A downtown Chatham building is being recognized for its connection to the Black Mecca.
The property, located at 201-203 King Street West, was designated for its cultural heritage value towards the end of 2020.
In addition to its significant historic value, the property also has a connection with Grandison Boyd, a prominent Black resident of Chatham who is a key associative figure in Chatham’s development as the Black Mecca.
Boyd built the three-storey commercial block building along the Thames River in the late 1860s or early 1870s. While there was no official segregation of businesses in Chatham, most Black entrepreneurs during that time operated east of William Street. Boyd, however, built his building along the predominant white section of King Street West.
Boyd was also a local activist and philanthropist. In 1874, the annual Emancipation Day parade in Chatham was cancelled and replaced by a major protest to promote Black rights with Boyd acting as the chairperson of the protest.
The building is currently owned by Chatham's Pete Tsirimbis.
“Having family who are stewards of buildings and having a background in history and business have taught me to pay homage to the past and to continue in our goal of gentrifying the downtown Chatham core,” he said.
As a result of the designation, current and future property owners will ensure that the property is both protected and preserved in perpetuity.
The Boyd building is the most recent designation associated with the establishment of Black settlement properties in Chatham-Kent and joins properties in North Buxton, Dresden and Chatham.
Designated properties need to meet one of three criteria for designation- architectural merit, historic or associative value or contextual significance.
