The history of the oldest surviving structure in Cooksville, Mississauga

Copeland General Store - SE Corner of Dundas and Hurontario, 1912

If buildings could talk, oh the tales they could tell! For about 170 years, a building has stood watch over the busy intersection of Dundas Street and Hurontario Street. Built after the Cooksville fire of 1852, the simple 2-storey red brick building is the oldest surviving structure in Cooksville, and one of the oldest continuously operating commercial buildings in Mississauga. 

The building is believed to have been built by Jacob Cook following the loss of his first store in the 1852 fire. However, the exact date of construction is not known for certainty, with some sources indicating either 1852 or 1853. But, with some level of ambiguity, there is a possibility that the building was built in 1854 by Peter Romain, albeit on land leased from Jacob Cook. 

Dundas Street, looking east, c1900

We do know that in 1873 George McClelland settled in the Cooksville area after immigrating from Ireland, and together with his brother John, leased the store from Jacob Cook’s son, Miles Washington Cook. George also married Anna Langdon, Jacob Cook’s great niece. The McClelland family took up residence in the apartment above the store. 

Cooksville - Four Corners, Dundas Street looking east, c1910

George’s business prospered, and he was also appointed treasurer for Toronto Township from 1890 to 1922. In 1910, George had a new home built for his family, a little to the rear of the old store and facing onto Hurontario Street. In 1910 George rented the store to Alfred Scott, who renamed it Scott’s Grocery. Alfred Scott had the first gas pump in historic Mississauga installed in front of the store in 1911. In 1912 William Copeland of nearby Pucky Huddle took over the operation of the store. 

Renamed Copeland’s General Store, William became the Postmaster in 1922. Also in 1922, William purchased the store from George McClelland. William also continued to operate the gas pump that had been installed by Alfred Scott. As more and more cars began to appear, William opted to sell his corner lot to the British American Oil Company. In order to continue the grocery business, the store had to be moved. 

Copeland-McClelland Store, looking south along Hurontario Street, c1900

In 1927, a basement was constructed 80 feet to the east and the building began the slow move. Under the direction of contractor was E.A. MacKay of Port Credit, the building was jacked up and T-rails were slid underneath, onto which double lines of rails were run. Using horses, the building slowly made its way over to the newly constructed basement. The 200-ton building was moved 80 feet to the east, one of the first moves of this type in historic Mississauga. It was regarded as a great feat of construction that no cracks appeared. Despite this monumental undertaking, it is reported that the Copeland General Store stayed open for business during the move. 

Charles Copeland

When William passed away in 1948, his son Charles took over the business with the assistance of his sisters. Violet Copeland became the new Post Mistress in 1948, a position she held until May 31, 1960, when home delivery of mail started. 

Jacob Cook’s old store continues to operate as a commercial enterprise, today housing a Mini Mart. The building has seen, and continues to see, vast changes in its surrounding landscape – and the building itself was moved (albeit a short distance) as part of that gradual but inexorable evolution of the landscape. Yet for 170 (or 169 or 168) years, the building has met the commercial needs of generations of residents and continues to do so today. 

Former Copeland General Store, 2019