Wheeler Needle Works

Well, after some investigation I have found that was not a church but the old Paris Town Hall built around 1854 at a whopping cost of $12,000 [now for sale at $1.4million]. There were two additions, one in 1880 and one in 1964. The archetect was Scottish born, John Maxwell from Hamilton. This unusual style Ontario gothic was usually kept for only churches[that's why it looks like one] and not for public buildings. In 1859 though, it was the chosen style for the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. In1882, James Wheeler bought the factory, then between Elm and Willow streets.

In 1911 Charles and Chester Wheeler [father and son] took over the works. In 1917 they moved here into the old Town Hall on Church Street. In 1920, it was the only small industry that survived many disasters like the great flood of 1883 that washed away Ahen's Pottery. There were fires in 1884 and 1885 that saw Paris Woollen Mfg., an oil-cloth and a carpet factory of Cambleford & Co., burned. In 1900 more fires destroyed the flour mill and Maxwell Agricultural Works moved to St. Mary's and Adams wagon shop moved to Brantford.

A squirrel was struggling with a cloth tied to the ladder against the building. I wonder how many times he has done that, lol.

Next to KFC approx. 9 church St. [main part] and an extension to Burwell Street. At the time I didn't think this modern looking extension was even part of the same building. My investigation found a committee being formed in 1853 to build this for the next year, so 1854. The for sale website says 1850.