Unionville’s Main Street was once the lifeline of a thriving farming community, where neighbours came not just to shop, but to connect. This self-guided tour, developed by historian George Duncan, traces the village’s commercial past, from bustling general stores and butcher shops to the barber pole that promised a shave and a story.

Here, hotels hosted township meetings, hardware merchants sold both nails and gasoline, and the post office kept families tied to the wider world. Landmarks like the Queen’s Hotel, Braithwaite Store, and Village Hardware reveal how business, community, and everyday life blended together, turning Unionville into a hub of activity that balanced hard work with social life. What remains today is more than a collection of storefronts – it’s a portrait of how work, trade, and community shaped the rhythm of daily life here on Main Street.