Pat may have been just showing off when he commissioned this building, but if he was, we are now happy that he did, as this is the most highly "decorated" building in the downtown core. Its façade is more worthy of a church than a butcher shop.
This was, indeed, a butcher shop and meat storage facility for the first decades of its life. As well, it housed such diverse enterprises as confectioneries and banks.
Long after construction on the edifice had begun, the actual exterior design had not yet been finalized, said design being "
attributed to A.E. Hodgins and Alexander Carrie, both of whom were architects of note in Nelson during this time period. Its impressive Italianate design and use of materials is suitable for a company headquarters, while at the same time, the building was practically designed to facilitate retail through its attractive storefront, and storage appropriate for a butcher and meat shop, with a purpose built cold storage facility designed by Francis Rattenbury located on the second floor".
From the Nelson Heritage Register
That oversight was taken care of in late August of 1899, however, with the meeting of Burns and his architects, Hodgins and Carrie, in Nelson and subsequent approval of all design proposals by Burns. It was certainly a decision which hurt Pat's wallet somewhat, but, to this day, everyone is glad of his having approved the design. A short news article on the subject, from Page 2 of the August 18, 1899 edition of the Nelson Weekly Miner follows.
THE HANDSOME BURNS BLOCK
The Building Material Will Be Finally Decided Upon Today
Nelson Weekly Miner | August 18, 1899
Mr. P. Burns arrived in the City last evening and today will decide just what kind of a front his Baker street block will have. The Miner was shown the plans last night and if they are carried out the front will be the handsomest in Western Canada and there will be nothing in the northwestern States to compare with it.
The plans call for a front of terra cotta and the artistic designs are beautiful in the extreme. Over the entrances and windows there will be very elaborate decorative work. Very handsome turrets, also of terra cotta, will crown the top. Over the arched main entrance a cow's head will stand out prominently and in some pretty scroll work there will he "Burns, 1899." Very elaborate pannels will also be of terra cotta and where that material is not used the front will be of pressed brick. Mr. Burns' friends should wait upon him this morning and insist that he carries out the work as planned even if it does cost a good deal more than an ordinary front would. As long as somebody else pays for it there is not a man in town who is not very anxious that Nelson should bave the most artistic building in the Province. H. Brook, president, and Joseph H. Spear, manager of the Washington Brick, Lime and Manufacturing Company of Spokane, which will supply the terra cotta and pressed brick, arrived in the City last evening with the designs for the decorative work and will settle the matter with Mr. Burns today.
This company is also supplying the terra cotta designs and pressed brick for the Bank of Montreal building. The Miner was shown photographs of some of the designs that will be used on the exterior of the bank block and they are very artistic. All the material will reach the City by Monday next and work on the building will be resumed next week.
From the Nelson Weekly Miner, Page 2