View of The Livery from the street
In the centre of Goderich - a small town on Lake Huron - The Livery was once a horse stable. It's now a theatre that features quality dramas, musicals, comedies, and historical presentations.
Sign outside advertising Goderich Celtic Roots, an annual festival
The Goderich Little Theatre purchased it and in 1983 the building opened as the Goderich's Arts Centre, which in addition to housing a theatre is also home to the annual Goderich Celtic Roots Festival.
Side view of back end of The Livery
The back section of The Livery - erected in 1849 - was originally a tack shop. Evidence of it's 19th century origins are still obvious here.
The front part of The Livery was built in 1878 of Maitland River Stone as an addition to the tack shop. But when cars took the place of horses at the turn of the century, The Livery became a car dealership... until it was slated for demolition.
Thank goodness for the foresight of the local architect who believed the building would make a great theatre!
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nice shot and descriptions
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful use for a beautiful old structure.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness is right! Not only do most historical buildings become more beautiful with age, they give our fairly young country a sense of its beginnings. How appropriate that a facility for horses would later house cars. The theatre, however, is the best idea yet. What better than a place of such character for actors to perform. :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful that the building was saved. It is a beauty. MB
ReplyDeleteWhat a great interesting building. So glad it found a new use.
ReplyDeleteI rejoice when I see that buildings are recycled rather than destroyed. This building deserves to be recycled, and how nice to be able to have actors horse around a little bit in this structure!!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing these old rock buildings and the history is wonderful to know. I hope they will be cared for and put to use forever.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad they found a new use for this interesting building, it would have been a shame to tare it down.
ReplyDeleteHow great that it wasn't demolished. It is quite a handsome structure.
ReplyDeleteDarla
Glad it was saved and re-purposed! Fabulous building.
ReplyDeletehere, here for that architect! It's a lovely stone building, and inspired an interesting thought: how would our world be different if we still relied on horses for transportation?
ReplyDeleteAnd probably a tribute to the Scots stone masons who worked their art in Canada. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeletei applaud those who find uses for old structures other than demolish them and build new ones.
ReplyDeletehave you seen a play or show there?
I love it when older things get preserved and find a new use.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. A good candidate for adaptive re-use. I am always glad to see wonderful old buildings getting another chance.
ReplyDeleteA fine building, I am glad to read it is being used as an arts centre and not left to go to ruin.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful use for this old building. Great post and photos.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely old building. I like Goderich, has a great beach and good fishing on the Maitland!
ReplyDeleteWonderful to see an old livery stable cum car dealership rescued from demolition and saved for posterity. Such super photos, too.
ReplyDelete-- K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
I agree....thank goodness the architect came along and saw fit to keep this building and turn it into a theatre. I bet it turn out beautifully. You will laugh but I did not now what a livery was until I moved here to rural Virginia. On the Atlantic Ocean of south Florida we had no liveries. The structure itself stands alone in it beauty.
ReplyDeleteI agree....thank goodness the architect came along and saw fit to keep this building and turn it into a theatre. I bet it turn out beautifully. You will laugh but I did not now what a livery was until I moved here to rural Virginia. On the Atlantic Ocean of south Florida we had no liveries. The structure itself stands alone in it beauty.
ReplyDeleteI love it when wonderful old buildings like this are saved and put to a new, fun use! This is perfect! Terrific captures as always! Delightful post for the day! Hope you have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Nice that the building is being used today.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful buildning, and old. You have pictures of so many wonderful buildnings, I like it! :)
ReplyDeleteThe structure seems strong. great reuse.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful stone building. Must have house quite a few horses.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been a great sadness to lose such a wonderful building.
ReplyDeletethe stone walls are beautiful. glad that this building wasn't demolished. great shots.
ReplyDeleteA nice old building and an interesting bit of history.
ReplyDeletevery nice and interesting posting
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty building! And you have a new look for your blog too. Nice!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, I'm also learning great things with blog friends, thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteI love the stones, this place is wonderful!The Festival Celtic sign is really cute!
Léia
belles batisses et j'aime bien l'enseigne
ReplyDeletePublicity ;o) Every Friday (and the Weekend), The Challenge "Walk In The Street Photography"
it's simply great when people open their eyes and see the beauty of some of these buildings and they put them again to a good (and artistic!) use!
ReplyDeleteI love this old building. Glad it's found a new use!
ReplyDeleteI sure enjoyed seeing all the views of this...I love old buildings, and am fond of any building made of stone...even if it was a chicken coop I would probably love it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful looking theatre!
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