Postcard Memories is a weekly series of historic postcard views and photos submitted by Marcel Rousseau.
Some were previously published by the Orillia Museum of Art and History and in the book Postcard Memories Orillia.
This photo, taken from the Orillia Opera House in 1953, shows the south side of Mississaga and West streets and gives us a good view of the Orillia Transit Bus Terminal at that time. The bus terminal was later moved to the Peter Street intersection and is now back to its original location.
In 1953 there were seven drug stores in downtown Orillia including the two shown here.
Pratts Drugs on the southwest corner was located here after taking over from druggist F. M. Haffey in the 1920s. Pratts closed in the late 1950s when fire destroyed the business.
In 1952 Frank E. Forsyth was working for Prices Drug Store at 153 Mississaga St. E. The next year he took over the Wallace Drug Store. Angus Wallace had been at this location at No. 1 Mississaga St. E. since the mid-1930s.
Frank continued to operate at this busy corner until relocating to 68 Mississaga St. E. in 1960. Shortly after, the corner buildings were demolished to make way for the new Bank of Montreal building.
Other stores seen to the east of Forsyth Pharmacy are Millers Ladies Shoppe and the Hunt’s Ltd. Pastry Store, one of the busiest bakery and confectionary shops in Orillia at that time.
