Downtown Belleville holds most of the designated heritage sites. Close to City Hall are the sites that are directly connected to Belleville’s business community. Located behind and backing into City Hall is Market Square. The second site is the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) located just down the street from City Hall at 237 Front Street. Belleville also chose to recognize key players in Belleville’s industries, including John Bell’s contribution to the business sector.
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| Market Square Photo Credit: Cheryl Duffy |
Market Square was designated as a reminder of the importance agriculture has had in the development of Belleville. It was originally located west but was moved by the 1840s and most vendors followed. Many of private market buildings were built around the square and City Hall was built during 1872 – 1873 to serve as the town hall and a market building. The first floor of City Hall was an indoor extension of Market Square.
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| Market Square Photo Credit: Anne Duffy |
Market Square serves as a farmer’s market to this day with vendors selling fruits and vegetables as well as things like maple syrup and maple candies. There are strict rules about what vendors can sell at this market, especially about local produce. The Market Square still serves as a reminder about Belleville’s connection to the agricultural industry.
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| CIBC Heritage Plaque Photo Credit: Anne Duffy |
CIBC is located just steps from City Hall. It’s a large stone bank created in the Victorian-Italianate style (mentioned previously in the architectural entry). The bank celebrated its centennial along with the City of Belleville. It has retained its original structure but has built additions onto it. It is recognized as a heritage site because of its architectural significance but also because of it was Belleville’s first established bank. The bank has contributed to the growth of Belleville as a financial institution and has kept its original architectural significance.
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| Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Photo Credit: Anne Duffy |
Both the CIBC and Market Square have served the city of Belleville since its inception and continue to do so. They provide links to the past as well as continue to serve as the heart of Belleville’s industry. Banking and agriculture are crucial to the continued growth of the city and its heritage designations provide the residents of Belleville with reminders of how the city has grown and what it has become now.
John Bell was a significant player in Belleville’s business sector. Bell built his home in 1855in the Italianate-Victorian tradition or “Tuscan Villa”. Bell was the solicitor for the Grand Trunk Railway and built his home around the time Belleville built its rail station. During his time as solicitor the Belleville rail station gained in importance and Belleville became a key point along the Grand Trunk Railway.
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| Bell-Riggs House Photo Credit: Belleville Heritage Properties |
Belleville designated his house as a key architectural site but Bell’s contribution to Belleville’s development is also worth noting. Bell, in his role with the railway, helped to develop Belleville’s industry by making the city a key point along the line.
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