GARY WILL: Waterloo City Tour -- King Street South

King Street South
Between Allen and William streets

Going north from The Mutual Group, you pass several landmark buildings and prominent businesses in the small area of King Street between Allen and William:

Bauer Industries (187 King Street South): a manufacturer of automotive parts that began in 1888 as a carriage business.
The Brick Brewing Company (181 King Street South): the largest brewery remaining in Waterloo.
Allen Square (180 King Street South): one of city's multi-tenant office buildings. The home of Quarry Integrated Communications and other businesses.

You also go by three buildings designated as heritage landmarks by the City of Waterloo:

Part of the Abraham Erb House (172 King Street South -- pictured) was built in 1812 by the man often called the founder of Waterloo. Erb was the owner of the grist mill that was the original focal point of the town. In the 19th century, several additions were constructed as the house passed among several prominent Waterloo families, including the Erbs, the Devitts, the Sniders, and the Krumpfs. It is now the home of the law firm Hobson, Taylor, Oldfield, Greaves & D'Agostino.
David Kuntz House (167 King Street South -- pictured) was built around 1880 by the owner of Waterloo's most prominent brewery -- the Spring Brewery, which was located on the same site. The house and brewery were bought by Carling in 1929, and the site was taken over by Labatt's in 1977, which operated here until 1993. They used the house as offices -- and it continues in that role today for other businesses.
Another home built by David Kuntz (156 King Street South), dated 1880. It is currently occupied by KRAFA Consultants.

The land on both sides of King Street on the south side of William has been a public square since the 19th century. At one time there was a busy cattle market held here regularly. The parkade on the west side is called Brewmeister Green. The big empty lot behind it was the site of the Kuntz/Carling/Labatt brewery, demolished in 1993.

Oktoberfest Timeteller The public land near the brewery was the obvious site for an Oktoberfest landmark, and the gazebo (pictured), called the Oktoberfest Heritage Timeteller, was built in 1984. By volume, it may the the most costly structure in the entire city. The small "bandshell" and centrepiece cost $231,000. The animated centrepiece -- which was buggy at the time at didn't work for most of the 1990s -- accounted for $105,000 of that cost (it was originally budgeted at $35,000). The City of Waterloo contributed $45,000 toward the cost with another $50,000 coming from Wintario. In 1984, a member of the committee coordinating the project actually called it "the type of attraction that will draw people back time and time again." The Timeteller was restored in 1997 with $9,000 funded by the City and the Kiwanis Club.

Written by Gary Will
gary@garywill.com