At first glance, this photograph looks as though it was taken in the 1920s or 1930s, thanks to the vintage car parked in front of the bank. However, the sign above the entrance tells a different story. It reads Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), a name the bank only adopted after the 1961 merger of the Canadian Bank of Commerce and The Imperial Bank of Canada. That means this photograph must have been taken after 1961.

The bank occupied the building at 27 Queen St. for many decades. It was certainly here during the First World War, when it was the Imperial Bank of Commerce, and likely much earlier, making it a familiar fixture on Queen Street for generations of Niagara-on-the-Lake residents.

The building itself has an even longer story. It was constructed around 1895 by local builder Walter Davidson for Salmon and Fanny Rowley. While it may appear unassuming at street level, it is one of Queen Street’s architectural gems. When you’re strolling through the historic district, don’t forget to look up, you’ll discover details on buildings that are easy to miss. Designed in the late Victorian Italianate style, the building features decorative terracotta blocks, a concealed hip roof, and four striking chimneys with distinctive flared tops.

After serving the community from this historic location for decades, CIBC eventually relocated to its current branch in Garrison Village, bringing an end to the bank’s long presence on Queen Street.