For more than 150 years, the McGibbon Hotel stood as a defining presence in downtown Georgetown, evolving from a 19th-century traveller’s stop into one of the community’s best-known gathering places. Though the original structure is gone, its story continues through the condominium development that now occupies the site, incorporating elements that commemorate the historic building.

Located at the corner of Main Street South and Mill Street (approximately 79 Main Street South), the McGibbon Hotel was long considered a historic cornerstone of downtown Georgetown, Ontario, in the Town of Halton Hills.

Hotel Clark 1877

Early History and Construction of the Clark Hotel (McGibbon)

The origins of the hotel trace back to the early 1860s. It was originally built by Robert Jones around 1861 and was sold a few years later, around 1867, to Thomas Clark (or possibly the Clark brothers). The building either replaced or was constructed on the footprint of an earlier two-storey wooden hotel, reusing its original stone foundation.

In the 1880s, a major fire significantly damaged the structure. During the rebuilding process, additions were made, including the construction of a third storey on part of the building. Before the fire, the hotel featured a distinctive double veranda along the Main and Mill Street sides. After reconstruction, it stood as a prominent red-brick, three-storey landmark and became an important fixture in downtown Georgetown.

The McGibbon Era

In 1895, brothers John and Sam McGibbon leased the hotel, then owned by Thomas Clark, for $600 per year. They renamed it the Hotel McGibbon (commonly known as the McGibbon Hotel), a name that endured for more than a century.

The McGibbon family lived on the premises, with private quarters on the second floor and a reserved family table in the dining room. Under their management, the hotel flourished as a central gathering place for travellers, commercial sales representatives, and local residents alike.

The property also included practical facilities such as an ice house, which stored ice harvested from nearby ponds, including Barber Pond and later Lawson’s Pond. Beyond its role as accommodation, the hotel became a social and cultural hub, serving at times as headquarters for community events such as Georgetown’s lacrosse tournaments.

The McGibbon family retained ownership for decades. After Sam McGibbon’s death in 1940, his daughter Gladys and son Jack continued to operate the hotel until approximately 1962.

Hotel McGibbon and Main Street

Later Ownership

In 1962, the hotel was sold to Isaac Sitzer Investments. It was later purchased in December 1978 by George and Nick Markou, who continued to operate it under the McGibbon name. For many years, it remained both a hotel and a pub/tavern, widely recognized as a popular local gathering spot.

Recent development

By the 2010s, the historic building had fallen into significant disrepair. Though boarded up and viewed by some as an eyesore, it was still valued by many for its heritage and long-standing place in the community.

In 2015, the property was sold to developers for redevelopment. Between 2016 and 2022, the original hotel structure was demolished to make way for a new condominium project, marking the end of a landmark that had stood in Georgetown for more than a century.