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Fascinating Vintage Photos of Downtown Belleville, Ontario in 1975

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Belleville is a city in Ontario located on the north shore of the Bay of Quinte. The city’s bustling streets contrast with the rolling countryside that surrounds them. In 1615, Samuel de Champlain explored the area. It was settled by Americans after 1776 and given the name Meyers’ Creek in honor of John Meyers, who operated a gristmill at the time. Belleville was renamed in 1816 in honor of Arabella Gore, wife of Francis Gore, lieutenant governor of Upper Canada.

Belleville was incorporated as a city in 1877. As part of Ontario’s reorganization of municipalities, the City of Belleville merged with the surrounding Township of Thurlow in 1998 to form an expanded City of Belleville. Quinte West was also annexed to the west by the city.

Below are some fascinating vintage photos that show What Belleville downtown looked like in 1975.

#1 Fish and chip restaurant at 352 Front Street Belleville, and T. and J. Variety store at 356 Front Street

Fish and chip restaurant at 352 Front Street Belleville, and T. and J. Variety store at 356 Front Street

8 Points
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#2 Carmen’s Beauty Salon at 269 and Meagher’s Men’s Wear at 267 Front Street, Belleville

Carmen's Beauty Salon at 269 and Meagher's Men's Wear at 267 Front Street, Belleville

7 Points
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#3 Reddick’s Bakery at 304 and Wray’s at 306 Front Street, Belleville

Reddick's Bakery at 304 and Wray's at 306 Front Street, Belleville

7 Points
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#4 Woodley Furs at 273 and The Coach Room at 271 Front Street, Belleville

Woodley Furs at 273 and The Coach Room at 271 Front Street, Belleville

7 Points
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#5 Murrays Foodmaster store at 290 Front Street, Belleville

Murrays Foodmaster store at 290 Front Street, Belleville

5 Points
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#6 Brady & Menning Law Office at 283 Front Street, Belleville

Brady & Menning Law Office at 283 Front Street, Belleville

4 Points
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#7 Ed Thomas’s cigar store at 182 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario

Ed Thomas's cigar store at 182 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario

4 Points
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#8 Mr Jeffery at 316, Olympia Restaurant at 318, Cue & Cushion Billiards at 320 and Mr Zed Submarines and Burgers at 324 Front Street, Belleville

Mr Jeffery at 316, Olympia Restaurant at 318, Cue & Cushion Billiards at 320 and Mr Zed Submarines and Burgers at 324 Front Street, Belleville

4 Points
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#9 Building on Bridge Street East in Belleville west of the TD Bank.

Building on Bridge Street East in Belleville west of the TD Bank.

The Wonder Shoppe was at 6, H & R Block at 8 and McKnight's Variety at 10 Bridge St. East, between Front Street and the Moira River

3 Points
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#10 186, 188, 190 and 192 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario (the Lister Block).

186, 188, 190 and 192 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario (the Lister Block).

Businesses included Lots o'Leather, Davison & Davison Travel and the Modern Café

3 Points
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#11 194, 196 and 200 Front Street, Belleville.

194, 196 and 200 Front Street, Belleville.

Businesses included McKinney Insurance and Central Taxi which was located on the southwest corner of Bridge and Front Streets

3 Points
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#12 Bank of Montreal at 201 Front Street, Belleville (northeast corner of Bridge and Front Streets)

Bank of Montreal at 201 Front Street, Belleville (northeast corner of Bridge and Front Streets)

3 Points
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#13 Geen’s pharmacy at 276 Front Street, Belleville

Geen's pharmacy at 276 Front Street, Belleville

3 Points
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#14 Woolworth’s store at 242-246 Front Street, Belleville

Woolworth's store at 242-246 Front Street, Belleville

3 Points
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#15 160 and 162 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario, with Cablevue office at 160

160 and 162 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario, with Cablevue office at 160

2 Points
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#16 160, 162 and 166 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario. The Corbin Lock building on Coleman Street is visible through the passage way

160, 162 and 166 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario. The Corbin Lock building on Coleman Street is visible through the passage way

2 Points
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#17 Brennan & McBride insurance adjusters at 146 and McDougall Insurance at 148 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario

Brennan & McBride insurance adjusters at 146 and McDougall Insurance at 148 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario

2 Points
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#18 Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce building at 237 Front Street, Belleville (southeast corner of Front & Campbell Streets)

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce building at 237 Front Street, Belleville (southeast corner of Front & Campbell Streets)

2 Points
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#20 Corby/Jamieson Bone building at 157-163 Front Street, Belleville

Corby/Jamieson Bone building at 157-163 Front Street, Belleville

It housed Quinte Karate School on the 2nd floor, Clayton's TV (161 Front) and the Jamieson Bone office (163 ) on the main floor

2 Points
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#21 Esquire Men’s Wear store at 258 Front Street, Belleville

Esquire Men's Wear store at 258 Front Street, Belleville

2 Points
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#22 Florence’s Baby Palace store at 313 Front Street, Belleville

Florence's Baby Palace store at 313 Front Street, Belleville

2 Points
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#23 Hamilton’s Jewellery and Gifts at 209 and Cosy Grill at 207 Front Street, Belleville

Hamilton's Jewellery and Gifts at 209 and Cosy Grill at 207 Front Street, Belleville

2 Points
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#24 Roluf’s store at 227 Front Street, Belleville, with Singer store next door

Roluf's store at 227 Front Street, Belleville, with Singer store next door

2 Points
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#25 Sherwin Williams store at 303 and Tropical Gardens Pet Shop at 301½ Front Street, Belleville

Sherwin Williams store at 303 and Tropical Gardens Pet Shop at 301½ Front Street, Belleville

2 Points
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#26 The Bata shoe store at 233 Front Street, Belleville

The Bata shoe store at 233 Front Street, Belleville

2 Points
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#27 The Reading ‘n’ Greeting Shop and Coles Jewellers at 292 and 296 Front Street, Belleville (Nathan Jones building)

The Reading 'n' Greeting Shop and Coles Jewellers at 292 and 296 Front Street, Belleville (Nathan Jones building)

2 Points
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#29 Goodman’s store at 307 and Conventional Barber’s Shop at 309 Front Street, Belleville

Goodman's store at 307 and Conventional Barber's Shop at 309 Front Street, Belleville

1 Point
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#30 Leslie’s shoes and luggage store and Leslie’s Ski Den (on the second floor) at 255 Front Street, Belleville.

Leslie's shoes and luggage store and Leslie's Ski Den (on the second floor) at 255 Front Street, Belleville.

McIntosh Brothers department store is partially visible on the left

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#31 Office of Paul Fleming, chartered accountant, at 123 Front Street, Belleville

Office of Paul Fleming, chartered accountant, at 123 Front Street, Belleville

1 Point
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#32 Reward Shoes store at 220 Front Street, Belleville

Reward Shoes store at 220 Front Street, Belleville

1 Point
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#33 S. S. Kresge store at 260-266 Front Street, Belleville

S. S. Kresge store at 260-266 Front Street, Belleville

1 Point
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#34 The Red Shark at 281 and Copp Shoes at 279 Front Street, Belleville

The Red Shark at 281 and Copp Shoes at 279 Front Street, Belleville

1 Point
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#35 Walker Hardware store at 248-250 Front Street, Belleville

Walker Hardware store at 248-250 Front Street, Belleville

1 Point
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#36 Walker’s menswear store at 280 Front Street, Belleville, with the adjoining store advertising a ‘Going Out of Business’ sale (Harrison building)

Walker's menswear store at 280 Front Street, Belleville, with the adjoining store advertising a 'Going Out of Business' sale (Harrison building)

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14 Comments

  5. If, after a 40 year slumber, you found yourself in the Quinte Mall wearing tight Levis, untied work boots and a plaid lumber jacket you wouldn’t be any the wiser as you make your way into Sam The Record Man and Sunrise Records that it was 2025.

    Yes there is a Sam The Record Man and a Sunrise Records

    Welcome to Belleville, please remember to set your watches back to 1985

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