Charlie Sear Building
19 Main Street
Carberry

Designation Date:  June 12, 2007
Designation Authority:  Town of Carberry
Present Owner:  Privately Owned

The Charlie Sear Building, one of largest early landmarks in the designated Historic Downtown Carberry district, is an imposing special-purpose structure designed to distribute and service farm machinery, vehicles and other equipment for the town and surrounding agricultural community. Built in 1903–05, the substantial Romanesque Revival-style brick building, with its round-arched openings and exquisite corbelled and arcaded cornice-parapet, is especially noted for its rare main-floor plan, divided into two sections, the south side of which is raised and equipped with an internal rear ramp to the basement garage. Built and owned for a period by local entrepreneur James White, the facility is well situated near the Canadian Pacific Railway line and with lane or street access on three sides. These advantages have enhanced its prominence, as has its long-standing association with machinery, fuel and hardware outlets and service garages operated by the White and Charles A. Sear families.