It was always worth the drive to Acton!
The Olde Hide House is officially closing. The original warehouse was built in 1899 by the Beardmore Company. It became the largest tannery in the British Empire and a major employer in Acton.
The Town of Halton Hills is reflecting on the legacy of the business.
“The closure of this iconic landmark will leave a hole in our community,” says Mayor Ann Lawlor. “The Hide House, and prior to that, the Beardmore Tannery, became synonymous with Acton. Its long-standing nickname is Leathertown and our local BIA stages a Leathertown festival every summer, so, it is still worth the drive to Acton.”
In the 1980’s, catchy radio and television commercials established the leather store as a day trip destination and put the community on the map. “It’s worth the drive to Acton” was a familiar refrain.
“While the activity in the building may change, the designation ensures that the history of the Hide House and the Beardmore Tannery will live on,” concludes Lawlor.
The building located at 49 Eastern Avenue has a heritage designation which recognizes it as the only example of a late-nineteenth century Victorian industrial warehouse in Halton Hills.
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