of Richmond St. and Queens Ave. The three-storey beauty was apparently built by flour mill magnate Charles Hunt in 1856-57 for about $32,000, says historian Dan Brock. The bank was later home to a Bank of Montreal branch and in the mid-20th century — and this was news here — was part of the old Free Press Richmond St. rabbit warren. The photograph in which the bank is partly obscured by trees was likely taken about 1875. The Huron and Erie building is to its right. The trees nearest the modern building — roughly the 171 Queens Ave. tower west of the London Club — are many metres away from the intersection..."

NamePHOTOGRAPH