Submitted by the staff of the Orillia Museum of Art & History (OMAH)
On Oct. 21, Sanderson Monument was recognized with an award from the Simcoe County Historical Association, honouring the company’s long history of business excellence.
Sanderson Monument is the oldest continuously operating business in downtown Orillia, and to make the claim even more impressive, the company ownership has remained within the Sanderson family all along.
In 1872, R.J. Sanderson moved to Orillia, purchasing a home near the Orillia Opera House where he opened a company called Central Marble Works. Orillia was chosen as the location for his new masonry business due to the proximity of the Longford Mills limestone quarry.
Central Marble Works eventually moved to 33 Peter St. S. where the facility still exists today. In 1890, the name of the business was changed to Orillia Marble Works, which adorns the shop at the left of this postcard showing Peter Street, dated circa 1918.
The company was purchased by R.J. Sanderson’s son, Jackson, in the early 1900s. Jackson would pass the business onto his own sons, Ross and Robert Sanderson, who in turn sold the business to the next generation, Don Sanderson. Don still runs the business today alongside the fifth generation of Sandersons. Throughout the decades the business has expanded, evolved and acquired other locations.
In 1950, the business name changed for the last time to Sanderson Monument Co. Today, Sanderson Monument not only creates monuments, but they also manage and maintain cemeteries.
The company is responsible for some of the area’s most important memorials. Don Sanderson was even part of creating the Terry Fox Memorial in Thunder Bay. The company has an extraordinary legacy here in Orillia, not only recording history but making it, too. Congratulations to Sanderson Monument, and thank you for your ongoing service to the community.
Next week we will feature another object from the OMAH collection that showcases our local history.
