There is a lot of history in this card! On the left side of the Yates Block, is the semi-circular sign of the Imperial Movie Theatre. The theatre was operated by Arthur St. Amand and Nelson Charlebois. The movie of the day was “An Innocent Conspiracy” which was made in 1913 by Pilot Films, Yonkers New York. The height of the silent movie era was from 1910 to 1929, Cornwall was very up-to-date with popular changes. The Imperial movie theatre was later owned and operated by James Whitham before he built the Palace and later the Capitol Theatres.

On the right side of the Yates Block is the Yates China Shop owned by Bert Yates Sr and later Bert Yates Jr. Moving north, the low narrow building seen next is an oyster bar, the sign says, “Fresh Oysters, Boston Baked Beans”. On the nearby street post is a sign for “C.W. Lant – the Oyster Man.” Between the Oyster Bar and the drug store, higher on the wall is a sign for Queen’s Ice Cream Parlor which was part of Lant’s business which carried goods from cigarettes to magazines to oysters. 

It is difficult to tell if the drugstore is next or if there is another store in between. There are certainly two signs above the awnings. The north sign says “Drugs.” Standing off the black shingle sign is a recognizable “Rexall” sign. There are two shingle signs hung out from the building… the bottom one is for a Dentist; the other is for “Robert Smith K.C. Law Office.” The Bank of Commerce is on the corner. The photo is signed “Douglas” on the corner. Photographer Robert Douglas was in Cornwall between 1904 and 1920 when he went to Lowell, MA. His son Earl took over the business for a while. Looking north across Second Street is the Post Office with its clock tower. The time is ten minutes past four.