Stone Block

Historical Name: Stone Block

Common Name: Bank of Toronto, C.S. Williams Clinic

Physical Address: 2105 Columbia Avenue

Dates of Construction: 1897

1895 was the start of a construction boom spreading from the west to the east of Rossland – the result of the mining boom in the area. Built in 1897, the Stone Block building is one of five buildings remaining downtown from the pre-1900s, and one of just 23 historical buildings never lost to devastating fires in the early 1900s.

There are holes in the record, but we know that in 1898, the building was owned by W.M. Newton and Aurther Hickling. At this time, the property was assessed at $3,200 (equivalent to around $99,894 in 2020), and the building at $3000 ($93,651 in 2020). This was one of the most expensive on the block, about on par with the Velvet Block. In 1901, Hickling withdrew from the partnership. 

In the early 1900s, the Bank of Toronto ran in this building, but the exact years are not known. In 1920, Mr. Penny established a clothing store in the premises, and in 1929, Dr. MacDonald, a dentist, opened his office on the main floor of the building. In the 1930s, a restaurant owned by Bob Stevens operated here, and Dr. MacDonald moved his office to the upper floor around this time. C.S. Williams Clinic opened in the building on the main and second floors and remained until 1967.

From July 1970 to around 1985, Jim Dunlop ran Jim’s Radio and T.V. out of the building. In 2007, Anthony and Courtney Jewitt bought the building, and for eight years, RossVegas Board Shop ran out of this building. The building was also home to ThoughtExchange for several years in the early 2020s. In November 2025, Eternity Pilates moved into the space.