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Market
Building
(Great West Saddlery Factory)
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Elisha Frederick Hutchings, an Ontarian of English descent,
was the founder of Great West Saddlery Company, one of
the world's largest, turn-of-the-century manufacturers,
wholesalers and retailers of harnesses, saddles and related
goods.
Hutchings initially opened a small harness shop on Main Street
in 1878. The next year, he formed a partnership with Robert
Stalker, then continued on his own after Stalker's death
in 1885. The firm enjoyed considerable pre-World-War-I success
in both domestic and international markets. The original
four-storey building erected in 1898, underwent two expansions
within a decade to include a large annex and additional storey.
In 1910, a second warehouse was built across the street at
113 Market.
