Markdale Firehall - Historic Places Days

Markdale Firehall

Markdale, Ontario
Type
Post Office/Bank/Fire Station
Address
19 Toronto Street North, Markdale, ON, Canada
Get directions
Hours
Thursday thru Monday 9am-3pm (café & lunch) Thursday-Friday-Saturday 4pm-10pm (dinner)
Phone
519-986-1537

After a new fire hall was erected in 1995, the building housed a variety of community services including Chamber of Commerce, Agricultural Society, Tourist Information and a weekly Farmers Market. In 2012 the hall was closed due to safety concerns. After designation the municipality sold to Chris Steele who created Fire & Ice, a casual venue for fire-roasted coffee, local ice cream plus food, drink, entertainment, WIFI and etc. In 2021 the property changed hands and it is now Marilynne – a  farm-focused restaurant. Executive chef and owner, Brandon Bannon is descended from early pioneers to this area. The newly renovated interior is filled with historic pictures and posters as well as an enormous collection of antique dishes and cookware. There is also an outdoor patio beside a mural of the historic Markdale train station.

Amenities

  • Family-Friendly
  • Food and Beverages
  • Parking
  • Washrooms
  • Wheelchair Access

Fun Facts

The original building was designed as a two-story fire hall with a tall tower that provided drying space for the canvas hoses and also housed a large bell for signaling a fire. Use of the bell for alarm purposes ceased in 1944 when an automatic system was installed.  A later addition to the hall (south side) had a weigh scale set into the floor. This feature was used as an auto-mechanic area to keep fire engines whatever their vintage in top repair. For many years the bell was rung at noon and 6pm. In the 1930’s and 40’s, Edgar Bowles boarded in town and twice daily climbed to the second floor to ring the bell. He also maintained the weigh station and charged 25 cents a weigh for a small truck load. For more than 80 years the hall was staffed by a volunteer fire brigade. As many of the early homes and businesses were of log or board-and-batten construction, Markdale suffered several tragic fires, especially in the Mill and Main Street business blocks. Volunteer fire fighters considered it a simple matter of civic duty to respond to these fires as well as to vehicular crashes and other emergencies. On sunny days it was not uncommon for the large door to be open so people could admire the shiny red engine. Occasionally fully suited firemen turned Hwy 10 into a toll road, soliciting donations from passing cars. As home to the farmers’ market and tourist information, the fire hall attracted many visitors, and in its new role continues to attract both locals and tourists. This unique, highly recognizable landmark is important to the visual streetscape as well as to the cultural heritage of the town and surrounding area.

Location

19 Toronto Street North, Markdale, ON, Canada
Get directions

Nearby Places

Old Durham Road Black Pioneer Cemetery

Priceville, Ontario
Abandoned burial ground of Black Pioneers, dismantled 1930s, re-instated 1990s onward
View Place | Get Directions

Historic Places in South Georgian Bay

Clarksburg, Ontario
A self-guided tour across the historic places in South Georgian Bay
View Place | Get Directions

Grey Roots Museum & Archives

Owen Sound, Ontario
Grey Roots Museum & Archives is a family fun destination where history comes to life.
View Place | Get Directions

Craigleith Heritage Depot

The Blue Mountains, Ontario
A historic railway station with interactive exhibits, viewing deck on the bay & trails
View Place | Get Directions

Register A Place

Create an account to add your historic place.

Make a VisitList

Welcome! To get started on a VisitList, you’ll need to have an account with #HistoricPlacesDays.


Already have an account? to sign in.
We use your contact information to process your registration and correspond with you about the National Trust and its programs. You can unsubscribe at any time. We care about your privacy. Read our privacy statement.

Sign In

Sites that participate in #HistoricPlacesDays need to have an account.

Welcome! To get started on a new VisitList or to edit an existing one, you’ll need to have an account with #HistoricPlacesDays. Sign in below!


Not registered? Click here to create an account.

Forgot Password

Enter your email address to request a password reset.


to sign in.

Get the latest scoop on everything #HistoricPlacesDays – join our e-newsletter and never miss a beat.