Description of Historic Place

Mme. Tremblay’s Store, also known as Building 16, is located at the corner of a major intersection in Dawson City. This two-storey commercial building is of wood-frame construction and has a flat roof. The building has a boxed cornice supported on scrollwork brackets, an oriel window, and a corner window and entrance door. Projecting wooden lettering below the cornice spells out ‘Mme. Tremblay’s Store’. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Mme. Tremblay’s Store is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
Mme. Tremblay’s Store is associated with the development of Dawson City as a supply, service and distribution centre during and following the Gold Rush. The building is directly associated with Emilie Tremblay, a person of regional significance, and a native of the Lac St. Jean region of Québec. She is recalled for her early appearance in the Territory, as well as for her long residence, efforts as an independent miner on the creeks, and her resolute management of the millinery/dry goods business in Dawson City in tough economic times. The building is also associated with the development of Dawson City as a territorial capital.

Architectural Value
Mme. Tremblay’s Store is valued for its good aesthetic design. It is also of value for its very good functional design and effectiveness of materials, layout and mode of construction, which is evidenced by the length of service of the building as a combination retail/residential establishment from 1899 to 1976.

Environmental Value
Mme. Tremblay’s Store reinforces the Gold Rush character of its commercial streetscape setting in Dawson, and anchors one corner of a historically important intersection. The building is well known to residents and visitors of the city.

Sources: Joan Mattie, Twenty-two Dawson structures, Dawson, Yukon, Heritage Character Statement, 88-012; Mme. Tremblay’s Store, Dawson, Yukon, Heritage Character Statement, 88-012.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of Mme. Tremblay’s store should be respected.

Its good aesthetic design, very good functional design, very good materials and craftsmanship, for example: the two-storey, wood-frame, rectangular massing with a flat roof; the boxed cornice supported on scrollwork brackets; the irregularly spaced and elegantly proportioned windows, including the show window, the inset and splayed corner window, and the oriel window; the double front door and the pipe-framed awning; the painted cove siding; the projecting lettering spelling out the name “Mme Tremblay’s Store”; the interior plan arranged to provide retail space on the ground floor and residential space on the second floor.

The manner in which Mme. Tremblay’s Store reinforces the Gold Rush character of its commercial streetscape setting and is a well-known building in Dawson, as evidenced by: its ongoing historic relationship to the corner of Third Avenue and King Street, given the proximity of the building to the lot lines and boardwalk; the awning along the principal elevation, the show windows, the corner window and entrance, and the projecting lettering, all of which contribute to the Gold Rush character of the commercial streetscape; its scale and wood-frame construction which reinforces the character of adjacent commercial buildings; its prominent location at the corner of an intersection, and on a busy pedestrian axis anchored by the Palace Grand Theatre, and Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Casino, which makes it a well-known building within the community.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

The commercial block commonly known as Mme. Tremblay's Store was constructed in the summer of 1899 as a store and lodging house venture. The designer and/or builder is unknown. Acquired by Pierre Nolasque "Jack" and Emilie Tremblay in 1913, the building was modified to a modest degree to serve as a combination millinery/dry goods store and flat. More extensive changes were made by Michael and Timothy Cole after their purchase of the building in 1946 to convert the upper floor to a pair of apartments and the ground floor to a workshop. Between 1978 and 1980 the building exterior was restored to its circa 1915-17 appearance. The second floor of the interior was adopted for staff housing. The ground floor was fitted as a shop and is currently leased as same. The Canadian Parks Service is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 88-12.

Reasons for Designation

Mme. Tremblay's Store was designated Recognized because of its historical associations, superior functional qualities, fine workmanship and skillful use of materials displayed in its construction. The integrity of the building's relationship with the street, the contribution it makes to the character of the historic district and its strong identity within the community are also reasons for designation.

Of the various tenants of the building the most noteworthy is Emilie Tremblay, a native of the Lac St. Jean region of Quebec. Documentary and oral sources recall her early appearance in the Territory (Sixtymile, 1894), her long residence and efforts as an independent miner on the creeks, and her resolute management of the millinery/dry goods business in Dawson in tough economic times.

The effectiveness of materials, layout and mode of construction is best demonstrated by the length of service of the building as a combination retail/residential establishment, more or less uninterrupted from 1899 to
1976.

While no longer part of a fully developed streetscape, Mme. Tremblay's store anchors one corner of an historically important street intersection and is critical to its integrity. The position of the building on a busy pedestrian axis anchored by two major nodes - the Palace Grand Theatre and Diamond Tooth Gertie's Gambling Casino - has contributed to its high profile within the community.

Character Defining Elements

The heritage character of the building derives from the architectural treatment given
the street elevations, particularly the boxed cornice supported on scrollwork brackets, the regularly spaced and elegantly proportioned windows, the inset and splayed corner window and double front door, the handsome oriel window, and the painted cove siding. The projecting wooden lettering spelling out the business name enhances the commercial ambiance of Dawson and should be retained.

Internally, the building's ground floor housed a retail establishment in the northern two-thirds a small shop or office in the southern one-third. The second floor has traditionally been given over to residential use. A tenancy which would respect this arrangement is essential to maintaining the streetscape character and the commercial viability of the district.

The historic relationship between the building and the busy commercial thoroughfares of Third Avenue and King Street derives in part from the proximity of the building to the lot lines and boardwalks, the presence of street furniture (namely the pipe-framed awning and wood bench), and the dressed show windows. The maintenance and/or development of these elements will contribute to the Gold Rush character sought by the community.

Considering the present exterior appearance of the building, with its extensive show windows and distinctive sign proclaiming it to be "Mme. Tremblay's Store," the obvious suitability of the structure for combined commercial and residential use, and the interpretive benefits that would accrue from appropriate occupants, a use that continues the residential and mercantile/commercial mix would be most appropriate.