A Look Back at 12 Spruce Street, Uxbridge: From Dairy to Demolition

At the corner of Spruce and Albert Streets once stood a modest but hardworking building that played many roles in Uxbridge’s civic and commercial life. Though it is no longer standing today, 12 Spruce Street carries a long legacy shaped by local enterprise, municipal service, and community evolution.

A Dairy Start: Silverwood’s Arrives (1945)

The story begins in 1945, when the building became home to Silverwood’s Dairy. Known across Ontario for its milk and dairy products, Silverwood’s chose this location to expand its presence in the region. For about a decade, the building also functioned as an egg-grading station, serving local farmers and supplying fresh, graded eggs to the community.

One of the unique features of the structure was its two-level access:

• A main entrance on Spruce Street, and

• A lower-level entrance on Albert Street.

This split-level design would later make the building perfectly suited for a variety of uses.

A New Civic Purpose (1954–1974)

In 1954, seeing the need for a permanent municipal home, the Township of Uxbridge purchased the building. For the first time, the township had a dedicated space for town offices and its council chamber, anchoring local government in the heart of the community.

Just two years later, in 1956, another important public service moved in: the Uxbridge Police Department. The basement level—accessible from Albert Street—was renovated to include holding cells, transforming the lower floor into a fully functional police station. For nearly two decades, the building housed both the township administration above and the police force below.

This arrangement continued until 1974, when the creation of the Region of Durham prompted a move to a larger municipal facility at 20 Bascom Street. With the upper level vacated, the entire building was sold, and the police department expanded to occupy both floors.

The above Google street view image shows the building in 2016 before it was demolished.

A Police Headquarters (1974–1999)

From 1974 to 1999, 12 Spruce Street served solely as the town’s police headquarters. Generations of residents came to know the building not as a dairy or municipal office, but as the place where local law enforcement operated. By the end of the 20th century, however, the department had outgrown the aging structure and moved to a new facility.

A New Chapter: Vintner’s Nook

After the police relocated, the building was purchased and reinvented as Vintner’s Nook, a retail shop where customers could craft and bottle their own wine. It brought a new kind of foot traffic to the corner, offering a blend of creativity, community, and commerce.

But when Vintner’s Nook eventually closed, the future of the aging structure came into question.

Heritage Efforts and Environmental Challenges

There were community-driven attempts to have the building added to Uxbridge’s heritage register, recognizing its long and varied history. However, during this process, a serious obstacle emerged. Contamination from the adjacent long-standing gas and service station had migrated beneath the building, raising concerns about long-term environmental safety.

Despite efforts to preserve it, the site’s condition ultimately prevented heritage designation from moving forward.

The Final Chapter (2016–2017)

In 2016, the property was purchased by Shell Canada, owners of the neighbouring gas station. The environmental findings sealed the building’s fate. In 2017, after more than 70 years serving Uxbridge in multiple capacities, the building at 12 Spruce Street was demolished.

Remembering 12 Spruce Street

Although the building is gone, its history remains an important part of the story of downtown Uxbridge. From dairy operations and egg grading to local government, policing, small business, and community debate over heritage preservation, 12 Spruce Street reflected the evolving needs and character of the town.

Its absence today reminds us that even the most unassuming structures can hold decades of community memories—quietly supporting everyday life until the day they make way for something new.

Read about it here in the Uxbridge Cosmos

https://thecosmos.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/June15.pdf

Photos Courtesy of:

Google 

Uxbridge The Good Old Days by: J. Peter Hvidsten

Sources:

The Uxbridge Cosmos

Uxbridge The Good Old Days by: J. Peter Hvidsten

www.mykawartha.com