The photograph included is a wonderful depiction of what the King Street core area looked like circa 1930.

I suspect the photo to have been created by the late Norm Thomson who was an engineer with the Hayes Wheel Company, and a veteran pilot from the First World War who owned his own plane and loved to do aerial photography.

I know that the picture dates from that era as the Garner Hotel, King and Sixth streets, was destroyed by fire in 1929 and replaced by the William Pitt Hotel, far left, shortly thereafter.

Another confirmation of the time frame is the continued existence of what was called “The Iron Bridge” at Fifth Street which dated from the mid-1880s and was removed shortly after the photo was taken.

There are some unique points of interest in the picture that I would like to point out.

At mid-centre can be seen the ancient Rankin Dock at the river foot of Fourth Street and to the immediate left of the dock is the equally ancient Rankin Warehouse.

Both dated from 1853 and were built by Col. Arthur Rankin who was investing money in Chatham in a vain attempt at buying a federal election seat. Though he did not win the contest, the warehouse and dock proved critical in the early development of the core area.

Just to the left of centre, backing on to the river, is the Grand Opera House; variously known as the Chatham Music Hall, the........

© Sarnia Observer