Harrington’s Store is recognized as a municipal historic site because of its historic, landscape, architectural and social values.

Its historic value stems from the development of Dawson into a mature settlement as the frenzy of the Klondike Gold Rush subsided. Many historic values of Harrington’s are representative of Dawson at the time. It was built, as a multi-storey combination commercial/residential building, these were common as hastily erected single storey buildings from 1898 and1899 were replaced with larger more prominent structures. William Harrington operated a grocery store on the ground floor and this is indicative of Dawson becoming a supply and distribution centre. Living space was provided on the second floor. The food service history of the building was reinforced through its later use as a bakery by Andrew Rystogi.

Harrington’s Store’s massing and relationship to its surroundings is representative of Dawson’s commercial buildings. These include its original relationship to Princess St. and Third Ave. characterized by no street set back and large display windows, thereby integrating the building with the street. The corner entrance is strategically located to allow the business to benefit from traffic on both streets. Harrington’s Store’s presence reinforces the historic nature of this commercial street scape, which contains numerous other historic buildings of a similar scale.

The architectural values of Harrington’s Store are a mix of representative and unique values. It follows many common architectural features of similar buildings including: symmetry from the salient axis—accented by the rectangular oriel window and double doors—rectangular, massing, and decorative entablature. These elements combine to give the building an aesthetically pleasing and balanced appearance. However, the building distinguishes itself through good craftsmanship and interesting design—especially its Italianate features. These architectural features combine to create a building that is both prominent in in the street and yet sympathetic to its surroundings.

The building is a landmark in Dawson due to its architectural sophistication, visibility and long history in the community through its long commercial associations and its use by Parks Canada as an exhibit space.

Character Defining Elements

Harrington’s landscape values are seen in:

-Its two-story rectangular facade.

-Its proximity to lot lines and boardwalk on both streets.

-Its relationship to nearby historic buildings.

-The connection to the street provided by large display windows.

-The orientation of the main entrance to the street corner.

Harrington’s architectural values are visible in both what makes the building representative and fit in with streetscape, as well as those elements which set it apart. These include but are not limited to:

-Light wooden frame,

-Boomtown front,

-Ornamental double door, and oriel window at the salient angle with supporting column,

-Symmetry of neighbouring fenestration with the main entrance,

-Change in fenestration size and style by storey,

-The 4 and 8 light theme in the fenestration,

-Exterior entrance to the second storey,

-Painted cove siding,

-Unmoulded window and door trim, as well as corner boards,

-Thin belt course between storeys,

-Paneled frieze,

-Boxed cornice.

Social values are seen in the building’s presence as a Dawson landmark stemming from its history of commercial and public use in a prominent intersection in the Downtown Heritage Character Area.

Historical Sources Location

Klondike National Historic Sites research paper on KNHS sites, unpublished paper.

City of Dawson Municipal Records. Assessment and Tax Rolls. 1998

#16/117, Parks Canada, Klondike National Historic Sites

Konkle, Scott, et. al. "Design Guidelines for Historic Dawson". Parks Canada

Cultural History

The first property title was issued to Mrs. John McDonald by the Ladue Townsite Company on September 15, 1899. W. A. Harrington rented the existing building and ran a grocery store there from 1902 (perhaps as early as 1900)-1903 and from 1906-1917. The second storey was added in 1902 and used as a residence. The use in the intervening years 1903-1906 is unclear, but the first floor may have been used as a restaurant. In 1906 the property was transferred to Andrew Rystogi, a real estate and financial agent, and Gustave Ortman who operated a bakery on the first floor from 1917-1922. Rystogi later bought out Ortman’s estate after the latter’s death.

Rystogi was a successful businessman and property owner in Dawson. In addition to Herrington’s Store he owned the Gem Bakery next door. He owned a number of bakeries and later took over various saloons and hotels including the Rochester and the Red Feather. He rented out many of his properties. He bought Winaut’s Store 1907 and sold it in August to Charles Frank Burkhard. The first title to the Dawson Hardware store was issued to Rystogi in July 1906. He owned the Dawson Bakery next door which was operated by his brother Adam Rystogi. [11]

There is some confusion regarding the next era for Herington’s Store. Billy Biggs seems to have purchased the property in 1950 from Rystogi, and using the building as a bike repair shop, however some accounts have him buying the property as early as 1923. It is possible Biggs rented the building from Rystogi for several years before purchasing it. Billy Biggs died in approximately 1955 although the building was still in his estate in 1965. By 1960, the building was vacant and boarded up. After purchasing the building in the early 1970s, Parks Canada installed an interpretive display on the first floor. [12] As of 2022 the property is now owned by the City of Dawson.

Citations:

11: Victoria Faulkner, "Historic Buildings", National Historic Site Division, National Parks Branch

12: From The City of Dawson, Municipal Historic Site Designation Form.

Documentation Location

National Historic Sites Directorate, Documentation Centre, 5th Floor, Room 89, 25 Eddy Street, Gatineau, Quebec