Soper Creek Yarn – Where Beautiful Projects Begin
The shop features a varied collection of fine yarn, great tools and unique gifts that are practical, eco-friendly, and community supportive.
Shop History
Soper Creek Yarn opened its original location, in Historic Downtown Bowmanville, in December 2008.
In 2013, we expanded the shop to include the space next door; we enjoyed the extra space filling both sides of the shop with beautiful yarn, notions, patterns and gifts. In 2019, after completing a 10-year plan and due to increasing costs, it was time to shift the shop into a smaller space. We downsized to the more accessible space while maintaining the integrity of the shop’s original vision, and began searching for a new location. In October 2019, we moved to our beautiful building in Orono! It is a perfect place – quiet community, an accessible single step at the entrance and plenty of free street parking.
The Building
This beautiful Art Deco building began construction in 1919 and was completed in 1920 for the new home of the Standard Bank in Orono. Arthur A. Drummond, a well-known Canadian painter, was the bank manager from 1925 through to the mid-1940’s. The Standard Bank merged with the Canadian Bank of Commerce in 1928 and which then finally became the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in 1961. In the mid-1980’s, the building was purchased by Kay Lycett who operated it as a law firm for almost 30 years. It was during this time that the interior of the building was completely renovated, keeping the original Manager’s office at the front and replicating another partitioned room in the centre. Both vaults were also kept intact for the integrity of the building. The vaults charmingly feature signatures from many of the past bank employees! Mr. Lycett retired in 2013 and the building was sold privately.
During a visit to Orono we took a peek inside when it was filled with antiques and instantly fell in love with the space, and here we are…it’s awesome! It is such a privilege to now be located in such a storied and beautiful building; we hope to live up to its legacy while we are here. See you soon!
