The Horovitz House – 2nd Street West

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Museum Blog - July 2025

Immediately east of Legion Memorial Park, at the corner of Second Street West and Bedford Street, stands a beautiful family home that many still fondly remember as the former residence of Mayor Aaron Horovitz. Horovitz also maintained a home on York Street and an estate east of the city. Bill and Darlene McGimpsey purchased the house in November 2016; Bill’s insurance office is conveniently located across the street.

Since 1878, the property was passed from the Gillie family to the Camerons, and Smiths then to the Horovitz family in 1926, remaining in their family until the early 1990s. The house itself was constructed circa 1900 and started its life as a brick structure on a stone foundation. Judge Pringle’s history of the district mentions James Gillie as being one of two engineers in the fire company which was formed in 1840. Pictured here is Aaron Horovitz on the front steps in 1934.