139-141-143 North Euclid Avenue
What we know today as the Gemmel building is one of the oldest buildings in Ontario. Originally known as the Sweet Block, it was built in 1888 in the vernacular brick style. The floor plan, L-shaped with additions on both interior walls of the L, featured plate glass windows, brick pilasters, a polished tile walking entrance, a stone corner column and a plain cornice around the top of the building.
The northern third of the building was known as Sweet’s Opera House. As was common then, It had a public meeting hall on the second floor. The initial tenant was Deibert & Greaser furniture store (1888 to 1901) as well as Lippincott & Garbutt, art supplies (1895 to 1898).
In 1894-95 John Osborn bought the Sweet Block which then became known as the Osborn Block. He built an addition equal to two-thirds of the original building using a similar brick style. The addition created two more store fronts at 139 and 141 North Euclid Avenue.
- 143 N. Euclid: Deibert & Greaser still occupied 143 N. Euclid (the corner of Euclid Avenue and B Street). In 1901 the storeroom at 143 N. Euclid was remodeled and occupied by Wright Bros. & Rice, carpets and furniture (1902 to 1904). The upper floors held several offices. Other tenants included Ontario John V. Caldwell real estate, loans and insurance (1909-1910).
- 141 N. Euclid: James B. Draper, a tailor and later an undertaker, moved into the middle storefront at 141 N. Euclid. He remained there until 1908. Subsequent occupants of 141 N. Euclid included James. R. Pollock, attorney and city recorder (1908 to 1920). Edgar Wight, jeweler, opened in 1940 with a brand-new type of jewelry display in the front window – well lit and easy for passersby to examine the merchandise. He remained until 1951.
- 139 N. Euclid: The Boston Store (dry goods) owned by the Bennink brothers moved into 139 N. Euclid and remained until 1910. They were followed by Euclid Photoplay (moving pictures) (1911 to 1914); Candy Land confectionery (1915 to 1916); Woodruff Music Company; Mission Pharmacy (1926 to 1931); Ontario Dollar Store (1931 to 1934); Herman Klein Shoes (1934 to 1938); and Mode-O-Day women’s clothes (1940 to 1951).
Other reported tenants at the three addresses included Lloyd Bumstead’s bicycle shop, a bakery, the Ontario Businessmen’s Association, McMinn & Ripple men’s furnishing (1909 to 1910) and Elijah D. Abrams art supplies, books and stationery (1911 to 1913) and Mrs. P. Donahue’s beauty shop and the Woodruff Music Company.
In July 1911, the Ontario National Bank bought the Osborn Block and moved into 143 North Euclid. They remodeled the building at a cost of $3000 and remained there until 1927 when the bank was sold to the Bank of Italy who occupied the building until 1928.
In 1924, Alexander R. Gemmel and his wife Irma Lilan J. Gemmel built a home at 1022 N. Euclid Avenue in Ontario. Alexander was born in Canada and Irma was born in Wisconsin. The two-story home cost $10,000 to construct and is a mix of Craftsman and either Colonial or Provincial Revival styling.
In 1926, Mr. Gemmel opened the Mission Pharmacy at 139 North Euclid. Located in a room created from two rooms formerly occupied by Candy Land and the Woodruff Music Company, it was a compounding pharmacy, meaning it created medications to order. Until the 1940s, most pharmacists were making their own drugs. But with the rise in government regulation of drugs and the growth of the pharmaceutical industry, pharmacists began to dispense mass-manufactured drugs.
Mission Pharmacy featured an attractive ladies rest room on the balcony where women could rest in a quiet place while shopping. It also carried a complete line of Kodak cameras and supplies as well as greeting cards.
In 1931, Mission Pharmacy moved into 143 N. Euclid and was renamed Gemmel Drug Company. By 1939, Mr. Gemmel had added a soda fountain and in 1951, a lunch counter. During this remodel, Mr. Gemmel had the building’s exterior brick façade covered in stucco.
A.R. Gemmel operated Gemmel Drug Co. for 30 years, then sold it in 1955. He died on July 25, 1960 and is buried in Bellevue Memorial Park as is his wife Irma.
Charles Vernon Cummins and his wife and children moved to Ontario in 1955 when he bought Gemmel Drug Co. A pharmacist by training, Mr. Cummins served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and continued to serve in the Navy reserve for several years. Over the years he became very active in the community and served as president of the Ontario Motor Speedway.
Over the years Gemmel’s expanded to other locations besides Ontario. The original location at 143 N. Euclid Avenue is no longer open as a retail drug store. Instead, it returned to its roots as a compounding pharmacy.
Possible Uses for the Gemmel Building
In 1984, the City of Ontario completed an historic resources architectural survey form on what is now known as the Gemmel building. The purpose of the survey was to gather needed information about the building in order to make informed planning decisions, prioritize preservation goals and objectives, and develop land use policies, known as adaptive reuse.
The Gemmel building has played a prominent role in the commercial life of Ontario and as such is a great candidate for adaptive reuse. The ground floor could be used by businesses offering food and beverages, and is large enough to be subdivided into multiple tenants along both Euclid Avenue and B Street. A “parklet” along B Street could provide additional seating for a potential restaurant café use.
Other entertainment draws such as a comedy club or jazz bar could fit well into the space. The upper floors are ideal for conversion to loft residences, live-work units or possible creative office use. A façade remodel that exposes the existing brick masonry and brings back some of the original 1800s detailing will create additional draw to downtown.
Sources: Daily Breeze, September 6, 2017; City of Ontario Planning Department Historic Resources Architectural Survey, 1989; Ontario Library Model Colony Room.